Title
Staff Report for Authorizing the City Manager to enter into Service Contract No. 75LX204 with the State of California, Department of Transportation, for funds from the At-Grade Highway Rail Crossing Program for the Hesperian Boulevard at Springlake Drive Railroad Crossing
Staffreport
RECOMMENDATIONS
Staff recommends that the City Council authorize the City Manager to enter into Service Contract No. 75LX204 with the State of California, Department of Transportation, for funds from the At-Grade Highway Rail Crossing Program authorized by Title 23, United States Code, Section 130, for the Hesperian Boulevard railroad crossing at Springlake Drive. This service contract provides grant funds to eliminate pedestrian hazards at the railroad crossing.
BACKGROUND
The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) regularly prioritizes improvements at railroad crossings based upon hazard potential. On January 20, 2010, City staff met with Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR), Alameda-Contra Costa Transit (AC Transit) and CPUC representatives to review the Hesperian Boulevard at-grade highway-rail crossing, CPUC No. 001D-17.50, DOT No. 749745L, near Springlake Drive. This crossing was selected for hazard elimination and safety improvements using Federal Section 130 funds. The Section 130 program is a federally funded program administered by Caltrans to reimburse the actual and direct costs of the design and construction of safety improvements at railroad crossings.
Analysis
Hesperian Boulevard is a six-lane principal arterial with an average of 32,000 daily vehicle trips at a posted speed limit of 40 MPH. There are on average 28 train crossings, including 16 AMTRACK passenger trains at speeds up to 79 MPH. The track crosses the roadway at an approximately 45 degree angle. There is no recent history of train-vehicle collisions so the improvements will focus on pedestrian safety. The improvements will include: sidewalk construction; detectable warning surface in...
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