Milwaukee Officials, Public Safety Advocates Seek Stronger Oversight Over Rail Infrastracture

As dozens of trains carry potentially explosive crude oil through Wisconsin each week, an aging railroad bridge in downtown Milwaukee is drawing scrutiny.

A city engineer told aldermen Thursday that Canadian Pacific has decided there is no immediate need for repairs to the bridge. But the company has declined to provide a copy of the its safety report.

Anne Steinberg of the group Citizens Acting For Rail Safety questioned the legality of the railroad company reporting on itself.

“It’s not right to let a private company inspect and regulate themselves,” she said. “The government has a responsibility to ensure public safety.”

Steinberg said she goes under the bridge four times a week and does not feel safe because she worries about an oil train accident.

One Milwaukee alderman has called for a change in federal laws to require a third party to evaluate railroad bridges.

Editor’s note: An earlier version of this story described Anne Steinberg as a member of the group 350.org. In her rail advocacy work is with the Milwaukee chapter of the group Citizens Acting for Rail Safety. It has been updated.