Amtrak building fence as blockade to exposed tracks

SOUTH BRUNSWICK — Residents’ concerns about child safety were answered last month after Amtrak agreed to build a fence that would cover exposed railroad tracks near a township neighborhood.

Nearly three months ago Amtrak cut back on its right of way because of maintenance concerns. In doing so, large trees adjacent to Black Horse Lane were cut down, township spokesman Ron Schmalz said, and the tree cutback caused about a half-mile of tracks to be exposed near local developments.

Residents said the exposed tracks were dangerous to children who may want to play near or on the tracks.

“Those trees were a wonderful natural buffer,” Deputy Mayor Chris Killmurray said. “You do have a safety concern with kids coming down, or just in general, and you can just access the railroad way too easily.”

After several residents informed township officials of their concerns, the officials, particularly Schmalz and Township Manager Matthew Watkins, contacted the passenger rail company to see what could be done to address the health and safety issues.

Amtrak agreed to address the problem and for the last three weeks has been constructing a half-mile fence that stretches from Deans Lane to the bend in Black Horse Lane. It built a new guard rail along the tracks and placed fencing on top of the rail, Killmurray said.

Amtrak is almost finished installing the fence, Schmalz said.

“It’s probably not completely inaccessible, it probably wasn’t before, either, but it puts a visible barrier up and lets people know it’s not an area you should be going to,” Killmurray said. “It effectively replaces that natural barrier.”

Amtrak officials were unable to be reached for a comment by press time.