DEPARTMENT: Transportation & Capital Improvements
DEPARTMENT HEAD: Mike Frisbie, P.E.
COUNCIL DISTRICTS IMPACTED: Council Districts 2 & 5
SUBJECT:
Reimbursement Agreements with Union Pacific Railroad Company
SUMMARY:
Consideration of the following items related to reimbursement agreements with Union Pacific Railroad Company:
A. An ordinance authorizing the execution of a reimbursement agreement with Union Pacific Railroad Company (UPRR) to pay to the City fifty percent of the cost, or $21,945.00, for the City's construction and installation of two roadway clearance height curtains on S. St. Mary’s Street between Jacobs Street and W. Whittier Street near the UPRR bridge located at UPRR’s Milepost 210.98 (DOT#1 764297T) in Council District 5.
B. An ordinance authorizing the execution of a reimbursement agreement with Union Pacific Railroad Company (UPRR) to pay to the City fifty percent of the cost, or $5,906.00, for the City's installation of railroad crossing pavement marking refreshments on E. Commerce Street, Harriman Place, Pendleton Avenue and S. Brazos Street, located in Council Districts 2 and 5.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
A. Clearance Height Curtains
Between 2015 and 2017, UPRR has recorded 22 oversized vehicle strikes to the above grade UPRR railroad bridge at S. St. Mary’s Street between Lotus Avenue and Mission Road. Vehicle strikes can result in vehicle and railroad bridge damage, delays in or derailment of railroad traffic, and personal injury or fatality.
The following four roadway advanced warning devices exist on the southbound and northbound approach to the UPRR railroad bridge on S. St. Mary’s Street:
1. Low-clearance warning with detour signage
2. Low-clearance warning signage with flashing beacon
3. Low-clearance warning signage
4. Low-clearance warning signage on bridge
In September 2016, Transportation & Capital Improvements (TCI) designed plans for two roadway clearance height curtains for installation; one on the southbound approach and one on the northbound approach to the UPRR railroad bridge. These devices will be in addition to the existing traffic warning devices.
A roadway clearance height curtain consists of a traffic signal mast and arm with alternating red and white-colored PVC reflective sheeting hanging on cables from the arm which creates a curtain effect. The curtain will create a visible barrier alerting the driver to the upcoming low-clearance bridge. In addition, if the breakaway curtain is struck by a vehicle taller than the bridge clearance, the audible sound and impact will be heard and felt with minimal vehicle damage to alert the driver to stop before proceeding to strike the bridge.
B. Railroad Crossing Pavement Marking Refreshments
A second safety improvement of pavement marking refreshments were identified by UPRR and then warranted by TCI in February 2017. These roadway pavement marking refreshments are needed to maintain safe conditions for all users of the roadway and railroad crossing.
|
Location |
Cross Streets |
Safety Improvement(s) |
Council District |
|
E. Commerce St. |
Hoefgen Ave. & N. Cherry St. |
• Refresh railroad crossing stop line pavement markings • Refresh eastbound and westbound roadway lane lines and railroad crossing legend pavement markings |
2 |
|
Harriman Pl. |
I-90 & S. Zarzamora St. |
• Refresh northbound roadway and railroad crossing pavement markings |
5 |
|
Pendleton Ave. |
S. Brazos St. & Frio City Rd. |
• Refresh eastbound and westbound railroad crossing stop line pavement markings • Refresh eastbound median line pavement markings |
5 |
|
S. Brazos St. |
Frio City Rd. & Pendleton Ave. |
• Refresh railroad crossing stop line pavement markings • Refresh eastbound and westbound roadway lane lines |
5 |
ISSUE:
A. This ordinance authorizes the execution of a reimbursement agreement with Union Pacific Railroad Company (UPRR) to pay to the City fifty percent of the cost, or $21,945.00 for the City's construction and installation of two roadway clearance height curtains on S. St. Mary’s Street between Jacobs Street and W. Whittier Street near the UPRR bridge located at UPRR’s Milepost 210.98 (DOT#1 764297T) in Council District 5.
Construction and installation of the S. St. Mary’s Street two roadway clearance height curtains will be executed by TCI staff. Project work will begin in December 2017 with completion in March 2018. Once these traffic warning devices are installed, reductions in bridge strikes are anticipated to prevent injury, fatality and railroad derailment. In addition, this installation is intended to decrease vehicle and railroad bridge damage, as well as roadway and railroad delays.
B. An ordinance authorizing the execution of a reimbursement agreement with Union Pacific Railroad Company (UPRR) to pay to the City fifty percent of the cost, or $5,906.00 for the City's installation of railroad crossing pavement marking refreshments on E. Commerce Street, Harriman Place, Pendleton Avenue and S. Brazos Street, located in Council Districts 2 and 5.
The pavement marking refreshments at the four locations noted in the table below will be executed by TCI staff and FY 2017 IMP Pavement Marking Contractor. Project work will begin in December 2017 with completion in March 2018.
|
Location |
DOT #1 |
Cost Estimate |
Council District |
|
E. Commerce St. |
764377L |
$2,684.64 |
2 |
|
Harriman Pl. |
432572U |
$1,711.16 |
5 |
|
Pendleton Ave. |
432566R |
$2,888.16 |
5 |
|
S. Brazos St. |
432560A |
$4,528.04 |
5 |
|
|
|
|
|
Total Costs |
$11,812.00 |
|
|
50% reimbursement by UPRR |
$5,906.00 |
|
|
50% paid by COSA |
$5,906.00 |
|
ALTERNATIVES:
City Council could choose not to enter into the two reimbursement agreements with UPRR. However, the City would lose a financial partner in providing pedestrian, vehicular and railroad safety improvements and any future installations would be 100% funded by the City.
FISCAL IMPACT:
A. This one-time City expenditure of a 50% cost share for the S. St. Mary’s Street two roadway clearance height curtains in the amount of $21,945.00 is available from the Roosevelt Avenue (I-10 to South St. Mary’s Street) Project, a 2017-2022 General Obligation Bond Program funded project, and is included in the 2018-2023 Capital Improvement Program Budget.
B. This one-time City expenditure of a 50% cost share for the railroad crossing pavement marking refreshments in the amount of $5,906.00 is available the FY 2018 General Fund.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends approval of this ordinance authorizing the execution of a two reimbursement agreements with Union Pacific Railroad Company to pay to the City 50% of the cost, or $21,945.00 and $5,906.00, for the City's construction and installation of two roadway clearance height curtains and railroad crossing pavement marking refreshments.
1Department of Transportation identification number for railroad crossing