8.5. SR 05-20-2013 Elk REQUEST FOR ACTION
River
TO ITEM NUMBER
Mayor and City Council 8.5
AGENDA SECTION MEETING DATE PREPARED BY
General Business May 20, 2013 Justin Fe rite,P.E., City Engineer
ITEM DESCRIPTION REVIEWED By
Authorization to Complete Study of Improvements to Quiet Suzanne Fischer,Director, CODD
Train Horns REVIEWED BY
Cal Portner, City Administrator
ACTION REQUESTED
Review wayside horn presentation and authorize staff to hire a quiet zone specialist to perform a rail
crossing diagnostic study and to finalize costs for implementation a project to quiet train horns in Elk
River.
BACKGROUND/DISCUSSION
At the December 12, 2012, meeting, the Council directed staff to further evaluate quiet zones and
consider the option of installing wayside horns at a number of railroad crossings throughout Elk River.
This approach is more cost effective than installing a full quiet zone with Supplemental Safety Measures
(SSMs) at all crossings. Since December, staff has worked with Quiet Zone Technologies and Elk River
Municipal Utilities to test and record the effects of the wayside horns at six separate rail crossings. Video
recordings and location maps have been included and are available for viewing on the city website.
Staff seeks comments and direction from the Council on whether to proceed with this project.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The completion of the diagnostic study and a detailed cost estimate for the final project is estimated to
cost between $5,000 and $10,000. This amount was not included in the 2013 budget. If Council wishes
to proceed with the study at this time, funding from the Council Contingency could be considered. If
staff is directed to move forward,implementation costs will be discussed and worked into the Capital
Improvement Plan later this year.
ATTACHMENTS
None
P a w I R E D a T
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