An update on the railroad crossing safety improvements and train horns

The City of Waltham will soon be implementing the approved safety plans at each of the four at-grade railroad crossings in the City. The attached diagrams (below) show the extent of the construction.

  1. At Beaver Street, 60-foot long medians will be installed on either side of the railroad crossing. Note that this will preclude left turns either into or out of the driveways for 95 Beaver Street, 100 Beaver Street, and 117 Beaver Street; these driveways will become right-in/right-out ONLY.  Construction will begin on Thursday, July 22nd.
     
  2. At Elm Street, a 60-foot long median will be installed on the north side of the tracks, and an 88-foot long median will be installed on the south side of the tracks. In addition, construction barrels will be placed in the left lane of Elm Street northbound between River Street and the tracks, since the median will not leave enough width for two travel lanes northbound. Construction will begin Monday, July 26th.
     
  3. At Moody Street, a 60-foot long median will be installed on the north side of the tracks, and a 71-foot long median will be installed on the south side of the tracks. Note that this will preclude left turns into the Railroad Parking Lot; entrance into this lot will be via a right turn ONLY. Note also that this will preclude left turns either into or out of the driveway for 123 Moody Street; this driveway will become right-in/right-out ONLY.  Note also that left turns either into or out of the northerly driveway for 140 Moody Street will be precluded; this driveway will become right-in/right-out ONLY. The southerly driveway for 140 Moody Street will remain full access (either lefts or rights permitted). Construction will begin on Monday, July 26th.
     
  4. At South Street, a 100-foot long median will be installed north of the tracks, and a 72-foot long median will be installed south of the tracks. Note that this will preclude left turns either into or out of the driveway for 537 South Street; this driveway will become right-in/right-out ONLY. Note also that left turns either into or out of Sawyer Road will be precluded; this street will become right-in/right-out ONLY. Construction will begin on Monday, July 26th.

Once these safety measures have been installed, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) will review the installation. If these measures meet the FRA requirements, the MBTA will be alerted that their trains no longer need to sound their horns as they approach the four at-grade railroad crossings.

The purpose of these safety measures is to ensure that drivers of vehicles approaching the railroad crossings are physically incapable of crossing the center of the roadway to bypass a lowered railroad gate, risking collision with an oncoming train.  These critical installations will enhance the safety for those in vehicles and on trains at each of the four at-grade crossings (Beaver Street, Elm Street, Moody Street, and South Street).

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PDF icon railroad_crossings_map.pdf1.15 MB