Peetz Board tells BNSF 'no thanks' to cash for closing crossing

The Peetz Town Board turned down an offer of $200,000 cash from BNSF in exchange for closing one of its crossings. The choice was close the truck route on the north side of Peetz, or the direct access to downtown.

Tuesday, September 9th 2025, 4:03 PM MDT

By Forrest Hershberger

PEETZ -- The Town of Peetz has been offered the opportunity to receive a nice check. All it will cost is closing one of the railroad crossings.

Peetz Maintenance Manager Ron Gentry explained the offer, and why.

"Burlington Northern Santa Fe would love to pay you to shut down one of your two railroad crossings that you have coming into town," Gentry said.

He explained that BNSF wants to give the town $200,000 to close one of your intersections, but it can't be North Street. North Street is the truck route around much of Peetz. The alternative would be to close the crossing at the main street into Peetz ... where a dispensary is proposed.

He told the Board BNSF wants to close a Peetz crossing "because they don't want to maintain it."

"They're wanting to close four down in Sterling alone," Gentry said.

The offer came at a time it could have been tempting. Mayor Traci Davenport noted the cost of asphalt work far exceeds the $200,000 offered, and the impact to the community would be detrimental.