PUC reopens Longmont crossing order to grant timing variance for two rail crossings

The Public Utilities Commission on April 15 reopened a 2023 Longmont grade-crossing proceeding and granted the city's requested partial variance to change timing deadlines for closing two existing BNSF Railway crossings.

Alan Farrell of the commission's Rail and Transit Safety Section told commissioners Longmont had filed an application in 2023 to build a new at-grade crossing at the extension of Boston Avenue and to close the Terry Street and 5th Avenue crossings. Farrel explained that work on the Boston Avenue crossing has been delayed primarily by right-of-way acquisitions and utility relocations, pushing the earliest realistic opening to early 2027. That timing conflicted with ordering paragraphs in the commission's previous decision, which would require the older crossings to close earlier.

"The current best estimate is that the Boston Avenue crossing will be open and operational no sooner than early 2027," Farrell said, and staff recommended reopening the proceeding for the limited purpose of ruling on Longmont's variance petition.

Commissioners agreed with staff's recommendation. The commission's action modifies timing-related ordering paragraphs of Decision O25-0613 to align the closure deadlines with Longmont's revised schedule, while preserving the project conditions described in the earlier decision.

Why it matters: The adjustment preserves federal FRA grant compliance while allowing the city more time to finish complex ROW and utility work. BNSF supported earlier closure of the two crossings for safety reasons, but Longmont argued earlier closures could jeopardize FRA grant funding tied to the project schedule.

The commission recorded the vote as an administrative (ABC) action without further hearings and instructed staff to issue the modified order.