City Councilman Calls For Hearings Following Grays Ferry Train Derailment
By Hadas Kuznits
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- In light of Monday's CSX train derailment (See Related Story), City Councilman Kenyatta Johnson is concerned about the city's bridges and other vital infrastructure owned and operated by CSX.
KYW's Hadas Kuznits was on a bridge tour hosted by the councilman pointing out the bridge problems in the city's Grays Ferry/Point Breeze neighborhoods.
Monday's CSX freight train derailment prompted city councilman Kenyatta Johnson, who is chair of the committee on transportation and utilities, to introduce a resolution in city council to hold hearings on the infrastructure owned and operated by CSX.
"We're asking them to come to the city of Philadelphia and to layout their plans as it relates to operating their bridges," Johnson said.
Resident Juanita Grey says the CSX 25th Street bridge here at 25th Street and Washington Avenue is in frighteningly bad condition.
"I travel this road and somebody's going to get hurt," Grey said.
She says she sees concrete crumbling from the bridge every day.
"And I'll sometimes be scared to ride under there, I'll go the other way," she said.
Structural engineer Julian Toniatto says over time, crumbling concrete causes exposed areas of the bridge to rust.
"And if a child walks by, it could kill a child! So it needs maintenance," Toniatto said.