first announced its
grade crossing safety
enhancement plan
in March 2006, 57
crossings along the
Ventura County and
Antelope Valley lines
were identified for
improvement. More
than a year later in
August 2007 during the
groundbreaking for the program, the agency increased the number to 63. Following the Chatsworth collision
in September 2008, Metrolink eyed more crossings that would benefit from the enhancements, bringing the
total number to nearly 120 across the San Fernando Valley and Ventura and Orange counties. On April 20,
2009, Metrolink made history when it opened the new Flower Street crossing in Glendale, equipped with
enhanced safety features. The agency became the first commuter rail service in the nation to apply Sealed
Corridor methods to a densely populated urban setting with correspondingly high volumes of street and
rail traffic.
with local Orange County cities to implement the Orange County Grade Crossing Safety Improvements
(OCX), a countywide effort to enhance safety at 50 railroad crossings in Orange County. The project was
completed at the end of 2011.
safety enhancements in the Glendale corridor, as part of the Glendale Corridor Grade Crossing Safety
Improvements. Metrolink continues to move forward with the remaining five.
improvements. It also serves as a guide for other agencies, such as cities, that make upgrades to streets
and surrounding areas near or connecting to the Metrolink system.
2008. The mandate requires Class 1 freight carriers and intercity and commuter rail agencies to implement
PTC by the end of 2015. Metrolink had been discussing the availability of PTC technology that would work
on its complex system, which it shares with other commuter and freight railroads. During its Sept. 26, 2008,
meeting, the Board of Directors authorized staff to seek state and federal funds for safety improvements,