No Longer Town Divided With Three New Crossings
Tulare received some good news this month. The California Transportation Commission approved the city application for matching funds to build a new 2000ft pedestrian bridge across the Union Pacific Railroad tracks that divides the town.The $6.8 million project that will begin design work in January will connect the two sections of the cross town Santa Fe Trail that dead ends now in midtown and will be the third major crossing of these busy tracks in Tulare.The projects are a major stimulus to the local economy.
With 20 freight trains a day there can be a 25 minute delay for people trying to get from the west side of town to the east where virtually all the city services,health care, shopping and most businesses are.UP plan a double track soon as well.According to the city application,lack of a grade separation in the Downtown area has not only been a safety hazard, it has depressed prices in the poorer west side town, the proverbial ‘other side of the tracks.’
One grade crossing at Cartmill on the north end of town was just completed.In November the city will go out to bid on the Bardsely grade separation, a tunnel under the tracks that will carry cars and trucks through the busiest part of town.
Construction work on both the new Santa Fe Trail bridge and Bardsley underpass could be going on simultaneously in 2014 says city engineer Mike Whitlock. Construction of the Bardsley grade separation will begin in early 2013 and take 18 months while the pedestrian bridge will start in late 2013 and take a year. The wide spanning bridge will look similar to the Goshen pedestrian bridge over 99.
“The trail is heavily used by people walking and biking to work, to the Library or shopping, as well as for recreation. The J Street over-crossing will give trail users a safe way to cross both a busy street and a busy rail line.” says city analyst Laurel Barton.
The Santa Fe Trail is planned to run 4.5miles through the city with about 2 miles of the paved walking and biking trail built out already. But users are stopped cold at, the town will be joined.The trail is planned to go well south of Tulare as well to join up with the Santa Fe trial in Visalia under construction right now in south Visalia.
Both cities acquired the right of way when the track was abandoned several decades ago.
Funding the bridge is the state allocation of $3.38 million in Prop 18 funds and $3.4 million in local, voter approved Measure R monies.
The city says the project will lead to increased safety,public convenience ,improved air quality and environmental justice benefits that will help increase property values on the West side of town with improved access.
Boosting rail traffic on the UP line is an expected construction of a double track in part to access the old grain mill on the west aide town south of the new Bardsley under crossing.
Funding of the three new crossing in Tulare fills a great need says the city application with 16 miles between cross track grade separations currently. The city is also expecting more development on the west side of town so the crossing will help facilitate commerce and jobs for the community.