California Public Utilities Commission [CPUC] and Grade Crossings

[MP57313]

In today's Daily Breeze(a local Torrance, CA based newspaper), a rail historian/fan wrote in that "all main- and branch-line grade crossings in California are equipped with flashing lights and automatic gates, a decree set forth by the {CPUC}...

While this is mostly true, there are some branch lines in Calif. that do not have this yet. A former SP (PE) branch in Torrance, and another UP (SP) branch with some street running in Anaheim are exceptions. The Torrance branch is rarely used, but the Anaheim route has regular service.

Does street running, or classifying a track as an "industrial lead" ease the grade crossing signal requirement?

[rrnut282]

QUOTE: Originally posted by MP57313

"all main- and branch-line grade crossings in California are equipped with flashing lights and automatic gates, a decree set forth by the {CPUC}...

That depends on how the deree was written and how it has been interpreted.

My question is with all lines equipped with flashers/gates how many grade-crossing accidents you have?[xx(]
Here in the hinterlands, we didn't burden the RRs with such requirements. We consider each crossing on its own.

[DSchmitt]

California Public Utility Codes regarding grade crossings:

http://www.leginfo.ca.gov/cgi-bin/displaycode?section=puc&group=01001-02000&file=1201-1220

Procedure for filing for permission to construct crossings:

http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/static/industry/transportation/crossings/filing+procedures/index.htm

Links to General Orders regarding crossing (design etc:)

http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/static/industry/transportation/crossings/genorders.htm

California PUC main page (From which the the above and other links can be found with some searching and luck. Finding what you want on any ofthe California pages isn't as easy as it should be[:(]):

http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/


Another interesting link Federal Railroad Administration Office of Safety Analysis page. A lotof different reports. Check the statistics on a crossing near your home:

http://safetydata.fra.dot.gov/officeofsafety/

[mudchicken]

Take the rose colored glasses off bubba , quit smoking the funny stuff and somebody ask the Torrance yellow press to go take a reality test......

Not mostly true....somebody has an over inflated view of their little piece of the world....Does not have to go very far to figue out that that statement is a little off. Torrance was my turf once upon a time....

[MP57313]

QUOTE: Originally posted by mudchicken
Not mostly true....

What I meant to say was for some main lines this is true (that's what I get for writing this late at night). In all cases where I have ridden Metrolink the grade crossings all have full gate and flasher protection. On the Metrolink/BNSF main line through Fullerton, Riverside, San Bernardino...all crossings have gates and flashers. But for several freight-only lines there are many crossings that still have only crossbucks (and even a stray wig-wag here and there).

Actually I was curious how the writer could have really meant what he wrote...he is normally a lot more accurate and he regularly takes the newspapers to task for publishing incorrect information. Maybe the newspaper made editing errors in publishing his letter...

Regardless...

[DSchmitt]

I have attempted to find guidelines for determing the type of crossing protection needed, but have so far been unsuccessful.

I have found that, as I expected, the requesting agency proposes the type of protection and the PUC staff reviews them and makes recomendations to the Commission, public hearings are held and the Commission makes the final determination.

Among the conditions that would reasonably be considered would be:

number of tracks
number of trains
speed of trains
number of lanes on the roadway
volumn of traffic on the roadway
speed of traffic
obstructions to sight distance
cost

For upgrading existing crossings, in addition to the above citizen complaints and accident history , and studies by staff or consultants would be considered. Existing crossing that have not been a problem would have low priority.


General Order 75C (you can get to it from the General Order page)

http://www.cpuc.ca.gov/PUBLISHED/GENERAL_ORDER/20555.htm

lists the different levels ranging a STOP sign on a private crossing (1C) through the full treatment with lights and gates. On the Caltrans (California Department of Transportation) site I found instructions in PDF format telling Caltrans Engineers how to apply to the PUC for grade crossing in conjunction with Highway projects. It states in the instructions that practically all reccent order where automatic gates are included the PUC has specified 9 or 9A.