TR0301-CS060522
'f'A L~J-'O(
DART
Dallas Area Rapid Transit
PO Box 660163
Dallas, Texas 75266-0163
214/749-3278
May 22, 2006
Ms Suzan Taylor
C IP Coordmator
Engmeenng Department
Clty of Coppel1
POBox 9478
Coppel!, Texas 75019
RE Engmeenng ReVIew Comments regardmg plans submltted for the proposed
mstallatIOn of SIgnal facIlItIes and related appurtenances wIthm the nght of way of
the Cotton Belt Lme at the mtersectIon of Belt Lme Road and MacArthur, MIle
Post 606.20 m Coppell, Dallas County, Texas
Dear Ms. Taylor
I have receIved comments from DART's consultant engmeer regardmg the engmeenng
deSIgn plans submltted under cover letter dated Apnl 7, 2006, for the above referenced
project. The plan sheets proVIded were revIewed to determme If the proposed crossmg
meets complIance WIth Amencan RaIlway Engmeenng and Mamtenance-of-Way
ASSOCIatIon ("AREMA") DeSIgn Manual, Volume 1, Chapter 5, Part 8 - "Hlghway-
RaIlway Crossmgs" and DART Deslgn Cntena Manual, Volume 1, Chapter 5 - "Traffic
Control" It was determmed that the followmg deSIgn cntena was not adequately
addressed
~
1) The traffic SIgnals must be mterconnected to the raIlroad gate SIgnal controller
to enable raIlroad pre-emptIon of the traffic SIgnals ThIS allows traffic to clear
the tracks before the gates lower and reduces potentIal "trapped" vehIcles on
the tracks
~ 2) Based on the proxImIty of the tracks to the mtersectIOn, a pre-sIgnal IS
recommended for the north leg, where the stop lme IS behmd the tracks and not
at the mtersectIon Itself A new SIgnal mast pole and mast arm should be
mstalled near pole P-3 WIth the Signal heads facmg southbound traffic. ThIS
SIgnal would be dIrectly tIed to P-2 and the SIgnal heads can be louvered as
needed to correctly dIsplay the SIgnal mdIcatIOn to approachmg dnvers.
3) Wtth a pre-sIgnal, addItIonal loop detector zones are recommended Just north
of the tracks for Phase 3 and 8 to help WIth track clearance tImmg mtervals.
Page 2
May 22, 2006
Ms Suzan Taylor
Please reVIse and resubmIt the drawmgs along wIth a cover letter addressmg each of the
above lIsted comments If you have any questIons, I may be reached dIrectly at
(214)749-3525
~mcerely,
\. ( J~j J C l r, t j "
Demse M Perez
RIght of Way RepresentatIve
Commuter RaIl & RaIlroad Management