9.G.
City Council Meeting - FINAL
- Meeting Date:
- 02/06/2024
- From:
- Christine Cameron, Project Manager III
Information
TITLE:
Consideration and Approval of BNSF Railway Preliminary Engineering Agreement: Downtown Mile Safety and Connectivity Project, Rio de Flag Flood Control Project, and Lone Tree Overpass Project Document Review.
STAFF RECOMMENDED ACTION:
- Approve the Preliminary Engineering Agreement (Agreement) with BNSF Railway (BNSF) in the amount of $415,011.51; and
- Authorize the City Manager to execute the necessary documents.
Executive Summary:
- The Downtown Mile Safety and Connectivity Project (Downtown Mile), Lone Tree Overpass Project (Lone Tree), and Rio de Flag Flood Control Project (Rio de Flag) will require vertical and horizontal realignment of the rail corridor in order to construct the proposed bridge structures, flood way conveyance, and crossing improvements.
- The recommended approval of the Agreement with BNSF will authorize reimbursement for BNSF's contracted engineering services to review the project construction documents pertaining to impacts of the rail corridor through the project area.
Financial Impact:
The Agreement will be funded by the following projects and accounts as authorized in the FY2023-24 budget:
| Project | Cost | Account | FY 24 budget |
| Downtown Mile | $243,495.57 | 409-09-427-3520-1 | $4,152,413.00 |
| Rio de Flag | $135,708.97 | SW Reserve for Future Improvements | $14,474,607.00 |
| Lone Tree Overpass | $35,806.97 | 047-10-112-3054-6 | $27,392,159.00 |
Policy Impact:
No Impact.
Connection to PBB Priorities/Objectives, Carbon Neutrality Plan & Regional Plan:
Priority Based Budget Key Community Priorities and Objectives
- Deliver outstanding services to residents through a healthy, well maintained infrastructure system.
- Encourage vibrancy, appropriate density, and attainability in existing neighborhoods, so that more residents live within walking distance of their daily needs.
- Create inclusive networks for walking and biking that are continuous, attractive, safe, comprehensive, and convenient for people of all ages.
- Improve mobility and access throughout the region.
- Improve transportation safety and efficiency for all modes.
- Promote transportation infrastructure and services that enhance the quality of life of the communities within the region.
- Increase the availability and use of pedestrian infrastructure, including FUTS, as a critical element of a safe and livable community.
Has There Been Previous Council Decision on This:
Yes, City Council has approved many agreements, ordinances/resolutions, and contracts pertaining to the Rio de Flag Project and Lone Tree Project over the previous 20 years.
City Council approved the engineering design contract for the Downtown Mile Project on October 18, 2022.
City Council approved the engineering design contract for the Downtown Mile Project on October 18, 2022.
Options and Alternatives:
1. Approve the Agreement as recommended. Approval will allow project coordination with BNSF to proceed; or
2. Reject the approval and provide additional direction to staff. This option would delay project design completion.
2. Reject the approval and provide additional direction to staff. This option would delay project design completion.
Background and History:
The Rio de Flag Project, Lone Tree Project, and the Downtown Mile Project have been long-term planning and design efforts for the Flagstaff community. The goal of these projects is to provide flood mitigation to central Flagstaff and connectivity and safety for the City's multimodal and vehicular transportation network.
All projects have components that cross underneath, above, and at surface grade of the BNSF corridor. The Downtown Mile is currently at 50% design and the Rio de Flag and Lone Tree are nearing full design completion. Both of these projects are required to be reviewed and approved by BNSF. This Agreement will provide funding for their engineering consultant review.
All projects have components that cross underneath, above, and at surface grade of the BNSF corridor. The Downtown Mile is currently at 50% design and the Rio de Flag and Lone Tree are nearing full design completion. Both of these projects are required to be reviewed and approved by BNSF. This Agreement will provide funding for their engineering consultant review.
Key Considerations:
Project design will include two pedestrian underpasses, a flood way conveyance, two at-grade crossing reconstructions, a grade separated overpass and BNSF utility relocation. BNSF requires the City to cover their consultant's review fees for our projects.
Community Benefits and Considerations:
The Agreement will be funded by the following projects and accounts as authorized in the FY24 budget:
| Project | Cost | Account | FY 24 budget |
| Downtown Mile | $243,495.57 | 409-09-427-3520-1 | $4,152,413.00 |
| Rio de Flag | $135,708.97 | SW Reserve for Future Improvements | $14,474,607.00 |
| Lone Tree Overpass | $35,806.97 | 047-10-112-3054-6 | $27,392,159.00 |
Community Involvement:
These projects provide many benefits to the community, including flood mitigation through the Historic Downtown and Southside neighborhoods, new multimodal pedestrian undercrossings of the rail corridor, surface transportation improvements, and safety improvements at Beaver Street and San Francisco Streets rail crossings.
Expanded Options and Alternatives:
There has been extensive public coordination with the development of the Rio de Flag Flood Control Project and the Lone Tree Overpass over the last 20 years.
The Flagstaff community has been engaged over time for most of the project components included in the Downtown Mile, including public meetings and La Plaza Vieja Neighborhood Specific Plan adoption of the Florence-Walnut Pedestrian Underpass, the Rio de Flag Flood Control Project and Pedestrian Underpass, and the ADOT Corridor Master Plan for Milton Road. The previously awarded engineering design contract with WSP includes public involvement and full NEPA development, which entails community and stakeholder coordination, cultural and biological resource investigations, State Historic Preservation Office consultation and project concurrence requirements, hazardous material clearances, and established public comment periods on the overall document scope and findings.
The first project public meeting for the Downtown Mile was held on June 14, 2023.
The Flagstaff community has been engaged over time for most of the project components included in the Downtown Mile, including public meetings and La Plaza Vieja Neighborhood Specific Plan adoption of the Florence-Walnut Pedestrian Underpass, the Rio de Flag Flood Control Project and Pedestrian Underpass, and the ADOT Corridor Master Plan for Milton Road. The previously awarded engineering design contract with WSP includes public involvement and full NEPA development, which entails community and stakeholder coordination, cultural and biological resource investigations, State Historic Preservation Office consultation and project concurrence requirements, hazardous material clearances, and established public comment periods on the overall document scope and findings.
The first project public meeting for the Downtown Mile was held on June 14, 2023.