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Purpose and Need

The Reedsport Rail Crossing Study (Study) evaluates the impacts of the anticipated increase in rail activity on traffic operations and safety in Reedsport. The Port of Coos Bay plans to construct a new container terminal facility—the Pacific Coast Intermodal Port—on the North Spit in Coos Bay. Activity at the new terminal is expected to increase the number and length of freight trains passing through Reedsport each day.

Purpose

The Study identifies potential solutions at the OR 38 and Winchester Avenue rail crossings. The solutions include enhancements to the existing at grade rail crossings, as well as grade separation (e.g., a roadway overpass above the rail line).

The solutions are supported by local circulation improvements, including roadway, bicycle, pedestrian, rail, and transit improvements. They also consider, at a minimum, access management, access to and response times from emergency services, and stormwater controls within the study area. The solutions are adequate to support development of the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay container facility and the associated increase in rail activity on the Coos Bay Rail Line.

Need

The study identified the following deficiencies based on the projected increase in train activity associated with the Port of Coos Bay Pacific Coast Intermodal Port.

Click or tap on the items below to learn more.

A 4,100-foot train traveling at 10 mph through downtown Reedsport will create the following operational and/or safety-related deficiencies:

  • Eastbound vehicular queues on OR 38 will spill back into the U.S. 101/OR 38 intersection.
  • Multiple cycles will be required at the U.S. 101/OR 38 intersection to recover from the train event.
  • Simultaneous delays of 5.5 minutes or greater will occur at the OR 38 and Winchester Avenue rail crossings. The delays will increase response times for emergency service vehicles (fire, ambulance, and police).
  • Local circulation and access delays exceeding 60 seconds (level of service F) will occur at cross streets to OR 38 (i.e., Myrtle Avenue, Laurel Avenue, W Railroad Avenue, E Railroad Avenue, Fir Avenue, N 6th Street, and N 5th Street) and Winchester Avenue (i.e., N 10th Street, W Railroad Avenue-River Bend Road, Elm Avenue, E Railroad Avenue, and N 7th Street).
  • Traffic volumes will increase on the vertically- and horizontally-restricted Port Dock Road rail undercrossing, as well as E Railroad Avenue, W Railroad Avenue, and Riverfront Way.

The forecasted increase from two to 14 trains per day is anticipated to create the following potential issues:

  • Increased probability of delays to emergency service provider (fire, ambulance, and police) response time to areas east and west of the rail line as the police station and Fire Station 1 are located east of the rail line on 4th Avenue. The hospital and Fire Station 2 are located west of the rail line on Ranch Road and Frontage Road.
  • Increased train horn use during school or nighttime hours leading to quality of life concerns from nearby residents and businesses.
  • Increased pedestrian-train conflicts due to the lack of sidewalk gates on OR 38 and lack of sidewalks on Winchester Avenue.
  • Peak hour queues on OR 38 and Winchester Avenue that create local circulation and access delays at cross streets, including W Railroad Avenue, River Bend Road, Elm Avenue, and E Railroad Avenue. Increased use of the Port Dock Road undercrossing and related increases in cut-through traffic on local streets will create issues at the undercrossing as well as the OR 38/Riverfront Way-2nd Street and U.S. 101/OR 38 intersections

The signalized intersection is forecasted to operate at capacity (a volume-to-capacity [v/c] ratio of 1.0) in Year 2045 and exceed the Oregon Highway Plan mobility standard of 0.85. These operations will result in decreased mobility for motorists and freight and long delays during conditions exceeding the 30th highest peak hour.

What Will Result from this Study?

The study will deliver a Railroad Crossing Plan that will identify refinements to the Reedsport Transportation System Plan, Reedsport's action plan for implementing the recommended, Council-approved upgrades.

Railroad crossing upgrades come in many varieties and serve different purposes. This study seeks to match the right kinds of railroad crossing improvements to Reedsport's current and future needs.

The proposed projects in the study will be considered for construction if the planned container terminal receives funding to move forward. It’s anticipated that the Reedsport railroad improvements and the new terminal will be constructed simultaneously.

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Study Timeline and Opportunities to Participate

The study began in November 2022 and will conclude in May 2024. The study has two online open houses and presentations scheduled. Your input will help shape the final recommendations for railroad crossing improvements in Reedsport.

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What is Happening at the Port of Coos Bay?

Trains pass through Reedsport on the Coos Bay Rail Line, which moves $460 million worth of freight annually from the Port.

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The Port is planning for a new container terminal facility which will bring jobs and further economic development to the region and, at the same time, increase the number of freight trains passing through Reedsport each day.

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The new facility will be the first carbon-free marine terminal in the United States and the only deep-water port between Astoria and San Francisco. It is anticipated to accommodate 1.2 million inbound and outbound containers annually.

The Port is currently pursuing a variety of funding opportunities to advance the project. Visit the Port's website for the latest updates.

Train Traffic through Reedsport

The improvements recommended by this study will improve conditions and prepare for forecasted increases in freight train traffic. In the future, trains will be longer and travel at slightly higher speeds.

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Future intermodal trains are anticipated to be approximately 4,000 feet in length and travel between 10 and 25 mph depending on the timing of upgrades to the existing Umpqua River rail bridge. As illustrated below, the rail crossing events will result in vehicles backing up on OR 38 to approximately US 101 in the eastbound direction and 5th Street in the westbound direction. Similarly, vehicles on Winchester Avenue will back up to approximately 10th Street in the eastbound direction and 7th Street in the westbound direction.

Vehicle queuing on OR 38 and Winchester Avenue are driven by train length, train speed, and vehicular demand at the time of crossing. It should be noted that any train exceeding 4,100 feet in length and traveling at 10 mph or less during the 30th highest hour of the year will result in eastbound queues on OR 38 spilling back into US 101. Out of the 8,760 hours per year, there are 30 unique peak hour time periods on OR 38 that may experience longer queues if a train crossing occurs during those specific time periods (e.g., an August Saturday afternoon with peak recreational traffic in the midday).

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Review Technical Background

This winter and spring, the study team set a foundation for the next stages of the study through their work reviewing plans, policies and relevant data affecting transportation in Reedsport.

Technical Memos

Read more about the technical work during this stage.

Tech Memo #1: Plan, Policy, Code Review & Port of Coos Bay Expansion Review

Tech Memo #3: Analysis Methodology and Assumptions

Tech Memo #4: Existing Transportation Conditions

Tech Memo #5: Future Land Use and Transportation Conditions

Transportation System Plan Goals

Reedsport, like other cities in Oregon, has a library of “master plans,” which detail the City’s long-term and short-term policies and plans. One of those master plans is our “Transportation System Plan,” or TSP, which includes our policies and plans related streets, sidewalks, and other transportation facilities. By “adopting” the Reedsport Rail Crossing Study, the City will establish the street improvements required for the City to permit increased train traffic through Reedsport resulting from the container ship terminal terminal.

Railroad crossing improvements considered during the study's next phase will be designed to address the current and future needs and priorities in Reedsport. Goals from the Reedsport TSP were enhanced and will guide how the study evaluates potential improvements.

Goal #1: Develop a transportation system to enhance Reedsport's livability and meet federal, state, and local requirements.

Objectives of this goal include minimizing noise and traffic impacts, increasing roadway safety, and maintaining an efficient stormwater drainage system, particularly in downtown Reedsport.

Goal #2: Create a balanced transportation system.

Objectives of this goal include improving conditions and connectivity for all roadway users, including people who walk, bike and roll.

Goal #3: Improve the safety of the transportation system.

Objectives of this goal include developing improvements to better protect pedestrians and other vulnerable roadway users and maintaining reliable emergency access throughout the city.

Goal #4: Develop an efficient transportation system that will handle future traffic growth.

Objectives of this goal include recommending improvements designed to handle future needs and expected growth, taking seasonal changes in traffic into account.

Goal #5: Provide a transportation system that is accessible to all members of the community.

Objectives of this goal include developing improvements that are accessible to people with disabilities.

Goal #6: Develop a transportation system to provide for efficient freight movement.

Objectives include maintaining efficient operations for the rail line and minimizing interactions with vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians; and exploring upgrades to enable further mitigation strategies such as a “No Horn Ordinance”.

Goal #7: Create a funding system to implement the recommended transportation system improvement projects.

Objectives include consulting and collaborating with ODOT, Douglas County and other key decision-makers throughout the study to ensure consistency with state and local plans.

Review Draft Technical Memo #2: Purpose & Need, Goals, Objectives, and Evaluation Criteria for more information.

Looking at the Range of Alternatives

The study first identified a range of alternative solutions, sought feedback from the community, PAC, and PMT resulting in additional potential solutions, then narrowed the alternatives down to the proposed projects.

  • At-grade rail crossings
  • Grade-separated rail crossings
  • Rail line upgrades
  • Elevated rail line
  • Intersection treatments

To learn more about the alternatives considered and how they scored, review Technical Memorandum #6: Alternative Analysis and Technical Memorandum #7: Preferred Improvements.

Develop and evaluate alternatives, identify the most promising and preferred and finally refine it and develop project sheets.

Proposed Project

The proposed projects identified here are in the early stages of development for preliminary design, environmental review, design, and construction to address the anticipated impacts of the future Pacific Coast Intermodal Port facility proposed by the Port of Coos Bay. These proposed projects were evaluated in fall 2023. The proposed projects in the study will be considered for construction if approved by the Reedsport City Council, and if the planned container terminal receives funding to move forward.

OR 38 Rail Overcrossing with Retaining Walls

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A new Four-Quadrant Gated Rail Crossing on Winchester Avenue

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A new U.S. 101 NB Train Activity Warning for Train Crossings at Winchester Avenue

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Draft Study Cover

The Draft Reedsport Rail Crossing Study provides a detailed description of the project as well as the next steps to moving the project forward.

Next Steps and Upcoming Events

The study team will spend the next several months finalizing the study and taking it through the adoption process.

Join Us for a Project Presentation

Thursday, February 1, 2024
5 p.m.
Reedsport City Hall

The presentation will also be available to view online. Visit the study website to access the live meeting.

Learn more about the draft Railroad Crossing Plan and preferred alternative during a live presentation held in-person at the Reedsport City Hall.

Have comments on the proposed projects? Let us know! Submit a Comment

Implementation Plan

Throughout all steps of the implementation process, it is essential to continue to seek input to refine and design the preferred refined improvement package of projects in a manner that respects the cultural and historic significance of the area. The following is the proposed implementation plan from adoption of this study into the City of Reedsport TSP and the Oregon Highway Plan.

  • Now that we are at the end of the concept planning phase, the proposed improvements identified in this study will now be considered for adoption.
  • Following the adoption of this study, the Port of Coos Bay will seek to:
    • secure funding,
    • conduct further environmental reviews, and
    • work collaboratively with ODOT and the City of Reedsport to design and ultimately construct the identified rail, highway, and local system multimodal improvements.
  • The Port of Coos Bay will seek funding to construct the proposed Pacific Coast Intermodal Port facility and the associated mitigation, including rail, highway, and local transportation improvements identified in the Reedsport Rail Crossing Study ($42.8M to $49.2M in 2030 dollars).
Project Development Process
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    Project Development Process - What happens before a project gets built?

  • Input from the public and local agencies to identify goals, objectives, and transportation needs
  • Project planning/design
  • Concept Plan Created
  • City of Reedsport Planning Commission and City Council and ODOT review and adopt Concept Plan or request changes
  • Pacific Coast intermodal Port Facility funded
  • Environmental Review
  • Design
  • Construction