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A Risky Metro Crossing Is Getting A Multi-Million Dollar Upgrade
The Doran Street train crossing in Glendale is considered busy and dangerous. A new $38.3 million grant from the Federal Railroad Administration will build a bridge over it to keep trains away from drivers and pedestrians.
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Topline:
A $38.3 million grant from the Federal Railroad Administration will build a bridge at a busy and dangerous Metro crossing in Glendale. Once complete, the bridge will separate trains from vehicles and pedestrians on Doran Street and San Fernando Road.
Why it matters: About 90 trains pass through the Doran Street crossing each day, and it has one of the highest number of safety-related incidents in L.A. County. Supervisor Kathryn Barger represents the area and said each passing train can be dangerous because of the layout. It's used by Amtrak, Metrolink and freight trains.
The road curves under the 134 Freeway, and Barger said there is a blind spot around the signal and train tracks on Doran Street.
“If a car gets stuck, or a car thinks it's going to beat the signal, they're on the train tracks, and the fatalities have been horrific,” she said.
Barger said the crossing is also near businesses that sell propane, which could cause an explosive accident.
Why now: Barger said the project has been a priority for years, but Measure R was a game changer. L.A. County voters approved the measure in 2008, which added a half-cent sales tax to fund new transportation projects and programs. Barger said it was a big ask for voters to tax themselves for transportation, but the Measure R funds are what’s getting this bridge across the finish line.
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The backstory: Barger said this project has been in the making for at least 15 years. In 2001, the crossing got a $6 million upgrade for better signals, new gates, and a bigger intersection because it was deemed dangerous.
What's next: The bridge project is expected to be completed in 2027.
Go deeper: … to learn more about Measure R.
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