Motorists in Monroe County are reporting issues with railroad crossing gates that are staying down for extended periods even without trains, leading to traffic backups and unsafe driving behavior. Incidents have been reported on Scottsville Road in Chili and East River Road in Brighton, causing delays for commuters and impacting local businesses. Concerns are raised about the safety and efficiency of the crossing systems, with drivers and business owners urging for solutions.
Vehicles drive around a crossing gate at the railroad crossing on Scottsville Road in Chili, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. Drivers in Monroe County are raising concerns about railroad crossing gates that they say are coming down and staying down even when no train is approaching, creating long backups and prompting some motorists to drive around the arms.
The issue has been reported at a crossing on Scottsville Road in Chili, where drivers and nearby businesses said it has been an ongoing problem and happened again this morning.“It extends my commute every time it happens for a long period of time, sometimes longer than others, but it is lately becoming more consistent, and it's becoming unsafe,” the driver said. 13WHAM obtained a video taken Wednesday morning showing vehicles, including a school bus, going through the railway crossing arms.“It's just multiple directions of mayhem every single time it happens,” the anonymous driver said. Meanwhile, across the Genesee River sits another railway crossing on East River Road in Brighton, where Salvatore Panella, owner of MicGinny’s on the River, said a similar issue happens on occasion. “It's happened for half an hour where those gates have been down," Panella recalled. "I mean, it's not uncommon for it to be five, 10 minutes, which, just sitting in a car for 10 minutes waiting feels like an hour. I know because I've literally been on the other side of those tracks trying to get into the building." Panella and other staff, such as longtime bartender Delores Matthews, said the delays frustrate customers. “They need to do something about it, they really do," Matthews said. "I don't know what they can do. We have businesses that want to make money."CSX crews on Scottsville Road in Chili, Wednesday, Feb. 25, 2026. "It takes them less than two minutes to fix it once somebody shows up and knows exactly what to do when it happens," the anonymous driver said. "So, if they know exactly what to do when it happens, they should know what to do to prevent it from happening." CSX said Wednesday it is aware of this situation, caused by winter weather and rock salt used for deicing the road, and has made every effort to avoid blocking this crossing. CSX said it provides 24/7 access to crossing information through its Public Safety Coordination Center and said all railroads are required to post a blue emergency notification sign at each crossing with a phone number the public can call when there is an issue. CSX strives to be a good neighbor to communities where we operate, and we work hard to minimize the impact of railroad operations. We understand that it can be frustrating when train operations block road crossings and we make every effort to prevent that from happening, whenever possible. It is important to note that there are times when mechanical and operational issues could result in blocked crossings.Our goal is to, safely and efficiently, transport America’s freight and we appreciate the patience of motorists and pedestrians waiting for our trains to pass safely through the area as we serve local businesses and families throughout the region. While we understand that train operations can be an inconvenience, we urge motorists and pedestrians to always practice safe behavior around railroad tracks, give their full attention when approaching railroad crossings, and always adhere to the posted traffic signs.Security concerns over a potential protest are prompting a big change for a longtime fundraising event.Buffalo Sabres legend Dominik Hasek praised the Olympic gold medal-winning U.S. women's hockey team for its decision to decline an invitation from President DonThe recent rulings made by Rochester City Court Judge Van White in cases of suspected domestic violence have caused outrage throughout the community.Drivers in Monroe County are raising concerns about railroad crossing gates that they say are coming down and staying down even when no train is approaching.A police officer is on medical leave after being hurt by a suspect who was resisting arrest Tuesday afternoon on the city's north side, according to police.
Railroad Crossing Traffic Delays Safety Concerns Malfunctioning Gates Monroe County
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