MBTA: Education best way to keep people away from railroad tracks

By Bill Donovan
The Haverhill Gazette
October 18, 2012

"MBTA: Education best way to keep people away from railroad tracks"

— HAVERHILL — MBTA officials and city leaders agree something must be done to keep people away from railroad tracks in Haverhill, after three people were hit and killed by trains in the last five years.

But it appears education, rather than fencing or other barriers, will be the course of action they take.

When well-known local boxer Jeff Fraza was killed on the railroad tracks not far from his home on Feb. 4, City Councilor Michael McGonagle said it was time for the MBTA to outline what could be done to keep people off the tracks where they pass through busy urban areas.

But eight months have passed since Fraza’s death and councilors said little has been done.

McGonagle, a member of the Public Safety Committee, requested a review by the MBTA of spots in the city where people have easy access to the railroad tracks. In the past five years, three people have died on the tracks. But little has happened to block access from the tracks where they pass through urban areas.

“There are no plans to erect new fences in the area,” MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo said. “A fence is not a deterrent to someone who plans to trespass on a railroad.”

McGonagle said he has been in touch with representatives from the MBTA and other entities who use the railroad. He said they told him there are simply too many miles of track for barriers to be erected.

Instead, McGonagle was told the best course of action the city and MBTA can take is to educate children about the dangers of trespassing on railroads.

“The thing we need to do is educate kids that these aren’t safe situations,’’ McGonagle said. “Railroad tracks are not someplace where kids should be hanging around.”

McGonagle said he has been in touch with Superintendent James Scully about creating a program in schools to educate students about railroad safety.

On May 24, an MBTA representative spoke at a meeting of the City Council’s Public Safety Committee, suggesting that the community set up educational programs to prevent future mishaps. Paul Carroll, MBTA section chief, said at that time, “There are more accidents than there should be.”

Carroll told McGonagle and Committee Chairman Michael Hart he would pass along contact numbers to assist them with the education process. Carroll also told them that the MBTA has a safety department.

“Mr. Fraza’s death was very tragic,” Councilor Robert Scatamacchia said. “There are miles and miles of tracks out there. But safety has always been a priority with the MBTA. I haven’t heard any complaints about what they’re doing.”

Fraza was struck while talking on his cellphone close to his home at 7 Mulberry St. According to police, the train hit him at 35 mph just before 1:30 a.m. along the tracks on Hale Street. MBTA officials said a commuter train on its last trip back to Boston from Haverhill collided with Fraza on Stevens and Winter streets. No passengers were on board. Police said it appeared Fraza was taking a shortcut home.

“I think it would be a very good idea to reach out to them (MBTA) through the Public Safety Committee, explain our concerns, show them what’s happened over the past five or six years and ask if there are any ways to restrict access to areas of the tracks where people are known to walk,” McGonagle said after Fraza’s death.

At that time, McGonagle recommended upgrades in lighting and fencing, along with the installation of additional warning signs. He also called on the Public Safety Committee to push the MBTA to restrict public access to the tracks.

“The city lost three young people over the last five years,” McGonagle said. “Maybe there is some sort of safety procedure or warning signs or better lighting or fences, or anything that may alert a person on the tracks that they are in an area they shouldn’t be.

“I think a prudent approach would be to ask MBTA officials or whoever has authority over the tracks if we are doing what we can in the areas where we’ve lost people,” he said.

In response, the MBTA said although there are sections within its system lacking fencing, “no trespassing” signs are posted along the rails to warn people to stay off the tracks. MBTA officials said Fraza was a trespasser on railroad property. Pesaturo said a lack of fencing around train tracks is not uncommon.

“There are tens of thousands of miles of railroad tracks in North America, and the vast majority is not fenced,’’ he said. “Like other train service providers around the world, the MBTA continues to remind the public that there is never a good reason to trespass on a railroad right-of-way.”