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Request for Authorization to Alter Highway-Rail Crossing Rev: 10-08-2015 <br />Pursuant to Commission General Order 88-B Page 2 of 5 <br /> <br />• Removal of existing public sidewalks that cross the rail tracks at an acute skew angle, and <br />replacement with new public sidewalks that cross the rail tracks at a perpendicular angle. <br />Pedestrian handrails will follow the edge of the replacement sidewalks to guide pedestrians to the crossings. Ballast rock will be placed in the areas vacated by the <br />original sidewalk to discourage unauthorized pedestrian access. <br />• Installation of four new CPUC Standard 8 flashing light signal assemblies, one of each <br />side of the northern pedestrian rail crossing, and one on each side of the southern pedestrian crossing. <br />• New 8-foot long precast concrete panels per Union Pacific Railroad standards at each rail <br />crossing together with 2-foot wide hot-mix asphalt strips where the panels abut the <br />replacement sidewalks. <br />• Installation of a new detectable warning surfaces within the replacement sidewalks in <br />advance of the warning devices and consistent with Americans with Disabilities Act <br />(ADA) Accessibility Guidelines for Buildings and Facilities (ADAAG Figure R305.2.5) at <br />both the northern and southern crossings. <br />• Removal and replacement of white “RXR” pavement legends and limit lines on Alvarado Street in accordance with Caltrans Standard Plan A24B, as well as installation of “KEEP <br />CLEAR” pavement legends per Caltrans Standard Plan A24E between the limit lines and <br />the rails to alert drivers. <br />• Relocation of R15-8 “Look” signage at approaches to the northern and southern crossings as well as installation of new R9-3bP “Use Crosswalk” signage to guide pedestrians per <br />MUTCD standards. Installation of R8-8 “Do Not Stop on Tracks” signage to alert <br />drivers per MUTCD standards. <br /> <br />5. Describe the public benefits to be achieved by the proposed alterations: <br />Skewed pedestrian crossings will be replaced with perpendicular crossings (one north of the <br />crossing and one south) by way of new sidewalks with pedestrian handrails. Visually impaired <br />pedestrians will encounter detectable warning surfaces in advance of the tracks. New CPUC Standard 8 assemblies (one on each side of the northern crossing and one on each side of the southern crossing) will complement the existing CPUC Standard 9 assemblies to warn <br />pedestrians about an approaching train. Finally, enhanced pavement markings and new or <br />relocated MUTCD signage will provide additional visual information to pedestrians and drivers <br />who approach the rail crossing. 6. Explain why a separation of grades is not practicable: <br />A grade separation is currently cost-prohibitive because the right-of-way is constrained by <br />adjacent urbanized development including buildings, utilities, and similar underground/above ground facilities in the immediate vicinity of this crossing. 7. Describe crossing warning devices <br /> <br />Current: Northbound: CPUC Standard 9A assembly with separate crossing arm