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HomeMy WebLinkAboutPW SMART Quiet ZonesAgenda Item No: 6.a CITY OF Meeting Date: December 1, 2014 SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT Department: CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE Prepared by: Nancy Mackie, City Manager �= SUBJECT: Recommendation regarding establishing a SMART Quiet Zone RECOMMENDATION: Direct staff to timely initiate a Notice of Intent to Establish a Quiet Zone so that the Quiet Zone will be established at the time of commencement of the SMART train operations. BACKGROUND: Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit (SMART) is a commuter rail service currently under construction in the North Bay with plans to commence its operations by the end of 2016. The initial operating segment (IOS) includes two stations in San Rafael with train service, the first is located near the Marin County Civic Center and the second is at the IOS line's culmination before Third Street in Downtown. Ultimately, SMART plans to connect to the Larkspur Ferry Terminal. Attachment 1 shows a map of the SMART corridor through San Rafael. The San Rafael General Plan 2020 includes the following program that supports efforts to reduce noise impacts related to SMART: N-8. Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit. If a commuter rail service or other use is developed along the Sonoma Marin Area Rail Transit right-of-way, minimize noise impacts on existing development. A Quiet Zone is a defined stretch of track where a train operator is not required to blow the train horn, as it approaches vehicular or pedestrian crossings unless there is a hazard on the tracks. Currently there are 36 Quiet Zones in California, covering 181 grade crossings. The closest Quiet Zones geographically are in Richmond. Richmond has several Quiet Zones in place, dating to 2006. In August 2009, then General Manager of SMART asked jurisdictions to indicate potential interest in a Quiet Zone in their community and San Rafael submitted a letter on August 9, 2009 to indicate such interest. Since that time, Public Works staff has worked with SMART to identify crossings in San Rafael to include in a potential Quiet Zone and with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to conduct a diagnostic review of each crossing. In 2013, the City hired a consultant to determine and confirm that all crossings in San Rafael met the criteria for a Quiet Zone. This assessment is complete and the FOR CITY CLERK ONLY File No.: '44� Council Meeting: I--11/40 004 Disposition: a tc2e�LIC- P—Ir�t ctw,�4 • &4 sn o& ca cs�c.cr SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 2 proposed San Rafael Quiet Zone meets the criteria for designation. Public Works staff is now working with SMART on the design and construction plans for crossing improvements. At the August 18, 2014 City Council meeting, an overview of all matters related to SMART was presented to the City Council. One of the ten items discussed for follow-up was the issue of a Quiet Zone. Community Meetings In August and September, the City Council Subcommittee on SMART held three community meetings to discuss the issue of Quiet Zones and understand the pros and cons associated with them. Over 100 residents attended each meeting. The meetings included a presentation by the City's consultant about what a Quiet Zone is and where the City is in the process for potentially establishing one in San Rafael, as well as a Q&A and comment period to hear resident and neighborhood concerns. All comments voiced were in support of the City establishing a Quiet Zone. The following link is a video of the September 18, 2014 meeting: hft ://hit.l /ltfdTdB. In summary, supporters of Quiet Zones stated that the noise of the horns would negatively affect their quality of life, in homes, daycare centers, places of worship, schools, and places of commerce, due to proximity to the train line and frequency of the train each day. Many stated that train horns will be detrimental to their physical and mental health due to the high decibel levels and may depress property values and/or cause residents to move. Further it was stated that crossing safety improvements being installed (discussed below) will provide ample safety measures. There was great community interest in participating in safety education campaigns, in coordination with SMART as well as directly from San Rafael community members. In addition to hearing comments from the community at the workshops, the City Council and City staff has received over 20 letters, 84 emails, and 612 petition signatures in support of establishing a Quiet Zone in San Rafael, on file with the City Clerk or via this link: www. cityofsanrafael. org/QZcom meats. Trains, Horns, and Quiet Zones Trains and crossing safety in California is regulated by the Federal Railroad Association (FRA) and the California Public Utilities Commission. The City of San Rafael has no regulatory authority. Trains are required to sound horns when approaching public crossings during all hours of operations. The horns sound in a pattern of 2 long, 1 short and 1 long blast at a level between 96-110 dB, which is approximately as loud as a chain saw. One option to reduce train operation noise is to qualify for a Quiet Zone under rules established by the Federal Railroad Administration. As noted above, in a Quiet Zone a train operator is not required to blow the train horn as it approaches vehicular or pedestrian crossings unless there is a hazard on the tracks. Bells and ringers still operate as well as flashing lights. The train will still sound its horn briefly upon leaving each of San Rafael's two stations. In addition, even with a Quiet Zone in place, each train engineer also has discretion to sound the horn as a warning in an emergency situation. To be eligible for Quiet Zone designation, specific alternative safety improvements must be installed at intersections. Improvements at the crossings must be constructed such that the level of risk is the same or lower than provided by use of the train horn. Such improvements vary by crossing. Each roadway approach to the crossing must be equipped with an advance warning sign advising drivers that trains do not sound their horns at the crossing. 2 SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 3 SMART has committed to install these safety improvements, called "supplemental safety measures" (SSMs) at each public crossing in San Rafael (see Attachment 2). These are physical improvements that are designed to result in a lower level of risk than would exist if only the horns sound, thus making the corridor eligible for a Quiet Zone designation. The following table shows each crossing and the proposed safety measures for SMART's IOS: Crossing Location SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS Quad Duals Gates Gates with Median Dual Gates Pedestrian Gates Smith Ranch Road �l San Rafael Airport / Silveira �l Civic Center Drive CIVIC CENTER STATION Las Gallinas Ave (pedestrian only) �1 North San Pedro Road Paloma Avenue �l Pacheco Street Mission Avenue �l 5 Avenue 4 Street �l DOWNTOWN SAN RAFAEL STATION The City's consultant used the FRA Quiet Zone Calculator to determine whether the Quiet Zone Risk Index of the proposed Quiet Zone is less than or equal to the Nationwide Significant Risk Threshold. As noted above, trains may still sound horns in emergency situations, such as when a car or pedestrian is on the tracks. Trains are also required to sound horns when accelerating from a stopped position, such as leaving a station and when crews and equipment are working on the track. The following summarizes the steps to be taken to establish a Quiet Zone and San Rafael's status in the process: 1. The City identifies crossings to be included in the Quiet Zone (Completed) 2. A Diagnostic Team Review is conducted with SMART, FRA, and CPUC. (Completed) 3. The City uses the FRA risk calculator to assess if zone qualifies. (Completed) 4. The City provides written Notice of Intent (NOI) to SMART, North Coast Railroad Administration, private crossing owners, CPUC, and FRA. There is a 60 -day comment period. (Recommendation of this staff report) 5. SMART installs safety measures and signs and the City updates the National Grade Crossing Inventory with the new safety measures installed. 6. The City provides a Notice of Establishment to the same parties as the NOI. There is a 21 -day waiting period before horns can be silenced. ANALYSIS: The City Manager recommends that the City Council Direct staff to timely initiate a Notice of Intent to Establish a Quiet Zone for all the crossings in the Initial Operating Segment 3 SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 4 so that the Quiet Zone will be established at the time of commencement of the SMART train operations. The intention of this action is to ensure that the Quiet Zone is established prior to the commencement of SMART's commercial operation date in late 2016. It should be noted that it will be necessary for SMART to sound train horns during their operational testing phase prior to commercial operations. It is not yet possible to determine Quiet Zone feasibility for the segment of tracks south of Third Street due the level of engineering details available at this time. SMART has not yet secured funding for the segment connecting the Downtown San Rafael station to the Larkspur station. Once SMART has secured funding for that connection, City staff will work to determine Quiet Zone eligibility. At this time, further design and detailed analysis will be required for the rail segment to Larkspur before staff will be able to make a recommendation on a subsequent extension of the San Rafael Quiet Zone to the final segment. Therefore, it is the recommendation of this staff report to pursue the establishment of a Quiet Zone for the segment of track north of Third Street. Handling of Incidents The City's Police and Fire Departments have been actively working and will continue to coordinate with SMART on a public safety committee. They have discussed coordinating emergency response for any incidents on or near the line. Law enforcement agencies in both Sonoma and Marin Counties are working together to come up with a comprehensive approach to deal with accidents. Each law enforcement jurisdiction will likely be responsible for crimes that occur at a station in their jurisdiction or a train passing through. The San Rafael Fire Department will be the primary response unit for all fire, rescue and emergency medical incidents involving SMART within the San Rafael Operational area. Safety Education SMART currently offers presentations for schools, neighborhood, and community groups through a program called California Operation Lifesaver. This organization educates the public on how to make good decisions around railways and encourage the citizens to become active participants in the rail safety of their communities. City staff is committed to assisting in public education to supplement SMART's efforts. Insurance and Indemnification Without a Quiet Zone, Federal Railroad Authority regulations would require that SMART trains sound their horns. If there were a train accident, the failure to sound the horn could be a theory of liability against SMART, although that might not be the sole theory of liability for the accident and claims might still be made against others, including the City. However, upon the City's creation of Quiet Zones with appropriate supplementary safety measure improvements, in the event of a train accident, failure to sound the train horn should no longer constitute a theory of liability against SMART. Consequently, under existing principles of law, the determination whether SMART or the City or possibly another party would bear liability for a train accident would have to be determined based upon proof of fault as to other factors involved in the accident. In this regard, some existing governmental immunities may be available to protect the City from liability. In connection with such potential liability, SMART has requested that the City sign an agreement obligating the City to indemnify SMART. The City Attorney currently is evaluating this request. The City has a self-insured retention of $500,000. Liability insurance in excess of the retention 4 SAN RAFAEL CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT / Page: 5 amount up to a maximum of $40 million is provided to the City through the California Joint Powers Risk Management Authority (CJPRMA). Such coverage would respond to a direct claim or an indemnity claim based on an accident on the SMART tracks. California Public Utilities Commission CPUC staff has indicated that the Commission recommends against the initial establishment of a Quiet Zone based on public safety and protecting motorists and pedestrians from injury or death. They have stated that jurisdictions located in the SMART corridor should at least consider waiting until between 6 months and one year after SMART service initiates to consider implementing Quiet Zones based on the fact that the local population has not experienced trains on the tracks for many years and the presence of trains would likely be unexpected. They recommend sounding train horns until the local population is conditioned to expect and watch for trains. We can expect these comments and possibly others to be submitted during the 60 - day comment period for the Notice of Intent. Timinq and Next Steps The intent of this process is to establish a Quiet Zone prior to SMART's commencement of commercial operations in late 2016. SMART is currently in the construction phase, which includes crossing improvements that meet the Quiet Zone requirements. Should the City Council direct staff to proceed, liability details will be finalized and staff will return to the City Council with a Resolution to file a Notice of Intent. This filing includes a 60 -day comment period. Following that, the City can file a Notice of Establishment. Attachment 3 shows the process for establishing a Quiet Zone prior to the commencement of SMART's service in late 2016. FISCAL IMPACT: At this time, there are no known fiscal impacts from this action ACTION REQUIRED: Provide direction to staff. ATTAC H M E NTS 1. Map of Proposed Quiet Zone 2. SMART's publication of "Quiet Zone Safety Measures to be built by SMART" 3. Timeline for Quite Zone Process 5 Map of Proposed Quiet Zone Smith Rancn ROaQ inn avenue 15anaala ATTACHMENT 1 Palurna menus scion :"'ennP 7 avenue in Slr�i 'IITOWrI STAi1GlI S ON OMA - M A R I N AREA RAI L T R A N S I T QUIET ZONE SAFETY MEASURES TO BE BUILT BY SMART FROM SAN RAFAEL TO SANTA ROSA JUNE 2014 ATTACHMENT 2 Table of Contents GENERAL STATION AND GATES CONFIGURATION PAGE STATION CONFIGURATION 2 QUADRANT GATES 3 2 ENTRY GATES & 1 EXIT GATE WITH MEDIAN 3 ENTRY GATES WITH MEDIANS 3 ENTRY GATES 4 PEDESTRIAN GATES AND SWING GATES 4 UIET ZONE READINESS OVERVIEW SAN RAFAEL 5 NOVATO G PETALUMA 7 ROHNERT PARK/COTATI 8 SANTA ROSA 9 SONOMA COUNTY 10 1 ATTACHMENT 2 C.m . . MART General Station & Gate AIREA RAIL TRANSIT Configurations ------------T I I I T T,�STAIRS PLATFORM LLLLLLL---------, DVEHI= GATE RAMP - J GATE ------------ -- - - - - PEDFSTPoAN GATE • MAINLINE PLATFORM RAMP SNN • GATE P GATE AN UfF11CLE GATE SfNRS PLATFORM PLAN N.T.S. GATE PROFILE N.T.S. ROADWAY ROADWAY GENERAL STATION LAYOUT NOTES T. PLATFORM CONFIGURATION WILL VARY ACCORDING TO LOCATION 2. PATH OF TRAVEL TO BE ASSESSED BASED ON PLATFORM TRACK CONFIGURATION ATTACHMENT QUADRANT GATES 2 ENTRY GATES & 1 EXIT GATE W/ MEDIAN ENTRY GATES W/ MEDIANS ATTACHMENT ENTRY GATES PEDESTRIAN GATES & SWING GATES ATTACHMENT 2 San Rafael Quiet Zone Readiness Overview SMITH RANCH ROAD Entry Gates w/ Median NORTH AVENUE Entry Gates w/ Median CIVIC CENTER DRIVE Entry Gates w/ Medians Pedestrian Gates & Swing Gates CIVIC CENTER STATION HORN WILL SOUND UPON TRAIN DEPARTURE LAS GALLINAS PED XING Pedestrian Gates & Swing Gates N. SAN PEDRO ROAD Entry Gates w/ Medians PALOMA AVENUE Entry Gates PACHECO STREET Entry Gates ' MISSION AVENUE Quadrant Gates ' 5TH AVENUE Quadrant Gates 4TH STREET Quadrant Gates Pedestrian Gates & Swing Gates SAN RAFAEL STATION HORN WILL SOUND UPON TRAIN DEPARTURE ATTACHMENT 2 Legend Crossing QZ Ready when SMART construction is complete 5 Novato Quiet Zone Readiness Overview ATHERTON STATION HORN WILL SOUND UPON TRAIN DEPARTURE RUSH CREEK PLACE Quadrant Gates GOLDEN GATE PLACE Entry Gates OLIVE AVENUE 2 Entry Gates & 1 Exit Gate w/ Median GRANT AVENUE 2 Entry Gates & 1 Exit Gate w/ Median FRANKLIN PED XING Pedestrian Gates & Swing Gates HANNA RANCH ROAD Entry Gates w/ Medians Legend Crossing OZ Ready when SMART construction is complete Q W Q 0 W `W Q BRAZOSBRANCH Z 3 Q W FREIGHTONLY N Q 0 Z Z W Q IGNACIO PED XING Pedestrian Gates & Swing Gates 2 Entry Gates Quadrant & 1 Exit Gate Gates ROBLAR DRIVE 2 Entry Gates & 1 Exit w/ Median Gate w/ Median Needs median on East Side of HAMILTON PARKWAY Entry Gates w/ Medians Crossing Est. $30k Cost STATE ACCESS PED XING Pedestrian Gates & Swing Gates HAMILTON STATION HORN WILL SOUND UPON TRAIN DEPARTURE R ATTACHMENT Om-*A�WA� -w 'd Petaluma Quiet Zone Readiness Overview _ Legend CORONA ROAD Entry Gates w/ Medians Crossing QZ Ready when SMART construction is complete N. MCDOWELL BLVD Entry Gates w/ Medians SOUTHPOINT BLVD 2 Entry Gates & 1 Exit Gate w/ Median W. PAYRAN STREET Entry Gates w/ Medians LAKEVILLE ROAD Entry Gates w/ Median E. WASHINGTON STREET Entry Gates w/ Median PETALUMA STATION HORN WILL SOUND UPON TRAIN DEPARTURE "D" STREET Quadrant Gates CAULFIELD LANE 2 Entry Gates & 1 Exit Gate w/ Median 7 ATTACHMENT 2 SMART= Rohnert Park/Cotati Quiet Zone Readiness Overview GOLF COURSE DRIVE ROHNERT PARK EXPWY Entry Gates w/ Medians Entry Gates w/ Medians ROHNERT PARK STATION HORN WILL SOUND UPON TRAIN DEPARTURE ROHNERT PARK PED Pedestrian Gates & Swing Gates CROSSING(2) ROHNERT PARK PED Pedestrian Gates & Swing Gates CROSSING(1) SOUTHWEST BLVD Entry Gates w/ Medians ROHNERT PARK COTATI. EAST COTATI AVENUE Entry Gates w/ Medians Pedestrian Gates & Swing Gates COTATI STATION HORN WILL SOUND UPON TRAIN DEPARTURE ATTACHMENT 2 nd Crossing Oz Ready when SMART construction is complete 8 Santa Rosa Quiet Zone Readiness Overview SAN MIGUEL ROAD Entry Gates Entry Gates w/ Medians PINER ROAD Pedestrian Gates & Swing Gates (Pathway Crossing) W. STEELE LANE Entry Gates w/ Medians GUERNEVILLE ROAD Entry Gates w/ Medians Pedestrian Gates & Swing Gates GUERNEVILLE STATION HORN WILL SOUND UPON TRAIN DEPARTURE Legend Crossing QZ Ready when SMART construction is complete COLLEGE AVENUE 2 Entry Gates & 1 Exit Gate w/ Median 9T" STREET Quadrant Gates 8T" STREET 2 Entry Gates & 1 Exit Gate w/ Median 7T" STREET 2 Entry Gates & 1 Exit Gate w/ Median 6T" STREET 2 Entry Gates & 1 Exit Gate w/ Median SANTA ROSA STATION HORN WILL SOUND UPON TRAIN DEPARTURE 411 ST PED CROSSING Pedestrian Gates & Swing Gates 3RD STREET 2 Entry Gates & 1 Exit Gate w/ Median, Pedestrian Gates & Swing Gates (Pathway Crossing) SEBASTOPOL ROAD Entry Gates w/ Medians BARHAM AVENUE Entry Gates w/ Medians HEARN AVENUE Entry Gates w/ Medians BELLEVUE/CORBY AVE Quadrant Gates pi ATTACHMENT 2 Sonoma County Quiet Zone Readiness Overview AIRPORT BLVD Entry Gates AIRPORT STATION HORN WILL SOUND UPON TRAIN DEPARTURE RIVER ROAD Entry Gates w/ Medians FULTON ROAD Entry Gates SANTA ROSA CROSSINGS W. ROBLES AVENUE 2 Entry Gates & 1 Exit Gate w/ Median TODD ROAD Entry Gates w/ Medians SCENIC AVENUE 2 Entry Gates & 1 Exit Gate w/ Median ROHNERT PARK/COTATI CROSSINGS E. RAILROAD AVENUE 2 Entry Gates & 1 Exit Gate w/ Median OLD ADOBE ROAD Entry Gates w/ Medians MAIN STREET /WOODWARD AVENUE ELY ROAD Entry Gates w/ Medians Entry Gates w/ Medians ATTACHMENT 2 Legend Crossing QZ Ready when SMART construction is complete 10 r- ('4 N Ir, Ln 0 N i i d' e -i O N M F - z W 2 U F- F- N i .to w c N c ko U " N -0 p O LO N +' 7 N 0 C O Q L a c �: o c N o W C( v 4, d L Otto a ■� O O N M O + N N Q Q O 4 W L O c � O t N O +'O _ N U Z m U� N O W L N O L OCL Ln N O O c CtoN u a u1 /� (/� N Q N H O ZO C y N p N (� c N �' O E C ° F- a cc a .w r- ('4 N Ir, Ln 0 N i i d' e -i O N M F - z W 2 U F- F- CITY OF SAN RAFAEL ROUTING SLIP / APPROVAL FORM INSTRUCTIONS: USE THIS FORM WITH EACH SUBMITTAL OF A CONTRACT, AGREEMENT, ORDINANCE OR RESOLUTION BEFORE APPROVAL BY COUNCIL / AGENCY. SRRA / SRCC AGENDA ITEM NO. DATE OF MEETING: I Z1 � 121 FROM: �b�CLLt W�d b � DEPARTMENT: ►tiI DATE: 1 1 't_D 1 TITLE OF DOCUMENT: Department Head (signature) *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** *** (LOWER HALF OF FORM FOR APPROVALS ONLY) APPROVED AS COUNCIL /AGENCY AGENDA ITEM: City Manager (signature) NOT APPROVED REMARKS: APPROVED AS TO FORM: City Attorney (signature) Esther Beirne From: Rebecca Woodbury on behalf of City Manager Sent: Tuesday, December 02, 2014 8:50 AM To: Esther Beirne Subject: FW: Copy of Council Contact - All City Councilmembers - 8202838 One more for your records on Quiet Zones From: form engine@fsl8.formsite.com [mailto:form engine(d)fs18.formsite.com1 Sent: Monday, December 01, 2014 4:56 PM To: City Manager Subject: Copy of Council Contact - All City Councilmembers - 8202838 The following email was received through the City Council Contact Email Form on the City web site. A copy is being forwarded to each member of the City Council. Council Contact Form City of San Rafael City Council Contact Form Thank fou for Visiting the City of San Rafael website. This form is available to facilitate contacting our Mayor and Councilmembers concerning topics of interest to the community Please contact the Cit) Manager's office at 415-485-3070 for any additional assistance. Note that the Cit) oftian Rafael considers email to Councilmembers as an informal and non -confidential method of communication. Please send a signed letter ifyou \%ould like to make your comment/question a matter of public record. Mail formal letters to San Rafael City Council. PO Bo\ 151560. San Rafael. CA, 94915. * First Name Samuel * Last Name Cogs« el I Address 1 Address 2 City San Ralael State CA Zip Code 94903-225? Phone Number * Email Address * Send email to (select one) All Citi Councilmembers * Please enter your questions/comments below Dear Council members: None of mN neighbors and mN sell'��ant our neighborhood bombarded with the noise pollution of train horns all dad long in San Rafael - nor at night We NN ant a "quiet zone" starting dad one of the SMAR I I rain. We kno�N that there are "Supplemental Salet) Measures" that can be used to ensure safct) - short ol' bla-~ting us all out with diesel horns at key crossings. Please make every effort to implement those modern saleq measures instead ol' resorting to old lashion and dated noise pollution. I'hank fou Samuel Cogswell ROBERT H. SPOFFORD 61 DUNFRIES TERRACE SAN RAFAEL, CALIFORNIA 94901 Mayor Gary Phillips City of San Rafael 1400 Fifth Avenue PO Box 151560 San Rafael, CA 94901-1560 November 16, 2014 RE: Unresolved SMART Crossing Safety Issue Dear Mayor Phillips: I am a member of First Congregational Church, on North San Pedro Road, but until recently I haven't been much involved in the discussion of quiet zones for SMART in the city. However, looking at the video of the public work session on September 18 and the letter the church sent on October 17, I'm not sure the safety concern the church raised has been explained in enough detail. The church believes that a serious pedestrian safety hazard exists at the North San Pedro Road grade crossing. This hazard did not exist when the Diagnostic Team made their risk assessment of this site, so they did not specify a pedestrian gate on the south side of the crossing. However, now that SMART construction is underway at this location, there has been a change in pedestrian walking routes that makes the hazard obvious. The church believes that in light of these new walking routes, a pedestrian gate is required at the south side of the North San Pedro crossing, whether or not a quiet zone is established there. Background: Starting back in the I960s, the properties just to the south of the church. on both sides of the tracks, have been developed with multi -family housing. The largest project, Pilgrim Park, was built by the church and is explicitly designated for low-income tenants. For as long as anyone can remember, the residents of these developments have used the old railroad roadbed to walk between the buildings in the area. The attached picture #1, from Google Earth, shows some of the well-established footpaths across the roadbed. Fwo specific patterns that church members have observed frequently are typical: 1. There is a school bus stop on Pilgrim Way by the church's parking lot. Most of the kids getting off there go into Pilgrim Park, but some -of them instead cross the tracks to go up the hill toward the playground behind Anthem Church, possibly for a day-care program there. 2. There is a steady trickle of adult pedestrians who regularly walk the tracks from the apartments south of Anthem Church to the our church parking lot and then cross our front lawn, taking the most direct route from those apartments to the Golden Gate bus stop at the corner of Merrydale and North San Pedro. (Picture #2) A month or two ago, SMART put up temporary fencing to keep pedestrians out of their construction zone, and they've promised that they will have permanent fences protecting the tracks erected in this area before the trains roll. That's all as it should be. However, this has changed the walking patterns so as to create a new hazard: All of the above foot traffic is now forced to go north to cross the tracks at the south end of the grade crossing, where there is no sidewalk and no gate to protect pedestrians from the trains. (Picture #3) This would not have been clear to the team inspecting the site last spring (when people still could walk on the roadbed) and even today, you would have to observe for an hour or two - - or be there when the school bus unloads - - to see pedestrians crossing the tracks at this location. The fact that the Diagnostic Team did not identify this risk back when they did their assessment is understandable. People didn't cross the track at the crossing back then. However if someone from the city, the consultants or SMART will spend an hour or two now on a school day afternoon observing the location, the need for a sidewalk and pedestrian gate on the south side of the crossing will be obvious. Please review this hazard and correct it before the details of the quiet zone Mitigations are all locked -in. Sincerely, ccs: Councilmember Maribeth Bushey Councilmember Kate Colin City Manager Nancy Mackel Councilmember Damon Connolly Bill Gamlen„ SMART Councilmember Andrew McCollough !i r b � C4 o N � b = 0� Y 4 p OnO p N = w J } •N } V � N O � a Z u i C