Project Description

As described in its supplemented and amended application, ACTA seeks authority to build a grade separation spanning the Alameda Corridor's main tracks (CPUC number 114-16.40-A), Alameda Street, and the former SPTC San Pedro Branch (CPUC number 001-BG-501.30-A). This grade separation will extend along the existing Pacific Coast Highway alignment, starting at Coil Street at its western end, and terminating 700 meters east of Alameda Street. The centerline of Pacific Coast Highway will shift to the south between Blinn Street and Alameda Street to minimize property impacts. The grade separation will include ancillary projects, such as the on-and off-ramp connecting Alameda Street. Construction is now expected to begin in May 2003, and will last for a period of approximately 15 months.

Train speed on the Alameda Corridor tracks at this location is 25 miles per hour. The project is required in order to alleviate traffic congestion resulting from increased rail traffic along the Alameda Corridor and the San Pedro Branch.

Without the proposed grade separation, freight traffic on both the ACTA main tracks and the San Pedro Branch conflicts with local surface street traffic, creating serious traffic delays and increasing crossing hazards.

During construction of the grade separation, Pacific Coast Highway will be closed to through traffic within the project limits for approximately 12 months. Vehicular traffic will be diverted from the construction zone via Coil Street to Colon Street, just north of Pacific Coast Highway. The San Pedro Branch will be closed and barricaded to railroad traffic at the limits of the closure for the duration of construction. A temporary at-grade crossing (CPUC number 001-BG-501.20) will be constructed at Colon Street between Alameda Street-West and Alameda Street-East. ACTA expects that this detour to support the rerouted traffic adequately. However, the Alley crossing (CPUC 001-BG-501.40), just south of Pacific Coast Highway, will be used as a couplet to compliment the Coil Street and Colon Street detour, if necessary. The Alley crossing, if constructed, will also be a temporary crossing without active warning devices for the duration of the service period of the detour road. Each crossing will be constructed of asphalt in accordance with Commissioner General Order (GO) 72. Both crossings, if constructed, will be retired, and the pavement at the crossings and the approaches will be removed upon completion of the new Pacific Coast Highway grade separation. At that time the San Pedro Branch will also be restored to operation. Neither of these temporary detour crossings, if constructed, will have active warning devices. The California Department of Transportation Type 50 barriers will be placed across the closed San Pedro Branch adjacent to each crossing, and a "Track Out of Service" sign will be installed at each crossing.

At the beginning of construction, the existing five-lane crossing of the San Pedro Branch at Pacific Coast Highway (CPUC number 001-BG-501.30) will be retired and closed to the public. The four existing CPUC No. 9 (gate and signal) devices and the paved approaches to the crossing will be removed. Upon completion of the grade separation, the new CPUC number 001BG-501.30-A will be assigned to the grade separated crossing.

The existing five-lane crossing of the ACTA main tracks at Pacific Coast Highway (CPUC number 002H-27.90-C) will be closed when the Pacific Coast Highway detour is in operation. The closed public crossing will become a two-lane private driveway designated CPUC number 114-16.40-X. A CPUC No. 9 gate and signal device will be in place at each approach to the crossing. The eastern access to this crossing will be from the Equilon (Shell) parking area that is secured from the general public. The western access to this crossing will be through a gated driveway at the end of a cul-de-sac constructed at lower Pacific Coast Highway. This private crossing will only be used by Shell Refinery contractor traffic, and for construction access during project construction, but not by through traffic. The expected traffic over this crossing will be as low

as 30 vehicles a day during periods of low refinery maintenance activity, and as high as 300 vehicles a day when the plant is shut down for maintenance. Shell Refinery employees and vehicles transporting refinery products will enter the plant through other gates on the facility, and will not use this crossing. The proposed active warning devices will be in place at the private crossing during all stages of construction, and will remain after completion of the structure. If, during construction, the active warning devices do not function or if traffic is detoured onto lanes not protected by active warning devices, the crossing will be flagged manually. The perimeter of the proposed private driveway will be fenced adjacent to the ACTA right-of-way. A rolling gate will be installed on the west side of the columns and the gate and flashing light device. The rolling gate will be installed in a manner to ensure that the warning signals will not be blocked when the gate is open. The signal will be visible through the fence and gate when it is closed. This fencing will supplement the existing and proposed fencing along the right-of-way of ACTA and the adjacent property. In addition, CalTrans standard R-101 signs, 24" x 18", with the language "Private Property Vehicle Code Enforced" will be installed on the gate and on the fence.

The grade separation will be constructed at the expense of the California Department of Transportation (CalTrans) and ACTA. The division of maintenance of the grade separation will be in accordance with agreements between ACTA, CalTrans, and the City of Los Angeles. The private driveway at-grade crossing of the ACTA tracks (CPUC No. 114-16.40-X) will be maintained pursuant to the maintenance program for the Alameda Corridor and in conformity with all applicable CPUC regulations and standards.