08-22-2012 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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1SSO ITIS Ant HAAtA Memo TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Lee Elfering, City Engineer DATE: August 16, 2012 RE: Waterworks Trail Railroad Crossing Background The City has received notification that we were again unsuccessful in obtaining a DNR Local Trail Connection grant to assist in the construction of the Waterworks Trail extension and BNSF railroad crossing south of the Frattalone property off Spruce Street. The estimated project cost of the crossing and associated trail work is approximately $162,000 and if successful the grant could have covered up to 75% of the project costs. This was the second attempt to receive funding assistance for the project and while additional attempts could be made it is likely that future attempts would also be unsuccessful unless the amount of funding available is increased or competition for the funds decreases. Based on discussions with the DNR neither of those are likely in the near future. There are several issues to consider in regards to the construction of the trail. Two major factors impacting the project and the timing of construction are the BNSF crossing permit and the need for clean fill material for the project. The original BNSF crossing permit required construction of the crossing to be completed by March 16, 2012 and the City obtained a one year extension of the construction period to March 16, 2013 to allow for the second grant application period. An additional time extension could be applied for at the cost of $600, but it would likely only be for one additional year. The other factor to consider is the fill material necessary for the crossing's construction. The current cost estimate assumes approximately 1,100 cubic yards of borrow material would be necessary to be imported to the site for the project. However, if the borrow material can be obtained from excess material on another project some cost savings could be realized. In anticipation of the trail crossing project this year the City informed Metro Transit during the initial design phase of the Park and Ride facility that if excess clean fill had to be removed from the site that we would like to provide our trail crossing site as a fill site for some of the material, The Contractor has begun work on the Park and Ride site and we have again inquired with Metro Transit on the opportunity for the fill material, At this time we have not been informed if any clean fill material will be available for use on the trail crossing project. If material is available from the Park and Ride site it will likely need to be moved in the next few weeks, 10062 Flanders Court NE — Blaine, MN 55449 — Ph: (763) 780 -0450 Fax (763) 780 -0452 Memo - 081.612- (Trail Crossing update)