Laserfiche WebLink
<br />42)0,% "/44/- ,).% !.!,93)3 Ȩ!¯¯¤­£¨· &ȩ <br />/& 02/0/3%$ 2!),2/!$ 15)%4 :/.% 02/*%#4 <br /> <br />0±¤¯ ±¤£ ¡¸ %´¦¤­¤ 0´¡«¨¢ 7®±ª² <br />*´­¤ ΖΓǾ ΕΓΔΙ <br /> <br />The proposal to construct various safety improvements to qualify for a railroad quiet zone (RRQZ) <br />in the downtown and Whiteaker areas of Eugene should take into account the social equity, <br />definitions <br />environmental health and economic prosperity impacts of the project (see ). Through <br />extensive public outreach and robust internal review, a number of potential impacts have been <br />identified. Some of these effects are quite complex, with counter-balancing pros and cons and a mix <br />of social, environmental and economic aspects. In general, five categories of impacts have been <br />identified: safety, noise and other environmental impacts, funding options, socio-economic effects, <br />and social equity considerations. <br /> <br />3 ¥¤³¸ <br />This category includes injury/fatality avoidance, safety for people who drive, ride bikes or walk, <br />safety for people with disabilities, and fencing. <br />)­©´±¸ȝ¥ ³ «¨³¸  µ®¨£ ­¢¤ <br /> Safety measures have a significant economic impact. The U.S. <br />Department of Transportation calculates that the economic value of a statistical life (VSL) is <br />$9.2 million. This VSL is the basis for assessing the economic benefits of preventing <br />fatalities. <br />3 ¥¤³¸ ¥®± ¬®³®±¨²³² <br /> Preventing train-vehicle crashes is a primary objective of the rules <br />governing train operations and when granting quiet zone designations. Options for quiet <br />zone safety measures allowed under Federal Rail Administration rules are fairly limited and <br />include installing quad gates, converting streets to one-way flow with gates, installing <br />medians through the crossing, or closing a crossing to all use. Alternative safety measures <br />may be used to achieve a quiet zone, if they reduce the risk index to at or below the risk <br />index with horns. Staff and members of the citizen advisory panel have recommended <br />options that mitigate the impact of safety measures on the operation of area businesses. <br />Similar attention was paid to the effects safety measures would have on neighborhood <br />transportation connectivity and diversion of traffic to adjacent streets. <br />3 ¥¤³¸ ¥®± ¡¨¢¸¢«¨²³²  ­£ ¯¤£¤²³±¨ ­² <br /> sures do not require <br />FRA--year train <br />crash history makes the need clear: no vehicle crashes in the last five years, but seven <br />bicyclists or pedestrians killed or injured. Bike bollards, pedestrian gates, and fencing <br />(discussed below) would likely stop some but not all of these types of crashes. <br />Economically, a pedestrian gate at a rail crossing costs about $200,000 for two gates at a <br />typical crossing on a two-way street. The issue of people walking or lying on the railroad <br />3®¢¨ « %°´¨³¸Ȁ 4±¤²¯ ²² ®­ ± ¨«±® £ ¯±®¯¤±³¸ <br />tracks is discussed below (). Some communities <br />such as San Diego have focused on education and enforcement to convey to bicyclists and <br />pedestrians the importance of obeying signals and signage when crossing the tracks. <br />3 ¥¤³¸ ¥®± ¯¤®¯«¤ ¶¨³§ £¨² ¡¨«¨³¨¤² <br /> People with vision impairments have expressed concern <br />ic <br />Works staff went to several listening sessions (Lane Independent Living Association and <br />American Council of the Blind) to hear and address these concerns. Awareness of <br />approaching trains can be achieved in several ways: bells that ring at each crossing when <br />trains approach; pedestrian gates that physically block the sidewalk when the vehicle gates <br />are lowered; and reflective warning signs and flashing lights (for those with partial vision). <br />Specifically, advocates for people with disabilities asked to have pedestrian gates installed <br /> 25 <br /> <br /> <br />