HomeMy WebLinkAbout1552RESOLUTION NO. Is-5 ).__
A RESOLUTION of the City Council of the
City of Kent, Washington, opposing any increase in
train speeds on the Burlington Northern Santa Fe
mainline through the City of Kent until acceptable
public safety modifications have been made at all
crossings; and further opposing any closure of the Titus
Street crossing of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe
mainline in the City of Kent.
WHEREAS, the State of Washington Utilities and Transportation
Committee (WUTC) is considering an increase in train speed limits along the
Burlington Northern Santa Fe mainline within the city limits of the City of Kent; and
WHEREAS, the Burlington Northern Santa Fe mainline tracks intersect
with a number of important city streets, including numerous cross-valley arterial
streets; and
WHEREAS, each of these intersections forms an integral part of the
City's transportation system and provides important cross-valley connections and
alternative connections for police, fire, and other public safety purposes, as well as the
City's general public transportation system; and
WHEREAS, due to the volume of traffic at all City intersections and
the vital public safety interests that rely on these crossings, any increase in train speed
limits, without concurrent improvements to crossing safety systems, would pose a
serious threat to the health, safety, and welfare of the citizens of the City of Kent and
the South County Region; and
1 BNSF Train Speeds
WHEREAS, the Titus Street crossing of the Burlington Northern Santa
Fe mainline tracks provides a direct connection to the City of Kent police
headquarters, to the City's scenic hill residential area, and to other east hill residential
areas; and
WHEREAS, any closure of the Titus Street crossing would have a
direct, immediate, and negative effect on the City's ability to provide public safety
services, in particular police services, to scenic hill and east hill neighborhoods; NOW
THEREFORE,
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF KENT, WASHINGTON
DOES HEREBY RESOLVE AS FOLLOWS:
SECTION 1. The Kent City Council finds as follows:
1. The City of Kent finds that its various east-west streets that are intersected by
the Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad mainline tracks form a vital component of
the City's public safety and transportation infrastructure.
2. Because of the significant volume of vehicle crossings each day upon these
railroad mainline intersections, any increase in train speed limits poses a significant
and immediate increase in the potential for train-vehicle accidents at those
intersections.
3. When an accident occurs at any of these intersections, the City's transportation
system becomes gridlocked, depending on train length and accident location, through
all or a portion of the Kent Green River Valley, because there are no viable grade-
separated crossings in Kent.
4. The addition of railroad crossing safety improvement devices may reduce the
risk of train-vehicle accidents caused by an increase in train speed limits.
5. The City of Kent's Titus Street crossing of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe
railroad mainline tracks constitutes a critical link to the City's public safety,
particularly police, and transportation infrastructure networks.
2 BNSF Train Speeds
SECTION 2. The City opposes any increase in train speed limits on the
Burlington Northern Santa Fe mainline right-of-ways within the City of Kent until the
Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad has constructed and implemented, to the
satisfaction of the City, additional railroad crossing safety improvements that will reduce
the threat to all persons using City streets that cross these mainline tracks.
SECTION 3. The City is opposed to the closure of the Titus Street
crossing of the Burlington Northern Santa Fe mainline tracks in the City of Kent, and
the WUTC should deny any petition to close the Titus Street crossing.
SECTION 4. The Mayor is authorized to sign any and all documents
regarding train speed limits and the closure of the Titus Street crossing that are
necessary to carry out the intent and purpose of this resolution.
SECTION 5. Any act consistent with the authority and prior to the
effective date of this resolution is hereby ratified and affirmed.
SECTION 6. If any section, subsection, paragraph, sentence, clause, or
phrase of this resolution is declared unconstitutional or invalid for any reason, such
decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portions of this resolution.
SECTION 7. This resolution shall take effect and be in force
immediately upon its passage.
PASS ED at a regular open public meeting by the City Council of the City
of Kent, Washington, this 17 day of~ , 1999.
CONCURRED in by the Mayor of the City of Kent this 17 day of
~ ,1999.
J
3 BNSF Train Speeds
ATTEST:
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
I hereby certify that · IS a true and correct copy of Resolution No.
/55;;.. passed by the City Co 1 of the City of Kent, Washington, the If day
of~ ,19.
~/N~ BRENDAJAcoB~ Y CLERK
P:\Civil\Resolution\burlington.doc
4 BNSF Train Speeds