HomeMy Public PortalAboutPublic Comment #2 (State of CA Public Utilities)STATE OF CALIFORNIA EDMUND G. BROWN JR., Governor
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
320 WEST 4TH STREET, SUITE 500
LOS ANGELES, CA 90013
(213) 576-7083
October 15, 2013
Denyelle Nishimori
Town of Truckee
10183 Truckee Airport Road
Truckee, CA 96161
Dear Denyell:
Re: SCH 2012052073 Town of Truckee Joerger Ranch Specific Plan, DEIR
The California Public Utilities Commission (Commission) has jurisdiction over the safety of
highway-rail crossings (crossings) in California. The California Public Utilities Code requires
Commission approval for the construction or alteration of crossings and grants the
Commission exclusive power on the design, alteration, and closure of crossings in California.
The Commission Rail Crossings Engineering Section (RCES) is in receipt of the Draft
Environmental Impact Report (DEIR) for the proposed Town of Truckee (Town) Joerger
Specific Plan project.
The project area includes active railroad tracks. RCES recommends that the Town add
language to the Specific Plan so that any future development adjacent to or near the
railroad/light rail right-of-way (ROW) is planned with the safety of the rail corridor in mind.
New developments may increase traffic volumes not only on streets and at intersections, but
also at at-grade crossings. This includes considering pedestrian/bike circulation patterns or
destinations with respect to railroad ROW and compliance with the Americans with
Disabilities Act. Mitigation measures to consider include, but are not limited to, the planning
for grade separations for major thoroughfares, improvements to existing at -grade crossings
due to increase in traffic volumes and continuous vandal resistant fencing or other
appropriate barriers to limit the access of trespassers onto the railroad ROW.
If you have any questions in this matter, please contact me at (213) 576 -7076,
ykc@cpuc.ca.gov.
Sincerely,
Ken Chiang, P.E.
Utilities Engineer
Rail Crossings Engineering Section
Safety and Enforcement Division
C: State Clearinghouse