Isthmus Rail Crossings Spared From Closure

OCR says times have changed since railroad first petitioned to close crossings

The railroad crossing at Livingston Street has been marked for closure since 2012 but has now been spared along with Brearly Street.

The saga of the fate of several railroad crossings on Madison’s isthmus may be over, for now. In an order signed today (March 26) by the Wisconsin Commissioner of Railroads (OCR), a petition to close rail crossings at Livingston, Blount, and Brearly Streets by Wisconsin & Southern Railroad Company (WSOR) was dismissed after a legal battle with the City of Madison had stagnated along with changing conditions adjacent to the tracks.

In dismissing the petition, Wisconsin Commissioner of Railroads Yash P. Wadhwa cited active development at the Livingston Street crossing as well as outdated evidence that supported the original petition as a reason to end the current legal process and invite all involved to keep working together voluntarily to improve the corridor.

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