After disagreement, Biloxi votes on a plan to close rail crossings

Biloxi -- Councilman George Lawrence argued Tuesday that the Main Street railroad crossing needs to be fixed before the city does anything about closing other crossings.

The other councilmembers disagreed and voted 4-1 to approve a list of six recommended crossings to CSX for closure.

“We know 29 crossings is too many crossings for Biloxi,” said Mayor Andrew “FoFo” Gilich. “We had a tragedy,” he said, referring to the March 7 accident when a tour bus became stuck on the tracks at the Main Street crossing and was hit by a train, killing four people from Texas.

Gilich said the city will be in a better position to get CSX to fix crossings if it agrees to close others. Biloxi also wants to open two new crossings for an extension of a Popp’s Ferry Road and to complete the loop around East Biloxi. To do that, the city will have to close at least six crossings, he said.

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