A push is on again to close a Union Pacific Railroad crossing north of Hiawatha.
Brown County Commissioner Steve Roberts said Monday that he meet with officials with the Union Pacific Railroad and Kansas Department of Transportation last week, both who strongly encouraged the county to reconsider closing a crossing located at 250th and Kingfisher Roads.
Following a hearing last November, the commission voted to keep the crossing open after hearing from a group of citizens opposed to the closure.
The crossing has two sets of railroad tracks separated by a grade.  The result is a complicated crossing that UP and KDOT officials say is unsafe for traffic.
Roberts says he believes the crossing is dangerous and needs to be closed.  He noted the number of trains passing through the crossing is expected to double by 2014.
If the crossing remains open, crossarms will be required at the crossing to meet KDOT regulations.
Roberts says he plans to talk to Hiawatha Township officials about the matter.