City says BNSF Railway stuck crossing gate incidents declining

City says BNSF Railway stuck crossing gate incidents declining

Despite last week’s delay, system running smoother

Even though downtown Kent drivers were frustrated last week when BNSF Railway crossing arms malfunctioned and were stuck down for a couple hours late in the afternoon, those type of incidents are dropping off.

City of Kent and BNSF staff agreed the malfunctions are fewer this year than last year. During spring 2017, gates were stuck down with no trains coming three times during a three-week period.

“Unfortunately, there was a circuit issue (on the track) that had to be adjusted,” said BNSF Railway spokesman Gus Melonas in a phone interview about the Sept. 25 incident. “It caused the delays. We’ll keep an eye on conditions and be monitoring it.”

City staff contacted railroad staff after the gates got stuck.

ADVERTISEMENT
0 seconds of 0 secondsVolume 0%
Press shift question mark to access a list of keyboard shortcuts
00:00
00:00
00:00
 

“BNSF informed us that the malfunctioning gates were caused by a broken part on the rails related to the gate control system,” city traffic engineer Rob Brown said in an email.

City crews placed cameras at several of the railroad crossings last year in an effort to track the delays when the gates were getting stuck so often. Residents, city staff and city leaders were upset with all of the problems with the gates.

“We do have cameras at some of the crossings,” Brown said. “We used them to record malfunctions but those have dropped off after BNSF’s work last year. In this case we talked to BNSF about the issue and did not use staff time to look at the cameras.”

Brown said the city didn’t have specific numbers about gate incidents, but it hasn’t been as much of a problem this year.

“I do not have any empirical data for the reduction in the number of gate malfunctions,” Brown said. “I am just going on the lower frequency of calls I’ve received about the gates malfunctioning.”

BNSF crews upgraded the signal system last year. Seven crossings are tied into the signal system that triggers the crossing gates, including the highly traveled James, Smith and Willis street crossings.

Many Kent streets intersect with the BNSF train crossings. Drivers can avoid trains with the overpasses at South 277th Street, South 228th Street and South 196th Street, but James (aka South 240th) and Smith streets are heavily traveled commute routes for East Hill residents. An underpass at South 180th Street keeps vehicles separate from trains.

Drivers can report gate issues by calling BNSF at 1-800-832-5452.


Talk to us

Please share your story tips by emailing editor@kentreporter.com.

To share your opinion for publication, submit a letter through our website https://www.kentreporter.com/submit-letter/. Include your name, address and daytime phone number. (We’ll only publish your name and hometown.) Please keep letters to 300 words or less.

More in News

Holy Spirit Parish in downtown Kent. COURTESY PHOTO, Holy Spirit Parish
Kent’s Severe Weather Shelter housed dozens of people

As many as 36 people stayed one night during February’s freezing temperatures

File Photo
Kent Police officer shoots, injures man in Des Moines

Feb. 14 incident under review by Valley Independent Investigative Team

People line SE 272nd Street in Covington on Presidents Day, Feb. 17 to protest many of the actions by the Trump administration. COURTESY PHOTO, Ron Auerbach
People line Covington street to protest Trump, Musk actions

One of many protests across the nation against ‘the anti-democratic and illegal actions’

Charlene Honda at the Day of Remembrance on Feb. 8, 2025, at the Washington State Fairgrounds. Photo by Bruce Honda
Federal Way woman recalls her time in U.S. concentration camp

‘It’s good for people to hear what happened so that it never happens again.’

t
Man fatally shot by Kent Police had high blood alcohol level

Crime lab test results show 0.27 blood concentration level in August 2024 shooting at apartments

Courtesy Photo, City of Kent
Construction set in Kent for 74th Ave. S. and Willis Street

Crews to install traffic islands, curbing at busy intersection

t
Kent Police Blotter: Jan. 26 to Feb. 6

Incidents include vehicle prowls, carjacking arrest, police pursuits, shots fired

Kentlake High School. COURTESY PHOTO, Kent School District
Former Kentlake High School teacher pleads guilty to sex charge

Jesse Webb, 46, pleads guilty to communication with a minor for immoral purposes

t
Kent School Board appoints Teresa Gregory to vacant seat

Gregory selected from among 7 finalists to replace Awale Farah

Karen Keiser. COURTESY PHOTO
Former state Sen. Karen Keiser appointed to state Exchange health board

Health Benefit Exchange formed as part of Affordable Care Act

Crews on the SR 509 Completion Project in south King County install the framework for a new bus stop on SR 516, also known as Kent-Des Moines Road. The SR 509 Completion Project includes new or improved connections to existing transit centers and stops. COURTESY PHOTO, WSDOT
Eastbound SR 516 ramp to I-5 in Kent to close for 4 months

Drivers heading to northbound I-5 will use a temporary left turn lane

Courtesy Photo, King County
Tacoma boy, 17, charged with murder in November 2024 Kent case

Reportedly fired six shots into vehicle that killed 21-year-old SeaTac man on West Hill