Daily Herald opinion: Moving toward healing: New railroad pedestrian safety gates are coming to Barrington, but more are needed

Jan. 25, 2024, was a tragic day in Barrington. Marin Lacson, 17, a Barrington High School junior, was struck and killed by a Metra train as she crossed the railroad tracks on her way to school.

The last thing anyone wants is another tragic loss of life. That’s why, for the past year, community members have been taking action.

Within a week of Marin’s death, District 220 parents and community volunteers stood at those tracks acting as crossing guards, helping students to get to school safely.

And a month later in February 2024, Barrington parents and students were already urging village leaders to act more quickly to address railroad crossing safety.

No one wanted this to happen again. And now, their efforts are paying off.

Next month, pedestrian safety gates are coming to the Canadian National Railway crossing at Main Street near Barrington High School, Steve Zalusky reported last week.

It’s not the same crossing where Marin was struck, but it’s still a busy crossing. It took a little over a year to get the safety gate there, but if the effort keeps one student, one parent, one community member safe moving forward — and it will surely do much more than that — then everyone’s actions, efforts and voices at board meetings will made an important impact.

While this is only one safety gate, it’s a gate that helps a community heal and move forward after a tragedy. So, we applaud Barrington, but we urge them to do more.

Additional gates are needed, especially at the Union Pacific crossing at Hough and Main Streets where Marin was struck.

Yes, there is planning in place for this crossing. Village leaders say they are working on getting approval from the Illinois Commerce Commission, but unfortunately, this gate isn’t expected to be built this year.

For the Barrington community and Marin’s family and friends, this must seem like an eternity. Pedestrian gates at that particular site can’t come soon enough, not only to ensure safety, but to help with the healing process.

Hopefully, this tragedy also is stirring other suburban communities to examine safety issues involving crossings and pedestrians, especially near schools. As Barrington has found, a tragedy such as this can leave lasting scars on an entire community. Assuring student safety will help heal deep wounds, and honor the memory of Marin. She deserves nothing less.