REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Agreement with the California Department of Transportation Division of Rails and Mass Transportation and Related Budget Amendment
Report
BACKGROUND
In 2014, City staff submitted a request for safety improvements under the Section 130 Railroad-Highway Crossings Program. The request was made for railroad crossing improvements located at Agnew Road and the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) tracks. The Section 130 program was created by the United States Congress in 1987 to provide federal funds for the elimination of hazards to vehicles and pedestrians at existing public railway-roadway crossings to improve safety and reduce accidents. The Section 130 program is funded by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), is administered in California by the California Department of Transportation Division of Rail and Mass Transportation (Caltrans), and uses federal Surface Transportation Program (STP) monies. Under the State's administration of the Section 130 program and the California Public Utilities Code, the California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) is responsible for determining the scope of work needed to eliminate vehicular and pedestrian hazards at all public railway-highway crossings.
The City received the final recommendations in July 2017 from the CPUC which include work to be performed by both the City and UPRR. The City's scope of work generally includes reconstruction and installation of concrete sidewalks, tactile warning strips at the sidewalks crossing the railroad tracks, pedestrian curb ramps, traffic striping and adjustment of existing utilities in City right-of-way and railroad right-of-way. The UPRR's scope of work generally includes replacement of railroad crossing warning devices (flashing light assemblies and automatic gate arms) and concrete panel surfacing at the railroad tracks.
DISCUSSION
The City was notified by Caltrans in December 2017 that funding in the amount of $573,750 has been obligated ...
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