Agenda - Public Works Committee - 08/20/2024

Home

5. 3. Public Works Committee Meeting Date: 08/20/2024 Primary Strategic Plan Initiative: Not Applicable Title: Approve Quote to Pave Alpine Drive Approaches to BNSF Railway Crossing Purpose/Background: Purpose: Consider consensus approval of quote from North Valley, Inc. in the amount of$10,473.62 to pave the Alpine Drive approaches to the BNSF Railway Crossing. Background: From June 7th through 9th, 2023,Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad(BNSF)repaired their at-grade railway crossing on Alpine Drive. During this work they closed the Alpine Drive rail crossing to traffic. Attached is the traffic control plan showing the signage that was installed to mark the detour route along Jarvis Street, 164th Lane, and Andrie Street. On July 10, 2023, staff received a concern regarding the poor paving job completed on the approaches to Alpine Drive. The City Engineer drove the site and confirmed that the work was substandard,particularly on the northbound lane,then called the BNSF Roadmaster and left a voicemail message expressing the City's displeasure with the paving job. On September 11, 2023, following numerous attempts to contact BNSF,the City was contacted by BNSF to discuss options for repaving the approaches to the railway crossing to provide a smoother crossing for drivers. Based on discussions BNSF said they would check on a few things and get back to City staff. On November 6,2023,BNSF responded by email with two options. One was for the City to pay half the costs for repairing the other side of the rail crossing,which BNSF estimated would cost the City$40,000,primarily because it costs BNSF $18,000 each time they close tracks to make repairs. The second option was for the City to re-pave the approaches to provide longer transitions. Due to the time of year,neither option could be acted upon in 2023. In the Spring of 2024, staff reached out to BNSF again to start discussions on how the City should proceed to complete the pavement repairs. After additional dialogue, staff began working with the local BNSF flagger working on the Ransey Gateway project and was informed they could work with staff to provide flagging services but only during a limited window. Staff therefore obtained a quote from North Valley, Inc. and organized a day project to mill and overlay Alpine Drive on August 21st from 8:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.,which requires North Valley to provide flagmen to direct vehicle traffic, and BNSF to provide a flagger for trains. BNSF is able to provide a flagger without charge on this day because it is within the jurisdiction of the Ramsey Gateway project and they have enough flagmen on site. Staff is unable to request City Council approval before August 21 st so instead Staff is requesting consensus approval form the Public Works Committee. If the Committee does not provide consensus approval, Staff will work to reschedule the project. However, this would likely delay the project for a minimum of several weeks, and it would likely result in increased project costs due to the need to pay BNSF for their flagger. Notification: