IV. THE CROSSING IS HAZARDOUS

The West Doran Street highway-rail at-grade crossing presents a significant hazard to motor vehicles and drivers on local streets and the adjacent highways, pedestrians, bicyclists, Metrolink inter-city rail passengers and operations, Amtrak commuter rail passengers and operations, UPRR freight crews and trains that operate in this corridor, and to people who live and work in the surrounding area. Considering the railroad and roadway geometry, traffic volumes and types, and the location of a propane and industrial gas bulk-loading and storage facility immediately adjacent to the crossing, the existing configuration of the crossing presents numerous deficiencies and risks to both motorists and trains. For example:

· The crossing lies immediately adjacent to a propane and industrial gas storage and wholesale/retail distributorship, with tanks located as close as 30 feet from the tracks. The location of this facility near the crossing brings trucks loaded with propane and other industrial gases to cross the railroad tracks over the West Doran Street crossing, and increases the risk of a collision between a passenger train or a freight train and an industrial gas or propane-laden vehicle.

· The location of the industrial gas and/or propane storage facilities is sufficiently close to the rail line to create the following hazards:

o Impact of a derailed train with the propane/industrial gas facilities.

o Impact of flying debris from a derailed train with the propane/industrial gas facilities.

o Impact of flying debris from a train and motor vehicle collision at the crossing with the propane/industrial gas facilities.

· The crossing has limited storage space of only 35 feet (between the tracks and San Fernando Road) for motor vehicles traveling west over the railroad tracks on West Doran Street. Staff has observed vehicles violate state law and posted signs by stopping on the

crossing to wait for the traffic signal or to wait for sufficient gaps in traffic to make right turns onto southbound San Fernando Road.

· The crossing is poorly configured, such that tractor trailer trucks and long flat bed trucks travelling southbound on San Fernando Road and turning right onto West Doran Street are forced to extend into and block east bound traffic on West Doran Street in order to negotiate the turn from San Fernando and to negotiate the crossing of the railroad tracks.

· Significant ambient noise is generated by the freeways, traffic on San Fernando Road, the nearby City of Glendale power plant, and the South Coast Recycling Center. This noise level can interfere with the ability of pedestrians and motorists to hear crossing bells and approaching train horns at the crossing.

· The crossing intersects the SCRRA's commuter railroad line with Metrolink and Amtrak passenger trains traveling at speeds up to 79 mph and with UPRR freight trains traveling at speeds up to 60 mph.

· Propane and/or industrial gas trucks and tanks are located as close as 50 yards from the close edge of the SR-134 highway overhead off-ramp and 120 yards from the far edge of the SR-134 highway structure, putting these structures and motorists at risk in any propane or industrial gas release and/or ignition that may result from a collision at the crossing.