RAIL SAFETY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
PHASE A (RSEP-A) 1
Railroad Safety Enhancement
Program (RSEP)-Phase A
Railroad Safety Treatments for 28 Highway-Railroad At-Grade Crossings (Crossings) and Two Trespassing Locations Along the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR)
RAIL SAFETY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
PHASE A (RSEP-A) 2
RSEP Overview
• Project is consists of two phases: Phase A with 30
crossings (2 Trespass Areas) and Phase B with 12
crossings
• Project will enhance safety at 28 Crossings and 2
Trespass Areas in Alameda County through:
➢ Full Pedestrian Treatments
➢ Roadway Treatments
➢ Railroad safety education program
• Involves Multi-Agency Partnerships
➢ Union Pacific Railroad, California Public Utilities
Commission, Local Agencies, Amtrak, Altamont Corridor
Express, and Capitol Corridor
➢ Serves Multiple Rail Operators
RAIL SAFETY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
PHASE A (RSEP-A) 3
RSEP-Phase A and Phase B Crossings
RAIL SAFETY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
PHASE A (RSEP-A) 4
Project Background
• RSEP - Phase A was created because of:
➢ The Countywide Goods Movement Plan
➢ Federal Railroad Administration’s Letter to the County in 2019 stating Alameda County has the 4th highest pedestrian fatalities in the country. ➢ Need to enhance safety at the at-grade crossings
▪ 28 fatalities at RSEP crossings between 2012-2022.
➢ Enhanced safety creates more efficient railroad operations for both freight and commuter
➢ Major rail corridors in the Bay Area travel directly through Alameda County, including communities of concern.
➢ The communities along the RSEP are heavily impacted by goods movement and will see increased impacts as projected growth will create more freight travel by rail.
RAIL SAFETY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
PHASE A (RSEP-A) 5
RSEP-Phase A Benefits
• Safety
• Goods Movement
➢ Increased reliability
➢ Connected to the Port of Oakland
➢ Important to Regional Economy
• Encourages Mode Shifts from Trucks to Rail and
Cars to Active Transportation (walk and bike)
• Consistent with Climate Action Plan for Transportation Infrastructure (CAPTI), Executive Order N-19-19
➢ Vehicle Miles Travelled and (Green House Gases)
Emission reduction
• Real Affect On Highest Equity Priority
Communities (EPCs)
➢ Consistent with CAPTI, EO N-79-20
➢ Supports Bicycle, Pedestrian, and Micro-mobile
Options
➢ Building Safe and Accessible Crossing
Enhancements Using Advanced Technology;
Creates over 900 jobs
RSEP Corridor and Disadvantaged & Low-Income Communities Census Tracts
RAIL SAFETY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
PHASE A (RSEP-A) 6
RSEP-Phase A Project Existing Crossings
• No Sidewalks, Pedestrian
Gates, and/or
Fencing/Railing at crossings
• No or Narrow Median Islands
• Site Distance
• Traffic Queuing on Tracks
• Non-standard Existing
Treatments
• Driveway near tracks
Berkeley: Cedar Street
Hayward: Industrial Parkway (Path)
San Leandro Hesperian Blvd Oakland: Fruitvale Avenue
RAIL SAFETY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
PHASE A (RSEP-A) 7
Proposed Project Safety Enhancements
• Full Pedestrian Treatments
➢ Complete Sidewalks through the Crossings: 90-degree angle where possible ➢ Automated Pedestrian Gates on all Quadrants of the Crossings ➢ Mechnical Swing Gates, Tactile Warning Strips, Channelizing Railing, Fencing, AntiTrespassing Surfaces • Roadway Treatments
➢ Signing and Striping per CA Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD) ➢ Median Islands, Driveway Modifications, Lighting, Pavement, Crossing Panels
RAIL SAFETY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
PHASE A (RSEP-A) 8
RSEP-Phase A Typical Safety Enhancements
29th Avenue Crossing in Oakland
Existing Condition Safety Enhanced Crossing
RAIL SAFETY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
PHASE A (RSEP-A) 9
RSEP Environmental Clearance
• California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA)
➢ There will be four Initial Study/Mitigation Negative Declarations (IS/MNDs) and three Categorical Exemptions for the RSEP project.
▪ Three crossings in San Leandro have IS/MNDs: Hesperian, Marina – Coast Subdivision, and Washington
▪ The remaining seven crossings (Davis, Alvarado, Williams - Niles Subdivision, Castro, Halycon, Marina – Niles Subdivision, Williams – Coast Subdivision) have CE’s which passed the 30-day Challenge and were recorded by Alameda County.
• National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA)
➢ All RSEP crossings are expected to be Categorical Exclusions.
RAIL SAFETY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
PHASE A (RSEP-A) 10
Project Schedule
2020 2022 2024
We are here
Construction
Right of Way Negotiations
Environmental Clearance
2026 2026
Public Meeting/Public Outreach
2021 2023 2025
Final Design
RAIL SAFETY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
PHASE A (RSEP-A) 11
Project Costs (x $1,000)
Design $7,684
Right-of-Way $1,675
Construction $72,220
Total Expenditures $83,863
RAIL SAFETY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
PHASE A (RSEP-A) 12
RSEP-Phase A San Leandro Crossings
• General Pedestrian Enhancements:
➢ Sidewalks
➢ Automated Pedestrian Gates
➢ Fencing/Railing
➢ Tactile Warning Strips
➢ Mechanical Swing Gates
➢ Right-of-Way Access Gates
➢ Anti-Trespassing Surfaces
• Crossing Specific Pedestrian Enhancements:
➢ Alvarado Street: Remove Cross Bucks
San Leandro: Davis Street
San Leandro: Alvarado Street
RAIL SAFETY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
PHASE A (RSEP-A) 13
RSEP-Phase A San Leandro Crossings
• General Roadway Treatments:
➢ Updated signing and striping per the
MUTCD
➢ Wider Median Islands on both sides of
the track,
➢ Install Lighting
➢ Restrict Parking near the crossings.
➢ Replace Crossing Surface (Concrete
Panels, Track, and Ballast),
➢ Trim/Remove Vegetation.
San Leandro: Marina Blvd.- Coast Subdivision
RAIL SAFETY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
PHASE A (RSEP-A) 14
RSEP-Phase A San Leandro Crossings
• Crossing Specific Roadway Treatments:
➢ Davis Street: Relocate Bus Stop
➢ Alvarado Street: Widened Path
➢ Williams Street – Niles Subdivision:
Remove Abandoned Track
➢ Washington Ave: Signal pre-emption
➢ Hesperian Boulevard: Pre-signal
San Leandro: Williams Street-Niles Subdivision
RAIL SAFETY ENHANCEMENT PROGRAM
PHASE A (RSEP-A) 15
Questions?