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Meridian RWT - Presentation to Parks CommissionUPRR Rail with Trail Study 1 Project Area and Overview Rail with Trail Systems Questions Project Area Pedestrian Crossing Environmental Resources 2 Pedestrian Crossing Ten Mile Road (inside railroad right-of-way) Rail with Trail Systems Questions Project Area Pedestrian Crossing Environmental Resources 3 Pedestrian Crossing Ten Mile Road (outside railroad right-of-way) Rail with Trail Systems Questions Project Area Pedestrian Crossing Environmental Resources 4 Pedestrian Crossing Plan View Rail with Trail Systems Questions Project Area Pedestrian Crossing Environmental Resources 5 Pedestrian Crossing Typical Section Rail with Trail Systems Questions Project Area Pedestrian Crossing Environmental Resources 6 Pedestrian Crossing At-grade Crossing Black Cat Road Ten Mile Road Linder Road Meridian Road Main Street 3rd Street Locust Grove Road *Assumes cost for ROW Rail with Trail Systems Questions Project Area Pedestrian Crossing Environmental Resources 7 Pedestrian Crossing Above and Below Grade Rail with Trail Systems Questions Project Area Pedestrian Crossing Environmental Resources 8 Environmental Resources Cultural Resources Rail with Trail Systems Questions Project Area Pedestrian Crossing Environmental Resources 9 Environmental Resources Wetlands Rail with Trail Systems Questions Project Area Pedestrian Crossing Environmental Resources 10 Environmental Resources Wildlife: Threatened and Endangered Species Rail with Trail Systems Questions Project Area Pedestrian Crossing Environmental Resources 11 (a) Purpose- Encourage land owners to make land available to public without charge by limiting liability. (b) Definitions- “Land” means private or public land… trails… and machinery or equipment when attached to or used on the realty. (c) Owner exempt from warning- Land owner owes no duty to keep premises safe by installing signs or providing warning. (d) Owner assumes no liability- Owner of land who permits use of land without charge does not have to assure that premises are safe, confer legal status or licensee, or assume responsibility or incur liability for any injury to person or property. (e) Provisions apply to leased public land. (f) Provisions apply to land subject to a conservation easement. (g) Owner not required to keep land safe- Owner not required to care for ground, relieve any person using the land, or apply for compensation permit. (h) User liable for damages- Any person using the land, with or without permission, is liable for any damage to property. Rail with Trail Systems Idaho Recreational Use Statute (§36-1604) Project Area Pedestrian Crossing Rail with Trail Systems Questions Environmental Resources 12 Rail with Trail Systems Safety Since 2011 there have been 1,590 trespasser deaths in rail corridors.1 Since 1992 only one death of a trail user on a rail-with-trail.2 1Federal Railroad Administration. Office of Safety Analysis. “Trespasser Deaths by Calendar Year.” http://safetydata.fra.dot.gov/OfficeofSafety/publicsite/Query/castally4.aspx 2Pack, Kelly and Pat Tomes. (2013). America’s Rails with Trails. Washington, D.C.: Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. file:///C:/Users/hboekweg/Downloads/2014.06.%20Rail-with-TrailList.pdf. Camp Chase Rail-Trail, Columbus, OH Camp Chase Rail-Trail, Columbus, OH Project Area Pedestrian Crossing Rail with Trail Systems Questions Environmental Resources 13 1 fatality and 2 injuries on RWT in 20 years. Fatality occurred on the South Bay Trail in Bellingham, Washington. The cyclist did not slow or attempt to stop at a 90-degree track crossing, which included a railroad warning sign, a ‘cross-buck’ symbolic sign, and a stop sign. A lawsuit was filed, and neither the railroad or the trail manager were found to be liable, and the court specifically noted that the trail crossing had in fact improved safety for pedestrians and cyclists.1 1 Estate of Haykin v. City of Bellingham, No. 67713-6-I (Wash App. Div. 1, Oct. 15, 2012) (unpublished opinion) Rail with Trail Systems Safety Project Area Pedestrian Crossing Rail with Trail Systems Questions Environmental Resources 14 Rail with Trail Systems Liability Of 88 trail managers, seven had claims filed for trail conditions. No claims were filed against the railroad. 1 The Yampa River Core Trail in CO cited claims made due to injuries sustained by trail users going down grades at railroad underpasses. On the Gary L. Haller Trail in KS, a trail user was injured when he ran into the railroad’s gate blocking one of the tunnel crossings. Even though the railroad was negligent (the gate was left open by the railroad), the city paid the settlement claim because the railroad was indemnified. 1 Pack, Kelly and Pat Tomes. (2013). America’s Rails with Trails. Washington, D.C.: Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. file:///C:/Users/hboekweg/Downloads/2014.06.%20Rail-with-TrailList.pdf. Project Area Pedestrian Crossing Rail with Trail Systems Questions Environmental Resources 15 Rail with Trail Systems Trespassing, Vandalism, Dumping RWT’s provide safe and intentional alternatives to trespassing on tracks. Pedestrian crossings will be designed to avoid vehicle railroad conflicts. “…construction of a trail leads to decreases in the occurrence of trespassing and illegal dumping, while the presence of trail users can deter crimes such as vandalism.” 1 1Pack, Kelly and Pat Tomes. (2013). America’s Rails with Trails. Washington, D.C.: Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. file:///C:/Users/hboekweg/Downloads/2014.06.%20Rail-with-TrailList.pdf. Three Rivers Heritage Trail- Southside, PA Project Area Pedestrian Crossing Rail with Trail Systems Questions Environmental Resources 16 Rail with Trail Systems Rails-with-Trails As of June 2014, 217 rails-with-trails (RWT) in 42 states.1 1Rails-to-trails Conservancy (2014). “Rail-with-Trail List.” Rails-to-trails Conservancy. file:///C:/Users/hboekweg/Downloads/2014.06.%20Rail-with-TrailList.pdf. Project Area Pedestrian Crossing Rail with Trail Systems Questions Environmental Resources 1 17 After construction, opposition is significantly reduced from 19% to 6%. 1 Rail with Trail Systems Before and After Development 51% 30% 19% 43% 29% 22% 6% Project Area Pedestrian Crossing Rail with Trail Systems Questions Environmental Resources 1Pack, Kelly and Pat Tomes. (2013). America’s Rails with Trails. Washington, D.C.: Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. file:///C:/Users/hboekweg/Downloads/2014.06.%20Rail-with-TrailList.pdf. 18 Rail with Trail Systems Offset Distance 60% of trails were equal to or less than 30 feet from railroad tracks.1 63% of the 88 examined trails have more than half of their length along active railroads, with the range of RWT length varying between 0.07-22 miles.1 1Pack, Kelly and Pat Tomes. (2013). America’s Rails with Trails. Washington, D.C.: Rails-to-Trails Conservancy. file:///C:/Users/hboekweg/Downloads/2014.06.%20Rail-with-TrailList.pdf. Project Area Pedestrian Crossing Rail with Trail Systems Questions 19 Schuylkill River Trail, PA Schuylkill River Trail, PA Springwater Corridor, OR 20 Rail with Trail Systems Successful Rail with Trails Name: D & L Trail- Lehigh Gorge State Park Trail, Carbon and Luzerne counties, PA Description: 25.7-miles (7 miles located next to active railroad) Design: Where parallel to tracks, trail is grade-separated or has dense barrier of native vegetation. Interesting Fact: Revenue of $6 million to community Project Area Pedestrian Crossing Rail with Trail Systems Questions Environmental Resources 21 Name: Richmond Greenway, Richmond, CA Description: 2.8-mile long (1.3 miles located next to active railroad) Design: 8 feet wide with one railroad crossing and a grade-separated bridge. Continuous fencing minimizes potential interactions between trail users and trains. Interesting Fact: The regional transit trains adjacent to this trail use an electrified third rail. Rail with Trail Systems Successful Rail with Trails Project Area Pedestrian Crossing Rail with Trail Systems Questions Environmental Resources 22 Name: Camp Chase Rail-Trail, Columbus, OH Description: 5.5-mile long (entire length located parallel to active railroad) Design: 12 feet wide Interesting Fact: The trail agency acquired a fee simple purchase of property from the rail for $750,000. The railroad stipulated that the trail be built at least 20 feet from the edge of the rail. Rail with Trail Systems Successful Rail with Trails Project Area Pedestrian Crossing Rail with Trail Systems Questions Environmental Resources 23 Name: Mason Trail, Fort Collins, CO Description: 4.5 miles long and runs on the western side of a rail corridor for most of the route. Design: 12 feet wide, with 6-foot high wooden rail fences with mesh covering. Interesting Fact: 11-20 trains per day traveling between 30-40 mph. Rail with Trail Systems Successful Rail with Trails Project Area Pedestrian Crossing Rail with Trail Systems Questions Environmental Resources 24 Questions Thank you for your time! Project Area Pedestrian Crossing Rail with Trail Systems Questions Environmental Resources 25