City of Placentia Clarifies Rail Corridor
Safety Improvements
These factors have reduced the project costs from $9.2 million to $5
million says Chris Becker
PLACENTIA
- May 24, 2002 -
The City of Placentia is in the process of implementing the installation of
Supplemental Safety Measures at eight (8) existing at-grade highway/railroad
crossings, in cooperation with the Federal Railroad Administration, California
Public Utilities Commission, the cities of Anaheim and Fullerton, the County of
Orange, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway Company (BNSF), and the
Southern California Regional Rail Authority.
The
City project team seeks to clarify previously reported information regarding the
installation or conversion of the railroad traffic control system.
Project engineers incorrectly described how the railroad dispatch and
communication system would function upon completion of the project.
After further research, it was found that the entire railroad corridor
through the Placentia area has a modern,
centralized traffic control (CTC) system.
There
is no “gap area” as previously indicated and no need to install a new
computerized control system. The
only work to be completed as part of the proposed project is the removal of
above ground railroad communication lines and poles and the conversion of the
communication signal directly into the rail track itself.
Since the CTC system is already in place, it would not have prevented the
April 23, 2002 train to train accident, as previously reported.
Its cost has been deleted from the project scope of work.
Cost
savings were also achieved because two at-grade crossings are fully funded
through grants from the state and Orange County Transportation Authority.
Underpasses will be constructed at Placentia Avenue and Melrose Street.
Additionally, one other crossing, Bradford Avenue, will be closed upon
completion of the Melrose underpass.
Since construction will begin on these projects this summer, it is not
cost effective to install the Supplemental Safety Measures at these locations.
These factors have reduced the project cost from $9.2 million to $5
million.
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