California Public Utilities Commission
505 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco

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FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE PRESS RELEASE

Media Contact: Terrie Prosper, 415.703.1366, news@cpuc.ca.gov Docket #: A.06-12-005

CPUC DENIES EXPO AUTHORITY RAIL CROSSING AT FARMDALE AVENUE AND APPROVES CROSSING AT HARVARD BOULEVARD

SAN FRANCISCO, February 20, 2009 - The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) today approved an application by the Exposition Metro Line Construction Authority (Expo Authority) for a grade-separated crossing at Harvard Boulevard, but denied its request for an at-grade rail crossing at Farmdale Avenue in Los Angeles County.

The Expo Authority initially filed applications requesting authority to construct 38 rail crossings along the new Exposition Boulevard Corridor Light Rail Transit Line in Los Angeles County. A previous CPUC decision authorized construction of 36 of the 38 crossings. Today's decision addresses the last two crossings.

The Expo Line will run in the center median of Exposition Boulevard at the sites of the proposed crossings at Farmdale Avenue and Harvard Boulevard. Exposition Boulevard is two to three lanes wide in each direction. Any rail crossings at these sites, therefore, must cross the double set of train tracks, and the eastbound and westbound lanes of Exposition Boulevard on each side of the tracks.

The CPUC approved Expo Authority's request to construct the new rail line over the existing pedestrian tunnel crossing at Harvard Boulevard. The CPUC found there is an existing grade-separated tunnel crossing that its Consumer Protection and Safety Division (CPSD) staff determined to be adequate. The closure of Harvard Boulevard by the Expo Rail does not impair the ability of students to cross Exposition Boulevard either at the nearby crosswalks at Western and Denker, or through the preexisting pedestrian tunnel. However, the CPUC required Expo Authority to submit a plan within 90 days to the CPUC's CPSD on improvements to the pedestrian tunnel such as increasing lighting or surveillance camera installation that may further enhance tunnel safety for pedestrians. Today's decision allows for the Expo Line at Harvard Boulevard site to be constructed immediately and without further delay.

The CPUC determined that a grade-separated crossing at Farmdale Avenue would provide a higher level of safety than the proposed at-grade crossing by Expo Authority, and that it is practicable to construct a grade-separated pedestrian bridge and close Farmdale to vehicular traffic. Therefore the CPUC denied the requested at grade crossing at Farmdale, and the proceeding remains open for Expo Authority to file any amendments or a new application relating to the Farmdale crossing.

For more information on the CPUC, please visit www.cpuc.ca.gov.
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