Inland Goods Movement Corridor Study
The
projected growth in the movement of goods by rail, particularly from the
ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, provided the stimulus for the Inland
Goods Movement Corridor Study. This study was conducted to analyze the
impact of increased train traffic on local circulation and to begin forming
a plan that would minimize conflicts between trains and vehicular traffic,
eliminate delay at rail crossings, and improve safety.
The Inland Goods Movement Corridor Study focused on the main rail lines that extend east from the northern end the Alameda Corridor, passing through developed and rapidly urbanizing portions of San Bernardino County. The specific rail lines studied include the San Bernardino Metrolink line, the Union Pacific freight lines, and the Burlington Northern Santa Fe line that extends north from Riverside to San Bernardino and northward to Victor Valley and Barstow. Within the study area, these rail lines total 201.4 miles of track with 120 street crossings, of which 51 are grade-separated (train tracks and streets that are on separate levels) and 69 are at-grade (train tracks and streets are on the same level, causing delays and safety issues as cars wait for trains to pass).
To assess the impact on local circulation, future rail freight volumes were derived from information in the San Pedro Bay Ports Long-Term Cargo Forecast, October 1998, in concurrence with staff from the railroads and consultants. The amount of vehicular delay at each at-grade crossing then was estimated for existing and future conditions, based on traffic volumes, train lengths, and the hourly distribution of vehicles and trains. The product of these calculations was a projected increase in total vehicular delay from 500 hours per day in 1999 to more than 6,200 hours per day in 2020.
A consistent process was developed to identify appropriate
improvements to be evaluated at each location. The process included:
(1) identifying categories of potential improvements;
(2) establishing thresholds of delay associated with each category; and
(3) selecting improvement options for each location. The improvement options
then were reviewed with local agency staff and modified.
Among the study findings are:
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The total cost of the rail crossing mitigation is estimated to be $569.3 million.
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Of the 69 at-grade rail crossings analyzed, 39 met the threshold for grade separation.
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Eight of the 10 highest ranked grade separation projects are on the Alameda Corridor East rail freight line in San Bernardino County.
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Five of the 23 highest ranked projects are beyond the Alameda Corridor East, on the Cajon Line segment running north of the Colton Junction through Cajon Pass and the High Desert.
These study findings were used to create the Alameda Corridor East Trade Plan.