REPORT TO THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: SCOTT L. MOZIER, PE, Director
Public Works Department
BY: Randall W. Morrison, PE, Assistant Director
Public Works Department, Engineering Division
JESUS AVITIA, PE, Deputy City Engineer
Public Works Department, Engineering, Transportation Project Management
SUBJECT
Title
Approve a Preliminary Engineering Services Agreement, with BNSF Railway Company in the amount of $104,900 for the Quiet Zone Phase 3 Project (Council Districts 1 and 7)
Body
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends the City Council approve a Preliminary Engineering Services Agreement, with BNSF Railway Company in the amount of $104,900 for the Quiet Zone Phase 3 Project and authorize the Public Works Director or designee to execute the agreement and future amendments on behalf of the City of Fresno.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
The Quiet Zone Phase 3 Project will close the existing gap between North Fresno and Downtown Fresno by modifying and installing the required Supplementary Safety Measures required by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to approve the proposed Quiet Zone between the Shields Avenue crossing and the Blackstone Avenue crossing. The project will analyze and design the improvements required at the five at-grade railroad crossings (Shields, Maroa, Clinton, McKinley, Blackstone), and will be coordinated with the Blackstone Avenue and McKinley Avenue BNSF Grade Separation Project and with the Shields Avenue Section 130 Safety Improvements Project. The proposed Preliminary Engineering Services Agreement (PEA) with BNSF in the amount of $104,900 will facilitate the design and construction support services necessary to complete the project. The roadway safety improvements in the project are funded with SB1 Road Maintenance and Rehabilitation Account (RMRA) funding.
BACKGROUND
The City has two existing Quiet Zones, with a gap between Shields Avenue and Blackstone Avenue. The Quiet Zone Phase 3 Project will close the existing Quiet Zone gap by installing the Supplementary Safety Measures required to meet the requirements of a Quiet Zone request from the FRA. The elimination of the train horn will create a true Quiet Zone for the adjacent neighborhoods, Fresno City College, and businesses along the BNSF corridor. As part of the project, the City and BSNF have partnered on a corridor safety study to determine pedestrian/vehicle train interactions and position both parties to pursue grant funding for supplemental safety improvements to support the Quiet Zones across the City.
The City Attorney’s Office has reviewed and approved the agreement as to form.
ENVIRONMENTAL FINDINGS
Pursuant to California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) Guidelines Section 15378, this item is not a project for the purposes of CEQA.
LOCAL PREFERENCE
Local preference is not applicable to this agreement.
FISCAL IMPACT
This request will have no impact to the General Fund. All project costs for this agreement will be paid for using SB1 RMRA funding. The funds necessary for the agreement are included in the current fiscal year budget as previously adopted by the Council.
Attachments:
Preliminary Engineering Services Agreement
Vicinity Map