Consideration and Approval of Contract:  Lone Tree Overpass Project - Approval of Agreement between the City of Flagstaff and BNSF Railway for relocation of a fiber optic communications conduit bank in an amount not to exceed $699,127.00.
 

1. Approve the BNSF fiber optic relocation agreement in an amount not to exceed $699,127.00; and 
2. Authorize the City Manager to execute the necessary documents.

The Lone Tree Overpass Project ("Overpass" or "Project") includes approximately 9,000 linear feet of track reconstruction from San Francisco Street to Ponderosa Parkway. There is an existing fiber optic conduit bank on the south side of the track corridor that is in conflict with the vertical and horizontal relocation of the rail. This agreement will provide project funding to BNSF Railway to relocate this conduit to the north side of the tracks and out of the construction zone for the project.

The Lone Tree Overpass Project is currently budgeted in FY26 in the amount of $26,482,865 in the Transportation Fund (Prop 420), Account Number 047-10-112-3054-6. 

On February 2, 2021, the City Council awarded the Design-Build to Ames Construction.
On September 7, 2021, the First Amendment to the Contract was approved.
On March 1, 2022, the Second Amendment to the Contract was approved.
On February 21, 2023, the Third Amendment, GMP 1, was approved. 
On September 3, 2024, the Fourth Amendment, GMP 2 was approved. 
 

1. Approve the Agreement with BNSF Railway as presented; or, 
2. Reject the Agreement and direct staff to re-negotiate the terms and conditions with BNSF Railway.  

The Lone Tree Overpass has been a planned project for over two decades in the Flagstaff community. The Lone Tree Overpass Study, which evaluated conceptual design options for the bridge and adjacent surface streets was completed in 2010. The goal of the Project is to provide better connectivity for the City's transportation network and provide a grade-separated crossing over the BNSF Railway corridor and the future Rio de Flag channel, which increases safety and convenience for vehicular and multi-modal commuters. 

The Overpass project also coordinates with the future planned improvements of the Lone Tree Corridor reconstruction, which was studied in a report completed in 2006. The Lone Tree Corridor and Overpass serves to connect the southern area of town with the Route 66 corridor and provides an option that reduces congestion on other roadway corridors, including Milton Road.  The two projects were integrated in design and construction to provide and cohesive and coordinated improvement north and south of the Butler Avenue Intersection along Lone Tree Road.

In November 2018, the voters were asked to approve a ballot measure to fund the Overpass (Proposition 420) and a separate ballot measure to fund the Corridor Improvements (Proposition 419). Both propositions passed.

In the fall of 2020, Ames Construction was selected by a six-member evaluation committee as the most qualified service provider for the Project pursuant to the evaluation and ranking process per A.R.S. sec. 34-603.

On February 2, 2021, Council awarded the Design-Build Contract with Ames Construction, on September 7, 2021, the First Amendment was approved, and on March 1, 2022, the Second Amendment was approved. These initial contracts included scope for preliminary roadway/bridge/intersection/rail design, agency coordination, right-of way acquisition and relocation, utility/drainage design and coordination, Economic Impact Study, public involvement, surveying, environmental clearances, and geotechnical analysis. The Third Amendment provided for an early construction work package that includes cost for demolition of existing buildings, railway shoring design, and contingencies for subsurface utility investigation, aesthetics and public art design, environmental clean up. The Fourth Amendment provided a contract for the construction of the Butler Avenue and Lone Tree corridor portion of the work which began in February 2025.  

This agreement with BNSF will  fund the fiber optic relocation so the overpass portion of the project can proceed. 

Livable Community - 
Provide amenities and activities that support a healthy lifestyle.
Achieve a well-maintained community through comprehensive and equitable code compliance and development.

Environmental Stewardship - 
Strengthen Flagstaff’s resilience to climate change impacts on built, natural, economic, health, and social systems
Implement and enhance sustainable building practices, waste diversion programs, alternative energy programs, and multimodal transportation options

Goal T.I. Improve mobility and access throughout the region.

• Policy T.1.1. Integrate a balanced, multimodal, regional transportation system.
• Policy T.1.2. Apply Complete Street Guidelines to accommodate all appropriate
• modes of travel in transportation improvement projects.
• Policy T.1.3. Transportation systems are consistent with the place type and needs
• of people.
• Policy T.1.4. Provide a continuous transportation system with convenient transfer
• from one mode to another.
• Policy T.1.5. Manage the operation and interaction of all modal systems for efficiency, effectiveness, safety, and to best mitigate traffic congestion.
• Policy T.1.6. Provide and promote strategies that increase alternate modes of
• travel and demand for vehicular travel to reduce peak period traffic.
• Policy T.1.7. Coordinate transportation and other public infrastructure investments efficiently to achieve land use and economic goals.
• Policy T.1.8. Plan for development to provide on-site, publicly-owned transportation improvements and provide adequate parking.

Decreased Dependence on Cars - DD-1 - Create inclusive networks for walking and biking that are continuous, attractive, safe, comprehensive, and convenient for people of all ages.

• Fund and implement the Active Transportation Master Plan.
• Fully fund bike and pedestrian infrastructure capital improvements to create complete and comfortable bike and pedestrian networks, safe routes to school improvements, and a complete and comfortable system of pedestrian crossings and sidewalks.
• Convert appropriate streets to multi-modal and complete streets through road diets or creating multi-modal lanes. When right-of-way is limited, redistribute the available space to accommodate more users and better reflect climate priorities.
• Create an integrated system of protected lands, the Flagstaff Urban Trail System, and trail corridors that support mode shift, public health, and affordable living.

None

None