Norfolk Southern/Conrail Rail Connection–Bucyrus, Ohio - Surface ...

In order to analyze the effects of the proposed construction to at-grade highway crossings for both
vehicle delay and safety, the study team identified those crossings exceeding the Board’s analysis
thresholds for air quality. The study team then calculated potential changes in vehicle delay at these
crossings where ADT volumes are 5,000 vpd or greater. The grade crossings at the proposed
connection that meet the air quality thresholds have ADT volumes below 5,000 vpd. The study team
concluded that for highways with ADT volumes below 5,000 vpd, the potential effect of increased train
traffic would be experienced by very few drivers and the additional vehicular delay would be minimal.
In addition, the study team concluded that the potential effect of increased train traffic would be
experienced by very few drivers. Some temporary vehicular delays could result from the construction
and operation of the proposed connection; however, the proposed construction would have no significant
effect on grade crossing safety.
The East Warren Street crossing (NS) is currently a single track crossing protected by flashing lights.
The proposed new connection will make the East Warren Street crossing (NS) an expanded double track
crossing. A new single track crossing will be required at Rensselaer Street located approximately 230
feet east of the existing flashing light-protected Rensselaer Street (NS) crossing. NS proposes to
upgrade the existing flashing lights at East Warren Street and Rensselaer Street to include both flashing
lights and gates. NS also proposes to install flashing lights and gates at the new Rensselaer Street (NS)
crossing.
4.1.4 Safety
4.1.4.1 Evaluation Criteria
The following criteria was used to determine the effects of the proposed project on safety issues:
C The likelihood of encountering hazardous waste sites during construction
C The effect of the proposed connection on the transportation of hazardous materials
C The likelihood of a hazardous material release during construction
C Train-highway vehicle and train-train accident probability
C Presence of any electric transmission facilities
4.1.4.2 Potential Impacts
Hazardous Waste Sites
As discussed in Section 3.4.1, a review of the EDR database report indicated that there were two Ohio
Spills sites and one LUST site within 0.25 mile of the proposed construction corridor. No other
hazardous waste sites or known environmental conditions, e.g., NPL, CERCLIS, RCRIS-TSD, ERNS,
SPL (SHWS), LUST or SWF/LF, were identified in the vicinity of the proposed connection
construction. The database search revealed ten unmappable sites within the city limits of Bucyrus.
These sites could not be located because of poor address or geocoding information provided to the state
and/or Federal databases.
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