Robin Street tunnel is filled with graffiti. It’s a problem that’s gone on for decades. Photo by Jimmy McCarthy

DUNKIRK — Offensive signs. Expletive remarks. There’s serious concern over what’s observed inside the Robin Street tunnel, but a remedy appears to be on the way.

During the Common Council’s meeting Tuesday inside city hall, Robin Street resident Jeanette Delgado came before council members to share her concern over the walkthrough tunnel that’s located at the end of West Third Street. Problems of graffiti inside the tunnel go back decades, and it hasn’t changed today.

“It’s very disgusting,” Delgado said. “It’s not anything that I feel children on their way to and from school should peer their eyes at.”

Fourth Ward Councilman Michael Civiletto, who chairs the Public Safety Committee, said the tunnel’s been brought up many times during meetings. Civiletto said he always knew the tunnel was a safety problem as it’s starting to fall apart. Civiletto said he isn’t sure what to do since it’s property owned by CSX.

“It’s a touchy situation,” he said.

Third Ward Councilman Shaun Heenan noted how a gentleman took it upon himself years ago to repaint the tunnel. Paint was donated to the individual, and Heenan said he’d be more than happy to supply some to remedy the issue immediately.

“(It’s) not on the tracks. I don’t know if that makes a big difference or not,” Heenan said. “If the railroad wants to come at us for it, then it can be on their backs.”

Randy Woodbury, city public works director, said he spoke with the mayor on the issue. Woodbury said he would take up Heenan’s offer and see if the mayor’s impact team could paint it.

“If the railroad company gets mad at us for doing the right thing then let them get mad,” Woodbury said.

Police Chief Dave Ortolano is urging residents living nearby to keep an eye out for individuals entering the tunnel who have a backpack or items which appear like they’re doing something. Individuals should call the police desk right away.

“We’ll get a car right over there and we’ll see what we can do, and hopefully catch somebody that’s damaging it,” he said.

Ortolano said repainting the tunnel right away would be a good thing as well.

“When people graffiti you can’t let it be there,” he said. “The sooner you cover up the message, what we send back to them is we don’t want that.”

Making graffiti is a Class A misdemeanor with punishment that could put people in jail, place them on probation or force them to pay a fine.