Escondido Subdivision SPRINTER Signal Modernization

Summary

SCH Number
2024101337
Public Agency
North County Transit District
Document Title
Escondido Subdivision SPRINTER Signal Modernization
Document Type
NOE - Notice of Exemption
Received
Posted
10/30/2024
Document Description
The Escondido Subdivision is a 22-mile (35 km) branch railway line between Oceanside, California and Escondido, California, in the North County region of San Diego County. It is primarily used today by the SPRINTER "hybrid rail” and local freight trains serving Escondido industries. The line utilizes temporal separation to operate either the NCTD SPRINTER passenger fleet of Diesel Multiple Units (DMUs) or operate freight traffic serviced by BNSF Railway. Dual-control power-operated Derails are utilized to isolate the alignment from the operation of either the passenger or freight equipment while the other service is in use. The Escondido Subdivision does not currently utilize Positive Train Control (PTC). Wayside signal devices are currently controlled by Alstom Vital Processor Interlocking (VPI) devices. All crossings on the Escondido Subdivision currently utilize Alstom Harmon Crossing Processor (HXP-3) devices for predictive train approach warning. Both types of equipment are deemed to be “obsolete” by the Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM). NCTD plans on replacing all obsolete equipment (VPI, HXP-3, and Grade Crossing Processor (GCP3000)) on the Escondido Subdivision from MP 99.3 through MP 121.7 with current generation wayside and crossing controllers as detailed in Figure 1-1. This replacement will generally take the form of removing and replacing existing signal enclosures (typically 6’x8’) with new enclosures of similar dimension comprised of new equipment. NCTD will use standards set forth in NCTD’s Engineering Standard Drawings and the San Diego Regional Standard Drawings, related to trenching activities for conduit, which calls for a 3’ minimum cover for most cables and shallower burial at and around track connection points. NCTD intends to reuse a large majority of the existing underground cable as it has been deemed to have significant life remaining and will reduce the cost of the project significantly. Some locations are not yet fiber connected, which will require the installation of new subsurface enclosures to add fiber connectivity at all locations. Due to the nature of the work there would be a need for disruption to SPRINTER and freight services for cutover activities. These cutovers would likely take place over planned Absolute Work Window (AWW) outages. The length of each AWW would range from eight hours to 48 hours depending on the complexity of the planned cutover. NCTD will not implement PTC immediately on the Escondido Subdivision, but the project will be designed and constructed to provide Wayside Interface Units (WIU) for future PTC implementation.

Contact Information

Name
Lillian Doherty
Agency Name
NCTD
Job Title
Director, Planning and Development
Contact Types
Lead/Public Agency

Location

Cities
Escondido, Oceanside, San Marcos, Vista
Counties
San Diego
Regions
Southern California
Railways
22-mile (35 km) railway line
Other Information
Oceanside, California to Escondido, California

Notice of Exemption

Exempt Status
Categorical Exemption
Type, Section or Code
Title 14 Sections 15301 and 15302
Reasons for Exemption
Project is a replacement activity within existing right-of-way in a previously disturbed area. It is anticipated that all work would occur outside of vegetated areas and waterways.
County Clerk
San Diego

Attachments

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