DENVER — The Colorado Public Utilities Commission has given the Regional Transportation District its blessing to remove flaggers from A Line crossings, and do full-testing of the G Line.
At a meeting Monday, state regulators approved the amount of time gates stay down each time a train passes. That had been a point of contention because either they stayed down too long, or the amount of time was inconsistent.
In September, the PUC denied RTD's request to approve crossings. The following day, the Federal Railroad Administration granted RTD a five-year waiver to remove the flaggers, pending state approval. Since then, RTD has submitted additional documentation, video and evidence to the PUC to allow the crossings to be free of crossing guards.
The three PUC commissioners, Jeffrey Ackermann, Frances Koncilja and Wendy Moser, said RTD managed to convince staff that while the gates are varying, they are safe without guards.
"I'm a little bit puzzled as to how we're here now in 2018 and have not had this resolved," said Moser.
RTD must have "a plan for gradually removing the flagmen," which includes public outreach through the media and public service announcements. The plan "must provide clear notice that longer warning times may occur and clearly describe the dangers of disregarding any warning,” and now has to be approved by the FRA.
Wednesday’s approval does apply to all 11 gates, but RTD can only remove flaggers from three crossings for now – Sable, Quebec and York/Josephine, because the other eight crossings have signage and striping changes that RTD has requested to make.
RTD has submitted to the PUC a draft plan to remove the flaggers over a three-week period. First, RTD would give seven days notification to stakeholders near the crossings. RTD would start at the A Line Quebec Street Crossing and move east toward DIA where there are fewer pedestrians. Then, RTD would come back to Monaco Street and remove the flaggers west toward Union Station.
RTD wrote in its draft, "This will allow the three crossings near Bruce Randolph School to have the maximum warning period possible."
RTD spokesman Scott Reed was not sure if the three crossings at Sable, Quebec and York/Josephine would have flaggers removed first or if the process would wait until all 11 crossings are ready.
"We will discuss with Denver Transit Partners. It is their flaggers, so they are paying for the flaggers, and it is really their operational situation," said Reed.
Denver Transit Partners is the group hired by RTD to manage the commuter rail lines.
Flaggers must be removed before quiet zones can take effect; the FRA would make the final call. Once flaggers are no longer at the crossings, the cities where the crossings are located can request to have those areas be designated quiet zones, so that train will no longer have to sound its horn as it goes through the intersections.
The PUC wanted to make it clear that distinction is not decided by the state.
"We are, then, out of the game as it pertains to what has to happen next with quiet zones. That is now a matter between local governments and the federal government and RTD, so our role is done," said Ackermann.
"I would like the public to know that this commission does not have anything to do with the quiet zones," said Koncilja.
"To the extent that you can expedite putting those in place and get FRA approval for that, I would highly recommend that you do that," said Moser.
The process for quiet zones could still be months away.
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