Union Pacific Railroad is interested in erecting a mile-long tall low-maintenance fence along the railroad tracks between Spreckels Avenue and Main Street.
It would parallel the Tidewater Bikeway.
It is part of a system-wide effort by Union Pacific to erect safety barriers in areas where young people tend to cross tracks illegally. In this case, the aim is to eliminate the possibility of teens going to and from Manteca High from the Woodward Park neighborhoods from taking shortcuts across the tracks.
UP officials approached Councilman Vince Hernandez about the possibility of erecting the fence during the recent Operation Lifesaver effort in Manteca that was aimed at educating – and ticketing – those motorists and pedestrians who repeatedly ignore flashing signals and crossing arms.
The railroad has erected fences in other communities where a high number of walkers come in close proximity with its tracks. Those communities include Fresno, Oakland, Richmond, and Live Oak.
Not all communities embrace the UP’s efforts. Davis, as an example, is against such a fence as they believe it would cut the residents and school children of a poor area off from that city’s downtown.
UP’s stance in Davis is the same as it is elsewhere. They want to prevent trespassing on UP property while at the same time protect the public’s safety.
The City of Manteca about eight years ago put its own low maintenance, high fence along the Union Pacific tracks from Center Street to the Walnut Place Park sound wall to prevent youth cutting across the tracks to reach the skate park. The UP fence would be similar to the city’s based on what they have erected in other communities.
It would parallel the Tidewater Bikeway.
It is part of a system-wide effort by Union Pacific to erect safety barriers in areas where young people tend to cross tracks illegally. In this case, the aim is to eliminate the possibility of teens going to and from Manteca High from the Woodward Park neighborhoods from taking shortcuts across the tracks.
UP officials approached Councilman Vince Hernandez about the possibility of erecting the fence during the recent Operation Lifesaver effort in Manteca that was aimed at educating – and ticketing – those motorists and pedestrians who repeatedly ignore flashing signals and crossing arms.
The railroad has erected fences in other communities where a high number of walkers come in close proximity with its tracks. Those communities include Fresno, Oakland, Richmond, and Live Oak.
Not all communities embrace the UP’s efforts. Davis, as an example, is against such a fence as they believe it would cut the residents and school children of a poor area off from that city’s downtown.
UP’s stance in Davis is the same as it is elsewhere. They want to prevent trespassing on UP property while at the same time protect the public’s safety.
The City of Manteca about eight years ago put its own low maintenance, high fence along the Union Pacific tracks from Center Street to the Walnut Place Park sound wall to prevent youth cutting across the tracks to reach the skate park. The UP fence would be similar to the city’s based on what they have erected in other communities.
