Watch: L.A. Metro breaks ground on new rail bridge in Santa Fe Springs to enhance safety and improve traffic flow
Written by David C. Lester, Editor-in-ChiefMetro announced that it has broken ground on a project that will finally build a bridge for freight and passenger trains over the busy intersection of Rosecrans and Marquardt avenues in Santa Fe Springs.
The bridge will replace the street level rail crossing which will reduce traffic congestion and reduce collisions. The $156-million project is expected to be completed in 2025.
Video of the media event Thursday morning can be viewed here.
On average, trains cross the intersection about every seven minutes — bringing vehicle traffic to a standstill for a total of 21 hours per week. An estimated 45,000 vehicles and 135 trains travel through this intersection each day.
From 2013 to 2019, the California Public Utilities Commission recorded 31 rail-motor vehicle incidents at the intersection resulting in six fatalities and seven injuries. The rail bridge will allow for freight and passengers trains to cross the intersection without disrupting local traffic.
To make this project possible, several transportation agencies provided the following funding:
California High Speed Rail Proposition 1A – $76.67 million
California Public Utilities Commission Section 190-City of Santa Fe Springs – $15 million
Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway – $7.27 million
L.A. County Measure R sales tax – $26.50 million
Federal Transportation Investment Generating Economy Recovery (TIGER)- $15 million
California Senate Bill 1 Trade Corridor Enhancement Program (TCEP) – $7 million
California State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP) – $9 million
For more information about the project, please visit the project page: metro.net/projects/rosecrans-marquardt-grade-separation.
“This project is right on time for this hazardous intersection,” said L.A. County Supervisor and Metro Board Chair Hilda Solis. “Making the necessary enhancements to this intersection will provide a significant improvement to the flow of local street traffic, and it will enhance safety for motorists and rail operators who cross this intersection daily.”
The Federal Railroad Administraton’s regional administrator, James Jordan, said “Federal Rail Administration congratulates LA Metro, BNSF Railway, the California High-Speed Rail Authority, California Public Utilities Commission, and all the other participating state and local partners on the start of the Link US project.”
Watch
Please follow this link for a video about the new bridge:
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