Section 190 Grade Separation Program

The Section 190 Grade Separation Program is a Department of Transportation competitive grant program that provides $15 million each year to local agencies for the construction of grade separation projects. The intent of the Grade Separation Program is to improve safety and expedite the movement of vehicles by eliminating highway-rail crossing at grade with a grade separation.      

April 1st of each fiscal year is the last date on which applications for allocation of grade separation funds in that fiscal year can be filed. Contents of Application Submission: The complete application must include a written request for an allocation in a specified monetary amount along with copies of each of the following attached to it: (1) All necessary orders of the Public Utilities Commission of the State of California. (a) An order authorizing construction of the project; (2) A statement of the applicant's position on the annual priority list established by the Public Utilities Commission. (3) In case the applicant and affected railroad or railroads cannot agree as to the apportionment of the cost of the project between them, an order apportioning such cost, but in no case shall an allocation be made unless the railroad or railroads contribute no less than the amount required. (4) All necessary agreements with the affected railroad or railroads fully executed by railroad or railroads and applicant. The necessary agreements with the railroad include: (a) Permission to enter upon railroad right of way for construction, or, in lieu thereof, an order of the Public Utilities Commission or of a court of competent jurisdiction authorizing such entry for construction purposes; (b) A description of the project on a plan setting forth the area and items of the project and the particular area and items of the project to which the railroad or railroads agree to contribute; (c) The percentage of railroad's or railroads' contribution to the cost of the area and items to which railroad or railroads agree to contribute; (d) Identification and estimated cost of the area and items to which railroad or railroads do not contribute; (e) Agreement that railroad or railroads shall contribute a minimum of 10 percent of the cost of the project without a maximum dollar limitation on the railroad's contribution, except that the contribution may be less than 10 percent of the cost of the project. (f) When two or more railroads are affected by a project, their combined contribution must be a minimum of 10 percent of the cost of the project without a maximum dollar limitation on the combined contribution. (5) A certified resolution by the applicant's governing body authorizing the filing of an application. (6) Certified resolution by the applicant's governing body stating that all matters prerequisite to the awarding of the construction contract can be accomplished within two years after the allocation of the funds. (7) A certified resolution by applicant's governing body stating that sufficient local funds will be made available as the work of the project progresses. (8) Copies of all necessary Environmental Impact Reports or Negative Declarations, with a certified Notice of Determination and approval or acceptance of these documents by the Lead Agency. (9) General plan of the project, including profiles and typical sections. (10) Project cost estimate, which includes construction, preliminary and construction engineering, work by railroad forces, right of way costs, and utility relocation