Why Are There Pedestrian Gates at Train Tracks?

What’s the point of pedestrian gates at train tracks—such as on Butterfly Lane in Montecito (above) and on State Street below Yanonali—when there’s a big open space right next to it? —A.

I wasn’t sure whom to ask: the city’s Streets Operation & Infrastructure Management department? Caltrans? Union Pacific? I fired off some emails and then realized it could be a state regulation. Googling that led me to a 2008 California Public Utilities Commission report “compiling the designs and devices currently utilized at pedestrian-rail crossings in California.” And there on page 16 was the explanation: the swing gates are for when a person in the track area, particularly someone with limited mobility, needs a way out after the bar gate has been lowered, which blocks the open space. (A source subsequently said that the gates are required by Union Pacific.)

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Previous Burning Questions:
••• Is this Summerland’s original train station?
••• What does the “S” on certain chimneys stand for?
••• What’s the status of the decommissioning of Rincon Island?
••• What happened to the gas flame on Highway 101?
••• What do we know about the proposed apartment complex at 1 Hot Springs Road?
••• What’s the history of this tower on Ortega Ridge?
••• What’s up with these sculptures on a hillside in Summerland?
••• Is there a master plan for the new walking paths in Montecito?
••• Why are the Thousand Steps still wet?
••• What’s happening with Sola Street?
••• Why are trees being cut down above the San Ysidro Ranch?
••• Why is this lot on Milpas Street still vacant?
••• Where else do cruise ships that visit here go?
••• What’s happening with the Pepper Tree Inn?
••• What is this large memorial in Ennisbrook?
••• Who bought the former St. Mary’s seminary—and why?
••• What will happen to the SBPD building when the new building is completed?
••• How does the city decide to mark bike lanes?
••• What’s the story with this house on W. Cota Street?
••• What are those little houses on Santa Barbara Street?
••• What’s the point of this light pole near the freeway?
••• What’s inside Paseo Nuevo’s State Street tower?
••• What’s the point of these markings on Laguna Street?
••• Why is there a giant red shoe off Highway 101?
••• Are we no longer allowed on the SBHS baseball field?
••• What does “SBTP” on this post mean?
••• What’s up with the “no e-bike” signs on local trails?
••• What’s happening with this derelict house in Summerland?
••• Why is there wood on some power lines?
••• Can you explain how sundowner winds work?
••• Why is there a pressure cooker attached to this utility pole?
••• What’s this concrete ramp thing on East Beach?
••• Why does “USA” get written on the street?
••• What are those poles in the ocean near the Ritz-Carlton Bacara?
↓↓↓ Are people really allowed to set fires in the middle of Montecito?
••• What’s the story with the half-finished lot next to the Montecito Country Mart?

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