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Decision No. C02-1273
BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF THE tA±& m ' 60 fli DO
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DOCKET NO. 02A-536R R EC`; ; '!
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF THE COLORADO DEPARTMENT OF
TRANSPORTATION, FOR AUTHORITY TO MODIFY EXISTING FLASHING LIGHT
SIGNALS AND AUTOMATIC GATE ARMS AT THE CROSSING OF THE UNION
PACIFIC RAILROAD TRACK AT US HIGHWAY 85 AND 42ND STREET, CITY OF
EVANS, WELD COUNTY, COLORADO.
COMMISSION ORDER GRANTING APPLICATION
Mailed Date: November 12, 2002
Adopted Date: October 30, 2002
I. BY THE COMMISSION:
A. Statement
1 . On October 3, 2002 the Colorado Department of
Transportation (CDOT) , filed this application for authority to
install traffic signals at the intersection of State Highway 85
(SH85) and 42nd Street to be interconnected to, and preempted by,
the highway-railroad grade crossing warning devices at the
crossing of 42nd Street and the mainline tracks of the Union
Pacific Railroad Company (UPRR) , Crossing Inventory I . D. No. 804-
359B, railroad milepost 47 . 91, in the City of Evans (Evans) , Weld
County, Colorado.
2 . The Commission gave notice of this application
together with a copy of the application to all interested
parties, including the adjacent property owners, in accordance
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with § 40-6-108 (2) , C.R. S . The Notice was mailed October -9,
2002 .
3 . On October 9, 2002, the Staff of the Commission
filed its Entry of Appearance and Notice of Intervention.
4 . On October 18, 2002, the UPRR filed its Entry of
Appearance and Notice of Intervention.
5 . Received by the Commission on November 7, 2002, as
a late filed exhibit, is a revised signal preemption sequence and
timeline.
6 . The Commission has jurisdiction in this matter
under § 40-4-106 (2) (a) & (3) (a) , C.R. S .
7 . The Commission has reviewed the record in this
matter and deems that the application is now complete within the
meaning of § 40-6-109 . 5, C.R. S .
8 . The Commission will determine this matter upon the
record, without a formal hearing under § 40-6-109 (5) , C.R. S . , and
Rule 24, Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure, 4 Colorado
Code of Regulations (CCR) 723-1, because the application is
noncontested and the Applicant did not request a public hearing.
B. Findings of Fact
1 . CDOT in conjunction with Evans will install a
traffic signal at the intersection of SH85 and 42nd Street.
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2 . The intersection of SH 85 and 42nd Street lies
approximately 140 feet west of the rail-highway grade crossing of
42nd Street across the UPRR tracks .
3 . The grade crossing is equipped with warning
devices consisting of advance warning signs, flashing light
signals with gates and bells . Track circuits consist of motion
detection devices .
4 . In order to prevent vehicular traffic from backing
up on the tracks, when trains approach, CDOT proposes to
interconnect the traffic signals to the railroad crossing signals
to provide for preemption of the traffic signals by the railroad
signals . Such preemption will include a clearance phase which
will allow vehicles to clear the tracks .
5 . The track circuits will be upgraded to constant
warning with auxillary crossing control unit to provide the
required traffic signal preemption and clearance phase timing.
UPRR, at CDOT expense will extend the railroad signal circuit
approach lengths to provide adequate clearance timing.
6 . The purpose of this application is to secure
Commission approval to interconnect the traffic signal to the
automatic crossing warning devices and provide for preemption of
the traffic signal by the crossing warning devices .
7 . Notice of the proposed traffic signal
interconnection to, and preemption by, the crossing warning
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devices has been given by the Commission to all interested
parties, including the adjacent property owners . No intervention
was received in opposition to this application. The application
is noncontested and unopposed.
8 . The current average daily vehicle traffic count on
SH 85 at the existing grade crossing of 42nd Street is 21, 300
vehicles and is anticipated to increase to 22, 400 in 2020 . There
are approximately 10 train movements per day over the crossing
with a maximum timetable train speed of 50 MPH.
9 . CDOT will maintain the traffic signals and
interconnect up to the railroad signal case. Continuing
maintenance of the crossing surface, tracks, and crossing warning
devices will remain the responsibility of UPRR.
10 . All exhibits, specifications, and plans, as
revised, are complete, accurate, and meet Commission
requirements .
11. The public safety, convenience, and necessity
require, and will be served by, the granting of this application.
C. Conclusions
1 . The Commission has jurisdiction in this matter
under § 40-4-106 (2) (a) and (3) (a) , C.R. S.
2 . No intervenor who filed a petition to intervene or
other pleading, contests or opposes the application. The
application is noncontested and unopposed.
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3 . The Commission will determine this matter on the
record, without a formal hearing under § 40-6-109 (5) , C.R. S . , and
Rule 24, Commission Rules of Practice and Procedure, 4 CCR 723-1.
4 . The public safety, convenience, and necessity
require, and will be served by, the granting of this application.
II . ORDER:
The Commission Orders That:
1 . The Colorado Department of Transportation, is
authorized to install traffic signals at the intersection of
State Highway 85 and 42nd Street in the City of Evans, Weld
County Colorado, to be interconnected to, and preempted by, the
existing highway-railroad grade crossing warning devices with new
constant warning track circuits at the crossing of 42nd Street
across the mainline tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad Company
at railroad milepost 47 . 91, Crossing Inventory I . D. No. 804-359B,
in the City of Evans, Weld County, Colorado.
2 . Installation of the traffic signal and
interconnection with the crossing warning devices authorized in
Ordering Paragraph 1, above, shall be in accordance with the
plans, specifications and exhibits, as revised, submitted with
this application, and hereby approved.
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3 . The total actual project costs of labor and
material shall be paid by the Colorado Department of
Transportation.
4 . Union Pacific Railraod Company shall continue to
maintain the crossing warning devices and crossing surface for
the life of the crossing so protected.
5 . The Commission retains jurisdiction to enter
further required orders .
6 . This Order is effective on its Mailed Date .
ADOPTED IN OPEN MEETING OCTOBER 30, 2002 .
(S E A L) THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
Of OO4O/ OF THE STATE OF COLORADO
RAYMOND L. GIFFORD
Gd ALS POLLY PAGE
ATTEST: A TRUE COPY JIM DYER
Commissioners
Bruce N. Smith
Director
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