Post by nickv on May 21, 2010 18:29:23 GMT -8
San Bernardino Sun: Colton Crossing Fully Funded,
gets $125M, construction to begin September 2011
Michael J. Sorba, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/19/2010 07:12:53 PM PDT
COLTON - A unanimous California Transportation Commission vote Wednesday cleared the way for approximately $125 million in public funding for the $202 million Colton Crossing railroad grade separation project.
The commission's vote will steer $91 million in state bond money to the project and retain about $34 million in federal funds already earmarked for the project.
Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway will pay the remainder of the cost, which means it's fully funded.
"What it brings to the community is $64 million in improvements to the quality of life that's overdue," said Mayor Kelly Chastain, who attended Wednesday's meeting in Sacramento to speak during public comment. "We can all be proud of this. It's not just a project now, it's a good project."
As a result of the project, many ancillary and direct jobs should be created, according to a grant application Caltrans, the state's transportation agency, submitted to the federal government.
Initially, an estimated average of 674 total jobs, including an average of 191 direct jobs, will be created annually, the application says. At the peak of construction spending in the first quarter of 2012, approximately 1,916 people will be employed full-time as a result of the project, including 543 direct jobs, the application says.
Around 100 trains a day pass through Colton Crossing, where UP tracks that run east and west intersect BNSF tracks that go north and south just south of the 10 Freeway. For decades, one set of trains has had to come to a full stop to allow other trains to pass.
For years, a grade separation project has been discussed that would raise one set of tracks so they can cross simultaneously. Now that the money is in place, construction is expected to begin in September 2011, said Garry Cohoe, director of freeway construction for San Bernardino Associated Governments, or Sanbag, the county's transportation agency.
Sanbag says UP tracks will be raised above BNSF tracks. The projects environmental document is well under way and should be completed early next year, Cohoe said. The project's final design is expected to commence in June, he said.
Cohoe said it's imperative construction begin by September 2011, because if it doesn't, the federal money will revert back to Washington, D.C.
City officials say the project will bring more than $63 million in improvements that will turn the entire city into a quiet zone, so trains can safely pass through without blowing whistles. The city would contribute about $5.4 million toward the overall value of the improvements. An underpass would be installed at Laurel Street and tracks that run along the middle of Ninth Street, in residential neighborhoods, would be moved just east of Fogg Street, near M Street, to undeveloped land, a city report says. This would allow a Union Pacific rail line that crosses the southbound 215 Freeway to be removed, which would save $9.5 million on the cost of the ongoing 215 widening project, the report says.
Cohoe said construction of the city's improvements will likely begin in April 2013.
In addition to this report, this project will clear a massive political hurdle for a corridor-based Metrolink system and expanded Metrolink service between San Bernardino and Riverside. Because of this junction, the freight RR's currently only allow a very limited number of Metrolink trains to travel between San Bernardino and Riverside. Stay tuned for more information!
Note to IEOC Line and 91 Line Commuters and Travelers: The Simplified Service Plan in no way would encourage Metrolink to cancel the entire IEOC Line or truncate all 91 Line trains at Fullerton as the current peak commuter and summer beach train trips remain very productive. Maintaining the direct service between the Inland Empire and the Los Angeles/Orange County areas is vital. The Simplified Service Plan would convert and reroute all of the less productive midday and winter weekend train trips into a corridor-based system with timed connections to trains on the LOSSAN Corridor at LAUS and Fullerton.
gets $125M, construction to begin September 2011
Michael J. Sorba, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/19/2010 07:12:53 PM PDT
COLTON - A unanimous California Transportation Commission vote Wednesday cleared the way for approximately $125 million in public funding for the $202 million Colton Crossing railroad grade separation project.
The commission's vote will steer $91 million in state bond money to the project and retain about $34 million in federal funds already earmarked for the project.
Union Pacific Railroad and BNSF Railway will pay the remainder of the cost, which means it's fully funded.
"What it brings to the community is $64 million in improvements to the quality of life that's overdue," said Mayor Kelly Chastain, who attended Wednesday's meeting in Sacramento to speak during public comment. "We can all be proud of this. It's not just a project now, it's a good project."
As a result of the project, many ancillary and direct jobs should be created, according to a grant application Caltrans, the state's transportation agency, submitted to the federal government.
Initially, an estimated average of 674 total jobs, including an average of 191 direct jobs, will be created annually, the application says. At the peak of construction spending in the first quarter of 2012, approximately 1,916 people will be employed full-time as a result of the project, including 543 direct jobs, the application says.
Around 100 trains a day pass through Colton Crossing, where UP tracks that run east and west intersect BNSF tracks that go north and south just south of the 10 Freeway. For decades, one set of trains has had to come to a full stop to allow other trains to pass.
For years, a grade separation project has been discussed that would raise one set of tracks so they can cross simultaneously. Now that the money is in place, construction is expected to begin in September 2011, said Garry Cohoe, director of freeway construction for San Bernardino Associated Governments, or Sanbag, the county's transportation agency.
Sanbag says UP tracks will be raised above BNSF tracks. The projects environmental document is well under way and should be completed early next year, Cohoe said. The project's final design is expected to commence in June, he said.
Cohoe said it's imperative construction begin by September 2011, because if it doesn't, the federal money will revert back to Washington, D.C.
City officials say the project will bring more than $63 million in improvements that will turn the entire city into a quiet zone, so trains can safely pass through without blowing whistles. The city would contribute about $5.4 million toward the overall value of the improvements. An underpass would be installed at Laurel Street and tracks that run along the middle of Ninth Street, in residential neighborhoods, would be moved just east of Fogg Street, near M Street, to undeveloped land, a city report says. This would allow a Union Pacific rail line that crosses the southbound 215 Freeway to be removed, which would save $9.5 million on the cost of the ongoing 215 widening project, the report says.
Cohoe said construction of the city's improvements will likely begin in April 2013.
In addition to this report, this project will clear a massive political hurdle for a corridor-based Metrolink system and expanded Metrolink service between San Bernardino and Riverside. Because of this junction, the freight RR's currently only allow a very limited number of Metrolink trains to travel between San Bernardino and Riverside. Stay tuned for more information!
Note to IEOC Line and 91 Line Commuters and Travelers: The Simplified Service Plan in no way would encourage Metrolink to cancel the entire IEOC Line or truncate all 91 Line trains at Fullerton as the current peak commuter and summer beach train trips remain very productive. Maintaining the direct service between the Inland Empire and the Los Angeles/Orange County areas is vital. The Simplified Service Plan would convert and reroute all of the less productive midday and winter weekend train trips into a corridor-based system with timed connections to trains on the LOSSAN Corridor at LAUS and Fullerton.
