STATE OF CALIFORNIA Edmund G. Brown Jr., Governor
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
505 VAN NESS AVENUE
SAN FRANCISCO, CA 94102-3298
June 20, 2011 Draft Resolution SX-98 Agenda ID # 10503
TO: All Interested Parties
Enclosed is draft Resolution SX-98 of the Consumer Protection and Safety Division. It will be on the Commission's July 28, 2011 agenda. The Commission may then act on this resolution or it may postpone action until later.
When the Commission acts on a draft resolution, it may adopt all or part of it as written, amend, modify or set it aside and prepare a different resolution. Only when the Commission acts does the resolution become binding on the parties.
Parties to this matter may submit comments on this draft resolution. An original and two copies of the comments, with a certificate of service, should be submitted to:
Consumer Protection and Safety Division
Attention: Richard Clark
California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Avenue
San Francisco, CA 94102
Parties may submit comments on or before July 15, 2011. The date of submission is the date the comments are received by the Consumer Protection and Safety Division. Parties must serve a copy of their comments on the other parties on the same date that the comments are submitted to the Consumer Protection and Safety Division.
Comments shall be limited to five pages in length plus a subject index listing the recommended changes to the draft resolution, a table of authorities and appendix setting forth the proposed findings and ordering paragraphs.
Comments shall focus on the factual, legal, or technical errors in the draft resolution, and shall make specific reference to the record or applicable law. Comments which fail to do so will be accorded no weight and are not to be submitted.
Persons interested in comments of parties may write to Jose Pereyra, telephone him at (213) 576-7083, or email him at jfp@cpuc.ca.gov .
/s/ RICHARD W. CLARK
Richard W. Clark, Director
Consumer Protection and Safety Division
Enclosures: Draft Resolution SX-98
Certificate of Service/Service List
CPSD/RWC/PWK/DAR/RXM/JFP/mc1 DRAFT Resolution SX-98
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA
Consumer Protection and Safety Division Rail Transit and Crossings Branch Rail Crossings Engineering Section |
RESOLUTION SX-98 Date: July 28, 2011 |
R E S O L U T I O N
RESOLUTION SX-98 PURSUANT TO SECTION 13.1 OF GENERAL ORDER 75-D AUTHORIZING LOS ANGELES COUNTY METROPOLITAN TRANSPORTATION AUTHORITY (METRO) TO DEVIATE FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 9.5 OF GENERAL ORDER 75-D BY MODIFYING THE DURATION OF THE AUDIBLE COMPONENT OF THE GRADE CROSSING WARNING DEVICES AT THE ARLINGTON BOULEVARD, 7TH STREET, 11TH/DEGAN BOULEVARD, BUCKINGHAM ROAD, FARMDALE AVENUE, AND HAUSER BOULEVARD GRADE CROSSINGS OF THE EXPOSITION CORRIDOR LIGHT RAIL LINE IN THE CITY OF LOS ANGELES, LOS ANGELES COUNTY.
SUMMARY
The Exposition Metro Line Construction Authority (Expo Authority) on behalf of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro), by letters dated May 18, 2010 and, November 16, 2010, has requested authority pursuant to Section 13.1 of Commission General Order (GO) 75-D, to modify the operation of the automatic highway-rail grade crossing warning device bells at six crossings along its Metro Exposition Line (Expo Line) light rail transit project phase 1 alignment. The Expo Authority requests authorization to adjust the warning device systems to silence the crossing warning device bells after the gate arms reach a horizontal position. The crossing device warning lights will continue to function throughout the entire warning operating cycle, however the bells would silence once the gates are fully deployed and in the horizontal position. Expo Authority is requesting an exemption at the following highway-rail crossings:
1. Arlington Boulevard
2. 7th Street
3. 11th/Degan Boulevard
4. Buckingham Road
5. Farmdale Avenue
6. Hauser Boulevard
BACKGROUND
Phase 1 of the Expo Line is an 8.74 mile light rail line extension that runs from downtown Los Angeles to Culver City. The line will subsequently be extended to Santa Monica during Phase 2 of the extension project. Phase 1 of the Expo Line has been approved by the Commission and will consist of forty grade crossings. Thirteen of the crossings are grade-separated crossings, while the remaining 27 are at-grade motor vehicle or pedestrian crossings.
Of the 27 at-grade crossings, six of these motor vehicle and pedestrian crossings are along the Metro's exclusive right-of-way alignment and are equipped with standard highway-rail crossing warning devices that include flashing light signals, four-quadrant gates and bells. The remaining at-grade crossings are along the street-running alignment and are controlled by traffic signals, dedicated train signals, and active "TRAIN" LED warning signs. Since light rail vehicles, motor vehicles, bicycles and pedestrians are controlled by traffic signal systems along the street-running portion of the system, crossing bells are neither required nor necessary.
Expo Authority is requesting the exemption at each of the six motor vehicle and pedestrian crossings along the exclusive right-of-way alignment to mitigate the noise to adjacent residential neighborhoods. Residential dwellings are located in close proximity of several of the two-track grade crossings. Metro plans to operate Expo light rail vehicle (LRV) service 7 days a week, with LRVs ultimately operating on 10-minute headways during peak periods. Metro service currently begins at 4:00 AM and ends at 2:00 AM daily with extended hours on weekends.
DISCUSSION
Section 9.5 of Commission General Order 75-D states:
"Audible Warning Devices. Bells or other audible warning devices shall be included in all automatic warning device assemblies (except as provided in Section 10) and shall be operated in conjunction with the flashing light signals. See American Railway Engineering and maintenance of Way Associations Communications and Signals Manual of Recommended Practice for reference."
The modification of the automatic crossing warning devices would allow for the bells to sound when triggered by the approaching LRV, while the gate arm is moving from the vertical to the horizontal position. The bells would then stop sounding once the gate arm reaches the down (horizontal) position. At this point, the absence of an audible alert from the crossing warning devices will be mitigated by the sounding of the LRV's onboard "quacker" device in accordance with Commission regulations in General Order 143-B sections 3.04 and 7.09 and Metro's established rules and procedures.
Expo Authority's request for this exemption is in accordance with guidelines found in industry standards promulgated by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and the American Railway Engineering and Maintenance of Way Association (AREMA), and therefore consistent with the provisions of Section 9.5 of GO 75-D referencing that standard.
FHWA's Railroad-Highway Grade Crossing Handbook: Chapter IV(C) (3), page 114, states in part "When gates are used, the bell may be silenced when the gate arms descend to within 10 degrees of the horizontal position. Silencing the bell when the train reaches the crossing or when the gates are down may be desired to accommodate residents of suburban areas."
Part 3.1.15(E)(8) of the AREMA Communications and Signals Manual of Recommended Practices states: "Bell, when used, shall sound a warning from the time the flashing light signals start to operate at least until the gate arm(s) have descended to within 10 degrees of the horizontal position."
Metro has received deviations from this Commission requirement in the past for a number of their Gold Line crossings. Expo Authority and Metro believe that the exemption sought at the six crossings, for silencing the bells while the gates are in the horizontal positions, is a practical and reasonable approach for mitigating noise in the communities, and that safety will not be compromised if the exemption is granted.
The Commission's Consumer Protection and Safety Division - Rail Crossings Engineering Section (RCES) has visited the crossing locations, reviewed and analyzed Expo Authority's request. RCES Recommends that the requested deviation from the requirements of GO 75-D be granted in part and denied in part.
RCES recommends that the Farmdale Avenue crossing be excluded from the Expo Authority's request under Section 13.1 of Commission General Order (GO) 75-D. The Farmdale Avenue crossing was the subject of a Commission proceeding in which the design and safety of the crossing were thoroughly investigated. Due to the crossing's proximity to Dorsey High School, and the Commission's Decision (D.) 10-07-026 in Application (A.) 07-05-013 that approved the at-grade crossing design for Farmdale Avenue inclusive of the crossing bells, RCES believes that the audible warning provided by the continuous sounding of the warning device bells should remain for the Farmdale Avenue crossing.
RCES further recommends that the Expo Authority's request be granted for the remaining five crossings:
1. Arlington Boulevard
2. 7th Street
3. 11th/Degan Boulevard
4. Buckingham Road
5. Hauser Boulevard
NOTICE
On June 20, 2011 the Expo Authority request was published in the Commission's Daily Calendar.
COMMENTS
The draft Resolution of the Consumer Protection and Safety Division in this matter was mailed in accordance with Section 311 of the public Utilities Code and Rule 14.2 (c) of the Commission's Rules of Practice and Procedure. ______ comments were received.
FINDINGS
1. Expo Authority requests authority for a deviation from the requirements of Commission General Order 75-D Section 9.5 to silence the crossing warning device bells after the gate arms reach a horizontal position, at the six crossings of the Metro Exposition Line light rail extension at Arlington Boulevard (CPUC No. 084S-103.40), 7th Street (CPUC No. 084S-103.80), 11th/Degan Boulevard (CPUC No. 084S-104.10), Buckingham Road (CPUC No. 084S-104.70), Farmdale Avenue (084S-105.00), and Hauser Boulevard (CPUC No. 084S-106.10) in the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County.
2. Commission staff has reviewed Expo Authority's proposal and finds that the request is a practical and reasonable approach for mitigating noise in the communities and, that safety will not be compromised at the five crossings of Arlington Boulevard (CPUC No. 084S-103.40), 7th Street (CPUC No. 084S-103.80), 11th/Degan Boulevard (CPUC No. 084S-104.10), Buckingham Road (CPUC No. 084S-104.70), and Hauser Boulevard (CPUC No. 084S-106.10) in the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County.
3. The Farmdale Avenue (084S-105.00) crossing is adjacent to Dorsey High School and substantial pedestrian activity is expected at this crossing location.
4. The design and safety of the Farmdale Avenue crossing was addressed by Commission proceeding A. 07-05-013 and D. 10-07-026, and therefore Staff recommends omitting it from Expo Authority's request.
5. Staff recommends that this resolution be adopted.
THEREFORE, IT IS ORDERED THAT:
Exposition Metro Line Construction Authority (Expo Authority) on behalf of the Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority (Metro) be granted authority to modify the crossing warning device bells to sound, once activated, until the gate arms reach the down (horizontal) position at the five crossings of Arlington Boulevard (CPUC No. 084S-103.40), 7th Street (CPUC No. 084S-103.80), 11th/Degan Boulevard (CPUC No. 084S-104.10), Buckingham Road (CPUC No. 084S-104.70), and Hauser Boulevard (CPUC No. 084S-106.10) in the City of Los Angeles, Los Angeles County.
Expo Authority is not authorized to modify the crossing warning device bells at the crossing of Farmdale Avenue (084S-105.00), and shall ensure that the warning device bells sound continuously throughout the warning device activation cycle.
The following requirements shall apply to the modification of the automatic crossing warning devices at Arlington Boulevard, 7th Street, 11th/Degan Boulevard, Buckingham Road, and Hauser Boulevard:
1. The automatic crossing warning devices shall continue to operate for a minimum of 20 seconds prior to the LRV reaching the crossing, and gate arms must be in the fully down (horizontal) position prior to the LRV's arrival at the crossing.
2. The warning device bells shall continue to sound until the gate arms reach a horizontal position.
3. Expo Authority shall notify the City of Los Angeles and the Commission's Rail Crossings Engineering Section Staff when the modifications to the Arlington Boulevard, 7th Street, 11th/Degan Boulevard, Buckingham Road, and Hauser Boulevard automatic grade crossing warning devices are completed and pre-revenue testing of the warning systems are scheduled.
This resolution is effective today.
I certify that the foregoing resolution was duly introduced, passed, and adopted by the Commission at its regularly scheduled meeting on _______________. The following Commissioners voted favorably thereon:
_____________________________
PAUL CLANON Executive Director |
CERTIFICATE OF SERVICE
I certify that I have by mail this day served a true copy of Draft Resolution SX-98 on all identified parties in this matter as shown on the attached list.
Dated June 20, 2011, at Sacramento, California.
/s/MARIA CARDENAS
Maria Cardenas
NOTICE
Parties should notify the Consumer Protection and Safety Division, California Public Utilities Commission, 505 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco, CA 94102, of any change of address to ensure that they continue to receive documents. You must indicate the Resolution number on which your name appears.
SERVICE LIST
DRAFT RESOLUTION SX-98
Eric R. Olson Chief Project Officer Exposition Metro Line Construction Authority 707 Wilshire Boulevard, 34th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90017 |
John E. Fisher Assistant General Manager Los Angeles Department of Transportation 100 S. Main Street, 10th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90012 |
Richard Thorpe Chief Executive Officer Exposition Metro Line Construction Authority 707 Wilshire Boulevard, 34th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90017 |
Sean Skehan Transportation Engineer Los Angeles Department of Transportation 100 S. Main Street, 10th Floor Los Angeles, CA 90012 |
Vijay Khawani Director of Corporate Safety Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority One Gateway Plaza Los Angeles, CA 90012 |
J. P. Jones State Legislative Director United Transportation Union 1005 Twelfth Street, Suite 4 Sacramento, CA 95814 |
Michael Harris-Gifford Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority One Gateway Plaza Los Angeles, CA 90012 |
John Miller Engineering Project Manager Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority One Gateway Plaza Los Angeles, CA 90012 |
Bruce Shelburne Los Angeles County Metropolitan Transportation Authority One Gateway Plaza Los Angeles, CA 90012 |
