DATE: 11/19/2025
TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Public Works Department
2025-439
REQUEST FOR CITY COUNCIL ACTION
SUBJECT:
SECOND AMENDMENT TO THE AGREEMENT WITH RAILPROS FIELD SERVICES, INC., FOR THE MCKINLEY STREET GRADE SEPARATION PROJECT
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY:
This staff report asks the City Council to consider the approval of a Second Amendment with Railpros Field Services Inc. (RailPros) to increase the contract by an additional $300,000 to provide necessary flagging services.
RECOMMENDED ACTION:
That the City Council:
a. Approve the Second Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Railpros Field Services Inc., to increase the total compensation by $300,000 to provide necessary flagging services.
b. Authorize the City Manager, or his designee, to execute the Second Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement with Railpros Field Services, Inc., including any non-substantive extensions, change orders, purchase orders and amendments up to the amount authorized by Corona Municipal Code Section
3.08.070 (G), which is the equivalent of $90,000, and issue a change order for $300,000 with Railpros Field Services, Inc.
BACKGROUND & HISTORY:
On May 19, 2021, the City Council approved a Railroad Construction and Maintenance Agreement (“C&M Agreement”) between the City and Burlington Northern and Santa Fe Railway Company (“BNSF Railway Company”) for the McKinley Grade Separation Project (Project). The C&M Agreement was fully executed between both parties on June 24, 2021, in compliance with the City Council’s May 19, 2021, authorization for execution. In the C&M Agreement, the estimated cost for flagging was over $900,000.
On August 17, 2022, representatives from BNSF Railway Corporation notified the City that, due to a general shortage of personnel responsible for covering flagging throughout the entire Southwest United States, BNSF Railway Corporation would no longer provide staffing or coordination services for railroad flagging. This policy took effect on August 1, 2022, and only BNSF Railway Corporation-authorized consultants are permitted to provide flagging services on behalf of BNSF Railway Corporation. RailPros is the only authorized consultant to provide these services. Therefore, the City entered into a separate agreement with Railpros on September 7, 2022, for required flagging services.
Originally anticipating an accelerated schedule, the contract was only for $300,000. On November 20, 2024, the City Council approved a Second Amendment to increase the contract by an additional $300,000 for railroad flagging services.
ANALYSIS:
At the final stages of the project, the estimated amount of flagging services was more than anticipated due to the additional work required for the contractor to complete the project. Therefore, staff is requesting an additional $300,000 to the contract to cover the cost of services already provided and any unforeseen work required to complete the project, for a total contract amount of $900,000. This amount was included in the original estimate of the C&M Contract with BNSF, which was also part of the project budget. The McKinley Grade Separation Project is substantially complete and fully open to traffic, with minor punch list items still ongoing until the end of the year.
FINANCIAL IMPACT:
Funding for the recommended actions is available in the McKinley Street Grade Separation Capital Improvement Project No. ST-2012-01 within various funding sources.
ENVIRONMENTAL ANALYSIS:
Per Public Resources Code Section 21080.13, all railroad grade separation projects that eliminate an existing at grade crossing is exempt from the laws for the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA). As a grade separation project, this Project is statutorily exempt under the California Environmental Quality Act. The recommended actions involve the approval of professional services agreements. Therefore, no environmental analysis is required at this time.
PREPARED BY: KEVIN HANNA, ASSOCIATE ENGINEER
REVIEWED BY: SAVAT KHAMPHOU, PUBLIC WORKS DIRECTOR
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Exhibit 1 – Second Amendment to the Professional Services Agreement