City Council Memorandum
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL DATE: AUGUST 19, 2025 FROM: PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT WARD: 3
SUBJECT: BROCKTON AVENUE TO PALM AVENUE RAILROAD QUIET ZONE – PUBLIC HIGHWAY AT-GRADE CROSSING AGREEMENTS WITH UNION PACIFIC RAILROAD COMPANY IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,013,126 FOR BROCKTON AVENUE AND $713,179 FOR PALM AVENUE RAIL CROSSINGS IMPROVEMENTS RELATED TO THE ESTABLISHMENT OF RAILROAD QUIET ZONES ISSUES:
Approval of a Public Highway At-Grade Crossing Agreement with Union Pacific Railroad Company for Brockton Avenue rail crossing improvements in the amount of $2,013,126; and for Palm Avenue rail crossing improvements in the amount of $713,179.
RECOMMENDATIONS:
That the City Council:
Approve the Public Highway At-Grade Crossing Agreement with Union Pacific Railroad Company for Brockton Avenue rail crossing improvements in the amount of $2,013,126; Approve the Public Highway At-Grade Crossing Agreement with Union Pacific Railroad Company for Palm Avenue rail crossing improvements in the amount of $713,179; and Authorize the City Manager, or designee, to execute the Public Highway At-Grade Crossing Agreements with Union Pacific Railroad Company including making minor and non-substantive changes.
BACKGROUND:
On April 10, 2018, the City Council received a report on the Concept Design Approval and Project Authorization for the proposed Quiet Zone along the Union Pacific Railroad Corridor at Palm Avenue and Brockton Avenue rail crossings. Following discussion, the City Council approved the concept design for the Palm Avenue/Union Pacific rail crossing; approved the concept design Alternative 1 for the Brockton Avenue/Union Pacific rail crossing; and directed the Public Works Department to complete the project design and file a Notice of Intent to create a new quiet zone at the Palm Avenue to Brockton Avenue rail crossings.
DISCUSSION:
The Brockton Avenue to Palm Avenue Railroad Quiet Zone Project (Attachment 1), when completed, will establish a railroad Quite Zone and result in the elimination of the routine sounding of the train horns at these railroad crossings.
With the permanent closure of Mountain View Avenue rail crossing in 2009 and the completion of several railroad grade separations since then (Jurupa, Magnolia, Riverside, and Streeter Avenues) as well as the completion of the Quiet Zones at Panorama Road (2024) and Cridge Street (anticipated October 2025) rail crossings, the completion of this Project will result in the creation of a Quiet Zone corridor stretching from western City limits to Downtown Riverside Metrolink Station complementing the existing Quiet Zone corridor from Buchanan Street to Cridge Street.
The Public Works Department has negotiated the attached agreements (Attachments 2 and 3) with Union Pacific Railroad (UP) for the construction of the crossing improvements needed to establish a Quiet Zone at Brockton Avenue and Palm Avenue rail crossings. The agreements outline each party’s obligations during and after the construction of the improvements.
Brockton Avenue
Under the terms of the agreement:
UP, at the City’s sole cost and expense, will furnish all labor, materials, tools and equipment to remove the existing vehicular warning devices (two gate mechanisms and overhead flashers) and install eight new vehicular gate mechanisms (four entrance gates and four exit gates), and four new pedestrian gate mechanisms; UP, at the City’s sole cost and expense, will remove and replace the existing concrete crossing surfaces for the two tracks crossing Brockton Avenue; and City, at its sole cost and expense, shall construct all street improvements consisting of the reconstruction of concrete curbs, gutters, sidewalks, and driveways; installation of fencing and handrailing; installation of tactile tiles; repaving of the road for approximately 60-feet on either side of the crossing; and traffic signing and striping.
The installation of the new vehicular and pedestrian warning devices and the removal and replacement of the track crossing surfaces by UP are estimated to cost $1,975,876. The cost for the permanent street easement (1,379 square-feet) needed to construct the street improvements is $37,250. Additionally, upon the installation of the improvements by UP, the City shall pay UP the sum of $38,399 per annum, payable annually in advance, for the City’s share of the annual maintenance cost of the additional active warning devices installed by UP. The annual maintenance cost may also be re-determined by UP at any time after the expiration of five (5) years following the date on which the annual maintenance cost was last determined or established.
Palm Avenue
Under the terms of the agreement:
UP, at the City’s sole cost and expense, will furnish all labor, materials, tools and equipment to remove the existing vehicular warning devices (two gate mechanisms) and install four new vehicular warning devices (two entrance gates and two exit gates); UP, at the City’s sole cost and expense, will install a new crossing flasher with sidelights at the northwest corner of Palm Avenue and Dewey Avenue; and City, at its sole cost and expense, shall construct all street improvements consisting of narrowing Palm Avenue from Dewey Avenue to Gardena Drive in order for the roadway section to match the Palm Avenue roadway section south of Dewey Avenue; construction of concrete curbs, gutters, sidewalks, and driveways; installation of fencing and handrailing; installation of tactile tiles; repaving of the road from Dewey Avenue to Gardena Drive; and traffic signing and striping.
The installation of the new warning devices by UP are estimated to cost $713,179. Additionally, upon the installation of the improvements by UP, the City shall pay UP the sum of $17,252 per annum, payable annually in advance, for the City’s share of the annual maintenance cost of the additional active warning devices installed by UP. The annual maintenance cost may also be re-determined by UP at any time after the expiration of five (5) years following the date on which the annual maintenance cost was last determined or established.
Construction of the Project is expected to start in early 2026, and last approximately three months. Upon completion of the project, a Notice of Quiet Zone Establishment (NOQZE) will be filed by the City. The Quiet Zone can be established no earlier than 21 days after the date on which the NOQZE is mailed.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The total fiscal impact of this action is $2,726,305. Sufficient funds are available in the Gas Tax Fund, UP Quiet Zone-Brockton & Palm project account number 9872127-440223 and the Measure A Fund, UP Quiet Zone-Brockton and Palm project account 9872130-440313 to execute the railroad agreements.
Prepared by: Farshid Mohammadi, Engineering Manager
Approved by: Gilbert Hernandez, Public Works Director
Certified as to
availability of funds: Kristie Thomas, Finance Director/Assistant Chief Financial Officer Approved by: Kris Martinez, Assistant City Manager
Approved as to form: Rebecca McKee-Reimbold, Interim City Attorney Attachments:
Location Map
Brockton Avenue Agreement
Palm Avenue Agreement
Brockton Avenue to Palm Avenue Railroad Quiet Zone ● Page 2