MOORPARK : Changes Sought at Deadly Rail Crossing

A recent fatal head-on collision at a railroad crossing west of Moorpark has prompted city officials to step up efforts to pressure the state Department of Transportation or the Southern Pacific railroad to make the crossing safer.

The July 9 accident was the second fatal head-on collision at the crossing in less than a week, officials said. The crossing--at California 118, just west of Grimes Canyon Road--was listed by the state Public Utilities Commission as the 37th most-dangerous crossing in the state.

City officials contend that while there have been no accidents involving trains at the crossing in recent memory, the crossing’s configuration makes it easy for drivers to drift into oncoming traffic.

The track runs parallel to the two-lane highway on both sides of the crossing, which resembles a distended X . Crossing gates and flashing lights stop traffic on the highway, which has a posted speed limit of 55 m.p.h.

Southern Pacific officials say that because other crossings in the state have proven more dangerous, they do not have immediate plans to significantly alter the design of the crossing.

Supervisor Vicky Howard, who said she drives over the crossing at least twice a day, told the Moorpark City Council she has been pushing to make the road and rail-line intersection safer.

“The problem is that it’s a Southern Pacific crossing and they’re not cooperating,” Howard said.

Under county pressure, Caltrans has made some improvements to the asphalt around the track. Howard said Southern Pacific has been more receptive to laying concrete around the tracks where the asphalt has turned bumpy.