CITY OF RAINIER CITY OF RAINIER

RAILROAD CROSSINGSRAILROAD CROSSINGS

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Team Members

• Matthew DeGeorge• Robert Acevedo • Josh Crain• Jim Harvey• Heather Wenstrand

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Scope1. To design safe railroad crossings that maximizes

the movement of people and goods.

2. Design safe pedestrian crossing across the railroad tracks.

3. To design effective intersection closures that minimizes the impact on traffic and the community.

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Background• Rainier is located on Columbia River (Oregon)

across from Longview, Washington

• Our project is part of the Rainier Waterfront Urban Renewal Plan

• Current population is about 1,750 people

• Freight trains consisting of about 110 railcars pass through downtown Rainier along “A” Street

• On average, there are 4 trains per week traveling in either direction

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Project Overview• Project consisted of:

– Planning the closure of 3 crossings– Redesign of 4 crossings

• The City of Rainier has no dedicated engineering staff.– Lars Gare, City Administrator

• ODOT Rail has final design approval– Dave Lanning, Crossing Safety/Compliance

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Existing ConditionsRainier, Oregon

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“A” Street 2nd Street E

1st Street

6th Street E

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Traffic Conditions

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Peak Volume < 300 vph Volumes well below capacity No intersections on A Street meet any signal warrant criteria No additional studies needed

7 Crashes in past 11 years 0 Crashes involving rail Most crashes related to parking or backing All crashes during daylight hours

Crash History

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Time Intersection Collision Type Cause Severity Weather Conditions

11 AM 2nd St W Parking No Yield PDO Clear Dry

11 AM 1st St Backing Too Fast Injury "C" Cloudy Wet

9 AM 1st St Parking Other PDO Clear Dry

1 PM 2nd St E Parking Other PDO Clear Dry

12 PM 2nd St E Backing No Yield PDO Rain Wet

4 PM 3rd St E Turning Other PDO Clear Dry

2 PM 3rd St E Rear End Too Close PDO Clear Dry

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• Increase in Train size and frequency • Separation of Railroad tracks from

roadway by curbs• Downtown renewal plan

Future Conditions

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ODOT’s One to One Offer to City

• City of Rainier Responsibilities– Select at-grade crossing to close, ODOT will pay for

the closure and upgrade one intersection– Must produce all design & engineering plans– City is financially responsible for 1 of the 4 upgrades

• ODOT Rail– Maintains final design approval– Will finance and construct 3 crossing closures and 3

crossing upgrades

• Future Closures– City decided due to usage and location that it would be beneficial to

close the following• 2nd Street East • 4th Street East • 5th Street East

• Future Gated/Controlled– City decided that it would be necessary to allow the following

intersection to remain open however to provide control measures for safety purposes.

• 2nd Street West • 1st Street• 3rd Street East • 6th Street East

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Design Summary

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Design Constraints

• Space limitations, including all necessary safety measures while still leaving space for future improvements.

• Minimizing impact on traffic and businesses (FOSS)

• Maintaining similar goals as the A Street Streetscape plan. (City of Rainier)

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• Gate Controlled Intersections will be equipped with the following

– Model S-40 gate type 51– FLX-10 Flashing Lamp– Signs– Gate Arm– Rail Crossing Train Detector– Required wiring– Rail Crossing Controller

• Equipment and installation will be provided by Safetran. (provider recommended by ODOT)

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Equipment Details

Interconnect/Signal Plan

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Signing & Striping

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West 2nd Street$299,349

• Left Turn Pocket• Install two at-grade crossing gates• Three way stop controlled

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1st Street$568,063

• Install four at-grade crossing gates• Four way stop controlled

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East 2nd Street$14,551

• “Right in – Right out”• Access from cross street maintained• Minimal signing

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East 3rd Street$292,114

• Install two at-grade crossing gates• Four way stop controlled• Eastern-most pedestrian crossing

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East 4th Street$14,149

• “Right in – Right out”• Access from cross street maintained• Minimal signing

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East 5th Street$22,576

• “Right in – Right out”• Access from cross street maintained• Minimal signing• Acquire 200 ft2 right-of-way on north side

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East 6th Street$56,572

• Uncontrolled crossing• Signing and striping only• 150 feet of open track• Stranded vehicle detector near FOSS entrance

Cost EstimatesCost by Type Cost by IntersectionSigning $36,988 West 2nd Street $299,349

Striping $23,779 1st Street $568,063

Right of Way Acquisition $6,000 East 2nd Street $14,551

Railroad Gates $938,500 East 3rd Street $292,114

Profit/Overhead (15%) $135,790 East 4th Street $14,149

Mobilization (10%) $90,527 East 5th Street $22,576

Temporary Traffic Control (5%) $45,263 East 6th Street $56,572

Contingency (10%) $90,527 Total $1,267,373

Total $1,267,373

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Net loss of 81 on-street spaces Parallel parking is safer Large off-street parking lots at:

W 2nd Street 1st Street E 3rd Street

Projected minimal impact on FOSS parking, recommend FOSS evaluate parking situation after implementation

Design Impacts: Parking

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"A" Street Parking Inventory

Block Existing Proposed

W 2nd - 1st 28 11

1st - E 2nd 28 19

E 2nd - 3rd 21 0

E 3rd - 4th 20 10

E 4th - 5th 15 11

E 5th - 6th 32 12

Total 144 63

Other Design Impacts

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Cons•Truck deliveries - FOSS/downtown commercial•Residence along street closures•Pedestrian Crossing (most eastern is at the marina)

Pros•Improved pedestrian safety•Improved vehicle-train interactions•Increased aesthetic appeal

Construction Recommendations

• Construct crossings in conjunction with railroad improvements

• Leave all crossings opened during construction

• Closure of the three intersections final phase of construction

• Identify delivery and train schedules to work construction around them

• Coordinate all plans with local utilities

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“Lessons Learned” What would we have done differently?

• Prepare a schedule at the beginning of the project including all key dates

• Better accountability of group members• Keep more detailed record of the design process • Better communication between our group and

our contact

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Questions?Questions?

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