City applies for railroad crossing approvals

City staff members have submitted an application to build an at-grade crossing at the train station railroad tracks in downtown Davis.

Staff members turned the application in to the California Public Utilities Commission on Aug. 11, the city announced in a news release Monday. They were acting on a decision made by the City Council in May.

The crossing would allow access between the downtown and the Olive Drive neighborhood, which are on opposite sides of the tracks. It would connect to a pathway on the neighborhood side of the tracks, guiding pedestrians and bicyclists to two possible exits.

The city also is requesting approvals for an emergency vehicle-only access route.

A final decision is expected from the CPUC in nine to 18 months, according to the city’s news release.

For years, people — often Olive Drive residents, many of whom are children — have been crossing the tracks illegally.

One UC Davis study counted 387 illegal crossings at the tracks in just three days. Ninety-eight of those crossings were made by school-age children.

In June, a man was struck by a train and died at the train station railroad tracks.

Citing the dangers of keeping open access at the tracks, Union Pacific Railroad is planning an 8-foot tall, 3,600-foot-long fence to stop people from crossing. The fence would parallel the tracks along Olive Drive, from Richards Boulevard to L Street.

Union Pacific representatives said any death that occurs on the company’s rail lines not only triggers a full investigation, which sucks up resources, but is traumatizing to all parties involved.

Union Pacific has invested $3.5 billion for similar safety improvements at its rail lines, which span 23 states. Recently, projects have been completed in Fresno, Oakland, Richmond and Live Oak.

The Davis depot, a high-volume station with 354 trains passing through weekly, is next on the company’s to-do list.

City leaders and many residents, however, were appalled by Union Pacific’s unilateral decision to build the fence.

Those who live in the Olive Drive neighborhood, which includes Slatter’s Court, Davis Mobile Estates, César Chávez Plaza and The Lexington apartments, worry about losing direct access to the downtown.

As a result, they would have to take an alternative, longer route on Richards Boulevard that many say is actually less safe than crossing the tracks.

Because Union Pacific refused to drop the fence plan, city officials moved to get approvals from the CPUC to build an at-grade crossing. The CPUC has jurisdiction over all public railroad crossings in the state.

“The city believes that a fence by itself is more dangerous than a fence with an at-grade crossing,” according to the news release. “A fence alone would push pedestrians (and bicyclists) to the ends of the fence … where trains are traveling faster and where there have historically been fatalities.”

The city has budgeted $50,000 from redevelopment funds to pay for staff time, surveyor work, traffic consultant work, engineering, legal costs and assistance for processing the necessary paperwork for the project.

A very rough cost estimate is $1 million to build the at-grade crossing and $600,000 for the emergency vehicle access route, according to Anne Brunette, the city’s property management coordinator.

An above-grade — or overpass — crossing would cost about six times as much, Brunette said. An underground crossing is impossible due to the configuration of the property, she said.

Possible funding sources to complete the project are additional redevelopment funds, roadway impact fees and a $250,000 Capitol Corridor Joint Power Authority grant already set aside for the project, Brunette said. A Community Development Block Grant might fund the handicap accessibility portion of the project, she said.

UC Davis student Luanna Toney, 19, said she has walked across the tracks before and she thinks the pedestrian crossing is a good idea.

“It’s kind of difficult for individuals to know exactly where to cross without being endangered,” said Toney, while waiting for a train on Wednesday afternoon. “You basically have to watch your back because there is no safe crossing.”

Mayor Joe Krovoza said the city is strongly committed to improving public safety.

“Over the past 20 years, Davis has invested millions of dollars of local money in providing safe access across Interstate 80 and the railroad tracks,” Krovoza said. “Past projects have included the Mace Boulevard widening, Dave Pelz pedestrian/bike overcrossing, Pole Line Road vehicle/pedestrian/bike overcrossing, Richards Boulevard interchange improvements, Putah Creek pedestrian/bike undercrossing of I-80 and the railroad tracks and improvements at the train station.

“A safe crossing at the depot represents the last access link between a residential area south of the tracks and the remainder of Davis. The residents of Olive Drive deserve safe access to the rest of town.”

— Reach Crystal Lee at clee@davisenterprise.net or (530) 747-8057.

Short URL: http://www.davisenterprise.com/?p=72785

Posted by Crystal Lee on Aug 17 2011.
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