Title
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE CITY MANAGER TO ENTER INTO A QUIET ZONE ADMINISTRATIVE AGREEMENT WITH NORFOLK SOUTHERN RAILWAY COMPANY FOR THE E. BARLOW ROAD TRAIL QUIET ZONE IMPROVEMENTS.
Brief Description: As part of the upcoming E. Barlow Road Trail Project the railroad track crossing on Barlow Road will become a Quiet Zone and Norfolk Southern Railway Company requires a Quiet Zone Administrative Agreement be executed prior to review and administration of the improvements.
Body
Legislative History
None.
Purpose & Explanation
The E. Barlow Road Trail Project will include the design and coordination with Norfolk Southern Railroad Corporation and construction of a new Quiet Zone at Terex Road near the E. Barlow Road Trail Project.
A railroad Quiet Zone is an officially designated section of track where train horn usage is reduced when crossing a public road. To achieve this, communities must implement enhanced safety measures at the crossings, such as improved warning systems (gates, lights, bells) and crossing designs. This allows nearby property owners to experience reduced noise pollution while still maintaining a high level of safety. For the crossing on Barlow Road, the new Quiet Zone improvements are anticipated to be gate arms that would extend across the center of the road, since gate arm improvements are already a part of the ongoing trail project design.
The Norfolk Southern Railway Quiet Zone Administrative Agreement outlines the collaboration between Norfolk Southern and the City to review the feasibility and method of establishing a Quiet Zone at the Barlow Road crossing.
The Agreement establishes the legal requirements for the City to reimburse Norfolk Southern for the costs associated with conducting initial administrative work related to the Quiet Zone, including engineering services and assessments. This reimbursement is independent of whether the Quiet Zone project proceeds or not.
Staff will return to Council for any separate agreements required for detailed plan review and construction phases of the project that may be required. Cost for the review fees associated with the Agreement is $22,500.
The City Solicitor is in the process of reviewing the Quiet Zone Administrative Agreement prior to the City Manager entering into the agreement.
An emergency clause is requested to expedite the plan review process, enabling timely bidding, award, and construction of the Quiet Zone improvements with the E. Barlow Road Trail project. The trail project will ensure safe pedestrian access between Barlow Farm Park and Wood Hollow Metropark, and the Quiet Zone improvements will reduce train noise and maintain safety at the crossing.
Legal Authority for Proposed Legislation
Pursuant to Charter Section 6.04, Contracts & Purchasing:
Competitively bid and advertised for three consecutive weeks
Joint or Cooperative Purchase Program
Professional Services
X Other.
Fiscal Impact
Currently Budgeted
X Supplemental Appropriation Required (205 fund - 2024 carryover)
Appropriation Not Required
Does this legislation require use of an emergency clause?
X Yes - So the contractor can begin construction on this project.
No
Recommendation
Suggested Action
Staff recommends that Council approve this Quiet Zone Administrative Agreement with Norfolk Southern Railway Company for the Barlow Road Quiet Zone Improvements. An Emergency Clause is being requested for the safety of the traveling public along this corridor in order to expediate the remaining design and review work of the trail improvements at this active railroad crossing.
Submitted by,
Thomas J. Sheridan, City Manager
Marshal Pitchford, City Solicitor
Brian Griffith, Assistant City Manager
Bradley S. Kosco, PE, PS, City Engineer
Jonathon Szalay, PE, Senior Engineer