After a year of the City of Sioux Center working with BNSF Railway, the City has secured an agreement for a sidewalk crossing at the 7th Street NW rail crossing in Sioux Center.
Assistant Utilities Manager Adam Fedders has been working with BNSF and bought agreements from the railway for the sidewalk easement and construction maintenance to the city council this month, which the council approved.
“This will, in effect, start the process to get the railroad crossing sidewalk construction going, then we’ll line up a contractor that has the proper approvals to work in railroad right of way,” Fedders said.
He said his goal is to see this project completed this year.
“This discussion began because a wheelchair-bound individual needed assistance crossing the railroad and became stuck in the railroad tracks,” Fedders said. “Today several individuals walk across these railroad tracks and do not feel safe using the street portion of the crossing to cross the tracks. This sidewalk will greatly improve pedestrian safety.”