BEFORE THE WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
   
CITY OF DEER PARK

Petitioner,

THE BURLINGTON NORTHERN AND SANTA FE RAILROAD

Respondent.
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	)	DOCKET NO. TR-961634
		
		ORDER GRANTING PETITION FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF A NEW GRADE CROSSING AT EAST 
“H” STREET


BACKGROUND

  By petition filed with the Commission on December 23, 1996, the City of Deer 
Park seeks authority for the construction of a new grade crossing and the 
installation of shoulder-mounted signals and gates at the intersection of the 
proposed “H” Street and the tracks of the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe 
Railroad, located at railroad mile post 25.98, in the SW 1/4 of the SW 1/4 of 
Section 2, Township 28, Range 42 E, in the Willamette Meridian.

  Respondent has consented to an entry of an order by the Commission without 
further notice or hearing.
DISCUSSION

  In the vicinity of the proposed crossing, “H” Street will be classified as a 
collector road, with a vehicle speed limit of 25 mph.  Projected daily traffic 
after the completion of the project is 300 vehicles, including 45 trucks and 20 
school bus trips.  Daily train traffic through Deer Park includes 2 trains not 
exceeding 25 mph.

  The City of Deer Park is bisected by the BNSF tracks, with the main 
residential sections located east of the tracks, and the commercial center and 
developing areas located west of the tracks.  In the vicinity of the City’s 
commercial center, residents having to cross the tracks are limited to the Main 
Street grade crossing, which is the only direct route west of the tracks for 
residents in the north and northwest sections of Deer Park.  The Main Street 
grade crossing is located approximately ˝ mile north of the proposed “H” Street 
site.  As a result of development in Deer Park, daily traffic through the Main 
Street crossing has increased from 1,630 in 1984 to 2,999 in 1994.  Alternate 
routes exist, but require residents to travel either northwest or southwest out 
of their way.  The “H” Street project engineer explained that “residents who 
don’t use the Main Street crossing have to travel several miles out of their 
way to get to a place they can see across the tracks.”  Another major concern 
expressed by the City is that of limited access for emergency vehicles.  In the 
event of a blockage to the Main Street crossing, emergency vehicles having to 
cross the tracks could be delayed when using alternate routes.

DOCKET TR-961634            PAGE 2

  The Construction of the “H” Street grade crossing is associated with the 
extension of “H” Street for a distance of approximately ˝ mile west.  This 
extension will provide an alternate route between the east and west sections of 
Deer Park, but will consequently cross the Burlington Northern and Santa Fe 
Railroad tracks.  

  Since the City’s commercial center and increasing traffic flows are also 
adjacent to the “H” Street site, the project’s purposes are to improve traffic 
circulation within the City by providing a practical alternative route for 
residents traveling across town, to divert some of Main Street’s traffic 
volumes, and to provide an alternative route for emergency vehicles having to 
cross the tracks.  Furthermore, the extension of “H” Street will help to 
facilitate future development in the vicinity.

  The warning devices proposed for the “H” Street crossing include 
shoulder-mounted signals with gates.  Since all of the grade crossings within 
Deer Park are equipped with the same devices, the City proposes these 
installations in the interest of safety to the motoring public, as well as 
consistency of warning devices for the benefit of Deer Park’s residents.

  A Determination of Non-Significance (DNS) has been issued for this project 
with regard to the State Environmental Policy Act.

  Commission Staff, having investigated the petition, recommends that the 
petition be approved, subject to specified conditions.

  The Commissioners, having reviewed the petition and being fully advised in 
the matter, believe that granting the petition, subject to the conditions set 
forth below, is in the public interest, and direct the Secretary to issue the 
order.

ORDER

  THE COMMISSION GRANTS the petition of the City of Deer Park for the 
construction of a grade crossing and the installation of warning devices at the 
intersection of East “H” Street and the tracks of the Burlington Northern and 
Santa Fe Railroad Company at or near railroad mile post 25.98, subject to the 
following conditions:

  1.  All construction and installation shall conform to the plans filed in 
this proceeding.

  2.  The roadway grade for 25 feet on each side of the centerline of the 
railway at the crossing shall be level.

DOCKET TR-961634           PAGE 3

  3.  The crossing shall be hard surfaced between rails and for a distance of 
at least one foot outside each rail for the full width of the traveled roadway, 
including the sidewalk.

  4.  All devices shall be erected in such a manner as to provide required 
clearances for both rail and vehicular traffic.

  5.  Traffic control devices, pavement markings, and advance warning signs 
shall comply with all applicable standards specified the U.S. Department of 
Transportation Manual On Uniform Traffic Control Devices.

  6.  Upon completion of the construction and installations authorized herein, 
petitioner shall report completion to the Commission.  Acceptance of the 
construction is subject to a compliance inspection and report by Commission 
staff verifying that the grade crossing is in full compliance with law and 
regulation and the conditions specified herein.
   

 Dated at Olympia, Washington, and effective this 9TH day of February, 2000

WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION





      CAROLE J. WASHBURN, Secretary