2. Background

The North County Transit District (NCTD) operates the 22-mile Oceanside to Escondido "Sprinter" light-rail transit system along the State Highway 78 Corridor in San Diego County. The NCTD began revenue service along this line in March 2008. This line is the former Escondido Branch of the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad. NCTD has owned the line since 1992. The Sprinter trains provide service to/from various points in San Marcos, including the California State University San Marcos campus. The subject crossing will provide a needed pedestrian-only crossing site over the NCTD line.

Sprinter trains are made-up of diesel-multiple-unit (DMU) light-rail vehicles. The DMU is a self-propelled diesel-electric or diesel-hydraulic rail vehicle, reaching maximum speeds of 50 miles per hour. The DMU cars can be coupled together for train consists of up to three vehicles, with each train capable of transporting a maximum of 300 passengers. NCTD now operates approximately 64 daily Sprinter trains.

Pursuant to an agreement with NCTD, the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company (BNSF) also shares the right-of-way with the Sprinter trains. BNSF now operates up to eight weekly freight trains on the line. Operation of the Sprinter transit service and the BNSF freight service is completely separate as the freight service only operates at night and early morning hours, after completion of all daily Sprinter service.