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Home My WebLink About20154067.tiff RESOLUTION RE: CONSIDER APPLICATION FOR UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD EXEMPT CROSSING ON COUNTY ROAD 49 AND AUTHORIZE CHAIR TO SIGN - PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, pursuant to Colorado statute and the Weld County Home Rule Charter, is vested with the authority of administering the affairs of Weld County, Colorado, and WHEREAS,the Board has been presented with an Application for a Union Pacific Railroad Exempt Crossing on County Road 49 from the County of Weld, State of Colorado, by and through the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, on behalf of the Department of Public Works, to the Public Utilities Commission, commencing November, 2015, and ending March, 2016, with further terms and conditions being as stated in said application, and WHEREAS, after review, the Board deems it advisable to approve said application, a copy of which is attached hereto and incorporated herein by reference. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, Colorado, that the Application for a Union Pacific Railroad Exempt Crossing on County Road 49 from the County of Weld, State of Colorado, by and through the Board of County Commissioners of Weld County, on behalf of the Department of Public Works, to the Public Utilities Commission be, and hereby is, approved. BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED by the Board that the Chair be, and hereby is, authorized to sign said application. The above and foregoing Resolution was, on motion duly made and seconded, adopted by the following vote on the 30th day of December, A.D., 2015. BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WELD COUNTY, CO ORADO ATTEST: datit/tifir.' :e arbara Kirkmeyer Chair Weld County Clerk to the Board BY: ,,t'/- ,,� 1E,L ike Freeman, Pro-Tem e uty Clerk to the Boa � :•��.,, . USED �.n P. Conway APP AS TO Fe. r� - C../( Julie A. Cozad 1 oidiq{- orney Steve Moreno Date of signature: /00711L0 ee,• �� /41, 2015-4067 EG0072 g6 MEMORANDUM 1 TO: Clerk to the Board DATE: December 22, 2015 tll2 C TY� FROM: Don Dunker, Public Works Department SUBJECT: Agenda Item Submission of EXEMPT Application to PUC for the UPRR Crossing on WCR 49. Enclosures RECEIVED DEC 2 3 2015 WELD COMMISSIIONFPQ M:\Francie\AGENDA memos\Agenda-Jay.doc 2015-4067 (al 3Q BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS REVIEW/WORK SESSION REQUEST RE: Submission of EXEMPT Application to PUC for the UPRR Crossing on WCR 49 DEPARTMENT: PUBLIC WORKS DATE: 12/14/2015 PERSON(S) REQUESTING: Elizabeth Relford and Don Dunker Brief description of the problem/issue: The existing intersection of the UPRR and CR 49 is currently signed as an active crossing with advance warning signs and flashing lights even though the UPRR currently does not have any train traffic on this line. Since the crossing is posted as an active crossing, hazardous materials trucks are required by law to stop at the crossing. This results in a delay at the crossing as the trucks coming to a complete stop disrupt the flow of traffic along CR 49. Weld County Public Works staff have met with the UPRR and the State of Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and have been advised to submit an application to the PUC to classify the crossing as "Exempt." This designation will allow Weld County to install "Exempt" signs on the Railroad Signage for the crossing which will allow the hazardous materials truck to no longer make a complete stop at the railroad crossing. Once the Exempt Application is approved by the PUC, Weld County will install "EXEMPT" signs at the existing railroad crossing ahead signs and on the flashing light devices. The inactive flashing lights will remain in place until they are removed during the widening project of CR 49. If UPRR should decide to activate trains on this line in the future they will notify the PUC and Weld County and the Exempt signs will have to be removed. As part of the CR 49 project, the railroad crossing will be designed to accommodate"Bells, Lights, and Gates" for future installation if the line becomes active however they will not be installed with the current construction. Recommendation for the Board: Staff recommends the Board proceed with the submission of the Exempt Application to the PUC. Approve Schedule Recommendation Work Session Comments Barbara Kirkmeyer,Chair Mike Freeman, Pro-Tem r()� Sean P. Conway --rte-- Steve Moreno Julie Cozad S BEFORE THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION OF THE STATE OF COLORADO IN THE MATTER OF THE APPLICATION OF ) WELD COUNTY, COLORADO,FOR AUTHORITY ) TO REMOVE TRAFFIC LIGHT SIGNALS, SIGNING ) DOCKET NO. AND PAVEMENT MARKINGS AT THE WELD ) COUNTY ROAD 49 CROSSING OF THE UNION ) PACIFIC RAILROAD TRACKS (NIC#805-243D) ) The Weld County Board of County Commissioners, hereinafter referred to as the County,hereby submits this application to the Public Utilities Commission, hereinafter referred to as PUC,for an order designating a crossing as exempt and granting permission to install "EXEMPT"crossing signs at the crossing of Weld County Road 49 and the tracks of the Union Pacific Railroad Company,hereinafter referred to as UPRR,National Inventory Crossing ID No. 805-243D,at UPRR milepost 145.19, in Weld County, Colorado. The following information is provided,as required by 4 CCR 723-7:7204(c): (I) Application is filed by: Board of County Commissioners of Weld County,Colorado On behalf of the Weld County Department of Public Works 1111 H Street P.O.Box 758 Greeley, CO 80632 (II) The County is a political subdivision of the State of Colorado and is duly authorized to construct, maintain and operate public roadways in Weld County,Colorado.Offices are located at: 1150 "0" Street P.O.Box 758 Greeley,CO 80632 (III) The County is not a corporation and is not a partnership. (IV) The County's representative will be: Don Dunker, P.E. County Engineer Weld County Public Works Department P.O. Box 758 Greeley, Colorado 80632 Phone: (970)304-6496 ext. 3749; Fax(970)304-6497 ddunker@weldgov.com Page 1 of 4 (V) The U.S. Department of Transportation designation of the crossing is#805-243D. The crossing location is further described as UPRR Mile Post 145.19 in Weld County,Colorado. Weld County does not use mile posts referencing. (VI) Weld County is improving a twenty mile portion of Weld County Road 49,which includes this crossing. The crossing is not currently used by trains,and is not expected to be used by trains in the next five to ten years. Because the road is travelled by numerous vehicles which are required to stop for railroad crossing pursuant to Colorado Revised Statutes Title 42, marking this crossing as exempt will decrease traffic congestion and travel times substantially,and will increase safety. The County will submit a future application for the widening of the crossing. (VII) The average daily vehicular traffic count(ADT)at the crossing is 6,500 in 2014 and a speed of 65 miles per hour. There are no train movements at the crossing location. The UPRR owns the right of way but has no plans to reopen this line for the foreseeable future. (VIII) Statement of work of the project: The crossing at this location currently has crossing warning devices consisting of flashing light signals(inactive),advance warning signs and pavement markings. The County will install the EXEMPT signs as required by the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for Streets and Highways(MUTCD)and PUC Regulations.The County proposes to install R15-3P Exempt signs on each of the flashing lights and a W10-1aP Exempt signs on each the advanced warning signs. The advance warning signs will be placed to accommodate the 65 MPH speed design.The County will provide for 100%of the cost. The UPRR track and ties will remain in place.The County will be responsible for construction zone traffic control during the period of the sign installation.The County will continue to maintain,at its expense,the roadway crossing. The County will coordinate with the UPRR to disconnect the flashing light signals. (IX) Weld County proposes to install"EXEMPT"signs at the crossing on the flashing lights and the advanced warning signs. (X) Construction is expected to begin in November of 2015 and be completed in March of 2016. The installation of the exempt signs will occur as soon as the application is approved. (XI) See attached Exhibit A—Vicinity Map. (XII) This application does not request to install or modify interconnection or preemption at a highway traffic signal. (XIII) The following persons/entities may have an interest in this application: Union Pacific Railroad Company 1400 W. 52nd Avenue,Denver,Colorado 80222 Town of Kersey, Colorado 323 3rd Street,P.O.Box 657, Kersey, Colorado 80644 Town of Hudson, Colorado 557 Ash Street,P.O.Box 351,Hudson, Colorado 80642 Page 2 of 4 City of Greeley, Colorado 1000 Tenth Street, Greeley, Colorado 80631 Mark Hamilton 25469 WCR 49, Greeley, Colorado 80631 M&J Dairy LLC 3400 E. SH 60, Loveland, Colorado 80537 George &Eloise Maxey 26331 CR 49, Greeley, Colorado 80631 Jeffrey&Deanne Maxey 26468 44th Ave., Greeley, Colorado 80631 Keith&Kelly Maxey 26114 CR 49, Greeley, Colorado 80631 Lower Latham Ditch Company PO BOX 398,Kersey,CO 80644 (XIV) The existing crossing is an at-grade crossing of WCR 49 with no train use currently. Creating a grade separation is not practical, warranted or cost effective for a crossing with no conflicts (train traffic). A grade crossing would require a profile change of WCR 49 and modification of several property accesses and to have the tracks go over WCR 49, would require the adjustment of nearly one mile of track for a segment that currently has no train traffic. (XV) Weld County agrees to respond to all questions propounded by the Commission or its Staff concerning the application. Please address them to: Don Dunker,P.E. County Engineer Weld County Public Works Department P.O. Box 758 Greeley, Colorado 80632 Phone: (970)304-6496 ext. 3749; Fax(970)304-6497 ddunkerawel.dgov.corn (XVI) Weld County has no preference as to where the hearing is held. (XVII) I, Don Dunker, attest to the facts stated in this application, including all attached exhibits. /Don Dunker,P.E. Date Weld County Engineer Page 3 of 4 THEREFORE, Weld County requests the Public Utilities Commission to enter an order authorizing the crossing at the UPRR milepost 145.19 be designated an EXEMPT crossing. EaLa Applicant: ATTEST: dirhoti . r� • ,� ' :OARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS Weld Co lerk to the Boa �� '.` .jO _ D COUNTY, COLO: • P O 1 • Deputy Cler,to the Boar. � lb1 1 •\ :arbara Kirkmeyer, C it DEC 0 2015 APPROVED AS TO SUBSTANCE: Bob Choate Assistant Weld County Attorney 1150"O" Street,P.O.Box 758 Greeley, Colorado 80632 970-336-7235 Page 4 of 4 020 4,_ 1/019 RE: Issue: N:)pl," �� -car- Eki.0 r,p-t- Cr-tsc (Separate Staff Page Signature Block) IN WITNESS WHEREOF, Weld County and '?(,1e,. have caused this agreement to be executed this 3[)tL day of Tom- , 20/c. APPROVED AS TO SUBSTANCE: Elected Official or Department Head Director of General Services APPROVED AS TO FUNDING: . -gadatzzy Controller APPROVED AS TO FORM: PS et/tve.1,4-L, County Attorney M:\AGREEMENTS\SIGNATURE BLOCKS-SEPARATE PAGE&CHAIR ONLY\SeparateStaffPage-SignatureBlock.docx I Hello