Dragoman Wrote:
-------------------------------------------------------
> OPRRMS wrote:
>
> >>snip<
> >
> >> I had noticed the Park bridge warning
> >> lights still on in Alameda, indicating the
> train
> >> was probably still blocking the other side of
> the
> >> bridge.
> >
> >Thanks for mentioning it. This may become an
> issue if the case goes to court. Apparently the
> Park Street bridge tenders have been taking it
> upon themselves to activate the BRIDGE CLOSED
> >lights and gates when they hear a train
> approaching the crossing. It should be noted that
> the tenders are county employees and have no
> authority or affliation with the railroad, or its
> >operations. Given the position of the bridge
> gates, claxons and lights on the Oakland side,
> they can distract a vehicle operator from
> realizing a train has stopped on the crossing. The
> bridge >tenders didn't previously do that, and
> it's unclear why they're doing it now.
>
> I would think it is quite clear why the "bridge
> tenders have been taking it upon themselves to
> activate the BRIDGE CLOSED" signals -- they don't
> want eastbound traffic, coming off the bridge on
> the Oakland side, backing up onto the bridge. If
> that happens, they can't lift it to allow any
> shipping through (which is why they are there).

Couple of problems with your theory.

First, this is a new action. It was never done previously, even back when SP ran four to six movements across the crossing daily, and back when there was a lot more water traffic. Not doing so never created a problem.

Second, you may be aware that last year Alameda County (operator of the Estuary drawbridges) petitioned the Coast Guard to discontinue 24/7 manning of the bridges and instead, only man them on the day shift with "on call" openings at other times requiring advance notice. The county cites the lack of off-hour openings as their justification in doing so. The matter is currently before the Coast Guard, awaiting a decision. The only commercial vessle to regularly ply the upper Estuary is the tug and barge operated by Tidewater Sand & Gravel, which calls ahead when they need an opening. Pleasure craft is seldom in the Estuary in the early morning hours (the incident in question happened shortly after 2 AM).

Third, there is a longstanding Notice to Mariners in effect that bridge openings may not be possible during commute hours in the mornings and afternoons. When it's become impossible to open during other hours (such as when traffic collisions occur or a mechanical failure), they simply don't open.

Lastly, any eastbound auto traffic that finds the crossing blocked can either turn around and go back across the bridge into Alameda or manuever through the parking lot of the old Pier 29 restaurant and take Glascock. If the bridge tender needs an opening when the crossing is blocked, he or she can initiate the inbound gates and lights, then after any remaining traffic on the bridge has exited, can initiate the outbound gates and lights to complete the lane closures.