Don’t cross off the crossing

The City of La Crosse is getting it right by opposing a Wisconsin Department of Transportation proposal to close off a railroad crossing at Liberty and St. Cloud streets and alter the one at Avon and Hagar streets.  

The DOT is adding a second mainline track through that area.  

In short, they’d make four Cul-de-sacs at the Liberty and St. Cloud crossing and make the Avon and Hagar crossing a four-way stop with extended medians. 

These are the only two at-grade crossings on the northside.

There are valid points in the resolution proposed by the city against changing the crossings.

The DOT plan, if implemented, would limit ways people could travel into and through northside neighborhoods. There’d be a shift with more traffic at the Avon Street crossing.   

The DOT’s proposal doesn’t mesh with the city’s Comprehensive Plan or other work such as the Safe Routes to School Plan or the Avon Street Greenway project. 

Instead of ignoring the wants and needs of the city and north side neighborhood, the DOT should be working with the city to come up with a solution that doesn’t restrict travel on the north side.  

As I see it, I’m Kevin Millard