City Council Meeting Date: August 3, 2026
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: David E. Bennett Public Works Director/City Engineer
Sean M. Simonson, Engineering Manager
Subject:
TITLE
Consider Resolution Approving MnDOT Railroad Crossing Signal Agreement for the Railroad Crossing Gate Improvements at Second Street, Third Street and St. Olaf Avenue.
BODY
Action Requested:
Consider Resolution Approving MnDOT Railroad Crossing Signal Agreement for the Railroad Crossing Gate Improvements at Second Street, Third Street and St. Olaf Avenue.
Summary Report:
The Railway-Highway Crossings Section 130 Program funds the elimination of hazards at railway-highway crossings. It has been correlated with a significant decrease in fatalities at railway-highway grade crossings. Since the Program's inception in 1987 through 2014, for which most recent data is available, fatalities at these crossings have decreased by 57 percent. The overall reductions in fatalities come despite an increase in the vehicle miles traveled on roadways and an increase in the passenger and freight traffic on the railways.
Projects are solicited annually by local road authorities, railroads and MnDOT districts in three project categories: closures/consolidations, antiquated equipment and grade crossing control.
The City of Northfield has partnered with MnDOT and has received funding to replace the signals along the Union Pacific Railroad Company crossings at Second Street, Third Street, and St. Olaf Avenue. This program requires a 10% match for the project, which will be split evenly between Union Pacific and the City of Northfield. See the Financial tables below for the estimated cost breakdown.
Quiet Zone Background (Attachment 3)
The Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) issued a new Quiet Zone Rule in June of 2025 that established nationwide standards for sounding train horns at public highway-rail grade crossings while creating a legal process for local communities to establish quiet zones. The City of Northfield completed a Quiet Zone Assessment in June of 2006 evaluating public at grade crossings along the rail corridor to safely silence routine train horns.
The City of Northfield has been incrementally adding Quiet Zone Measures along the identified corridor starting back in 2019 at Third Street. Additional quiet zone measures have now been completed on St. Olaf Avenue and Second Street, along with planned improvements at Fremouw Avenue in 2027 working towards the establishment of the Quiet Zone. The final crossing on TH 19 (Fifth Street) is scheduled to be completed with the TH 19 Reconstruction scheduled for 2028. Once these improvements are complete, the City of Northfield will pursue the submission of a Quiet Zone Application with the FRA. The quiet zone is anticipated to be instituted in 2029.
Alternative Options:
None, staff is recommending approval of the agreement.
Financial Impacts:
Tentative Timelines:
Construction will occur in 2027.