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04-19-2005 City Council Study Session PacketCity of Grand Island Tuesday, April 19, 2005 Study Session Packet City Council:Mayor: Jay Vavricek City Administrator: Gary Greer City Clerk: RaNae Edwards T u 7:00:00 PM Council Chambers - City Hall 100 East First Street Carole Cornelius Peg Gilbert Joyce Haase Margaret Hornady Robert Meyer Mitchell Nickerson Don Pauly Jackie Pielstick Scott Walker Fred Whitesides City of Grand Island City Council Call to Order Pledge of Allegiance Roll Call A - SUBMITTAL OF REQUESTS FOR FUTURE ITEMS Individuals who have appropriate items for City Council consideration should complete the Request for Future Agenda Items form located at the Information Booth. If the issue can be handled administratively without Council action, notification will be provided. If the item is scheduled for a meeting or study session, notification of the date will be given. B - RESERVE TIME TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS This is an opportunity for individuals wishing to provide input on any of tonight's agenda items to reserve time to speak. Please come forward, state your name and address, and the Agenda topic on which you will be speaking. MAYOR COMMUNICATION This is an opportunity for the Mayor to comment on current events, activities, and issues of interest to the community. City of Grand Island City Council Item -1 Presentation of the Railroad Corridor Safety Study Tuesday, April 19, 2005 Study Session City of Grand Island Staff Contact: Steve Riehle, City Engineer / Public Works Directo City of Grand Island City Council Council Agenda Memo From: Steven P. Riehle, Public Works Director Meeting: April 19, 2005 Subject: Railroad Corridor Safety Study Item #’s: 1 Presenter(s): Steve Riehle, Public Works Director Background The community grew up around the Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fee railroads. As the community continues to grow and the train traffic increases, the concerns with rail crossing safety and delays increases. A long range and comprehensive plan for how we can address these concerns is needed. Discussion Kirkham Michael and Associates has been hired to perform the study and kicked off the study at an April 6th, 2005 meeting with city staff. The Council Kickoff of the study is being held this evening at the study session. The Public Kickoff of the study is set for Thursday evening, May 12, 2005 at Walnut Middle School. Since public participation is such a large component of the study, numerous public meetings will be conducted. Conclusion This item is presented to the City Council in a Study Session to allow for any questions to be answered and to create a greater understanding of the issue at hand. It is the intent of City Administration to bring this issue to a future council meeting for the council to approve the completed study in November 2005. 1 Railroad Corridor Safety Study Presented to The City of Grand Island City Council April 19, 2005 Agenda Introductions Randy ElDorado Project Team Project Understanding Project Approach Rick Haden Quiet Zone Evaluation Key Design Issues Randy ElDorado Public Involvement Schedule Summary Project Team Project Understanding•Grand Island grew up around Railroads•UPRR18 crossings including 4 grade separations•BNSF16 crossings including 8 grade separations 3 Key Study Issues Impacts to Community • Delay at Crossings • Risk for Accidents • Train Noise Engage Public Dialogue • Stimulate Community Input • Educate Citizens • Build Community Support Key Study Issues •High Delay Leads to High Risk Behaviors – Driving Around Gate Arms – Pedestrians Trespassing •Emergency Vehicle Response: – Fire/Rescue – Police •Build on Comprehensive Plan – Transportation Network Connectivity – Economic Vitality 4 Key Study Issues •Railroad Relocation •Grade Separations •At-Grade Crossings Improvements Project Approach •Data Collection/Compilation – Review of Previous Studies – Collision History – Existing Traffic/Train Data – Projected Traffic/Train Data •Comprehensive Transportation Plan – Grand Island Traffic Model – Existing/Future Crossing Scenarios 5 Project Approach BNSF Grade Separations: • Potential New Grade Separations – Exposure Ratings > 50,000 BNSF Crossing # Location Tracks Daily Trains Estimated ADT Exposure Rating Current Xing Protection 1 Shady Bend Rd 1 80 3,705 296,400 Flashers/Gates 2 E. Bismark Rd 1 80 3,335 266,800 Flashers/Gates 3 Stuhr Rd. 2 80 4,130 330,400 Flashers/Gates 4 1st Street 1 80 7,695 N/A RR Structure 5 2nd Street 1 80 7,540 N/A RR Structure 6 E 4th Street 1 80 4,290 N/A RR Structure 7 E 10th Street 1 80 3,085 N/A RR Structure 8 E 17/18th Street 1 80 560 N/A RR Structure 9 20th Street 1 80 N/A N/A Ped Tunnel 10 Capital Ave 1 80 7,780 N/A RR Structure 11 Broadwell Ave 1 80 5,440 435,200 Overhead Flashers/Gates 12 Webb Rd 1 80 1,880 150,400 Flashers/Gates 13 Highway 281 2 80 8,145 N/A Highway Overpass 14 North Road 2 80 910 72,800 Flashers/Gates 15 Airport Rd 2 80 160 12,800 Flashers/Gates 16 Engleman Rd 2 80 200 16,000 Flashers/Gates Project Approach BNSF Grade Separations: • Potential New Grade Separations – Exposure Ratings > 50,000 BNSF Crossing # Location Tracks Daily Trains Estimated ADT Exposure Rating Current Xing Protection 1 Shady Bend Rd 1 80 3,705 296,400 Flashers/Gates 2 E. Bismark Rd 1 80 3,335 266,800 Flashers/Gates 3 Stuhr Rd. 2 80 4,130 330,400 Flashers/Gates 4 1st Street 1 80 7,695 N/A RR Structure 5 2nd Street 1 80 7,540 N/A RR Structure 6 E 4th Street 1 80 4,290 N/A RR Structure 7 E 10th Street 1 80 3,085 N/A RR Structure 8 E 17/18th Street 1 80 560 N/A RR Structure 9 20th Street 1 80 N/A N/A Ped Tunnel 10 Capital Ave 1 80 7,780 N/A RR Structure 11 Broadwell Ave 1 80 5,440 435,200 Overhead Flashers/Gates 12 Webb Rd 1 80 1,880 150,400 Flashers/Gates 13 Highway 281 2 80 8,145 N/A Highway Overpass 14 North Road 2 80 910 72,800 Flashers/Gates 15 Airport Rd 2 80 160 12,800 Flashers/Gates 16 Engleman Rd 2 80 200 16,000 Flashers/Gates 6 Project Approach UPRR Grade Separations: • Potential New Grade Separations – Exposure Ratings > 50,000 UPRR Crossing # Location Tracks Daily Trains Estimated ADT Exposure Rating Current Xing Protection 1 Husker Hwy 2 80 3,870 309,600 Flashers/Gates 2 Engleman Rd 2 80 1,100 88,000 Flashers/Gates 3 NorthRd/Stolley Pk 2 80 940 75,200 Flashers/Gates 4 Highway 281 2 80 18,555 N/A Hwy Overpass 5 Webb Road 3 80 5,700 456,000 Flashers/Gates 6 Custer Ave/Blaine St 2 80 9,045 723,600 Flashers/Gates 7 Highway 30 2 80 15,500 N/A Hwy Overpass 8 Broadwell Ave 2 80 10,015 801,200 Flashers/Gates 9 Lincoln Ave 4 80 600 48,000 Flashers/Gates 10 Eddy St 4 80 11,220 N/A Street Underpass 11 Elm St 5 80 2,300 184,000 Flashers/Gates 12 Walnut St 7 80 3,880 310,400 Flashers/Gates 13 Pine St 6 80 5,000 400,000 Flashers/Gates 14 Sycamore St 6 80 8,200 N/A Street Underpass 15 Oak St 3 80 1,600 128,000 Flashers/Gates 16 Shady Bend Rd 3 80 2,280 182,400 Flashers/Gates 17 Capital Ave 2 80 2,520 201,600 Flashers/Gates 18 Custer Avenue 1 1 9,045 9,045 Flashers/Gates (Spur) UPRR Crossing # Location Tracks Daily Trains Estimated ADT Exposure Rating Current Xing Protection 1 Husker Hwy 2 80 3,870 309,600 Flashers/Gates 2 Engleman Rd 2 80 1,100 88,000 Flashers/Gates 3 NorthRd/Stolley Pk 2 80 940 75,200 Flashers/Gates 4 Highway 281 2 80 18,555 N/A Hwy Overpass 5 Webb Road 3 80 5,700 456,000 Flashers/Gates 6 Custer Ave/Blaine St 2 80 9,045 723,600 Flashers/Gates 7 Highway 30 2 80 15,500 N/A Hwy Overpass 8 Broadwell Ave 2 80 10,015 801,200 Flashers/Gates 9 Lincoln Ave 4 80 600 48,000 Flashers/Gates 10 Eddy St 4 80 11,220 N/A Street Underpass 11 Elm St 5 80 2,300 184,000 Flashers/Gates 12 Walnut St 7 80 3,880 310,400 Flashers/Gates 13 Pine St 6 80 5,000 400,000 Flashers/Gates 14 Sycamore St 6 80 8,200 N/A Street Underpass 15 Oak St 3 80 1,600 128,000 Flashers/Gates 16 Shady Bend Rd 3 80 2,280 182,400 Flashers/Gates 17 Capital Ave 2 80 2,520 201,600 Flashers/Gates 18 Custer Avenue 1 1 9,045 9,045 Flashers/Gates (Spur) Project Approach UPRR Grade Separations: • Potential New Grade Separations – Exposure Ratings > 50,000 7 Project Approach •Consider UPRR Track Relocation – Identify Critical Features (Parks, Drainage Ways, Airport, Power Plant, Stuhr Museum) – Develop Alternative Routes (No-Build, North, and South) – Prepare Order of Magnitude Cost Estimate – Identify Impacts of Each Alternative – Identify Benefits of Each Alternative Project Approach •Alternative Grade Separations – City Aerial Base Maps – Hospitals, Police, Fire, Schools, Traffic Generators – Develop Alternative Roadway Networks (2 Closures/Grade Separation) – Model Traffic Volumes (CBB) 8 Project Approach •Grade Separation Screening – Benefits • Reduced Delay • Improved Safety-Less Railroad/Vehicle Conflicts • Arterial Continuity/Connectivity • Emergency Vehicle Access • School Traffic • Quiet Zones (Length) Project Approach •Grade Separation Screening – Impacts • Consolidated traffic on main corridors • Reduced Traffic on Business Corridors • Environmental (Parks, Historic, Floodplains, Etc.) • Right-of-Way Acquisitions/Relocations Quiet ZoneEvaluation Quiet ZoneEvaluation•Diagnostic Team Review– Existing Controls – Condition Appraisal– Vehicular and Train Data– Need to upgrade Crossing Protection•Long Range Improvements−Crossing Closures−Grade Separations•Interim Improvements−Existing Protection−Supplemental Safety Measures 10 Key Design Issues •Conceptual Evaluations – Roadway Concepts – Preliminary Structure Dimensions – Cost Estimate •Railroad Coordination – Clearance Requirements – Access Roads – Future Plans •Constructability – Traffic Accommodation – Railroad Accommodation Public Involvement Goals: - Build Community Support Objectives: - Engage the General Public - Inform Key Stakeholders - Listen to Relevant Ideas and Concerns - Educate Public about Issues 11 Public Involvement •Positive public involvement process: –City, and KM define scope and roles –Identify key stakeholders –Focus Groups –Public Information Meetings •Public Kick-off Meeting –Date: May 12th –Location: Walnut Middle School Public Involvement •Tools for Engaging the Public: - Website –www.GIRRStudy.info - Newsletters/Fliers - Meetings – documentation - Effective Graphics Schedule SummaryGrand Island’s Railroad Corridor Safety Study is an exciting and challenging opportunity for Grand Island. We look forward to working with the City Council, Staff, officials and members of the community on this important project.