I was dismayed to learn in my morning paper that the railroad will not be held accountable in any way for the tragic death of the cyclist who was killed by a train at a crossing at Boulevard Park that lacked a crossing gate.

It defies common sense for some grade crossings in town to have those gates and others (at Boulevard Park and near Maritime Heritage Park at C Street) to still lack this obvious safety device, especially after a person was killed at one of these dangerous crossings.

Surely BNSF makes enough profit on its operations to include this change in its budget. Surely it would be a sign of good faith on its part at this time to do so while it presses its case for increasing its traffic through Bellingham to accommodate the proposed coal port.

How many more tragedies will it take before something is done?

Jon Shaughnessy

Bellingham