Salem City Council November 9, 2009

Transcription

1 Salem City Council November 9, 2009

2 $1.212 million of the $100 million bond was set aside for Railroad Crossing Safety Improvement Projects Construct projects to improve both vehicular and pedestrian safety at street crossings with the Union Pacific and Portland & Western Railroads. Funds can be used to reduce potential for pedestrian trespassing on railroads between crossings as well. Projects to be approved by City Council. There is interest from residents of inner neighborhoods to see if sufficient safety measures could be implemented to create a horn-free or railroad quiet zone.

3 On April 27, 2005, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) published the Final Rule on the Use of Locomotive Horns at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings. Effective on June 24, 2005, the Final Rule requires that locomotive horns be sounded at all public grade crossings seconds before entering a crossing, but not more that one-quarter mile in advance. The pattern for blowing the horn remains two long, one short, and one long sounding to be repeated as necessary until the locomotive clears the crossing. The Final Rule also provides public authorities the option to establish quiet zones, provided certain supplemental or alternative safety measures are in place, and the crossing accident rate meets FRA standards.

4 A segment of rail line comprising of one or more at-grade highway-rail crossings where trains are ordered not to routinely sound the horn. Although, the engineer may still sound the horn if they believe there is a danger.

5 Only the Public Authority with jurisdiction for the roadway at the crossing may request the Quiet Zone. Because multiple authorities are involved All agencies must agree Actions must be taken jointly Other agencies include the Oregon Department of Transportation Rail Division, and the Union Pacific Railroad

6 The segment must be at least ½ mile in length All crossings must, at a minimum, be equipped with automatic gates and flashers Established based upon an analysis of risk

7 1. Select Area of Proposed Quiet Zone 2. Identify All Crossings 3. Determine Method of Application of Quiet Zone 4. Analyze Public Crossings 5. Diagnostic Review 6. Update National Railroad Crossing Inventory City Council Project Approval 7. Design Improvements Identified by the Diagnostic Review Team 8. Construct Improvements 9. Submit Notification and Install Quiet Zone Signage at All Crossings

8 1. Select area of the proposed Quiet Zone Staff has reviewed the at-grade crossings within the City and evaluated crash history Determined focus on UP line between Mill Street SE and Market Street NE based upon: Number of Trains Traffic Volumes Existing Safety Measures Train/Vehicle Collisions Proposed Safety Measures May include Madison Street NE if funding allows

9 Corridor Selection Mill Street SE to Market Street NE (1.1 mile) Include Madison Street NE (If funding allows)

10 Inventory all Crossings All crossing have gates and flashers Mill Street SE (two-way, 2-lane) State Street (one-way, 3-lane) Court Street NE (one-way, 4-lane) Chemeketa Street NE (two-way, 2-lane) Center Street NE (one-way, 2-lane) Marion Street NE (one-way, 2-lane) D Street NE (two-way, 2-lane) Market Street NE (two-way, 2-lane) Madison Street NE (two-way, 2-lane)

11 Determine method of application of Quiet Zone Since the City s at-grade crossings within the proposed QZ contain pedestrian crossings, the Supplemental Safety Measures (SSM) method with the diagnostic review must be used. Implement Supplemental Safety Measures (SSM) at every public crossing within the proposed Quiet Zone. Installing SSMs at all public crossings means NO risk calculation is necessary Lack of horns is fully compensated at all crossings

12 SSMs are pre-approved safety improvements applied at a public at-grade crossing to reduce the risk of a collision and fully compensate for the absence of the train horn. 4-quadrant gates Gates with raised median or channelization devices One-way streets with gates Permanent Street Closures

13 Install gates on both sides of the crossing to fully block traffic.

14 Fully closes the crossing (risk reduced 77-92%) No impact on local access High implementation and maintenance costs Requires Railroad coordination, approval, and construction.

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16 Install medians bounded by not-traversable curbs or channelization devices on both approaches. Minimum curb height is 6-inches.

17 Deters ability to drive around gate (risk reduced 50-75%) 100 feet long, or 60 feet with existing intersection Lower implementation and maintenance cost Intersecting streets and driveways within 60 feet must be closed or relocated May require Railroad coordination and approval

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19 Several crossings within the proposed Quiet Zone corridor are already one-way streets with gates: State Street Court Street NE Center Street NE Marion Street NE These may only require a Alternative Safety Measures (ASM)

20 Wayside Horn A stationary horn system designed to sound like a Train Horn Mounted at the Crossing Considered a one-for-one substitute for the train horn Improves safety for motorists and pedestrians Reduces noise impact by over 95% at all noise levels

21 Quiet Zone Indicator Wayside Horn

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23 Can a Quiet Zone be established without any Supplemental Safety Measures? Yes, provided it qualifies and the associated risk is below the national standard. Drawbacks? Requires annual review No guarantee the QZ will remain qualified 3 years to requalify Liability may be shifted to City by Railroad

24 Step 6 Begin Diagnostic Review (November 2009 March 2009) A Diagnostic Review Team (DRT) refers to a group of knowledgeable individuals from the department, road authorities, railroads, and others who meet and, using crossing safety management principles, evaluate conditions at existing grade crossings. These teams assist the department in making consensus determinations concerning crossing safety needs. The team will be comprised of the following: City Staff ODOT Railroad Division Union Pacific Railroad representatives Federal Railroad Administration

25 Step 6 Update the National Railroad Crossing Inventory (concurrent with DRT) (November 2009 March 2010) Step 6b City Council Project Approval (Early April 2010) Step 7 Design Improvements Identified by the Diagnostic Review Team and receive ODOT, Union Pacific, and FRA approvals (April 2010 March 2011)

26 Step 8 Construct Improvements (one year) Step 9 Submit Notification and Install Quiet Zone Signage at all Crossings (60-days after all improvements are completed) Step 10 Enjoy the quiet

27 With Council consent of proposed Quiet Zone, proceed with design and implementation of the Supplemental Safety Measures to establish a quiet zone.