8.3. SR 07-07-2014 City of
Elk=' Request for Action
River
To Item Number
Mayor and City Council 8.3
Agenda Section Meeting Date Prepared by
General Business July 7, 2014 Justin Femrite, P.E., City Engineer
Item Description Reviewed by
Consider Quiet Zone Options Cal Portner, City Administrator
Reviewed by
Action Requested
Approve,by motion, option relating to the Quiet Zone project along the BNSF rail corridor.
Background/Discussion
At the September 3, 2013, meeting, Council authorized staff to work toward the implementation of a
quiet zone along the BNSF corridor throughout Elk River. Safety measures were selected in order to
lower the overall corridor risk index and qualify for a quiet zone. The improvements included installation
of a wayside horn system at Proctor Road, and supplemental safety measures (channelization
devises/raised medians) at 1715`Avenue, 165`''Avenue and Jarvis Street.Also included were pedestrian
safety measures at all crossings.
The accident at the Jackson Avenue crossing on February 18, 2014, has increased the Federal Railroad
Administration's (FRA) assigned risk index of this crossing. This increased risk will require additional
safety upgrades at Jackson Avenue in order for our project to qualify for a quiet zone.
Options to be considered by the Council include:
1. Expanding scope of project to include installation of a 4-quadrant gate system at Jackson
Avenue
2. Postpone work on the quiet zone to study the potential closing of the Jackson Avenue crossing.
3. Suspend work on the quiet zone and gauge public interest in pursuing a more costly project.
Financial Impact
Option 1 will increase the cost of the quiet zone project by$850,000. This, combined with the existing
$500,000 included in the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP),would bring the project estimate to
$1,350,000.
Option 2 will include a traffic study at an estimated cost of$15,000. This study would evaluate the
feasibility of closing the crossing and all expected traffic changes.
Option 3 would come at no cost. If the ultimate decision is the project is too costly to move forward,the
$500,000 budgeted in the CIP would be available for other projects.
Attachments
■ Capital Improvement Plan Project Worksheet Page 26
P a w E A E U s r
NaA f RE]
Capital Improvement flan 2014 rhru 2018
City of Elk River, Minnesota
Project# QZ
Project Name Quiet Zones
Type Infrastructure Department Infrastructure hnprovenrents
Useful LIfe 25 years Contact Engineer
Category Street Construction Priority n/a
Description
Establish a quiet zone at all street crossings along the BNSI'rail line.
Justification
This project will involve the installation of supplemental safety measures and wayside horns to qualify the entire rail corridor through Elk River as
a quite zone.
Expenditures 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Total
Construction/Maintenance 500,000 500,000
Total 500,000 500,000
Funding Sources 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 Total
Street Improvement Reserve 500,000 500,000
Total 500,000 500,000
2019-2018 CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN Page 26