08-1110_ORANGE,COUNTY OF_Agenda Report_D5 1/28/2®1®
AGENDA REPORT D5
TO: Joe Tait, City Manager
FROM: Nasser Abbaszadeh, Public Works Director
SUBJECT: Consideration of Amendment No.1 to Extend Agreement No.1 C-8-0861
for Railroad Grade Crossing Safety Enhancements and Safety Measures
Related to Quiet Zone Implementation (Orange County Transportation
Authority)
RECOMMENDATION
By motion, approve Amendment No.1 to Agreement No. C-8-0861 between Orange
County Transportation Authority and the City for Railroad Grade Crossing Safety
Enhancements and Safety Measures related to Quiet Zone Implementation.
Background
The City Council approved the original Agreement on November 10, 2008, and it
expired on December 31, 2009. Due to project delays, the construction time table for
the City of San Juan Capistrano has shifted and signal work related to crossing safety is
slated to commence in May 2010. The construction work will be on-going until March
2011,
Amendment No.1 extends the Agreement to August 31, 2012.
A recent change in federal regulations regarding the use of train horns has created a
problem for residential communities near rail road tracks. For. safety considerations,
passing trains sound their horns for long periods of time and rob people from their
comfort and sleep at night.
To combat the noise problem, under the federal rules, it is possible to establish "Quiet
Zones" (QZ) at public rail road crossings once certain safety enhancements have been
implemented. To enhance safety, raised median islands and/or gates are proposed at
the five public City crossings:
• Del Obispo
• La Zanja
• Verdugo
• Oso, and
• Aeropuerto
Agenda Report ,January 19, 2010
Page 2
Orange County Transportation Authority (OCTA) is the owner of the tracks in San Juan
Capistrano and has initiated a project to improve railroad crossings in participating cities
that include San Juan Capistrano, Dana Point, San Clemente, Irvine, Tustin, Anaheim,
Orange, Yorba Linda, Placentia, and Fullerton.
COMMISSIONS/BOARD REVIEW RECOMMENDATIONS
Improvement plans have been reviewed and commented on by Transportation
Commission, Design Review Committee, and Planning Commission.
FINANCIAL CONSIDERATIONS
The required City's match (12% of the total project cost) is $864,372 and the City's CIP
has the necessary funds for the project.
NOTIFICATION
Orange County Transportation Authority
RECOMMENDATION
By motion, approve Amendment No.1 to Agreement No. C-8-0861 between Orange
County Transportation Authority and the City for Railroad Grade Crossing Safety
Enhancements and Safety Measures related to Quiet Zone Implementation.
Respectfully submitted:
Nasser Abbaszadeh, PE
Public Works Director
Attachments: I. Amendment No.1