Background

Section 2450 et seq. of the California Streets and Highways (S&H) Code establishes the Grade Separation Program to fund projects throughout the state that will eliminate hazardous grade crossings. Each year, the California Transportation Commission (CTC) distributes a total of $15 million to eligible projects (S&H Code § 190) in the priority established by this Commission. Therefore, prior to July 1, the Commission establishes a Priority List of eligible separation projects throughout the state most urgently in need of construction pursuant to S&H Code § 2452.

In Decision (D.) 98-06-074 (I.97-07-014), the Commission indicated that the total fund of $15 million was woefully inadequate to fund projects totaling $600 million that were direly needed to protect the public. As of the date of this decision this fund has not been increased. However, Assembly Bill 357, a Commission-sponsored bill, is currently pending before the California Senate. This bill proposes to increase funding for grade separation projects from $15 million to $60 million per year.

The Commission Priority List may contain projects for the construction of new grade crossings, alteration of existing separations, or projects that eliminate crossings by removing or relocating streets or railroad tracks. For a project that eliminates an existing crossing or alters or reconstructs an existing grade separation, an allocation of 80% of the estimated cost of the project is made, with the local agency and railroad each contributing 10%. For a project that plans a grade separation of a proposed new crossing (where currently there is no existing crossing), an allocation of 50% of the estimated project costs is made, with the remaining 50% contributed by the local agency.

Total Funds Available

The California Department of Transportation (Caltrans) annually receives $15 million for allocation to projects on the Priority List. However, funds allocated by Caltrans may be held in abeyance for years due to delayed projects, causing other eligible projects to remain without adequate funding. All projects on the Priority List are categorized as being urgently in need of construction. Many of them are ready to commence construction as soon as Caltrans makes an allocation. Since funds for grade separation projects are scarce, this year Caltrans has established a new policy regarding project delays. Caltrans is reviewing uncompleted projects allocated funds in the prior years to ascertain whether they are ready to commence construction. Allocations to projects in a prior year that are delayed indefinitely will revert to the fund to be distributed to other eligible, timely projects.

Caltrans has identified two delayed projects in the City of Fresno where approximately $9.5 million will revert to the fund and be reallocated. This amount, added to the annual $15 million grant, totals approximately $24.5 million to be allocated in fiscal year 1999-2000. At the hearing, Caltrans estimated that four new projects will be funded in fiscal year 1999-2000. On June 7, 2000, Caltrans notified the Commission that the following four projects, with their current ranking on the Priority List in this proceeding, had been funded from 1999 funds: City of Monclair, Ramona Avenue (#11); Kern County, Seventh Standard Road (#14); City of San Buenaventura, Auto Center Drive/Johnson Drive (#44); and Fresno County, Chestnut Avenue (#46). Accordingly, staff removed these projects from the Priority List in this proceeding. Caltrans anticipates a total of $15 million in state funding will be allocated in this proceeding (July 1, 2000-June 30, 2001).

Maximum Allocation Per Project

In compliance with S&H Code § 2454(g), the total allocation for a single project shall not exceed $5 million without specific legislative authorization, except that the amount for a single project allocation may be increased to either: the amount that includes the federal construction cost index increase since 1976; or, an amount that does not exceed one-third of the total funds appropriated for grade separation projects. The Commission Staff uses the Price Trends for Federal-Aid Highway Construction as the federal construction cost index. For 1999, the second quarter composite index is 143.4. The 1976 composite index is 56.3. Based on these numbers, the allocation can be increased to $12.7 million ([143.4/56.3] *$5 million), if this allocation does not exceed one-third of the funds available. Since 1974, the fund has remained at $15 million. One-third of this fund is $5 million. Therefore, the controlling limit is based on available funds. For the purpose of this investigation, the maximum allocation for a single project is $5 million.

Formulas To Evaluate Projects

In 1990, the Commission established the two formulas by which it will evaluate and rank projects for the Priority List. (D.90-06-058). Appendix B contains the formulas which are used to evaluate projects in this proceeding.

Multiple Crossing Project Evaluation

Staff evaluates projects involving the closure and/or separation of multiple crossings in the same manner as single crossing projects. However, Staff reviews the commonalties among the crossings and proximity to each other. Any portion of a multiple project that is clearly separable is treated as a separate nomination. Point allocation for multiple crossing projects are determined by adding the vehicle or train volumes, the crossing geometrics, accident history, and/or blocking delays of each crossing.