R2013-114 AUTHORIZING THE EXPENDITURE OF MOTOR FUEL TAX FUNDS

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T12-0135 was marked Heard and Taken. This order is entered on the stipulations of the parties and staff. PETITIONER'S EVIDENCE Illinois Route 48 is a north-south four-lane road that intersects with Boyd Road, an east-west road in Decatur, Macon County, Illinois. There are stop signs on Boyd- Road just prior to its intersection with IL 48, on both the east and the west. There are no stop signs or signals on IL 48. Thirty feet west of and parallel to IL 48 is an at-grade crossing (AAR/DOT #930 462H) where Boyd Road crosses a single-track railroad line owned by Topflight Grain Cooperative. There are approximately four train movements per week over the crossing. The crossing is equipped with passive crossbucks and yield signs. Development in the areas caused increased traffic that in tum led the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT) to determine that traffic signals were warranted for the intersection of Boyd Road and IL 48. IDOT directed the City of Decatur to install I traffic signals at the intersection. Traffic Signals and Interconnect Design The City commissioned a traffic signal design study [The Traffic/Railroad Signal Report or Warning Time Study], which was filed with and made part of the Petition. The City proposes that traffic signals be installed and that such traffic signals be interconnected with the railroad track, all consistent with the specifications as recommended in the study. The City proposes to install highway traffic signals on each leg of the IL 48 and Boyd Road intersection. Since the grade crossing is located within closle proximity of the intersection, traffic signals (pre-signals) will be installed in advance of the Topflight Grain Cooperative Track for eastbound motorists`on Boyd Road. When the-pre-signals turn red ,eastbound traffic will stop in advance of the grade crossing while signals across IL 48 will provide a green indication for a period of time to allow the eastbound traffic which has passed the pre-signals to clear off the grade crossing and through the intersection. I The design plan includes a supervisory interconnection between the traffic signals ,and the railroad crossing circuitry. The interconnection would b� designed so that, upon the approach of.a: train, the normal signal pattems'will be pre�ernpted. The pre-emption initiation will begin a minimum of 25 seconds before the train (crosses Boyd Road. The traffic signal sequences initiated would stop traffic in front of the track, but allow traffic that has already entered onto the grade crossing to clear the!track and the 2 I