SUBJECT: A Public Highway At-Grade Crossing Agreement between the City of Houston and Houston Belt and Terminal Railway Company for Market Street Paving and Drainage Improvements from McCarty Road to the North Wayside Drive. WBS No. N-000797-0001-7
RECOMMENDATION: Adopt an ordinance approving and authorizing a Public Highway At-Grade Crossing Agreement between the City of Houston and Houston Belt and Terminal Railway Company and appropriate funds.
PROJECT NOTICE/JUSTIFICATION: The Railroad Crossing agreement is needed to facilitate the construction of the Market Street Project. The Market Street Paving and Drainage Improvements project (“the Project”) is part of the Street & Traffic Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and is necessary to meet City of Houston standards, improve traffic mobility and provide direct connectivity across railroad tracks. Project is set to begin construction in the summer of 2017.
DESCRIPTION: Under this agreement, the Railroad will install concrete crossing panels and all rail ties and ballast to support such crossing panel installation (the “Surface Improvements”) and will replace the existing railroad warning devices with new railroad warning devices, which includes the installation of flashing light crossing signals with gates and cantilevers within the Crossing Area (the “Signal Improvement”) and together with the Surface Improvements (collectively, the “Railroad Facilities”). The Railroad’s initial installation of the Surface Improvements shall be at the Railroad’s sole cost and expense, and the Railroad’s installation of the Signal Improvements shall be at the Political Body’s (City of Houston) sole cost and expense.
LOCATION: The project area is generally bound by IH -10 on the north, Clinton on the south, McCarty on the east and North Wayside on the west. The project is located in Key Map Grids 495E and F.
SCOPE OF THE AGREEMENT AND FEE: The agreement between the City of Houston and Houston Belt and Terminal Railway Company grants the Railroad an easement over, under and across a portion of the Crossing Area. In exchange, the Houston Belt and Terminal Railway Company agrees to perform and abide by the terms of the Public Highway At-Grade Crossing Agreement, and grants the City of Houston the right to construct, reconstruct, maintain, repair and use the Roadway located over and across a portion of the Crossing Area.
The total requested amount of $1,253,709.00 is to be appropriated as follows: $1,071,546.00 for cost of the project and $182,163.00 for CIP Cost Recovery.
ESTIMATED FISCAL OPERATING IMPACT:
No significant Fiscal Operating Impact is anticipated as a result of this project.
ACTION RECOMMENDED: It is recommended that City Council adopt an ordinance approving and authorizing a Public Highway At-Grade Crossing Agreement between the City of Houston and Houston Belt and Terminal Railway Company and appropriate funds.
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Karun Sreerama, MBA, PhD, PE
Director
Department of Public Works and Engineering
WBS No. N-000797-0001-7