Dunkirk is moving ahead with CSX and government agencies on plans to close the Robin Street pedestrian tunnel.

City Department of Public Works head Randy Woodbury reported on the plans at the most recent Common Council meeting, responding to a question from Councilman James Stoyle about closing the tunnel. The structure runs under CSX railroad tracks and offers Robin Street pedestrians direct access to Memorial Park. However, vandals have thoroughly trashed the tunnel with graffiti and garbage.

Woodbury said he had “good news on that,” after spending “many hours on the phone and emails with CSX railroad and also with the Federal Railroad Administration and also with the New York State Department of Transportation. They’re setting up a public hearing, we’ll have to conduct that.”

Closing the tunnel was originally CSX’s idea, Woodbury said. “They want to close it, they own it. We’ve spent a lot of our money there, to the tune of $70,000, to make it work. We’re out to bid now on making West Third Street look like East Third Street (which was repaved in 2024). I think that would encourage that whole area to look better.”

The DPW director continued, “In my opinion, I want CSX to close that up in a safe way. But we have to go through the process with DOT, with the railroad, and things like that. It’s moving. It’s not intended that it will cost the city anything out of our tax money. CSX has to pay for that and they’ll take a directive from the Federal Railroad Administration, who has been very helpful to us.”

The city recently gained a three-year extension of a “quiet zone” around the Norfolk Southern tracks, and saw some repaving at railroad and street intersections. Woodbury said that having a good relationship with the FRA got those projects done.

Stoyle suggested, “When you’re milling Third Street, just put (the millings) in the tunnel,” as a money-saving way to close it off.

“I think that’s one of the options,” responded Woodbury. “Some people have a romantic attachment to that tunnel — Maybe I shouldn’t have used that word because I don’t know what happens in there!”

Woodbury added, “I think perhaps it should be barricaded so that in the future, if everybody behaves in the world, we can open it back up.”

“That’s not going to happen,” commented Councilwoman Nancy Nichols.