Re: Observing GCOR Rule 6.30 At The El Monte Metrolink Station
Author: BOB2
Date: 05-09-2012 - 15:39
The PUC has gotten much more involved, in safe platform access, and pedestrian/rail crossing issues. Today a pedestrian underpass or over pass would likely be recommended and/or required for a situation like the one at El Monte.
I have some folks occasionally advise, who some times are interested in something "cheap and easy" for a proposed station solution. They heard from a train fan how this was all done in a week at Acton (true, but a unique case and a single platform). I always get the story about how they did things way back when, and we didn't need things like pedestriam overpasses or underpasses crossing live tracks. I try to recommend that they plan realistically, and advise them to look to more recently approved or constructed projects as models on which to base costs and design requirements.
A more recent station like Buena Park, or an older one like Rancho Cucumonga, which have some of these features, are far more current with what the PUC is increasingly likely to require. These stations are designed to better ensure greater pedestrian access and platform safety by eliminating pedestrian rail crossings altogether. These station examples are more realistic for doing cost estimates where you have very active multiple main lines seving multiple platforms, or where there is run through passenger or freight services which may not stop at that station.