A major milestone was reached March 27 when BNSF Railway closed a private crossing at Belle Plaine, Kansas, at milepost 227 on the Emporia subdivision.

It became the 3,000th crossing closure on BNSF since the program started six years ago.

"The closure of 3,000 crossings since 2000 is a significant achievement, and the team is to be commended for meeting our aggressive crossing closure goals," says Matt Rose, chairman, president and chief executive officer. "BNSF has always put a high priority on promoting grade crossing safety, and the closure team has established a process that truly leads the rail industry. By eliminating unnecessary and redundant crossings, this team has made an important contribution to community safety, while also improving the efficiency and safety of our rail operation."

BNSF