City invites residents to discuss blocked train crossings

The City of Liberal invites the public to join a listening session about railroad crossing concerns and preview potential overpass location options. A Spanish-speaking session is scheduled from 6 to 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 20 and an English-speaking session is scheduled from 6 to 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 22, 2024. Both sessions will take place in the downstairs activity area at Liberal Memorial Library, 519 N. Kansas Ave.

The listening sessions are part of a series of public activities being hosted to gather information to support a federal grant application for development of a railroad overpass option in Liberal. During each session, staff will present information about federal grant funds being pursued. Next, attendees will participate in a series of discussion questions to help identify barriers and concerns from the community. The session will end with the presentation of concept drawings for two potential overpass designs – located at the Western Avenue and Pershing Avenue crossing sites. Visitors will be able to share feedback about these crossing locations being evaluated.

“This listening session is an opportunity for anyone in our community to join the discussion and help our effort to improve safety and connectivity problems caused by blocked train crossings,” Keeley Moree, Chief Communications Officer, said. “Building an overpass project is a complex process and pursuing federal grant funds can help make this project possible. What we need from our residents is their participation to share transportation challenges and concerns so we can select the best crossing option to support the community’s needs.”

In addition to these listening sessions, a community-wide survey remains open through September 3 to collect information and experiences to support the grant application. The survey is available in English and Spanish and participants do not have to reside in Liberal to participate. The survey can be found at www.cityofliberal.org. Print surveys and language assistance services are available at City Hall, 324 N. Kansas Avenue in Liberal.

For more information about these listening sessions or the community survey, please contact Keeley Moree, Chief Communications Officer, at (620) 626-2257 or [email protected].