By Kollin Kosmicki

Crews worked to replace the railroad crossing on South Street last week. The old crossings were finally taken out and repaved near McCray Street at the interestions of South, Fourth and Third streets.

Photo by: Nick Lovejoy

The old wood crossing at South Street was replaced.

Photo by: Nick Lovejoy

Union Pacific did the work last week on three areas near downtown

You might have noticed life is a lot less bumpy when you cross the railroad tracks these days.

That's because after years of needed repairs at three major railroad crossings near downtown, Union Pacific last week finally paved over some of the most rickety tracks in town. One set included a highly dilapidated wood crossing that a city official called "totally outdated" and "non-standard."

The railroad crossings are located on Third Street, Fourth Street and South Street - all near the intersection of McCray Street. UP isn't finished, either, because the company has pulled a permit to remove another railroad crossing altogether on Prospect Avenue, said David Rubcic, the city's civil engineer.

"It will be much safer for bicyclists and motorcycles and other forms of transportation," Rubcic said.

Those three crossings completed last week were the highest priority due to higher traffic volumes. The areas had become a series of nuisances that prompted many complaints from citizens, Rubcic acknowledged.

But the timing of the repairs, ultimately, was up to UP since the company owns the property, with the city holding easements for traffic heading over the tracks, Rubcic explained. City officials do, however, review the plans to examine traffic control and detours.

"I think that's great what they did," said Councilman Ray Friend, who represents District 1 through which the railroad line runs. "I was surprised that they committed to spend the money because that line doesn't get a lot of use."

One remaining railroad crossing that will need repairs in the coming years is at Second and East streets, but Rubcic said that one is in "pretty decent shape" and it's not as high of a priority as the other three.

Rubcic noted how the wood crossing at South Street had to be removed and replaced with asphalt because UP does not even do repairs on those types of tracks anymore.

"It's totally outdated," he said. "It's non-standard. It's something that had been in there for years and years and years."

As far as the condition in general of the main railroad crossings heading through Hollister, Rubcic also pointed out that the Council of San Benito County Governments - the local transit agency - had been in discussions about sending an official resolution to UP in favor of doing the repairs.

Rubcic is unsure, meanwhile, when the Prospect Avenue work might get done. He said it had been scheduled for last week as well, but that those repairs were delayed.