SUBJECT: Ordinance approving and authorizing an agreement between the City of Houston (City) and Union Pacific Railroad Company (Railroad) for the construction of two new Public Highway At – Grade Crossings over Northpark Drive westbound access and Northpark Drive eastbound access.
RECOMMENDATION: Adopt an ordinance approving and authorizing a Public Highway At – Grade Crossing Agreement between the City of Houston (City) and Union Pacific Railroad Company (Railroad) for the construction of two new Public Highway At – Grade Crossings over Northpark Drive westbound access and Northpark Drive eastbound access, and appropriate funds.
PROJECT NOTICE/JUSTIFICATION: The Railroad, in support of this project and in cooperation with the request by the City, will install at-grade crossing protection devices, highway traffic control signals, and the necessary relays and other materials required to interconnect and coordinate the operation of the railroad grade crossing protection devices with the operation of the highway traffic control signals.
LOCATION: The project area is generally bound by East Knox Drive on the north, Kingwood Drive on the south, Woodland Hills Drive on the east, and Interstate Highway 59 on the west.
SCOPE OF THE AGREEMENT AND FEE: Under the proposed agreement the City of Houston will be responsible for all direct project costs incurred by the Railroad Pursuant to the project ILA authorized by Council under Ordinance 2019-0200, Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority is obligated to reimburse the City for all costs and expenses incurred by HPW related to the Northpark Drive project, including costs invoiced by UPRR and paid by the City under the proposed railroad crossing agreement.
In addition to the at-grade crossings, the Railroad will grant to the City the right to construct, maintain, and repair the roadway over and across the at-grade crossing area.
The City will pay the Railroad for all direct costs related to the At-Grade Crossings of $2,221,949.00. Lake Houston Redevelopment Authority will reimburse the City for this cost.
The total requested amount of $2,221,949.00 includes the cost of the Right of Entry Fee of $53,000.00, and $2,168,949.00 as payment to the Railroad for construction cost of the project.
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Carol Ellinger Haddock, P.E., Director
Houston Public Works
WBS No(s).: N-321040-0108-7