LORDSTOWN Officials cite CSX for blocking traffic

Instead of citing individuals, police will cite the company.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
LORDSTOWN -- Just hours after company officials met with the village police chief, CSX was cited again for blocking traffic.
Chief Brent Milhoan said rail company representatives were in town Wednesday to discuss the problems and to try to find a solution.
"They told us they are not intentionally blocking the traffic, and we said we understand that," Milhoan said. "And we informed them we are not actively stationing officers at the tracks to cite train operators, but we are like any other department; if we get a call, we have to go."
Which is what happened later that night, he said. While on patrol, the midnight shift was stalled by a stopped train.
"When the officer got there, the train was already stopped," Milhoan said. "He started timing it and clocked it at 16 minutes."
State law dictates that trains can't block traffic for more than five minutes.
Responding to complaints
Milhoan said his department has received several complaints in recent months about trains blocking traffic, and he warned CSX officials that, if it continued, train operators would be cited.
When complaints kept coming in, officers contacted CSX to find out the names of engineers and conductors to issue citations. Earlier this month, state Sen. Robert F. Hagan of Youngstown, D-33rd, and Ron D. Catale of Struthers were cited. The men are scheduled to appear in Newton Falls Municipal Court Sept. 9.
But now, Milhoan said, citations are being issued directly to CSX.
"We are no longer boarding the trains," he said. "The officers are simply collecting the information on the train number and any box car information and writing the citations against CSX, since they are ultimately responsible."
Though the charge is a misdemeanor, it is punishable by a $1,000 fine.
Milhoan said the citation written Wednesday night was sent Thursday to CSX offices in Strongsville. Officials there could not be reached to comment.
slshaulis@vindy.com