Discussion

The City of Santa Paula (City) proposes to construct improvements to an existing non permitted at-grade pedestrian-rail crossing across a track of the Ventura County Transportation Commission (VCTC) as part of the Santa Paula Branch Line Recreational Trail Project (referred to in the application as Santa Paula Branch Bike Trail Project.)

The Santa Paula Branch Line Trail is proposed to run a total of 32 miles, from Rancho Camulos on the east near the Los Angeles County line, to the Montalvo community near San Buenaventura, on the west. The trail would largely follow the VCTC Santa Paula Branch Line, however the trail would deviate from the rail right-of-way at various locations, where the trail will follow existing roadways before rejoining the rail right-of-way. The trail was contemplated to be constructed under several options, including one large project implemented by VCTC or a number of smaller projects undertaken by the local jurisdictions through which the proposed trail passes.

The goals of the project are to provide a new east-west pedestrian/bike trail to provide recreational and commuter opportunities, as well as improve safety along VCTC's tracks. The dedicated, separate pedestrian/bike path along VCTC's Santa Paula Branch Line right-of-way is designed with fencing to channel the pedestrians and bike riders to at-grade pedestrian-rail crossings, where there will be appropriate railroad warning devices, signage, striping and other trail facilities.

The City of Santa Paula has acquired some funding and chooses to undertake a portion of the project within its jurisdiction at this time. The City seeks the crossing now to address a serious trespassing problem with children walking or biking to school following the existing railroad tracks in the area and crossing the railroad tracks haphazardly at/near the existing school pathway to the Blanchard School.

The proposed trail through Santa Paula primarily runs parallel to the VCTC Santa Paula Branch Line. The crossing is over a short pathway from the main Santa Paula Branch Line Trail to the Blanchard School property. The proposed crossing treatments will channelize pedestrians to the proper crossing location and would serve as a single, controlled access across the VCTC tracks for pedestrians and bike riders. Bike riders and pedestrians would travel on an eight foot wide paved pathway over the single set of railroad tracks at this location. The crossing will be known as the Blanchard School Pedestrian Path.

In addition to Fillmore and Western Railway (FWRY) passenger excursion trains, the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) operate, freight, respectively over the VCTC line. Approximately one (1) passenger train per month at a maximum speed of 15 MPH and up to three (3) passenger trains per week at a maximum speed of at 10 MPH operate over this portion of the Santa Paula Branch Line. All trains operate during daylight hours.

The crossing is located on the west side of Main Street, between Lucada Street and Elm Street at mile post 413.04 of VCTC's track. The proposed new CPUC Crossing Number will be 001BE-413.04-D. The crossing will allow access between the eastern side of the VCTC track and the west side of the track providing a legitimate pedestrian route at this location within the City to the Blanchard School. Currently pedestrians walking or biking to school follow the existing railroad track along Main Street and frequently trespass across the railroad tracks at the existing pathway to get to the Blanchard School, crossing the tracks illegally at-grade. The construction of the pedestrian crossing and fencing improvements will limit the existing trespassing hazard and provide for safe pedestrian movements across the tracks in the area. The nearest crossing to the south is the highway-rail crossing of Peck Road (CPUC Crossing No 001BE-412.80) and the nearest crossing to the north is the crossing of Cameron Street (CPUC Crossing No 001BE-413.20).

Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant walkways will be installed on both approaches. West of the crossing, the walkway will lead up to the Calavo Growers parking lot, where the back of the Blanchard School is accessible. East of the crossing the walkway will fork into two paths. One direction of the Santa Paula Branch Line Recreational Trail curves north from the fork parallel to Main Street that will take pedestrians into town and eventually connect with another trail that leads into the City of Fillmore. The other direction of the Santa Paula Branch Line Recreational Trail extends to the south for approximately 1,000 feet where the trail ends just east of Peck Road.

The Blanchard School pedestrian path section of the future Santa Paula Branch Line Bike Trail will be constructed as part of this project, and will allow for continuous ADA compliant pathway from the proposed railroad at-grade crossing to the main pathway off of Main Street.

The proposed at-grade crossing will cross one set of tracks and will be constructed with the following features:

o Cast-in-place concrete panel crossing surface;

o Cast-in-place concrete pedestrian pathway connecting the crossing panels to the pathways;

o Commission Standard 9 pedestrian warning device (flashing light signal assembly with automatic gate arm) at each approach to the crossing;

o One push-to-open swing gate adjoining the location of each Commission Standard 9 gate arm to create a point of emergency egress when the gates are in the down position;

o Wood hand rails along pedestrian pathway approaches to the crossing to direct and channelize pedestrians;

o Wood fencing on either side of the crossing to preclude pedestrian circumvention of warning devices;

o Detectable warning consisting of yellow tactile strips on either side of each track;

o Twelve -inch white edge lines to channelize pedestrians across the tracks; and

o Lighting will be provided on the south side of the trail at the crossing intersection, to improve visibility and safety.

In addition to the above safety features, standard signage would be provided either affixed to fencing or post-mounted. As proposed in the application, signage would indicate by verbiage or picture the following messages: "Warning, Watch for Trains, Trains Approach from Both Directions", "Skewed" and other standard signage.