PURPOSE

Approval of a resolution that enables staff to pursue the establishment of a railroad Quiet Zone on the Valley Subdivision at the intersection of Buena Vista Street near San Fernando Boulevard, as directed by Council.  The Federal Railroad Administration established rules for the creation of a Quiet Zone that are defined in Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 222 to 229.  The rules require that Council issue a Notice of Intent to Create a Quiet Zone by resolution, and notify various agencies by certified mail, including all railroad operators in the proposed Quiet Zone, the California Public Utilities Commission, and the California Department of Transportation.  Approval of the proposed resolution allows the formal notification process to create a Quiet Zone on the Valley Subdivision to begin.

BACKGROUND

In the latter part of 2005, Council directed staff to investigate the feasibility of establishing a railroad Quiet Zone through Burbank (Queue List Items 540 and 566).  A Quiet Zone is a length of track where the sounding of locomotive horns is not required.  Title 49 of the Code of Federal Regulations, Parts 222 to 229, require that a locomotive horn be sounded while a train is approaching and entering a public highway-rail crossing, but the rules also allow exceptions to the requirement to sound a horn where there is not a significant risk of loss of life or personal injury.  Communities that qualify for an exception may create a �Quiet Zone� within which locomotive horns would not be routinely sounded.

A Quiet Zone must be at least � mile in length, but generally all crossings in a two to three mile track section should be included.  All public crossings in the Quiet Zone must at a minimum be equipped with flashing lights, railroad protection gates, and signs warning of the absence of locomotive horns.  In addition to these minimum requirements, other safety devices are generally needed to supply an adequate safety buffer.

Staff investigated the feasibility of instituting Quiet Zones on the two rail line segments in Burbank shown in Attachment 1, and found that improvements to the at-grade rail / highway crossings would allow the installation of Quiet Zones.  Burbank has three highway-rail at-grade crossings, one on the Valley Subdivision at Buena Vista Street near San Fernando Boulevard, and two crossings on the Ventura Subdivision at Clybourn Avenue near Vanowen Street and at Buena Vista Street near Vanowen Street.  This request involves only a Quiet Zone on the Valley Subdivision at Buena Vista Street.  Improvements to the crossings on the Ventura Subdivision to allow a Quiet Zone are still under design.

The planned improvements to create a Quiet Zone on the Valley Subdivision have been budgeted with grant funds and Redevelopment Agency monies.  The plans are almost complete and they are under final review by the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC).  Final approval is expected within a month; whereupon the project can be advertised for bids.

The planned safety improvements on the Valley Subdivision at the Buena Vista Street crossing near San Fernando Boulevard include the following:

• Southbound pre-signals to stop traffic prior to the railroad crossing,

• Changeable message signs to warn motorists of approaching trains,

• Widening of Buena Vista Street to reduce northbound congestion,

• Improvement of the Buena Vista / Winona Street traffic signal,

• Widening of Winona Street west of Buena Vista Street,

• Improvement of the pedestrian crossing at the railroad tracks, and

• Permanent closure of San Fernando Boulevard North east of Winona Street

ANALYSIS

Safety improvements at the Buena Vista Street at-grade railroad / highway crossing have been designed, and the funding for the improvements has been budgeted.  The planned improvements will continue the process needed to create a Quiet Zone, if Council approves the concept. The attached resolution will allow staff to proceed with the notice of intent to establish a Quiet Zone on the Valley Subdivision.  The resolution does not bind the City to a Quiet Zone.  The safety improvements will proceed with or without the Quiet Zone.

The Southern California Regional Rail Authority (Metrolink) has established Implementation Guidelines and Procedures for Quiet Zones in this region.  Staff has complied with all technical procedures necessary to implement a Quiet Zone. Attachment 2 shows the Notice of Intent to create a new Quiet Zone.  The indemnification requirements are being reviewed by the City Attorney.

After Council approves by resolution the establishment of a Quiet Zone, an official notice will be sent to affected parties as indicated above.  The notice must contain the crossing(s) affected by the Quiet Zone, time period during which restrictions will be imposed, a discussion of improvements, the name of a contact person, and a list of all parties notified. Anyone may submit information to the city for a 60-day period after the notice is sent.  Upon completion of the review period, the Quiet Zone may be established.

RECOMMENDATION

Staff recommends that Council authorize the process to establish a Quiet Zone on the Valley Subdivision.  The process does not bind the City of Burbank to creating a Quiet Zone; it merely initiates the process.  Should Council determine at a later date that a Quiet Zone is not desirable, the process can be terminated.

Attachment:       Map of Burbank Rail Lines

                           Notice of Intent to Create New Quiet Zone