Report Prepared by: Michael R. Beltran II, PE, City Engineer, Engineering Division
Title
SUBJECT: Presentation and Discussion Regarding the Railroad Quiet Zone Feasibility Study and Updated Costs for Implementation
REPORT IN BRIEF
Presentation for Quiet Zone Feasibility and updated costs for implementation.
RECOMMENDATION
City Council - Provide direction on next steps
Body
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
The City Council has requested Staff to conduct a study to investigate the possibility of a railroad quiet zone along the BNSF railroad alignment within City limits.
DISCUSSION
Code of Federal Regulation 49 CFR Part 222, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) requires all train engineers to utilize their locomotive horns at railroad crossings when workers are present or near the tracks, and at any time it is deemed necessary. With both Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) and Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway traversing through the City at times the amount of noise can be excessive. For this reason, the Council expressed an interest in establishing a railroad quiet zone within City limits.
RRM (Consultant) has submitted costs and conceptual drawings showing proposed layouts at each of the railway crossings.
There are 14 supplemental safety measures (SSM) to choose from in order to establish a Quiet Zone. The Consultant has identified and recommended #13 - Non-Transversable Curb Medians with or without Channelization Devices - as the most cost effective solution for the City.
The Consultant has also recommended that the City consider securing the entire railroad corridor with a barrier of some type.
History and Past Actions
On April 20, 2018, Staff received two (2) proposals with a cost proposal in separate sealed envelopes. The proposals were submitted by CTC, Inc. based in Fort Worth, Texas, with a local office in Los Angeles, California; and RRM Design Group from San Luis Obispo, California.
On May 10, 2018, Engineering and Development Services Staff...
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