California State Rail Plan 2007-08 to 2017-18

Chapter XVII – Environmental Considerationswere developed with input from interested stakeholders and State health experts.CARB and the railroads then held public meetings to present the draft HRAs,explain what was learned, discuss emission reduction strategies and answerquestions. After a public comment period, a second set of meetings – one for eachrail yard and surrounding communities – was held to allow another opportunity forquestions, comments, and suggestions. CARB will finalize the HRAs and workwith the railroads to implement the mitigation measures identified.Each transportation project is unique. Although the freight rail system must beconsidered as a whole in the planning process, the site, circumstances, users, andstakeholder value systems of one project are different than others, in spite ofsimilarities. Like the planning and design process, which should meet uniqueproject characteristics, land use planning and decisions can either impede orpromote context sensitive design and environmental justice issues.Local decisions about sighting of freight facilities (sources of air pollution) andschools or housing (receptors) have their nexus in city and county zoningordinances, which can have regional and statewide consequences.Local government has responsibility for land use decisions and has a role inpreventing avoidable air pollution exposures that pose a health risk. For example,recent studies show public exposure to air pollution can be substantially elevatednear some sources of pollution, but health risks are greatly reduced proportionateto increased distance of separation. The State should support policies whichencourage compatible land uses adjacent to goods movement activity centers andwhich also preserve land for such facilities.HIGHWAY-RAIL CROSSINGSCalifornia’s trade corridors consist of federal interstate freeways, state highways,local streets and roads, and railroad rights of way which connect freight generatorsites such as land, air, and seaports, warehouse and distribution centers,agricultural and manufacturing centers, and retail outlets. The 7,719 at-gradehighway-rail crossings in California impact the entire transportation system,not just the freight transportation system.At-grade vehicle conflicts reduce system reliability, increase liability exposure forrailroads and the public, and are some of most noticeable of railroad-relatedimpacts within communities. These conflicts interrupt vehicle, pedestrian, andbicycle traffic and can critically increase emergency response times. Railroadsmust limit the number of cars in trains operated through at-grade crossings and arerequired to sound locomotive horns as an advance warning (which althoughrequired, also creates noise impacts to surrounding communities).The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has jurisdiction over the safety ofhighway-rail crossings in California. The PUC, among other duties, conductsdesign safety reviews of crossing projects and makes recommendations for243