DEPARTMENT: Transportation & Capital Improvements
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Mike Frisbie, P.E.
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Council District 2
SUBJECT:
Permanent Closure of Railroad Crossing at Hoefgen Avenue
SUMMARY:
This Ordinance will authorize the permanent closure of a railroad crossing at Hoefgen Avenue near Essex located in Council District 2, as approved by Union Pacific Railroad, which is necessary to provide safe roadways and railroad crossings at this location.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
Over the last several years, the railroad crossing along Hoefgen near Essex has presented a challenge for vehicles trying to cross the railroad crossing. Due to the elevation of the tracks being higher than the roadway approaches, vehicles with low wheel clearances become lodged and cannot move off the tracks when a train is coming. In addition, the track is curved in this section and there is very little time to stop the train once it becomes visible that a vehicle is stranded on the tracks. The Transportation & Capital Improvements (TCI) Department has made several signage improvements to warn motorist. A "Low Clearance" sign has been in place for the last few years. It consists of the standard railroad crossing sign and a waiting sign to alert motorists of the low clearance. Earlier this year, there were two incidents including an accident where the train struck a limousine and an 18 wheeler of which both accidents were attributed to low wheel clearances. No injuries were reported but the incidents prompted a review to determine the recent history of issues at this railroad crossing.
On February 25 2015, TCI presented this issue to the Planning Commission in order to gain support of the permanent closure of the railroad crossing at Hoefgen. The Planning Commission did not support the closure on the basis that the Commission believed there are alternatives to address the issue. TCI studied and reviewed other options of which two alternat...
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