City Council Meeting Date: June 2, 2020
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: Sean Simonson, Engineering Manager
Dave Bennett, Public Works Director/City Engineer
Title
Approve Surface Agreement with United Pacific Railroad for the Third Street Railroad Crossing Improvements.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council is being asked to pass a Motion approving the Surface Agreement (Attachment 1) with United Pacific Railroad for the Third Street Railroad Crossing Improvements.
Summary Report:
As part of the 2019 Street Reclamation Project Feasibility Report, it was proposed to upgrade the pedestrian crossings at the Third Street railroad crossing located at the east end of the project. Canadian Pacific Railway owns this crossing but the track is leased by Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR). At the time of feasibility and project award, the intention was to add additional precast crossing material at each pedestrian crossing, as was done with the Second Street project a few years previous, to comply with the ADA requirement. This work was estimated at the time of feasibility to be between $30,000 - $40,000. As staff progressed with the proposed work, and after numerous meetings and correspondence with UPRR, the railroad is requiring a full crossing replacement, including the road crossing material, in order to update the pedestrian crossing. This work is estimated to be $135,905.00.
As part of the project already approved, the City of Northfield will be installing medians and ADA improvements on either side of the Third Street railroad crossing.
Alternative Options:
The City Council could choose not to approve the Surface Agreement with UPRR; however, an ADA pedestrian crossing at the railroad would not be completed as originally proposed.
Financial Impacts:
The estimated project costs included in the agreement are $135,905.00. The final costs will be adjusted after the actual work is completed, and final quantities are known from UPRR. The Project, at the time of Award, had a Construction Contingency of $357,285.00. There has been one minor change order executed which was a deduction of ($6,857.00) for some lighting/electrical adjustments, and there is a minor Change Order in process for a $3,180.00 increase for additional lighting /electrical changes. Therefore, staff believes we have enough fund in the project budget to cover this proposed work.
Tentative Timelines:
Construction is scheduled to occur during the 2020 Construction Season.