Discussion

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) proposes to construct a drainage culvert and a new pedestrian-rail crossing under the Union Pacific Railroad (UPPR) mainline track in the La Conchita area of Ventura County. The pedestrian crossing is part of Caltrans's project to add a High occupancy Vehicle lane in each direction of the US-101 from just south of Mobile Pier Road underpass in Ventura County, to just south of Casitas Pass Road in Santa Barbara County, for a total project length of approximately 6 miles.

The larger project is to provide additional capacity on the US-101 to minimize vehicle delay and to reduce traffic congestion by providing a high occupancy vehicle lane. The project will also facilitate the flow of goods and services, as well as improve operations along US-101 in the surrounding area. As part of the project, and to provide a safe passage for pedestrians across US-101 and the UPRR mainline tracks, Caltrans will also construct a grade-separated pedestrian crossing under the freeway and UPRR mainline tracks.

The new pedestrian crossing and associated fencing will provide increased railroad safety in the vicinity of the La Conchita and Mussel Shoals community. Currently pedestrians traveling to the beach either traverse the 4-lane highway (US-101) surface or cross underneath the tracks and US-101 via an existing state-maintained drainage culvert under the tracks and freeway.

Caltrans proposes to modify the existing drainage culvert in its current location, as well as construct the pedestrian tunnel adjacent to and just north of the drainage culvert. The construction of the pedestrian crossing will improve public safety and provide for safe pedestrian movements across the tracks and US-101 in the area.

The crossing will be known as the La Conchita Pedestrian crossing. In addition to UPRR trains, the National Railroad Passenger Corporation (Amtrak) operates passenger trains over this line. Approximately twelve (12) passenger trains per day at a maximum speed of 55 MPH and one (1) freight train per day at a maximum speed of at 55 MPH operate over these tracks.

UPRR tracks run parallel to the highway, approximately 50 feet east of the northbound edge of pavement of US-101 and 62 feet from the western edge of pavement of West Surfside Street, a residential freeway frontage road in La Conchita. The railroad right-of-way is raised one to five feet above the adjacent grade. The proposed new CPUC Crossing Number will be 001E-382.83-BD. The reconstruction of the 8-foot wide by 4-foot box drainage culvert located between Oxnard Avenue and Sunland Avenue will remain in the same location. It will have an opening of eight feet tall in the inland side and four feet tall at the ocean side. An adjacent tunnel will be constructed to the north of the drainage culvert for the pedestrian-rail crossing under UPRR tracks and US-101. The nearest crossing to the south is the highway-rail crossing of Santa Barbara Avenue (CPUC Crossing No 001E-383.10) and the nearest crossing to the north is the grade-separated crossing of Rincon Point Underpass (CPUC Crossing No 001E-380.85-B).

The proposed pedestrian-rail crossing will consist of an 8 (eight) foot wide tunnel under one set of UPRR railroad tracks located on an overhead bridge structure. There will be a minimum vertical clearance within the tunnel of 8 (eight) feet from the top of the tunnel to the pathway surface below.

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant walkways will be installed on the both approaches to the pedestrian-rail crossing. North of the crossing on the inland side, a 5 (five) foot wide gently descending walkway, approximately 95 feet in length, will lead from the connection to the local street network, down to the tunnel entrance. The pathway connects to the curb line of West Surfside Street, a residential street in the Mussel Shoals community of La Conchita, between Santa Paula Street and North Sunland Avenue. At the south end of the pedestrian tunnel, the walkway will fork into two paths. One path turns west from the fork to an ascending ramp that slopes up to the beach for approximately 160 feet. The other path extends in the east direction from the pathway approximately 60 feet then a sharp right for approximately 20 feet where it will connect to the beach.

In addition, a 6-foot-high, chain-link fence will be installed on the northwest side of the tracks, between the residential community and the tracks. The fence will extend along the railroad right-of-way from just south of the tunnel location to the north, just beyond Santa Paula Street. Fencing may be extended further north, pending further discussions with UPRR. The fencing will channel and direct pedestrians to the legitimate pedestrian-rail crossing location. Additionally, lighting will be provided for the entrance areas, sidewalks and tunnel, to improve visibility and safety.