Members of a Danville City Council committee will consider Tuesday whether to authorize an agreement seeking safety improvements at a Griffin Street railroad crossing. It is the crossing where 13-year-old Deon Jackson of Danville was struck and killed by a train while riding his bicycle last summer.
The crossing has two sets of tracks and is protected only by cross arms and lights. There are no gates there, but gates would be part of the improvements made under the agreement with the Illinois Commerce Commission.
Following the tragic death last summer Mayor Scott Eisenhauer called for a rail corridor study so see whether steps could be taken to improve safety there. But he also noted at the time that, unfortunately, it would be a long process before any final determination would be made on what can be done.
The Danville City Council’s Public Works Committee will consider on Tuesday whether to authorize an agreement with the ICC for roadway crossing safety improvements at the site.
