Agenda - Council - 06/14/2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

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REO D iV A¥ 2005 May 23, 2005 Mr. Steve Jankowski City oF Ramsey 15153 Nowthen Boulevard Ramsey, Minnesota 55303 TKDA' ENGINEERS · ARCHITECTS - PLANNERS 1500 Piper Jaffray Plaza 444 Cedar Street Saint Paul, MN 55101-2440 (651) 292-4400 (651) 292-0083 Fax www.tkda.com Re~ 2005 Maintenance Corridor Through Anoka County Staples Subdivision BNSF Railway Company TKDA Commission No. 12428-05 Dear Mr. Jankowski: Per our phone conversation on May 20, 2005, I am sending you this letter to further describe the proposed work to be done by BNSF Railway (BNSF) maintenance crews on the City of Ramsey's crossing that is currently on the Preliminary Maintenance List for 2005. This crossing is located at 153rd Avenue Northwest (DOT# 086382L), in the City of Ramsey. BNSF identifies maintenance corridors on a yearly basis. The Railroad identifies these corridors based on maintenance that is required on their tracks. Because BNSF forces have identified spccilic areas within your community that require maintenance, they have realized that this creates an opportunity for communities to take advantage of having a railroad maintenance gang already mobilized in the community. When a community agrees to cost-participate with the Railroad in order to upgrade existing surfaces that fall along the maintenance corridor, the Railroad is able to access separate funding outside of their maintenance budget. Because these Funds are not included in their budget, they cannot guarantee upgrades without' cost-participation because the appropriated maintenance funds may be expended prior tothe upgrading of railroad crossings within the corridor. Sometimes, the required maintenance is with the track structure below the crossing su3face. In this case, BNSF removes the existing surface, performs the required structural maintenance, and then re-installs the existing surface. One way for communities to be guaranteed that their surt'aces be upgraded to concrete is to cost-participate with BNSF while they are doing the maintenance work. The asphalting, striping, and traffic control are all covered under the scope of work in the agreement, and therefore is not a separate issue in the agreement. For the crossing in the City of Ramsey, the Railroad is strictly asking for a monetary contribution. Sometimes, BNSF asks the community for assistance with traffic control (i.e., providing barricades, setting up a detour route), but the community is not required to provide this service under the agreement. Some communities prefer to be involved in that matte~:, but it is an issue verbally agreed upon by the community and the BNSF Roadmaster (who is Ron Radika for your area) shortly before the work is to begin. An Employee Owned Company Promoting Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity