BEFORE THE WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
KING COUNTY                             )         DOCKET NO. TR-000678 
                                               )
                          Petitioner,           )          ORDER GRANTING 
PETITION TO UPGRADE
                                               )          WARNING DEVICES AT 
HUDSON ROAD
THE BURLINGTON NORTHERN   ) 
SANTA FE RAILROAD                    )
COMPANY                                      )         WUTC         1D 81.93
                                               )
                          Respondent           )         DOT            085175N
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   )
BACKGROUND 
                 On May 3rd , 2000, King County filed a petition seeking 
authority to upgrade the warning devices at the intersection of Hudson Road and 
the tracks of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad Company. The crossing 
is located in the SW 1/4 of the NW 1/4 of Section 11, Township 21 N, Range 7E, 
W.M.
                  Respondent consented to an entry of an Order by the 
Commission without further notice or hearing.
DISCUSSION
                  Hudson Road is classified as rural local, consisting of one 
lane for each direction of traffic and a posted vehicle speed limit of 35 mph. 
An estimated average of 210 vehicles use the crossing daily.
                  Respondent maintains a single spur track through the 
crossing. An average of 10 trains traverse the crossing daily at a maximum 
speed of 35 mph.
                  Existing warning devices at the crossing include crossbucks 
and advance warning signs. Petitioner proposes to improve public safety by 
adding two shoulder- mounted automatic flashing light signals with gates, which 
will be activated by train detection circuitry. 
                  Commission Staff have investigated the petition, and have 
recommended that the petition be approved, subject to specified conditions.
                  The Commissioners have reviewed the petition and have been 
fully advised in the matter. They 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 King County to upgrade 
warning devices at the highway-rail grade crossing located at Hudson Road and 
the tracks of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad Company, designated as 
WUTC crossing number 1D 81.93 in King County, Washington, subject to the 
following conditions:
                  1) The upgrades to warning devices must conform to the plans 
filed in this proceeding.
                  2) All devices must be erected in such a manner as to provide 
required clearances for both rail and vehicular traffic.
                  3) Traffic control devices, pavement markings, and advance 
warning signs must comply with all applicable standards specified in the U.S. 
Department of Transportation Manual On Uniform Traffic Control Devices.
                  4) Upon completion of the installations authorized herein, 
petitioner must 
report completion to the Commission. Acceptance of the changes is subject to a 
compliance inspection and report by Commission staff verifying that the 
crossing is in full compliance with law and regulation and the conditions 
specified herein.
                  Dated at Olympia, Washington, and effective this 31st day of 
July, 2000
WASHINGTON UTILITIES AND TRANSPORTATION COMMISSION
        
                                                              CAROLE J. 
WASHBURN, Secretary