Discussion

SANDAG proposes to construct a pedestrian crossing at separated grades over two existing railroad tracks owned by the MTS, adjacent to and east of the existing Grossmont Center Drive grade-separated overcrossing, CPUC Crossing No. 036D-13.90-A. The existing tracks are operated by the San Diego Trolley Inc. for Orange and Green Line Trolley service and by the San Diego and Imperial Valley Railroad for freight operations.

The pedestrian overpass is being proposed due to poor and non-American's with Disabilities Act compliant accessibility at the site. Trolley patrons currently navigate a steep and long set of wooden stairs to access major residential, commercial, retail, medical, and employment facilities. This trolley station is also site of a Transit Oriented Development project, which is a 527-unit residential apartment complex currently under construction. The proposed crossing will serve this complex with access to the Grossmont Shopping Center and the Grossmont Hospital at the top of the embankment.

The minimum vertical clearance over the tracks from the bottom of the grade-separated structure to top of rail will be 33 ft 10 in. The design and construction of the overpass grade-separation structure shall comply with the minimum clearance requirements set forth in California Public Utilities Commission General Order 26-D.