Posted on 08/28/2018 8:10:08 AM PDT by george76
DENVER -- Flaggers have returned to some crossings along the RTD A Line between Union Station and Denver International Airport.
In June, the flaggers were removed, but they have returned as RTD tries to figure out a software problem that was discovered on a number of rail lines in the area.
The flaggers have returned to the York, Steele, and Holly street crossings, a move that signifies RTD believes the automated gates are still not safe enough to operate without on-site supervision.
...
RTD is only saying its contractor, Denver Transit Partners, is doing some updating and testing of the crossing software.
But it has left residents dealing with horns blaring at all hours of the night.
...
The return of the flaggers along the A Line could mean additional delays for the long-awaited G Line between Union Station and Wheat Ridge and Arvada.
That line was supposed to open in 2016 but has been delayed because of the gate timing issues on the A Line.
(Excerpt) Read more at kdvr.com ...
https://www.denverpost.com/2018/02/15/rtds-a-line-crossing-safety-testimony/
“This is never going to end”: A-Line flaggers return, signaling more delays... Barely a month after the last of the flaggers was taken off duty along the University of Colorado A-Line, some are once again directing traffic at several crossings after a “safety critical software problem” was discovered along three passenger rail lines in the metro area.
The big question, to which there is no immediate answer: How long will the latest challenge in rolling out the Regional Transportation District’s $2.2 billion commuter rail system last? And what does it mean for the long-awaited opening of the G-Line to Wheat Ridge and Arvada and the quelling of train horns that have rattled nerves for more than two years?
The G-Line was originally set to begin carrying passengers in the autumn of 2016. But the line has been delayed by gate timing issues on the A-Line, which uses the same gate crossing technology.
https://www.denverpost.com/2018/08/27/a-line-flaggers-return-g-line-quiet-zones-delays/
Funny how automatic crossing gates are still working everywhere else in the country. Is it that much harder to have put those in and to have the train operators sound the traditional grade crossing horn signal?
Colorado Ping ( Let me know if you wish to be added or removed from the list.)
RTD = Reason to Drive ( Loud train horns, too. )
Golly gee, what did they do before computers?
Arvada Mayor Marc Williams said residents have been sending him nasty messages demanding he use his power as mayor to silence the horns, which test trains along the 11-mile line / required to sound every time they cross an at-grade street.
Horns are activated until the early morning hours.. the train horns are making life miserable
The irony is that they probably spent more than enough money on these rail lines to grade-separate them.
Not to mention, “quiet zones” incorporate older types of grade crossing barrier anyhow.
That’s what happens when the government takes over the railroads, just because it can.
I think it was called “capacitors”.
Some grade crossings were manually operated as late as the 1960s IIRC.
Somewhat related, one of the biggest soil-my-pants moments was driving home at night after an 18 hour day a total zombie and slowly crossing an old one lane bridge with tracks at the end of it on a blind curve in the rail line about 100 yards from the bridge.
No rail signal at this crossing and just as I was going across the train came around the bend with it’s mega watt headlight and lit me up. Thought I was dead.
The funny thing was I had loaded a closed hopper car on this train with sand a 1/2 hour earlier.
The issue is using new technology (GPS, wireless, PTC [positive train control]) mandated by Congress after the Chatsworth CA head-on collision in 2008 that killed 25 (the gay engineer was texting with young boys and ran a red signal). Unfortunately the new technology is still in the testing phase and software problems along with some hardware issues have caused problems. Quiet zones with no horns sounding are quite common using old technology, but the inclusion of PTC in the mix caused system failures.
I bet that rail system made some politicians and their friends extremely rich.
I see that it is a software issue. .
I think they should hire the people who designed the Obamacare website. I hear they’re not terribly busy these days
“Arvada Mayor Marc Williams said residents have been sending him nasty messages demanding he use his power as mayor to silence the horns, which test trains along the 11-mile line / required to sound every time they cross an at-grade street.
Horns are activated until the early morning hours.. the train horns are making life miserable”
Quiet zones have been in use by the railroads forever. They don’t blow the horn in a quiet zone unless there is an emergency situation.
A Minneapolis-based monopoly - Excel - recently got permission for a massive $2.5 billion fuel-switching scam to move its Colorado customers away from baseload, reliable hydrocarbons in favor of intermittent, ugly wind mills.
Kickbacks to Gov. Hickenlooper, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission , and the other politicians who approved of the scam ?
http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/3676530/posts
The people in the Denver area, Arvada, have apparently been telling that to RTD and their Mayor. No luck so far.
Daughter lives close to Cherry Creek Mall.
A new line is being tested in the middle of the night.
Blowing horns at 3:00am. Everyone is pissed.
Government software project
Give it to me and I’ll have them working like clockwork at half the price.
LOL! What a fuster cluck. Glad I left Jeffco. Still go there to shop and visit.
The rail lines suck up tons of money and several lanes on I-25 and elsewhere that could be used for cars.
Vehicle traffic is therefore worse. as designed.
Government projects includes large bribes / kickbacks to the politicians and their pals.
The gate issue reminds me of the DIA baggage system debacle.
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