Canby Herald Online

Keeping track of the tracks

Union Pacific will again be patrolling the railroad stops

• By: John Baker  
• Published: 8/18/2009 3:19:29 PM

Photo By: John BakerOver the line
Drivers sometimes don't understand the importance of the white "stop line."

He’s back on the tracks.
Once again, Union Pacific Railroad special agent Vince Hoffarth will be patrolling the train crossings close to the Clackamas County Fair and Rodeo this week, looking for just one thing – the chance to educate.

Hoffarth wants people to obey the laws pertaining to railroad crossings. To help them remember, Union Pacific, working in conjunction with the Canby Police Department and Clackamas County Sheriff’s Office, will be conducting its CARE program again during this year’s fair. CARE stands for Crossing Accident

Reduction Enforcement and will bring agents to the Pine Street railroad crossing for targeted enforcement the entire run of the fair.
A year ago, Hoffarth issued roughly 18 citations and gave out another 20 warnings during the program in Canby.

This year’s program will have a little twist. Rather than a morning to afternoon time frame, Hoffarth and company will be on patrol from 2 to 11 p.m. each night of the fair.
The change in hours is due to many considerations, and Hoffarth admitted that one of those was the train accident and fire that occurred last year.

“We’ll have an officer working the crossing looking for folks stopping on the crossing and also people who are failing to obey the railroad signs and gates at the crossing,” said Hoffarth.

Hoffarth and his fellow officers will spend their time near the train tracks in town keeping an eye out for violations on the railroad crossing, such as stopping on the tracks or going around the lowered gates.
The program, he said, is working

“In Oregon we’ve seen the number drop considerably in terms of trespass and vehicles versus trains,” he said. “I’m just back from Montana and eastern Idaho where we’re doing this, too.
“Part of it is people are just impatient,” he added. “They have the fair on their mind and are not thinking about where they are at.”

Hoffarth expects the numbers of visitors to increase this year with the economy in poor condition. People still want to do something and the fair is a “fairly inexpensive event.” The primary violators are those who are going from the fair to Highway 99E, he said. “They get themselves caught on the tracks waiting for that left turn.”

The white line on the ground, called the “stop line,” is there for the eyes to gauge where drivers should stop. It also helps people avoid being hit by the gate as it lowers.

Hoffarth said that the thrust of the CARE program isn’t about writing citations; it’s about education of the dangers that surround the railroad crossings.

“I’m trying to educate people about the dangers of being on the tracks,” said Hoffarth.

The standard freight train takes about one mile to stop traveling at a speed of 55 miles per hour. With thousands of tons of equipment and freight, and low friction from the rail wheel to the track, seeing a car stopped on the tracks won’t save the vehicle. There’s just not enough time to stop.

“We’ve talked to the train companies and they’ve approved more bells and whistles as the trains come through Canby,” said Hoffarth.

“The other component of CARE is contacting trespassers,” he added. “We want to talk with people who are walking down the tracks or going into other areas that aren’t designated for the public.”

The CARE program will run through the end of the Clackamas County Fair on Sunday.
If you notice anything strange along the train tracks, or witness a crime on them, Union Pacific has a 24-hour hotline you can call 888-877-7267.
 

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