OCTA behind on Metrolink crossing work

[jeffe77]

www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-rail9may09,0,2170686.story

After grand jury report, the agency defends itself, saying it expanded its programs for improvements after community requests.

By David Reyes, Times Staff Writer
May 9, 2007

A grand jury criticized the Orange County Transportation Authority on Tuesday for falling behind on its schedule to improve railroad crossings before a major Metrolink expansion by 2009.

The county grand jury also said the agency still lacked a policy to establish quiet zones for the county's 55 rail crossings and recommended a rail safety program to educate the public before the train expansion is completed.

Quiet zones are areas where rail crossings have been improved so that passing trains needn't sound their piercing horns.

By 2009, Metrolink is expected to run every 30 minutes, from 5 a.m. to midnight on weekdays, from Fullerton to the station serving Laguna Niguel and Mission Viejo.

Plans call for seven more locomotives and 150 passenger cars during the next two years.

But improvements to rail crossings, 16 in the city of Orange alone, are lagging, the grand jury said in its report.

"Evidence indicates that slippage in completion dates has already occurred," the grand jury said.

Darrell Johnson, OCTA's director of rail programs, acknowledged that work was behind schedule but said the program had been expanded since the grand jury's examination last year.

Subsequently, the cities with railroad crossings have sought safety improvements and quiet zones, he said.

"We've reassessed and listened to what the communities want, and we've broadened our program to include the quiet zones as well," Johnson said.

OCTA intends to establish a policy on quiet zones, which with rail crossing improvements could cost at least $50 million for all crossings.

Johnson said the agency has contacted city managers and public works officials for a meeting this week to discuss the policy, Johnson said.

He added that OCTA had approved $20 million in funding for rail crossings and expected other increases in June.

www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-rail9may09,0,2170686.story
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[bluelineshawn]

Solution: Close the streets, build a fence, and don't allow cars or pedestrians to cross. Crossing eliminated. Everyone happy?

[whitmanlam]

That's 55 crossings to grade separate or seal off. That would take at least a decade of work if funding is in place.

Educating the public about rail crossings ? We can't even educate the public about public smoking, child safety seats, recycling bottles and cans, or contraception / STD's.

There is always someone who isn't educated, or is unwilling to learn.

We need grade crossings no matter what the cost.

[nickv]

Source: www.octa.net/media.asp?category=media&page=press%20release&subPage=press_082707

August 27, 2007

OCTA Approves Major Funding Boost For 1st Countywide Rail-Safety Enhancement
$60 Million Program To Improve Rail Safety In Orange County

ORANGE – The Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) Board of Directors approved a budget of $60 million for rail safety in Orange County.

OCTA’s Renewed Measure M will fund 88 percent of the rail safety program and the remaining 12 percent will be funded by local participating cities – Anaheim, Dana Point, Irvine, Fullerton, Orange, San Clemente, San Juan Capistrano, Santa Ana and Tustin.

Countywide improvements will emphasize pedestrian safety enhancements at all rail- highway crossings and include supplemental safety measures needed to establish noise reduction of locomotive horns in quiet zones.

OCTA’s rail safety program is the first comprehensive effort to tackle grade crossing improvements and quiet zones, benefiting local community members who live near the 53 rail-highway crossings throughout Orange County.