NORTHAMPTON — In anticipation of expanded passenger rail service between Greenfield and Springfield expected later this month, the Northampton Police Department, along with Northampton Fire Rescue, are planning a railroad crossing safety and awareness day at the Damon Road crossing.
The event is scheduled for Aug. 22 from 1:30 p.m. to 4 p.m. and will promote safety when crossing the tracks and bring attention to the blue and white Emergency Notification System signs at the crossings, according to a statement released by the police and fire departments.
At the event, police officers, firefighters, public safety dispatchers and the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration will be handing out informational posters.
Police Chief Jody Kasper said the event is done every year in partnership with Amtrak. Because there soon will be expanded service, she thought the event would alert residents to the increased number of trains coming through the area.
“We have a lot of vehicle traffic in the area where the event is taking place, as well as a lot of pedestrians,” Kasper said.
The Emergency Notification System sign displays the railroad’s emergency contact number for reporting safety problems and emergency situations, the statement said.
Amtrak’s new two-year pilot service called Valley Flyer has a tentative start date of Aug. 30, and will provide two round-trip trains on weekdays and one round-trip train on weekends, stopping in Greenfield, Northampton, Holyoke and Springfield. Service will continue to New Haven, Connecticut. Trains can reach 79 mph in the Greenfield-to-Springfield stretch.
Michael Connors can be reached at mconnors@gazettenet.com.