Riverside City Council
November 19, 2024

11/7/2024
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RiversideCA.gov
PRIORITIZATION OF THE TOP THREE RAILROAD GRADE SEPARATIONS ALONG THE BURLINGTON NORTHERN SANTA FE RAILROADCity CouncilNovember 19, 2024Public Works Department RiversideCA.gov2
On February 8, 2024, the Mobility & Infrastructure Committee received a report on Prioritization of Railroad Grade Separations along the BNSF railroad at Jackson Street, Madison Street, Mary Street, Spruce Street, Tyler Street, and Mission Inn Avenue. The Committee continued the item to address concerns from the residents of the Casa Blanca neighborhood and for Public Works to expand the list of the grade separations under review and include Adams Street and Mission Inn Avenue and return to the Committee with an updated report.BACKGROUND1 2 11/7/2024
2 RiversideCA.gov3
On August 8, 2024, the Mobility & Infrastructure Committee received a report on the Prioritization of Railroad Grade Separations along the BNSF railroad at Jackson Street, Madison Street, Mary Street, Spruce Street, Tyler Street, and Mission Inn Avenue. The Committee recommend that the City Council (1) approve the top three proposed Grade Separation Priority Ranking as follows: (a) Spruce Street, (b) Jackson Street, and (c) Mary Street at BNSF railroad crossings; and (2) direct the Public Works Department to explore funding opportunities to begin the Project Approval and Environmental Documents phase of the Spruce Street grade separation.BACKGROUND RiversideCA.gov4
Railroad Crossings
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•Since 2009 City has completed 6 grade separations.•Public Works is working on the final design and right-of-way acquisition for the 3rdSt. grade separation which is scheduled to begin construction in mid-2026. •In September 2023, and April 2024, Public Works collected traffic, pedestrian, and rail crossing data.DISCUSSION RiversideCA.gov6
DISCUSSIONeligiblefor $12.08 MM in local TUMF funding Table 1 – Rail Crossing Traffic Data TUMF NetworkNo. of Passenger BusesNo. of School Special Need Vans**No. of School Buses**Average Daily Bicycle CountsAverage Daily Pedestrian CountsAverage Daily Traffic CountsStreet/BNSF Rail CrossingNo43-362524712,372Adams StreetNo28-312187,884Jackson StreetYes410125238113,923Madison StreetNo546756812,149Mary StreetNo18-161011825,074Mission Inn AvenueNo1644563216,255Spruce StreetNo8826367915,407Tyler Street 5 6
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4 RiversideCA.gov7
Table 2 – Rail Crossing DataEstimated Cost ($MM)Freeway ConnectivityRailroadQuiet Zone2017 RCTC Priority GroupTrain Accidents: Fatal/Non-Fatal (Past 10 Years)Gate Down Time (Minutes)Average Daily Train CountStreet/BNSF Rail Crossing150.0+YesYes10/014090Adams Street60.0NoYes30/015690Jackson Street60.0YesYes12/018490Madison Street60.0NoYes30/018090Mary Street75.0YesFuture31/118192Mission Inn Avenue75.0YesFuture11/019690Spruce Street100.0+YesYes12/114592Tyler StreetDISCUSSION RiversideCA.gov8
•February 20, 2024 – Staff attended the Community Action Group (Casa Blanca)•Staff recommends that Madison Street/BNSF be removed from the priority list and studied as part of the General Plan Circulation Element. •Recommended Top 3 grade separations: 1. Spruce St.2. Jackson St.3. Mary St.DISCUSSION7 8 11/7/2024
5 RiversideCA.gov9
Strategic Priority No. 6 Infrastructure, Mobility and ConnectivityGoal No. 6.2 – Maintain, protect, and improve assets and infrastructure within the City’s built environment to ensure and enhance reliability, resiliency, sustainability, and facilitate connectivity.STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT RiversideCA.gov10
That the City Council:1.Approve the top three proposed Grade Separation PriorityRanking as follows: (1) Spruce Street, (2) Jackson Street,and (3) Mary Street at the BNSF at-grade railroad crossing;and2. Direct the Public Works Department to explore funding opportunities in-order to begin the Project Approval and Environmental Documents phase of the Spruce Street grade separation.RECOMMENDATIONS9 10