Lower Manager Wants Railroad’s Right to Tracks Revoked

ERMA — Lower Township Manager Michael Voll is growing impatient with Cape May Seashore Lines and its responsibility to install lights and gates at railroad crossings at Breakwater and Tabernacle roads.
In a press release, Voll said township officials are pleased with the improvements to Seashore Road, Route 9, and the crossings between both roadways at Breakwater and Tabernacle Roads.
“They are currently finishing up construction, and will be completed before our summer season. After a brief discussion today (March 9) with NJDOT (Department of Transportation) inspectors, it was learned that Tony Macrie, operator of the Cape May Seashore Railroad, has not installed the flashing lights and gates at the Breakwater or Tabernacle crossings.”
Voll emailed NJ Transit Executive Director Jim Weinstein Fri., March 9 and asked to have “Out of Service Signs” at all crossing to prevent backups and possible rear-end accidents.
Voll said the railroad has not operated any type of train service for years in southern Cape May County, however state and federal law requires school buses, tankers carrying fuel, transit buses, and others to stop at railroad crossings – “Stop, Look, and Listen” – then proceed.
He said NJ Transit needs to revoke Macrie’s rights to the rails in this area.
“I furthermore asked that Mr. Weinstein send a representative so we can discuss local issues. This operator has received millions in federal tax dollars and has stiffed local volunteer organizations and many others. This operation is an unworthy investment of our tax dollars.”
In the past, Cape May Seashore Lines received funding to replace railroad tracks and ties and they discarded the old ties along the tracks in piles, instead of paying to rid them properly,” said Voll.
He said Cape May Seashore Lines is storing old railroad cars for a fee south of the Cape May Canal by the West Cape May border.
“We want them removed,” said Voll.
He said Lower Township’s “concern is for the safety of our children on the school buses crossing these tracks.”
“Could you imagine if every bus crossing has to comply by “Stop, Look, and Listen” for a ghost train!” said Voll.
Macrie told the Herald he attended a meeting “with all the people involved with that project last Friday and we’re on schedule.”
“Our guys are working on it,” he said. “We’re going as fast as we can. Nothing we are doing is holding up the opening of the roadway.”
Macrie said his crew would be starting signal work on the crossings at the end of this month. He said railroad crossbucks (signs that looks like the letter “X”) would be installed at the crossings next week to let motorists know they are active railroad crossings.
“Everything I’m telling you was decided and agreed upon at a meeting last Friday,” said Macrie.
State-of-the-art lights and gates will be installed at the crossings, he said. Macrie said signal manufacturers were not keeping equipment in inventory due to the weak economy.
“When you place an order, it has to be built,” he said.
He said rail cars being stored on a siding south of the canal “were bothering no one.” He said the rail cars had nothing to do with the two crossings.
Macrie said he confirmed DOT was happy with his schedule of work established for the crossings. He said he receives no federal tax dollars to operate the railroad.
Last month, NJDOT spokesman Tim Greely said extension of Breakwater Road and Tabernacle Road to intersect with Route 9 is mostly complete with intermediate paving operations completed.
He said the new roadways/intersections could not be opened until the railroad safety signal arms and warning devices are installed.