Transportation System Plan 2018-2038

The two at-grade crossings without gates are stop sign-controlled with railroad crossing bar signs and wigwags. These two crossings carry low traffic volum es and are prim arily for local traffic circulation in industrial areas. In addition, there are two spur line crossings; one in the northwest industrial portion of the city on Joseph Street (which has signs and flash ers), and the other in an industrial area south of downtown on Fir Street (which has only pavem ent m arkings to warn of the crossing). Consideration should be given to providing additi on warning signage and/or flashing devices to alert m otorists to the potential for train activity at the Fir Street crossing. Strategies The City of Medford has no direct responsibility for the developm ent, operations or maintenance or the Central Oregon & Pacific Railroad or for the provision of freight rail service in the Rogue Valley . However, there are specific actions that that city can take to ensure safety around existing rail trackage and general land use com patibility with the freight rail corridor. The City can offer support and encouragem ent to CORP and ODOT in securing state and/or federal funding to im prove existing rail trackage and service. The City can also offer support if and when m arket forces should dictate the need for developing rail reload or inte rmodal facility in the Medford area or when passenger rail service becom es more viable. Specific actions for the City include: • Consistent with Oregon Rail Plan recom mendations, establish city policy that: o Seeks to avoid or m inimize the num ber of future railroad at-grade crossings when new streets are planned for growing portions of the com munity ; o Avoids creating intersections of m ajor streets and railroads where possible; o Locates new parallel streets at least 500 feet from railroads to allow for industrial developm ent between the tracks and the highway ; o Plans com munity developm ent (particularly residential uses) with sensitivity to rail noise and other potential conflicts. • Consider adding additional railroad crossing protec tion at existing Clark, Joseph and Fir Street crossings. • Improve at-grade railroad crossing on South Stage Road. • Provide for on-going m aintenance and repair of streets at existing at-grade crossings. • Work with railroads and appropriate state agenci es to minimize the blockage of public streets at railroad crossings to facilitate traffic m ovem ent, especially emergency service vehicles. • Encourage efforts to m ake intercity passenge r rail service available to the Medford area. Medford Transportatio n System Plan 11-4 Rail Plan