Lawmakers Address Railroad Safety After Fatal Derry Twp. Accident

Lawmakers addressed their plan for railroad safety Tuesday following a fatal accident in Derry Township.

Douglas Albright Jr., 15, died when he tried to cross the train tracks near East First Avenue earlier this month.

Police said Albright avoided the eastbound train, but got hit by a train traveling westbound.

Council president Allen Skopp said he wants more options for pedestrian safety near the tracks.

Skopp wants to install up to three graded rail crossings with locking fences that are activated electronically when trains are approaching.

He also would like to have a handicapped-accessible overhead walkway built.

The cost of each crossing is about $250,000 and more than $2 million for the walkway.

Skopp hopes to get grant funding for the project.

Previous Stories: July 17, 2009: Boy, 15, Struck, Killed By Train While Crossing Tracks In Derry