SUBJECT:
Agreement with Union Pacific Railroad Company for services associated with the Hughes railroad crossing improvement to establish the East End I and III Quiet Zones.
RECOMMENDATION:
An ordinance approving and authorizing the agreement with Union Pacific Railroad Company for improvements to the Hughes railroad crossing and appropriate additional funds.
PREVIOUS HISTORY:
On December 21, 2011, by Ordinance #2011-1210, City Council appropriated $1,680,000.00 for services by the Union Pacific Railroad Company (UPRR) in order to establish the East End I and East End III quiet zones. Of this amount, $1,575,000.00 was appropriated for contract services associated with railroad crossing improvements. The scope of the UPRR services include new installations or upgrades of constant warning timing circuitry at the 8 railroad crossings within the East End I and III quiet zone limits. The improvement is necessary to comply with the Federal Railroad Administration quiet zone establishment requirements.
SPECIFIC EXPLANATION:
In the past 6 years, upgrades were completed for 4 of the 8 railroad crossings at no cost to the City. The upgrade at the Milby railroad crossing was included and paid for as part of a larger UPRR project. The upgrades at the Lockwood, Dumble, and Altic railroad crossings were completed as part of roadway improvement projects by the Texas Department of Transportation. The following four railroad crossings, all located in District I, still require upgrades.
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Location
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UPRR Cost Estimate
|
|
Navigation
Canal
Harrisburg
Hughes
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$496,067.00
$610,606.00
$632,443.00
$493,431.00
|
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Total
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$2,232,547.00
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The total cost to establish the East End I and III Quiet Zones is $2,232,547.00. The original appropriation was $1,680,000.00 (Fund 4506 - Street & Bridge Consolidated Construction). The candidate location is Hughes railroad crossing. The total improvement cost for this crossing is $493,431.00.
Therefore, it is recommended that City Council approve the agreement with the UPRR to upgrade the Hughes railroad crossing and appropriate additional funds.
LOCATION:
The UPRR crossing at Hughes Street. All work will be completed within the UPRR right-of-way.
__________________________________
Carol Ellinger Haddock, PE
Director
Houston Public Works
WBS No. N-000817-0004-4