If you live in Marina Bay, The Iron Triangle, Santa Fe, Coronado, Point Richmond or other neighborhoods in south Richmond, your sleep may get better later this summer

BNSF is scheduled to begin the crossing improvement work on what they call the Siberia Lead by the end of May, 2010 and anticipates the improvements will be completed by the end of July, 2010. This includes crossings at Ohio, 2nd Street, 3rd Street, 4th Street, and Cutting Boulevard.

Upon completion, the City can establish a quiet zone. Including the 21-day notice period, we anticipate a quiet zone will be established by September, 2010. This schedule presumes the equipment will be shipped by BNSF’s suppliers by the end of May. As discussed, the delay in shipment is attributable to a federal mandate to implement positive train control systems; these systems allow a train to stop remotely when approaching another train. According to BNSF, existing suppliers are inundated with work generated by this program. BNSF and its suppliers are working on a rush basis to complete this work in California by 2012 and in the rest of the country by 2015.

In an effort to save on infrastructure costs, the City is exploring the possibility of vacating 4th Street. This vacation eliminates a PUC requirement to install crossing arms and gates at 4th Street, saving the City approximately $250,000. In order to satisfy the PUC’s safety requirements, the vacated street must be permanently closed. The City’s Engineering Department is working with 4th Street property owners to accomplish the vacation and anticipates working through the process in four to six months.

In consideration of the substantial cost savings in vacating and closing 4th Street, we are going to establish the quiet zone in two phases. The first phase will add 2nd Street and 3rd Street to the existing quiet zones running from the Richmond Parkway to West Ohio Avenue. The second phase will capture Cutting Blvd once 4th Street is vacated and closed. For information, contact Carlos A. Privat, Assistant City Attorney, City of Richmond, 450 Civic Center Plaza, Richmond, CA 94804-1630, 510.620.6509 (Office), 510.620.6518 (Fax).