09-12-2012 Council Agenda - Laserfiche WebLink

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TASSO(I.AT S TAU6 NAATA Memo TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Lee Elfering, City Engineer DATE: September 6, 2012 RE: Waterworks Trail Railroad Crossing Project Update The City Council approved moving forward with the Waterworks Trail Railroad Crossing project at a maximum cost of $162,000 and we have started the process with that direction. A bulk of the work will be competitively bid and we anticipate receiving bids in late September for that work, however some parts of the project are proposed to be completed by other Contractors to save on project costs and other portions are required to be undertaken by Minnesota Commercial Railway. Due to the maximum expenditure limitation we felt it was important to keep the Council informed of the progress and to outline more specifically where the project costs are going and when. We have been able to coordinate receiving free fill material from the excess material generated from the Met Transit Park and Ride site. However, to provide the fill material for free the Contractor has indicated that it would need to be brought to our site while they are performing the grading work on the Met Transit site. The grading work is currently underway and expected to last into the week of September 10th. While the Contractor will provide the material for free they have asked to be compensated on a time and material basis for placement of the material. It is possible that the material could be stockpiled, but it is more efficient to have it placed as the Contractor is delivering it. Therefore we have asked the Contractor for placement pricing. We would estimate a project cost savings of approximately $10,000.00 if the fill is obtained for free. The crossing permit the City received from BNSF requires that Minnesota Commercial Railway crews install the actual concrete crossing at the railroad tracks. At the time of the permit application Minnesota Commercial Railway estimated their work at approximately $6,100.00. We have contacted Minnesota Commercial to coordinate the crossing installation and they have indicated that the first step to install the concrete crossing is to install new longer railroad ties at the crossing location. They currently have the equipment necessary for the tie replacement working on the tracks under I -35E and have indicated due to the proximity of the equipment they want to complete the work now. We have marked the crossing location for this work to be done, which is likely late this week or early the week of September 10th. The remainder of the crossing work would be done at a later date, but should be done prior to the City trail installation to ensure a smooth match at the crossing. 10062 Flanders Court NE — Blaine, MN 55449 — Ph: (763) 780 -0450 Fax (763) 780-0452 Memo - 090612- (Trail Crossing Progress Update)