PROJECT OVERVIEW

Yolo County is working with the City of Davis, the Union Pacific Railroad, the Bike Davis group, the California Public Utilities Commission, the Yolo County Farm Bureau and the Sacramento Area Council of Governments to consider a relocation of the County Road (CR) 32A railroad crossing at CR 105 to improve safety and address the current conflicts experienced between trains, vehicles, and bicycles. CR 32A is located north of and parallel to Interstate 80 (I-80), east of the Mace Boulevard interchange and acts as a frontage road to the Yolo Bypass where I-80 becomes a causeway (see Map below).

PROJECT VICINITY MAP

This crossing has a history of accidents, despite the implementation of many safety countermeasures over the years. The study will prepare a Project Study Report (PSR) to establish alternatives and a preferred option for replacing the CR 32A railroad crossing at CR 105, with a new crossing within two miles east of the current crossing.  At-grade and grade-separated crossings will be considered.  Environmental, engineering, safety, and cost considerations will be evaluated for the alternatives. Funding opportunities will be reviewed for subsequent, future construction of the selected  alternative.

In addition, the study will consider the need for improved bikeway connectivity between the existing Class I Bikeway from the City of Davis, which currently ends at the CR 32A and CR 105 intersection, and the Class I Bikeway on Interstate 80 over the Yolo Causeway.

THE CR 32A RAILROAD CROSSING RELOCATION PROJECT STUDY REPORT (PROJECT) WILL:

Investigate alternatives to relocate the CR 32A railroad crossing to improve safety and address the current conflicts experienced between trains, vehicles, and bicycles.

PROJECT NEED:

• Westbound and southbound incidents have resulted in some vehicles sliding off the roadway into the active railroad corridor resulting in collisions between cars and trains

• Current location prohibits standard roadway geometric design

• Traffic safety measures have not reduced the occurrence of incidents at this crossing

• Traffic volumes on CR 32A are expected to increase due to I-80 east-west overflow traffic and general planned growth in the project vicinity

• Maintaining a CR 32A railroad crossing provides a critical route for over-sized farm equipment to access land north and south of I-80, for bicycle access between Davis and Sacramento, and for waste hauling to the Yolo County landfill originating from West Sacramento

YOLO COUNTY IS REQUESTING YOUR FEEDBACK

On August 12, 2020, Yolo County notified the public via press release about the project planning process to provide awareness on how to become engaged and offer input regarding the preparation of this PSR.  Click here for a link to that press release.

Please review the presentation below which will explain more about the project, why it is needed and considerations in developing a range of alternatives:

• Narrated Presentation (about 20 minutes long)

• Presentation (slides only)

Exhibits of the preliminary ALTERNATIVES being considered are available below (Click the two links below to view each grouping of alternatives).

• Alternatives 1, 2, and 3, under further study:

Alternative 1:  Overhead Crossing, 50 MPH Design Speed (Bridge Crossing)

Alternative 2:  At-Grade Crossing, 40 MPH Design Speed (Improved Intersection)

Alternative 3:  At-Grade Crossing, 45 MPH Design Speed (Improved Intersection)

• Alternatives 4, 5, 6, and 7, removed from further consideration:

Alternative 4:  Underpass Crossing, 55 MPH Design Speed (Tunnel Crossing)

Alternative 5:  Overhead Crossing, 55 MPH Design Speed (Bridge Crossing)

Alternative 6:  Overhead Crossing, 55 MPH Design Speed (Bridge Crossing)

Alternative 7:  Underpass Crossing, 55 MPH Design Speed (Tunnel Crossing)

COMMENTS AND OPEN HOUSE (ONLINE MEETING)

Please provide your feedback on the project’s purpose and need, the proposed range of alternatives and/or any issues surrounding the CR 32A railroad crossing. Public comments received between August 12, and September 4, 2020 will be reviewed and considered in the refinement the project purpose and the range of alternatives under consideration in the study.

We encourage you to submit your feedback in writing to the project engineer, Todd Riddiough, at todd.riddiough@yolocounty.org (or via mail to Yolo County Department of Community Services, Public Works Division ATTN:  Todd Riddiough, 292 W. Beamer St., Woodland, CA  95695) or attend our online meeting August 31, 2020.  We have provided a comment sheet you can use to help with assembling your comments; just email or send it in.  Click here for that comment sheet.

Due to the pandemic, we will not be having an in-person public meeting. Instead, we will hold an online open house via Zoom© on August 31, 2020, from 5:30 – 7:00 PM. You can join this online meeting at any time during the one and one-half-hour window to participate. You will be able to provide verbal feedback and ask the project team questions during this time.

Teleconference options to join the Zoom meeting:

By personal computer: https://yolocounty.zoom.us/j/93689764256; Meeting ID: 936 8976 4256

or

By phone: (408) 638-0968; Meeting ID: 936 8976 4256

Questions about the project should be directed to Todd Riddiough at todd.riddiough@yolocounty.org.