Safety improvements coming to Metra crossing in Elgin

A Metra railroad crossing in Elgin where an inordinate number of vehicles have crashed into the crossing gates is expected to get a makeover by spring 2017.

The project for the crossing at McLean Boulevard and Timber Drive is funded by about $710,000 in grants obtained on behalf of the city by the engineering firm Hampton, Lenzini & Renwick, Inc.

The grants — federal money funneled through the Illinois Department of Transportation — will pay for about $100,000 for design and engineering, and $610,000 for construction of safety improvements at the intersection of McLean Boulevard and Big Timber Road, just north of the railroad, and McLean Boulevard and Timber Drive just to the south, said Elgin Director of Public Services Greg Rokos.

The intersection with Timber Drive can be confusing for drivers, who sometimes try to beat the gates, Rokos said. “It's going to be a really good project,” he said.

The improvements were deemed necessary by Metra and the Illinois Commerce Commission, following 13 reports of gate damage between January 1, 2009 and July 1, 2013, city officials said. Information regarding such accidents in the last two years wasn't immediately available.

Elgin City Council members said last week they wanted to look into whether a “quiet zone” could be implemented at the crossing, and how much that would cost. “I know there is a call for it in the community,” Councilman Terry Gavin said.

Councilman Rich Dunne cautioned that, even though the idea has merit, grants often allow only specific work.

Rokos agreed. “Normally it's unlikely to change a grant to incorporate other items into it,” he said. “That doesn't mean we can't ask.”

Quiet zones — through which trains sound bells rather than horns when passing through — require additional safety measures, such as installing medians or having four, instead of two, crossing gates, said Randy Newkirk, civil engineer for Hampton, Lenzini & Renwick. Newkirk said he couldn't immediately provide an estimate of those costs.

Elgin senior management analyst Aaron Cosentino said previous estimates obtained by the city for the implementation of quiet zones showed that engineering would be about $30,000 and a four-gate crossing would be about $250,000.