Mayor gives update on railroad study

TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI) - A few months ago, News 10 told you about a railroad study showing how officials from Vigo County and Terre Haute wanted to do something about the issue.

News 10 checked with Mayor Duke Bennett to see how things are going.

One of the biggest areas of concern is at the crossing at 19th and Margaret in Terre Haute. So to fix it, the mayor said the plan is to build an overpass. It would stretch from 14th and Margaret to 25th Street.

Mayor Bennett said right now, they've gotten approval from the city, and from the railroad company to go ahead. They're just doing some research to lock in a final price. Right now, one estimate is at $20 million. He said most of that funding is already accounted for.

"It'll take about a year to design it. It'll take about two years to do all the property acquisition all the environmentals associated with it. It'll take about two years to build it, so we're looking at about five years out from now to open up a new overpass," Bennett said.

Something Mayor Bennett said you could see sooner is an alert system. Phase one is to let emergency agencies know when and where trains are crossing through an electrical intelligence system. Once it proves successful it would then be introduced to the public, in the form of radio updates and possible Ipod and Ipad notifications. Bennett said that may be in place as soon as some time in 2013.