Dear Editor:
A serious and dangerous situation exists in the industrial park
located east of Highway 101 and south of E. Luchessa Avenue. This
problem has been ignored for years, but events yesterday put the
problem into harsh perspective.
Dear Editor:
A serious and dangerous situation exists in the industrial park located east of Highway 101 and south of E. Luchessa Avenue. This problem has been ignored for years, but events yesterday put the problem into harsh perspective.
On Tuesday, March 3, several railroad cars moving on the spur line entering the Inland Paper facility on east Luchessa Avenue derailed, and blocked east Luchessa Avenue east of the U.S. 101 overpass. This is the only access road for an industrial area comprising of Rossi Road, Rossi Court, Mayock Road, Obata Road and Southside Avenue. This area houses many businesses, as well as residences located on Rossi Road and Arizona Circle, and the city’s water treatment facility on Southside Avenue.
Prior to Inland Paper the spur line was used by Gaylord Container, which operated the facility. During the time that Gaylord operated the facility, they were careful not to block Luchessa Avenue or Engle Avenue (which the spur rail also crosses) during commute hours. Since Inland has moved into the facility there have been numerous occasions when east Luchessa Avenue has been blocked for up to half an hour, backing up traffic from the crossing, east on east Luchessa, south on Rossi Road and onto Mayock Road. Tuesday’s derailment blocked Luchessa Avenue for several hours.
People working at businesses in the industrial area were forced to evacuate across muddy dirt roads to the construction area behind the new Target store on Pacheco Pass Road. Cars were becoming stuck in the mud, and I saw people pulling rocks and debris out of a creekbed to fill in deep ruts so that cars could pass.
Although this situation has been brought to the attention of the city several times during the last 10 years, nothing has been done to resolve it. Gilroy Police department cannot resolve the situation as the rail line is private property.
On prior occasions, callers have been told that there is nothing that the Gilroy Police can do.
The City of Gilroy needs to resolve this situation. It is intolerable that the many businesses in this industrial park, which includes one of the city’s largest towing companies, are being blockaded in this manner.
What if there had been a medical emergency, or a fire? The city needs to develop alternate access for the times when east Luchessa Avenue is blocked. Inland Paper and Union Pacific Railroad need to rethink their use of the spur line, and avoid using it during commute hours.
Bill Hudson, Information Systems Manager Robert Mann Packaging, Inc., Gilroy
Submitted Wednesday, March 3 to ed****@****ic.com
The Golden Quill is awarded occasionally for a well-written letter.
