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<br />Monthly staff meetings with BNSF Engineering and Operations staff, TKDA, the <br />BNSF design consultant, and Kimley-Horn have been initiated. The first meeting <br />was held at BNSF on September 29. Additional interim meetings have been <br />scheduled to review utility locations on BNSF right of way and to begin work on a <br />construction phasing plan. <br /> <br />Consultants are proceeding with the design of the Inter-modal Station. This <br />includes the LRT Platform and the Core Building. The Core Building houses the <br />elevator, stairway, escalators, equipment rooms, operator break room, <br />mechanical/electrical rooms, etc. <br /> <br />The LRT design consultants are working toward a 60% design package. This <br />entails careful coordination with the overhead catenary system designers, traffic <br />signal engineers, architects, electric and communication systems engineers, civil, <br />and track engineers. In addition, there is also strong cooperation between the <br />L TK team designing the LRT platform and Core Building and the KHA team <br />designing the commuter rail platform at the Inter-modal Station. <br /> <br />An initial Fire Life Safety Committee (FLSC) meeting was held October 14. <br />These meetings will be held monthly with the next meeting scheduled for October <br />20. Metro Transit staff, Mn/DOT staff, city and county representatives, and police <br />and fire organizations along the alignment attend these meetings. A sub- <br />committee was established to develop an emergency response plan for the <br />BNSF agreements. <br /> <br />Work began on the technical specifications for the coaches and cab cars. The <br />specifications are being generated around a standard multi-level coach. A draft <br />performance specification is circulating for staff review and comment. <br /> <br />Work has begun on the technical specifications for the procurement of diesel <br />locomotives. Five Locomotive remanufacturers presented information regarding <br />their company history, products and pricing to NPO and Metro Transit staff on <br />September 19 and 20. Findings were presented to the NCDA Board on October <br />6. <br /> <br />IX. BNSF Negotiations <br /> <br />On September 16, 2005, the Northstar negotiating team met with BNSF <br />representatives in Chicago to discuss the central issues of risk, liability, <br />indemnification and insurance. Northstar representatives included Cliff Greene, <br />lead negotiator, Phil Walljasper, Met Council Risk Manager and Mary Richardson, <br />NPO Deputy Director of Legal and Intergovernmental Affairs. BNSF <br />representatives included Rick Weicher, BNSF lead negotiator and three attorneys <br />from the commercial, real estate and liability/claims management departments. <br /> <br />The focus of the discussion was BNSF's expectations regarding the allocation of <br />risk, claims management, insurance requirements and the indemnification <br />clauses typically required in commuter rail agreements. In addition, the group <br />discussed issues relating to ADA, signal design and the environmental process. <br /> <br />Monthly Report <br />October 2005 <br /> <br />-15- <br />