October 15, 2025
Aaron Cox, PE, TE, PMP
Senior Traffic Engineer
Construction Phasing Options for the Radio Road
Railroad Crossing Improvement Project
That City Council provide direction on the construction phasing options for the Radio Road railroad crossing improvement project. 2 Radio Road – Railroad Crossing Improvements
Radio Road Crossing
DOT #026521R
3 Image Source: NearMaps
Sixth Street
Radio Road – Railroad Crossing Improvements
• Project aims to install safety improvements to the
existing at-grade railroad crossing.
• Funded by Railroad Crossing Section 130 Funding
Program – Administered by Caltrans.
• City team coordinates with all stakeholders
including CPUC, Caltrans, BNSF, Riverside County
Food Control and Water Conservation District, and
local businesses.
• Radio Road is classified as a Collector street with
an Average Daily Traffic (ADT) of 8,181 (2024)
• 3 railroad tracks (2 mainline, 1 siding) with over 50 trains per day – BNSF, Metrolink, and Amtrak
operate over tracks.
Image Source: NearMaps 4
Radio Road – Railroad Crossing Improvements
• Pedestrian Improvements
• Sidewalks
• Curb Ramps
• Crossing Surface
• Defined Path of Travel
• Safety Improvements
• New Warning Devices
• Raised Median
• Roadway improvements
• New crossing surface
• New pavement
• Improvements make crossing eligible for a future
quiet zone implementation
5 Duration: ≈ 16-24 weeks
Railroad and
roadway flagger
needed for 20 weeks,
24 hour coverage
1.5 Mile Directional
Detours (5 Min)
Includes full closure
Partial & Full Closure
Radio Road – Railroad Crossing Improvements
Full Closure
Duration: ≈ 8 – 12 weeks
Railroad flagger
needed only during
construction hours
1.5 Mile bidirectional
Detour (5min)
Images Source: NearMaps 6
Radio Road – Railroad Crossing Improvements
7 Image Source: NearMaps
Construction Activities:
• Demolition of existing crossing
• Grading and profiling of approaches
• Installation of curb, gutter, sidewalks, curb ramps, and raised median • Installation of new crossing warning devices
• Installation of new crossing panels
• New asphalt pavement and roadway striping
Radio Road – Railroad Crossing Improvements
Full roadway closure
~ 8 to 12 weeks
(railroad flagger
needed during
work hours)
8 Image Source: NearMaps
Radio Road – Railroad Crossing Improvements
Stage 1
No closure for demolition
of all quadrants
~ 3 weeks
(railroad flagger needed
during work hours)
Stage 2
Partial closure for
roadway asphalt (west)
~ 3-6 weeks
(24-hour railroad and
roadway flagger needed)
Stage 3
Partial closure for
roadway asphalt (east)
~ 3-6 weeks
(24-hour railroad and
roadway flagger needed)
Stage 4
Full closure for roadway
asphalt (south)
~ 4-8 weeks
(railroad flagger needed
during work hours)
Stage 5
Full closure for railroad
equipment
~ 1 Week
(railroad flagger needed
during work hours)
Images Source: NearMaps 9
Radio Road – Railroad Crossing Improvements
Partial closure for roadway asphalt (west) – 3-6 weeks
(24-hour railroad and roadway flagger needed)
10 Radio Road – Railroad Grade Crossing Improvements
Partial closure for roadway asphalt (east) – 3-6 weeks
(24-hour railroad and roadway flagger needed)
11 Radio Road – Railroad Crossing Improvements
Full closure for roadway asphalt (south)
– 4 -8 weeks (Stage 4) & 1 week (Stage 5)
(railroad flagger needed during work hours)
12 Radio Road – Railroad Crossing Improvements
Pro
Less significant detours
• Two 3 to 6 week directional closures
• One 4 to 8 week full closure
Pro
Construction can be completed in approximately half the duration
No cost for a roadway flagger
Railroad flagger is only needed during construction hours (8 hours)
Lower Risk Option: Full closure eliminates risk of wrong way driving and the potential for motorists to become
trapped behind active railroad gate arm
Cost is $300,000-$400,000 less than Partial+Full Closure (Option B)
Simple and concise detour messaging / outreach
Con
Additional costs for:
• 24-hour roadway and railroad flagger ($2,000/day)
• Additional weeks of inspection costs ($600/day)
Higher Risk Option: Risk for wrong way driving increasing the potential for motorists to become trapped behind
active railroad gate arm
Cost is $300,000-$400,000 more than Full Closure
(Option A)
Multiple public outreach campaigns, less concise message Con
All traffic detoured to adjacent roadways for 8-12 weeks 13 That the City Council provide direction on the construction phasing options for the Radio Road railroad crossing improvements project. 14 14
Image Source: Google Maps