using appropriate safety measures (e.g., vehicle quad gates to prevent
motorists from driving across the tracks when a train approaches and
widening the roadways to prevent large vehicles from getting stuck on
the tracks when turning) to reduce the opportunity for accidents at grade
crossings or elsewhere within the corridor.
Administration to begin planning its Sealed Corridor Program in the San
Fernando Valley, as well as $3 million Sealed Corridor funding in fiscal
year 2005-2006 federal transportation appropriations.
the City of Simi Valley. The plan identified 57 crossings along 65 miles of
track on Metrolink's Ventura County and Antelope Valley lines that needed
safety enhancements. Improvements at the crossings would include four
quadrant gates, "Z" pedestrian crossings, pedestrian gates, median islands,
fencing as well as other enhancements. "Our intention is to systematically
reduce the opportunity for accidents at grade crossings," stated Keith Millhouse, a member of Metrolink's
Board. "The safety of trains, passengers, crews, motorists and pedestrians throughout Southern California is
Metrolink's number one priority."
crossing in Pacoima. The agency would go on to make history by becoming the first commuter rail agency in
the nation to apply Sealed Corridor methods to a densely populated urban setting with correspondingly high
volumes of street and rail traffic. Metrolink modeled the program after the Sealed Corridor approach that was
successfully employed by the North Carolina Department of Transportation.
Office of Homeland Security awarded Metrolink $9 million for infrastructure, security and public safety
enhancements. The funds originated from voter-approved Proposition 1B, which was strongly supported by
Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger.
continued to make progress on a number of fronts. Ridership steadily increased, and the agency opened
new stations and began leasing cars to handle increasing ridership. It saw its 100 millionth rider, celebrated
its 1 millionth Rail 2 Rail customer, offered late-night service for the first time and was in the planning stages
for introducing a new low-cost ticket option the Friend & Family 4-Pack to Metrolink riders.