Gates placed at Somis crossings
Ventura County transportation officials Friday unveiled new gates and signals at two dangerous railroad crossings in Somis.
The gates, with flashing yellow lights and bells, were installed near Hagle Tree Farm on Somis Road and near Somis Farms off California 118 at Sand Canyon Road.
Fatal accidents in April and September 2002 and an injury accident in August 2005 focused attention on problems at the crossing near the Hagle property, said Mary Travis of the Ventura County Transportation Commission.
There was a 2001 fatality near Somis Farms.
Ventura County had 22 train-and-vehicle collisions between 2001 and 2005, the most recent figures available.
The county has 316 railroad crossings.
This week’s improvements reduce to 11 the number of crossings on private property that lack signals, Travis said.
“The cost of a human life is incalculable,” Travis said. “Nobody should have to lose their life because they were inattentive or distracted.”
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