Centre Street railroad track improvements underway

The long awaited project to improve pedestrian access across the Centre and Ash Streets railroad crossings is underway thanks to public pressure from downtown merchants, concerned citizens, persons with disabilities, and Massachusetts resident Jennifer Niles who was "thrown out" of her wheelchair while crossing the tracks in March of 2013.  (Click for previous article.)

For now, Centre Street vehicular traffic is being detoured at 2nd and Centre. Multiple signs remind shoppers that stores located between 2nd and Front Streets are open. At Front Street, foot traffic is being directed to the west of the Train Depot where a temporary pedestrian crossing is located.

The Centre Street railroad repair project is expected to end by April 21, but yesterday's heavy rain did interrupt progress.

An ADA complaint was filed by Niles after the March 2013 incident. Niles noted the lack of access for the disabled to the waterfront, and access limitation to the popular eatery Salty Pelican.  A long standing property dispute between the City of Fernandina Beach and Patricia Toundas is preventing sidewalk construction from Centre Street to the Salty Pelican.

Last week, assembled tracks were placed in a staging area in preparation for the repair project.

April 16, 2014  8:36 a.m.