6.9.A. SR 05-16-2005 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Item# 6.9.A. MEMORANDUM TO: Mayor and City Council Michele MCPherso~ctor of Planning FROM: DATE: May 16, 2005 SUBJECT: Discuss Railroad Quiet Zones MetroPlains, the developer for the Downtown Revitalization Project, requested in July 2004 that the City investigate establishing quiet zones within the downtown area in order to better market their projects. In September 2004, staff presented information to the City Council indicating that quiet zones could cost from $75,000-$300,000 per intersection, depending upon the type of supplemental safety measure (SSM) to be installed for each intersection. The SSM prevents vehicles and pedestrians from crossing the tracks while the gates are down, thereby eliminating the need to sound the whisdes. The expense to establish the quiet zone is borne solely by the City with no assistance from the Federal government or Burlington Northern Sante Fe. In December 2004, the City Council directed staff to further investigate the establishment of quiet zones at Main Street, Jackson and Proctor Avenues and Meadowvale Road. Staff utilized the Federal Railroad Authority (FRA) quiet zone calculator to attempt to identify the measures that would be required and their possible estimated cost. However, there are significant site constraints at each intersection which lead staff to question the cost estimates noted in the quiet zone calculator. Specifically, the proximity of Highway 10 to the railroad tracks, as well as local impacts such as the creation of limited access points. In all likelihood some type of median system would be required; this median system would adversely impact the Railroad Drive access points on the north side of the railroad tracks. Planning Department Mission: the orderly development of a livable and sustainable Elk River community.