Jill Burton

Crossings eligible for upgrades are selected by a computerized process, said KDOT's Jill Burton, a technician specialist based in Topeka.At the beginning of each year, KDOT computers produce a list of railroad crossings considered dangerous.The rankings are based on the number of trains and vehicles that travel through a given intersection rather than the frequency of accidents, Burton said.

Inspectors from the state and local officials then meet to personally view each intersection before either approving the upgrade or scratching the intersection from the list.The two slated for improvements in Cowley County were at the top of the 2005 list, said Burton.

Crossings eligible for upgrades are selected by a computerized process, said KDOT's Jill Burton, a technician specialist based in Topeka.At the beginning of each year, KDOT computers produce a list of railroad crossings considered dangerous.The rankings are based on the number of trains and vehicles that travel through a given intersection rather than the frequency of accidents, Burton said.

Inspectors from the state and local officials then meet to personally view each intersection before either approving the upgrade or scratching the intersection from the list.The two slated for improvements in Cowley County were at the top of the 2005 list, said Burton.