ORAN TRIES TO IMPROVE SAFETY AT RAIL CROSSING

ORAN -- Distant whistles and red, blinking lights are common sounds and sights at many railroad crossings. But only stop signs and pavement signs warn motorists of the Oran crossing where two women died Friday.

Wanda Johns and Sylvia McGranahan were killed when the car in which they were riding was struck by a Burlington Northern train at the Shelby Street crossing at the crest of a hill.

Flowers now lean against the signs on either side of the railroad tracks to mark the tragedy. Four other people have died at the crossing since 1957.

Twenty-one people died statewide in vehicle-train accidents last year; 12 died in 1994.

Although several factors can cause an accident, most accidents occurred during the day and at lighted crossings, according to a report by the Division of Transportation for the Missouri Department of Economic Development.

One of the three crossings in Oran has a lighted signal, but there are no gates. Pavement markings and other signs alert drivers at the Greer and Radcliff crossings.

The state offered to install a lighted crossing at Shelby Street last year if another crossing in town was closed, said Rick Mooney, a railroad safety manager for the transportation division of the Missouri Department of Economic Development. But the city didn't agree to the deal.

Now the town board would like a signal installed and is considering petitioning the state. Mayor Louie Hirschowitz could not be reached Tuesday night for comment about the effort.

Mooney, who also heads Missouri's Operation Lifesaver program, said the key to safety is education. The program began in 1979.

To reduce the number of accidents, "it's necessary to educate people about how to approach a crossing," Mooney said. Missouri law dictates that drivers must stop within 15 feet of a railroad crossing when signals warn of an oncoming train.

Warnings like pavement markings, cross bucks and flashing lights are common crossing signs. But the price tag for an active warning isn't cheap. The average bill for a flashing light or gated signal is about $125,000. The federal government funds 90 percent of the signal installations; the remaining 10 percent is paid by the Missouri Highways and Transportation Department.

Transportation officials decide which of the 4,400 crossings in Missouri get signal lights, Mooney said. In 1994, only 1,573 of the state's crossings had automatic warnings. Missouri spent about $5 million to upgrade crossings last year.

"They look at the exposure and the number of cars that go across," Mooney said, adding that about 35 crossing lights are upgraded or installed each year.

Other criteria for signal installations include the number and type of vehicles that cross the tracks each day, the number of trains that travel in the area and the number of accidents at the crossing.

Stoddard County has the highest number of accidents in Southeast Missouri. Jackson and Greene counties, which include Kansas City and Springfield, lead the state in accidents.