City releases HDR conceptual study of downtown rail crossings

Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm
Reporter – News Analyst
June 21, 2018 10:05 a.m.

The City of Fernandina Beach has released results of a study conducted by HDR Engineering, Inc. detailing the feasibility of the proposed Alachua Street extension and new at-grade crossing, as well as proposed crossing improvements at Centre Street, Ash Street, and along Front Street.

Fernandina Beach City Manager Dale Martin stressed that this study should be viewed as a conceptual document, a basis for further discussion and possible refinement, as opposed to a final proposal.  Before making decisions, the city will update a traffic flow study to determine whether making changes with respect to opening the Alachua crossing and possibly converting Alachua, Ash and parts of Front Street to one-way will improve downtown traffic flow and alleviate bottlenecks.

The HDR study began with a diagnostic field review meeting on February 16, 2018 and concluded with a four-page report and appendices dated June 19, 2018.  The study was done at a cost of $5,000 with input from the city, FDOT, HDR, the railroads and Diamondback Signal (consultant to the railroads).

The HDR recommendations will be reviewed by the city and the Fernandina Beach City Commission in concert with results of the upcoming traffic circulation study.  City Manager Martin expects meetings and/or workshops on the topic this fall.

The City Commission’s adopted goals call for determining a course of action by April 2019.

Martin said, “The HDR report is the first step in a lengthy process of developing options.”  He intends to issue an invitation to bid (ITB) on the traffic circulation soon with a bid award contingent on available funding in the current budget.

HDR Report:  Alachua Street

Since the Alachua Street crossing is proposed, diagnostic review sheets and concept drawings were not developed as part of the field review. Following are discussion points regarding Alachua Street.

  Front Street will be a one way street south from the new crossing at Alachua Street to Ash Street

  At Alachua Street, one gate east of the tracks pointing south will be constructed. These gates will be constructed to prevent vehicular and pedestrian from crossing the tracks during rail traffic movement.

  A no left turn sign will be post on Front St at the intersection of Front and Alachua ST.

  A pedestrian crossing will be painted across Front Street on the south side of the crossing.

  The signal control house will be placed in the southeast quadrant of Alachua Street. 
Between Alachua Street and Centre Street, the railroad tracks will be separated from Front Street with a raised median protected at top with a barrier (type to be determined). It is proposed, alongside the median will be one way parallel parking between Alachua Street and Centre Street. The median will be pork chop in shape at Centre Street to protect the gate post located at 14’-9” from centerline of nearest track.

HDR Report:  Centre Street

• All of the existing AWDs (automatic warning devices) will be removed.
•  New crossing gates will be placed on both the east and west sides of the tracks. 
Alternative A 
is presented below:

•  Gates for pedestrian and auto traffic will be separate entities on the east side of the tracks only; there will be four separate gates on the east side of the tracks. The new gates on the east side of the tracks will be closer to the tracks then the old gates and located outside the existing median.
• On the west side of the tracks, two gates will be installed. Each gate will cover both pedestrian and auto traffic. The gates will be placed a minimum of 14’-9” from centerline of existing track and placed within a pork chop shaped median. The outside face of median curb will be placed no closer than 5’-0” from center of existing gatepost. This means that the outside face of curb will be in line with the outside line of the existing Front Street drainage grate. 
Alternative B 
is presented below:

•  Gates for pedestrian and auto traffic will be separate entities on the east side of the tracks only; there will be four separate gates on the east side of the tracks. The new gates on the east side of the tracks will be closer to the tracks then the old gates and located outside the existing median.
• On the west side of the tracks, three gates will be installed. Two gates on the north side, one for pedestrian traffic and one for auto traffic. On the South side one gate will be installed for both pedestrian and auto traffic.
• The gates will be placed a minimum of 14’-9” from centerline of existing track and placed within a pork chop shaped median. The outside face of median curb will be placed no closer than 5’-0” from center of existing gatepost. This means that the outside face of curb will be in line with the outside line of the existing Front Street drainage grate.

HDR Report:  Ash Street

•    All of the existing AWDs (automatic warning devices) will be removed.
•  One separate gate for pedestrians will be installed on the northeast side of the tracks. Two 
gates will be installed for auto traffic on the east side of the tracks.
•  Two gates will be installed on the west side of the tracks. The gates on the south side of the 
tracks will be for vehicular traffic only. No separate pedestrian gates will be installed on the  
west side. The gate on the northwest side of the tracks will control both vehicular and pedestrian traffic during rail traffic movements. The new gates will be placed a minimum of 14’-9” from centerline of tracks and placed within pork chop shaped medians.

The HDR report concludes that the new at-grade crossing at Alachua Street and the associated improvements along Front Street and at the Centre Street and Ash Street crossing are feasible from an engineering perspective. It also cites the need for further study and agreements that detail work scope and cost participation involving the City, GWI/FCRD and FDOT.

Editor’s Note: Suanne Z. Thamm is a native of Chautauqua County, NY, who moved to Fernandina Beach from Alexandria,VA, in 1994. As a long time city resident and city watcher, she provides interesting insight into the many issues that impact our city. We are grateful for Suanne’s many contributions to the Fernandina Observer.