2014.04.28 Council Agenda Item 07

In December 2011, the Council voted 7-0 to approve an order to authorize a supplemental appropriation of $130,000 from the unassigned fund balance for railroad crossing upgrades.

These funds would pay for improvements to four railroad crossings along the Pan Am Railways line in order to maintain/create a so-called “Quiet Zone” (QZ) in Falmouth.

In June and October of 2012 and in October of 2013, staff gave the Council updates on the project and the Council affirmed its interest to install the proposed crossing upgrades and make the necessary notifications to the Federal Railroad Administration.

Since then, staff has been working on resolving an access issue at the Woodville Road site. The access point has presented a number of design and permitting challenges that were not previously identified.

Staff is requesting Council guidance regarding the scope of this project and to consider an order for a supplemental appropriation from unassigned fund balance to cover the additional costs of the project. The project budget will include the following:

• $130,000 - Original estimate to perform all work (funded by previous Council Order)
• $70,000 - Additonal amount needed to perform all work in the right of way (additional funding necessary by order - see attached)
• $30,000 - Cost to construct a new entrance to private property to accomodate vehicular turning movements that would otherwise be impeded by the construction of a new median/channel (additional funding necessary by order - see attached)

Total project cost will be $230,000 with the need to raise $100,000 by a supplemental appropriation.

Attachments:

• Memo describing the current status of the project.
• Site plans for two crossings (Field and Woodville Road). The Woodville Road plan identifies the crossing with private property access improvements that will cost $30,000.