Northeast Corridor - Grade Crossings

Grade Crossings

All grade crossings between Washington and New York were eliminated by the 1980s, and the New York to New Haven line had long been completely grade-separated. In preparation for electrification, most crossings between New Haven and Boston were replaced with bridges and underpasses in the late 1990s.

There are eleven remaining grade crossings, all in southeastern Connecticut. In this area, the corridor hugs the shore of Fisher's Island Sound, and without these crossings many waterfront communities and businesses would be inaccessible from land. From east to west, the crossings are:

• Stonington:
  • Palmer Street (Pawcatuck): Connects the Pawcatuck residential neighborhood to Mechanic Street along the Pawcatuck River.
  • Elihu Island Road: Access to Elihu Island
  • Walker's Dock: Access to this small marina
  • Wamphassuc Crossing: Access to the upscale residences on Wamphassuc Point
  • Latimer Point Road: Access to the summer cottages on Latimer Point
  • Broadway (Mystic): Access to the eastbound train platform at the Mystic Depot, and to marinas that line the north shore of Mystic Harbor.
• Groton:
  • School Street: Provides access to marinas and residences on Willow Point in West Mystic. This was the first quad-gate installation in the United States, dating from 1998.
• New London:
  • Ferry Street: Access to ferries to Block Island and Orient Point, Long Island
  • State Street: Access to the City Pier, Waterfront Park, and the Fisher's Island Ferry
  • Bank Street Connector: Pedestrian access to the Waterfront Park
• Waterford:
  • Miner Lane: Access to a few residences and industrial businesses.

In September 2005, a southbound Acela Express crashed into a car at Miner Lane, killing the driver (a Miner Lane resident) and her two grandchildren in the car. Although Amtrak claimed that the woman had driven underneath the gates, her family alleged that the quad-gate closed after the car entered, trapping it in the path of the train.