Prior to the City Council meeting, a public hearing was held on the possibility of railroad crossing closures in St. James.

In addition to the numerous people who came to speak their minds, County commissioners Randy Verkamp and Larry Stratman, Don Schwartz of MoDOT's railroad division, and Bruce Chan of the BNSF railroad were at the meeting.

“We were first approached with safety concerns and concerns of the age of the switchers,” said Mayor Dennis Wilson.

The bottom line, as Schwartz said, is that “the active warning devices need to be changed.”

“We would like to close both Oak streets and the crossing at County Road 3390 (by the Sports Club/Solid Rock Church),” said Schwartz. “We are looking at opening a crossing between the two.”

The new crossing could be across from the entrance to Nelson Hart Park, or at the apex of the curve.

The purpose of adding a new crossing, according to Wilson, would be to allow Emergency Vehicle access to that area of town when other crossings are blocked.

In addition, Schwartz said they were looking at upgrading the railroad crossing near the Catholic cemetery, as well as upgrading the other main railroad crossings in town, as the systems that St. James is currently using are from 1985-1986.

“It seems like closing two crossings to get one would be favorable,” said Derrick Costoplos, the father of a two-year-old, who lives on South Oak Street.

The closing of the crossings would not happen all at one time. The proposed plan is to close down the crossing at South Oak first, followed by the creation of the new crossing West of it, then the Crossing at County Road 3390 would close after the new crossing is completed.

“It's not like we are going to go out there and just do it,” said Chan. “We are going to look at concerns at diagnostic reviews.”

Dates have not yet been set for the Diagnostic Reviews, but will be open to the public.

All three of the families on South Oak spoke in favor of the closure of the crossing.

In regards to the other possible change, Schwartz said that the crossing by the cemetery cannot be left the way it is.

“It would probably be cheaper to move the crossing than to renovate it,” said Schwartz.

No exact time frame was given, but Schwartz explained that the railroad usually has one year to complete from the time of the agreement made by the city of St. James, MoDOT and the railroad.