Union Pacific has made some adjustments to its train schedule to reduce the number of long traffic jams that have frustrated motorists and pedestrians in Uptown Normal.
Normal Public Works Director Wayne Aldrich said the town is using video to verify the railroad company's changes, but he acknowledged a drop in complaints over the last week.
“We don’t get as many reports as we were a few weeks ago, but we are trying to confirm that,” Aldrich said. “We think it’s better but it’s still concerning for us.”
Aldrich said Union Pacific has started stopping its trains north of Normal rather than in Uptown before bringing them into its rail yard in Bloomington.
"They have changed some of their operations here in Normal to reduce the amount of time trains are stopped and blocking crossings in Normal,” Aldrich said. “They said this has been taking place over the last week.”
Aldrich said the rail company has been sympathetic to the town's and travelers’ frustrations.
“They shared our concerns with the pedestrians and blockage of the crossings in general,” Aldrich said. “That was their words.”
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