HomeMy WebLinkAbout630183.tiff(Decision No. 61463)
BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
OF TEE STATE OF COLORADO
* * *
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF )
THE DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS OF THE )
STATE OF COLORADO FOR AUTHORITY TO
INSTALS, AUTOMATIC FLASHING LIGHT
SIGNALS, ON STATE HIGHWAY NO. 3 (US )
85) ACROSS THE SINGLE TRACK LONGMONT-)
EATON LINE OF THE GREAT WESTERN RAIL-)
WAY COMPANY'S MILEPOST 42 f 431 FEET,)
IMMEDIATELY NORTH OF THE TOWN OF )
EATON, WELD COUNTY, COLORADO. )
September 25, 1963
APPLICATION NO. 19927
Appearances: Mark U. Watrous, Chief En-
gineer, Denver, Colorado,
by
Adolph Zulian, Plans and Sur-
veys Engineer, Denver,
Colorado, for Colorado De-
partment of Highways.
STATEMENT
By the 'Co aission:
On July 19, 1963, The Department of Highways of the State
of Colorado (Department) filed its application in accordance with
the rules of this Commission, seeking approval for installation of
automatic flashing -light signals at the highway railroad grade cross-
ing, as noted above.
Other explanatory material as submitted with the instant
application includes:
Exhibit A: White print copy of Project Plan Sheet to show
location of proposed highway improvement along
State Highway No. 3 (US 85), including public
grade crossing over Great Western Railway near
the City Limits of Eaton, Colorado.
Exhibit B: White print copy of plan sheet to show details
of new divided roadway crossing Over Great
Western single main line.
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In addition, Department also provided:
1. Signal wiring
Nos. 59.3, 59
2. Copy of fully
1963, between
Great Western
and Location Plans {3 Sheets --
.3A, 59.3B, 59.30.
executed agreement dated June 13,
Department of Highways and The
Railway Company.
With reference to the instant application, it appears De-
partment of Highways is currently engaged in a widening and improve-
ment project extending for some 6i miles northerly along the existing
State Highway No. 3 from north of Greeley to a short distance north of
Eaton, Colorado.
Existing Highway No. 3 now consists of two lanes and crosses
the single main line of Great Western Railway at 5th Street in an area
along the north east City limits of Eaton and on right-of-way lands of
Union Pacific Railroad.
The proposed four-laning work of the Department will require
improvement of the existing two-lane crossing, the construction of an
additional or new two-lane crossings and new installation of four flash-
ing light signals at the Great Western trackage. Added protection will
include supplementary flasher units beamed parallel to Fifth Street as
a warning for vehicular turning movements and the installation of a
bell.
Present vehicular traffic on State Highway 3 amounts to 6,600
vehicles per day. The allowable vehicular speed on the proposed high-
way will be 4+0 miles per hour. One (1) scheduled freight train (two
movements) operating at speeds not exceeding 10 miles per hour, oper-
ates over the single track crossing daily.
Public utilities affected by this improvement are provided
for in separate agreements with the respective owners. Railway commu-
nication and signal line adjustments and drainage are a part of the
basic contract with The Great Western Railway Company.
With reference to the instant application, affected parties
-2
have agreed that in accordance with current Federal regulations,
Great Western Railway will be reimbursed for 90% of all its ex-
penses for installation of new signals at the existing or south-
bound roadway, while full expense of other roadway and signal work
will be paid through Department of Highways. Upon completion of
the new work, maintenance of protection devices will be by the Rail-
road.
Distribution of estimated protection expense is as follows:
$ 3,632.55 - Timber Grade Crossing & Adjust
RR. Facilities
11,710.00 - Install Four Automatic Flash- ($11,410 Dept.)
ing Light Signals ( 00 RR )
1
$15,342.55 Total
In further review of the proposal, the Commission forwarded
a copy of the application, togeiiher with a Notice, to interested
parties, including also the Board of Weld County Commissioners, and
Mayor, Town of Eaton, to ascertain if any other action was desired
within the period of twenty (20) days as designated in said Notice.
No reply has been recieved by the Commission.
After consideration of the instant proposal, it is the be-
lief of the Commission that effectiveness of automatic signal protec-
tion is accepted by the railroad utility and the public agencies
affected herein. The signal installation will upgrade the crossing
protection to meet the increased vehicular use. Hence, it is appar-
ent that installation of the safety devices as sought here would be
in the public interest and protect traffic on both the highway and
the railroad.
It is therefore the belief of the Commission that the pro-
posed change is compatible with the public interest and the Commis-
sion determined to hear, and has heard, said matter, forthwith, with-
out further notice, upon the records and files herein.
FINDINGS
THE COMMISSION FINDS:
That it is informed in the instant matter, and the fore-
going Statement, by reference, is made a part hereof.
That public safety, convenience and necessity require
the installation and approval of standard flashing -type automatic
improved
crossing signals at the/grade crossing of State Highway No. 3 (U.S.
85) over The Great Western Railway Longmont -Eaton Line, at Mile Post
42 - 431 feet, being at 5th Street near the northeast City Limits of
Eaton, Weld County, Colorado.
That the authority sought in the instant application should
be granted.
ORDER
THE COMMISSION ORDERS:
That Applicant, Department of Highways of the State of Colo-
rado, Denver, Colorado, be, and it hereby is, granted a certificate of
public convenience and -necessity to authorize and approve the installa-
-tion, operation and maintenance of standard automatic flashing -light
improved
grade crossing signals at the/grade crossing of State Highway No. 3
(U.S. 85) over The Great Western Railway Longmont -Eaton Line at Mile
Post 42 - 431 feet, being at 5th Street near the northeast City Limits
of Eaton, Weld County, Colorado.
That the work to be done, costs, installation and maintenance
of the protection devices, shall be as indicated in the preceding State-
ment. Said Statement, Location Exhibits and Agreement are by reference
made a part hereof.
That the signal devices and installation shall all be in con-
formance with the eurrent Bulletin of the Association of American Rail-
roads' Joint Committee on Railroad Protection.
-4-
This Order shall became effective forthwith.
THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
OF THE STATE OF COLORADO
REMIT E. ZARLEHOO
HOWARD S. BJELLAHD
RALPH C. HORTON
Commissioners.
Dated at Denver, Colorado,
this 25th day of September, 1963.
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NOTICE
BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
OF THE STATE OF COLORADO
* * *
To:
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF
THE DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS OF THE
STATE OF COLORADO, 4201 EAST
ARKANSAS AVENUE, DENVER, COLORADO,
FOR AUTHORITY TO INSTALL AUTOMATIC
FLASHING LIGHT SIGNALS, ON STATE
HIGHWAY NO. 3 (U.S. 85), ACROSS THE
(SINGLE TRACK LONGMONT-EATON LINE OF
E GREAT WESTERN RAILWAY COMPANY'S
MILEPOST 42+431 FEET, IMMEDIATELY
NORTH OF THE TOWN OF EATON, WELD
COUNTY, COLORADO.
Name
Mark U. Watrous, Chief Engineer
J. P. Holloway, Attorney
Adolph Zulian, Plans Engineer
* The Great Western Railway Company
Attention: Jens Jensen, Vice -President
and General Manager
* The Union Pacific Railroad Company
Attention: E. G. Knowles,
General Attorney
)
)
)
* Chairman, Board of Weld County Commissioners
* Mayor, Town of Eaton
J. L. McNeill
* Copy of Application enclosed.
APPLICATION NO. 19927
Address
Colorado Department of Highways
4201 East Arkansas Avenue
Denver, Colorado
P. 0. Box 5308,
Terminal Annex,
Denver, Colorado
560 Denver Club Building,
Denver 2, Colorado
Court House, Greeley, Colorado
City Hall, Eaton, Colorado
Public Utilities Commission
You are hereby given NOTICE that the above application has been filed
with this Commission.
If you wish to take any action, you should do so, in writing, within
twenty (20) days after the date hereof.
BY ORDER OF THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF COLORADO.
Dated at Denver, Colorado,
this 25th day of July, 1963.
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GREECE v, COLA
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JUL 2n x )53
1 )06-1(29)
Greeley - North
BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION'
OF THE STATE OF COLORADO
IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF)
THE DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS OF THE )
STATE OF COLORADO FOR AUTHORITY TO )
INSTALL AUTOMATIC FLASHING LIGHT )
SIGNALS, ON STATE HIGHWAY NO.3(11685))
ACROSS THE SINGLE TRACK LONGMONT- )
EATON LINE OF THE GREAT WESTERN )
RAILWAY COMPANY'S MILEPOST 42+431 )
FEET, IMMEDIATELY NORTH OF THE TOWN)
OF EATON, WELD COUNTY, COLORADO. )
1992-7
APPLICATION NO.
Comes now THE DEPARTMENT OF HIGHWAYS of the STATH OF COLORADO,
and shows the Commission:
1. The applicant is an administrative Department of the State of
Colorado, duly authorized to construct, maintain and operate public
highways in the State of Colorado.
2. The post office address of the applicant is 4201 East
Arkansas Avenue, Denver 22, Colorado.
3. Under authority of the laws and statutes of the ttate of
Colorado, funds have been allocated for the purpose of installing
highway/railroad grade crossing protection devices consisting of four
(4) automatic flashing light signals complete with audible warning
devices, said crossing being located on State Highway No. 3 (U. S. 85)
on or near the East-West Quarter Section Line of Section 31, Township
7 North, Range 65 West, Sixth Principal Meridian, in Weld County, State
of Colorado, said point of crossing of the highway median of the pro-
posed four -lane highway facility intersecting The Great Western Railway
Company's single track Longmont -Eaton Line at Milepost 42+431 feet,
which at this location, is situate on property of the Union Pacific
Railroad Company.
F 006-1(29)
Greeley - North
4. The proposed improvement also provides for the installation
of supplemental flasher units beamed parallel to Fifth Street as a
warning to turning vehicular traffic and the construction of two (2)
grade crossings, each being a minimum of forty (40) feet in length.
Reflectorized advance warning signs will be furnished and installed
by Department's Maintenance Forces at no expense to The Great Western
Railway Company.
5. This improvement is necessary for the safety and convenience
of the public due to widening and four-laning of this particular
section of highway.
6. Attached hereto Exhibits A and B showing location and
typical section of future highway improvement of crossing site with
SH 3 at Railway's Milepost 42+431 feet. Signal placement as herein
proposed will conform to roadway typical section of proposed highway
improvements.
7. Installation of the automatic flashing light signals supple-
mented with audible warning devices will be in accordance with the
Commission's specifications.
8. Present vehicular traffic on SH 3 amounts to 6600 vehicles
per day. The allowable vehicular speed on the proposed highway will
be 40 miles per hour. One (1) scheduled freight train (two movements)
operating at speeds not exceeding 10 miles per hour, operates over the
single track crossing daily. Proposed improvement will reduce
existing hazard rating of 4.32 to 1.34.
2
F 006-1(29)
Greeley - North
9. Public utilities affected by this improvement are provided
for in separate agreements with the respective owners. Railway
communication and signal line adjustments and drainage are a part of
the basic contract with The Great Western Railway Company.
10. This improvement lies wholly within The Union Pacific Rail-
road Company's property and there are no privately -owned properties
adjacent to the crossing. Property abutting on the southwest
quadrant is vested in the Town of Eaton.
11. The work to be done and the expenses therefor are covered
in Agreement dated June 13, 1963, between the Department of Highways
and The Great Western Railway Company. Copy of said Agreement is to
be made available to the Commission when fully executed. Subject
Agreement provides that the Railway will be reimbursed for Ninety (90)
per cent of all expenses it incurs incidental to installation of
protection devices for the southbound roadway and for the total amount
of all expenses incurred by it for installation costs incurred by the
Railway for protection devices for the northbound roadway. The
Department further agrees to reimburse the Railway for the entire
cost incurred for reconstruction of existing crossing and construction
of the new crossing, paid in accordance with the current Federal and
State rules and regulations applicable thereto. The Great Western
Railway Company is participating to the extent of ten (10) per cent
in the installation costs of protection devices for the southbound
roadway. Maintenance, repair and operation of the protection devices
at said grade crossing shall be and remain the responsibility of The
Great Western Railway Company.
3
F 006-1(29)
Greeley - North
12. Wherefore, applicant pray : that the Pu::1:.._c Utilities
Commies:Lon make its order auts.o::izi::g ir..-�_cvc=ments of the above -
described hig wav/railroad grade crc.sing, as indicated://
GDated at Denver, Colorado , this day of
1963.
:%L=EA TV' :]N OF HIGHWAYS
STATE OF COLORAL;.
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Chief Engineer
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