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STAFF REPORT <br />DATE: November 19, 2024 <br /> CONSENT <br /> <br />AGENDA ITEM: Approve Union Pacific Railroad Public Highway At-Grade Crossing <br />Agreement for the Village Parkway UPRR Crossing Improvements. <br /> <br />SUBMITTED BY: Jack Griffin, City Engineer <br />REVIEWED BY: Nicole Miller, City Administrator <br /> Sarah Sonsalla, City Attorney <br /> Clarissa Hadler, Finance Director <br /> Marty Powers, Public Works Director <br /> Chad Isakson, Assistant City Engineer <br /> <br /> <br />ISSUE BEFORE COUNCIL: Should the City Council approve the Union Pacific Railroad Public <br />Highway At-Grade Crossing Agreement for the Village Parkway UPRR Crossing Improvements? <br /> <br />BACKGROUND: The City of Lake Elmo is seeking to permit, design and construct a new at-grade railroad <br />crossing over the Union Pacific Railroad to complete the connection for Village Parkway from 30th Street <br />North to CSAH 14. Village Parkway has been planned and designed as part of the Old Village planning <br />efforts to serve as a neighborhood collector roadway for the new development along the east side of the <br />Old Village and to provide vehicle and pedestrian connectivity to the Village center. Design standards were <br />developed and approved by the City council in January 2014 and developers were required to incorporate <br />segments of the roadway into varies phases of their subdivision. As part of the developer discussions the <br />at-grade railroad crossing itself would be completed as a City improvement project and developers agreed <br />to provide financial contributions to the crossing on a per REC basis. These contributions have been <br />addressed through the applicable development agreements. <br /> <br />In 2019, the City Council authorized design phase services to be completed by SEH, Inc. to initiate the <br />public at-grade railroad crossing improvements. The project plans and UPRR permits are substantially <br />completed and the City has been waiting to schedule project bids and construction until all UPRR Project <br />Agreements have been received and approved by the City. <br /> <br />PROPOSAL DETAILS/ANALYSIS: Attached to this agenda report is the Union Pacific Railroad Public <br />Highway At-Grade Crossing Agreement in its final form. The agreement must be approved and signed by <br />the City before UPRR will order materials and schedule construction crews for their portion of <br />improvements to be completed by the railroad crews and contractors. The Agreement has been reviewed <br />by the City Attorney. Major provisions of the Agreement are as follows: <br /> <br />1. The City must pay a one-time fee of $41,924 for easement rights for the City to construct, maintain <br />and repair the Roadway over and across the Crossing Area. <br />2. The City is responsible for all Project Costs for the roadway and trunk watermain improvements <br />outlined in the plans and specifications prepared by SEH, Inc. <br />3. The Railroad must perform all track crossing and signal arm installation work at City cost. The <br />City must pay all associated invoices within 30 days of receipt. Estimated Project Costs to be <br />performed by Railroad is $534,293, including $334,245 for the Crossing Signal work, and $200,048 <br />for the Track Surface Improvements. <br />4. The City must retain Railroad approved contractors and pay all costs associated with Flaggers and <br />track monitoring during all construction activities.