Fremont City Council Meeting: 09/19/23 07:00 PM
3300 Capitol Avenue Div/Dept: Public Works
Fremont, CA 94538 Category: Agreements and Contracts
SCHEDULED
Sponsors:
COUNCIL STAFF REPORT (ID # 4986) DOC ID: 4986
Updated: 9/13/2023 1:04 PM by Susan Gauthier Page 1
CENTERVILLE RAILROAD CORRIDOR SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS - Approval of Reimbursement Agreement for Preliminary Engineering with Union Pacific Railroad in the Amount of $245,000 for the Centerville Railroad Corridor Safety Improvement Project (PWC9071); Appropriation Actions; and Make Findings of CEQA Exemption
Contact Persons:
Name: Jeanne Suyeishi Hans Larsen
Title: Senior Civil Engineer Public Works Director
Div/Dept: Public Works Public Works
Phone: 510-494-4728 510-494-4722
E-Mail: [email protected] [email protected]
Executive Summary: The purpose of this report is to facilitate the continued development of a project to implement safety improvements at the railroad crossings along the corridor in the Centerville area of Fremont and to facilitate funding actions to support timely completion of design for the Centerville Railroad Corridor Safety Improvement Project. The intent of the safety improvements is to support the establishment of a railroad quiet zone. A reimbursement agreement has been prepared with the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) for preliminary engineering design within railroad property.
BACKGROUND: Federal transportation safety policy requires the sounding of train horns in advance of public grade crossings. Horn blasts have a volume of level in the range of 96 to 110 decibels. In 2006, the Federal Highway Administration established the Use of Locomotive Horns at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings Final Rule (Quiet Zone). Local communities can enact a quiet zone if certain safety measures are provided, such as median islands at railroad crossings or 4-quadrant gates. When a traffic signal is located near a railroad crossing, special communication systems are required to coordinate the train detection system, the crossing gates, and the traffic signal to ensure that traffic is not backed up at the signal and across the tracks when the train is approaching.
At its December 21, 2021, meeting, City Council authorized staff to begin the process to establish a quiet zone corridor for the Centerville Railroad Corridor Safety Improvement Project consisting of crossings at Fremont Boulevard, Maple Avenue, Dusterberry Way, Blacow Road, Shinn Street and Clarke Drive, in accordance with the requirements of 49 CFR Parts 222 and 229 - Use of Locomotive Horns at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings. City Council also authorized City Manager to issue the Notice of Intent and Notice of Quiet Zone Establishment as required in the quiet zone establishment process.
DISCUSSION/ANALYSIS: In May 2022, staff executed a task order with RailPros, Inc. the on-call quiet zone consultant, for preliminary concept design and coordination for the Centerville Railroad Corridor Safety Improvement project. The general scope of work included data collection, site investigation, traffic engineering studies at selected locations, concept design development, stakeholder coordination, and facilitation of the diagnostic meeting. RailPros prepared updated concept/preliminary crossing layouts detailing the diagnostic team’s proposed improvement recommendations at each location that include Council Staff Report (ID # 4986) Meeting of September 19, 2023 Updated: 9/13/2023 1:04 PM by Susan Gauthier Page 2
general safety enhancements as well as other improvements to establish the quiet zone corridor.
On May 10, 2023, staff held a diagnostic meeting for this project with stakeholders from California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), UPRR, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) and Caltrans. The purpose of a diagnostic meeting is for the project stakeholders to review each at-grade crossing and agree on improvements needed before establishing a quiet zone. The facilitation of the diagnostic meeting completed the preliminary concept phase of this project.
To continue with the next phase of the project, RailPros, Inc. has prepared a scope of work and fee for preliminary engineering work in the amount of $237,000. The key components of this phase of work includes 30% Design Plans, Continued Stakeholder Coordination, Draft FRA Grade Crossing Inventory Updates, Draft Quiet Zone Calculations and Draft Quiet Zone Notice of Intent (NOI).
To support the review of project plans, attend coordination meetings and prepare railroad signal and track improvements, Union Pacific Railroad has prepared a Reimbursement Agreement in the amount of $245,000 for this project.
Preparation of the 30% Design Plans and cost estimates for the Centerville Railroad Quiet Zone Project will enable the City to then apply for grant funding to support the final design and construction of the project. The project has been identified as a regional priority in the Alameda County Transportation Plan.
FISCAL IMPACT: Additional funding is needed to continue with the preliminary engineering phase of this project. Staff is requesting additional funding appropriations in the amount of $400,000 to address the funding needs for the UPRR Reimbursement Agreement, RailPros, Inc. task order for preliminary engineering and staff support costs.
Staff recommends reallocating $280,000 of Fund 515-ACTC Measure BB Local Streets Fund from the Regional Projects Funding Match (PWC9041), and $120,000 of Fund 531-Traffic Impact Fee from the Measure BB Project City Staff Participation Project (PWC8933).
With the recommended reallocation of funds to the project, there will be sufficient funds available for the estimated project cost.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW: Approval and implementation of these actions constitute administrative and fiscal activities, which is not a project that has the potential for causing a significant effect on the environment, and therefore, is exempt from review under the California Environmental Quality Act pursuant to CEQA Guidelines Sections 15061(b)(3) and 15378(b)). Each of the foregoing provides a separate and independent basis for exemption.
Appropriate environmental review will be conducted as part of the project environmental clearance process.
ATTACHMENTS: None.
WEBLINK:
https://www.fremont.gov/government/departments/public-works/public-works-projects
Council Staff Report (ID # 4986) Meeting of September 19, 2023 Updated: 9/13/2023 1:04 PM by Susan Gauthier Page 3
RECOMMENDATION: Approve the following actions related to the Centerville Railroad Corridor Safety Improvements (PWC9071):
1. Find the action is exempt from environmental review, as a separate and independent basis for CEQA compliance, under CEQA Guidelines, Section 15378 (administrative a nd funding activity not a “project” under CEQA) and Section 15061 (no possibility the activity may have significant effect on the environment).
2. Authorize City Manager or designee to execute a Reimbursement Agreement with UPRR in an amount not to exceed $245,000 for preliminary engineering support.
3. Reallocate $280,000 from PWC9041-515 to PWC9071-515.
4. Reallocate $120,000 from PWC8933-531 to PWC9071-531.