City of Oxnard - Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Appendices

City of Oxnard | Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan
Additional Discussion – Multi-Use Paths in Existing Active Rail Corridors
Existing Guidance:
From “Rails-with-Trails”(RWT): Lessons Learned, FHWA, 2002”
“No national standards or guidelines dictate rail-with-trail facility design. Guidance must be pieced together from standards related to
multi-use paths, pedestrian facilities, railroad facilities, and/or roadway crossings of railroad rights-of-way. Multi-use path designers
should work closely with railroad operations and maintenance staff to achieve a suitable RWT design. Whenever possible, path
development should reflect standards set by adjacent railroads for crossings and other design elements. Ultimately, RWTs must be
designed to meet both the operational needs of railroads and the safety of multi-use path users. The challenge is to find ways of
accommodating both types of uses without compromising safety or function.”
Design Considerations for Rails with Trails:
Setback:
The setback is the distance from the centerline of the railroad to the edge of the multi-use path facility. Each railroad generally has its
own policies on multi-use paths adjacent to active rail lines. For example, the BNSF’s policy on “Trails with Rails” states, “Where train
speeds are greater than 90 mph, trails are not acceptable. No trail will be constructed within 100 ft of any mainline track where train speeds
are between 70 mph and 90 mph. Trails may be constructed between 50 ft and 100 ft where mainline train speed is 50 mph to 70 mph. Trails
may be constructed 50 ft from centerline of track where train speeds are 25 mph to 50 mph, and 30 ft from any branchline track with speeds
of 25 mph or less. No trails less than 30 ft from centerline of track for any reason.”
The Southern California Regional Rail Authority (SCRRA) has published guidelines for rail-with-trail projects and identifies its minimum
recommended setback requirements:
• 45 feet for main line track where train speeds exceed 90 mph
• 40 feet for main line track where train speed is between 90 and 78 mph
• 35 feet where main line speed is between 78 and 60 mph
• 30 feet where main line speed is between 59 and 40 mph; and
• 25 feet where main line speed is below 40 mph.
Additionally, the SCRRA acknowledges that it may not be possible to provide recommended minimum setbacks at certain points.
Additional barriers, vertical separation or other methods will be employed.
Separation
Separation is any physical barrier that keeps multi-use path users from accessing railroad operations. Separation can take the form of
fencing, walls, vegetation, vertical grade, and ditches or swales. Fencing is the most common form of separation and can vary from
chain link, wrought iron, vinyl, steel picket, galvanized pipe, and wooden rail. Fencing should be a minimum of 5 feet in height with
higher fencing next to sensitive areas such as switching yards.
Fencing
Railroads typically require fencing with all rail-with-trail projects. Concerns with trespassing and safety can vary with the amount of
train traffic on the adjacent rail line and the setting of the multi-use path, i.e. whether the section of track is in an urban or rural setting.
The SCRRA typically requires tubular steel or welded wire mesh fencing. Exceptions may be granted that include ‘best practices to
ensure safe trail use and rail operations.’ In rural or environmentally sensitive areas, fencing options may include a three rail split-rail
fence in combination with landscaping. Fence height should be 4 to 5 feet within 150 feet of at-grade crossings and six feet in other
areas. Section 1.2.6.2.6 provides further guidance on fencing.
Full SCRRA guidelines can be found at
Alta Planning + Design | A-13