Decision to Upgrade Railroad Crossing Safety in Sterling, CO

Strategic Insights -

The Public Utilities Commission of the State of Colorado has issued a decision to grant BNSF Railway Company's application to upgrade the safety features at the railroad crossing on Iris Drive in Sterling, Colorado. The upgrade includes replacing existing flashing lights, gates, bells, signal bungalow, track signs, and upgrading the crossing detection circuitry from motion detection to constant warning time. This decision aims to enhance public safety and follows a review of the record in the matter, with no interventions filed in opposition to the application.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Commission deemed the BNSF application complete and granted the request to upgrade the railroad crossing safety features on July 5, 2023.
  • The upgrade will include replacing existing flashing lights, gates, bells, signal bungalow, track signs, and upgrading the crossing detection circuitry from motion detection to constant warning time.
  • The new warning time at the crossing will be 35 seconds with the circuitry change.
  • BNSF will pay 100% of the cost of the project, estimated to be $370,583.
  • The Commission expects BNSF to inform them in writing that the project is complete by December 31, 2023.
  • BNSF plans to provide the updated U.S. DOT Inventory Form for the updated crossing by the end of the project, estimated to be on December 31, 2023.
  • The Commission has jurisdiction in this matter under SS 40-4-106(2)(a) and (3)(a), C.R.S.
  • The upgrade aims to improve public safety, with no accidents reported at the crossing since 1975.
  • BNSF will be required to provide the updated crossing inventory forms in this proceeding by December 31, 2023.

Statistics:

  • Estimated cost of the project: $370,583.
  • BNSF payoff for the project: 100%.
  • Number of trains per day: 5.
  • Timetable speed of the mainline: 20 miles per hour.
  • Vehicles per day using the crossing: 200 (based on 1985 National Inventory Form data).
  • No estimate for percentage of heavy vehicles or number of school buses using the crossing.
  • No accidents reported at the crossing since 1975.

Sources:

  • Decision No. C23-0668, PROCEEDING NO. 23A-0359R, Public Utilities Commission of the State of Colorado.
  • July 5, 2023 - BNSF Railway Company Application.
  • Rule 7204(a)(X)(D), 4 Code of Colorado Regulations.
  • SS 40-6-109.5, C.R.S.
  • SS 40-6-114, C.R.S.
  • National Inventory Form (1985).
  • U.S. DOT Inventory Form.