MetroRail crossing gate still not fixed

AUSTIN (KXAN) - Spring, summer and fall have all passed, but the crossing gates at one of Cap Metro's commuter rail line's most notorious train intersections in North Austin continue to malfunction.

 Workers at Rome's Pizza said gates at a train crossing at RM 620 and Parmer Lane came down and stayed down for at least 20 minutes on one day earlier this week.

Capital Metro officials said the crossing was supposed to be fixed by April. But the people with a front-row seat to one of Austin's most infamous train crossings say any fixes that may have been done have failed.

"People have been going around it a lot," said Papa John's delivery driver Alex Millsap, whose business sits near the crossing. "It happens more than you think. As soon as somebody tries to do it, they'll pull you over and give you a ticket for it."

Millsap said he counted the time stuck at the intersection recently by the songs on his car radio.

"I counted seven songs," Millsap said.

Capital Metro officials said they have tried various fixes at the intersection, but are now considering electronic filtering equipment to get rid of the issue.

"Equipment has arrived and has not yet been installed," said Capital Metro Spokesman Adam Shaivitz. Shaivitz said Capital Metro officials are now waiting on their new rail contractor, Herzog Transit Services, to make changes.

"Herzog's full assessment isn't complete," Shaivitz said.

When asked why more law enforcement or physical presence is not at the scene when gates malfunction, Shaivitz said Herzog was looking into the issue.

Shaivitz also confirmed a timing issue at the gate on Tuesday of this week, but did not have a specific amount of time the gate remained down.