HomeMy WebLinkAbout1995-013-02/07/1995-AGREEMENT BURLINGTON NORTHERN RAILROAD COLORADO DEPT TRANSPORTATION DOWNTOWN NORTH COLLEGE AVENUE PH RESOLUTION 95-13
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO AN
AGREEMENT FOR THE CONSTRUCTION OF PHASE I OF THE
DOWNTOWN RAILROAD TRACK CONSOLIDATION PROJECT
WHEREAS, since 1989, the City has been working cooperatively with the Union Pacific
Railroad("Union Pacific") and the Burlington Northern Railroad ("Burlington") and the Colorado
Department of Transportation ("CDOT"), to formulate and fund the downtown railroad track
consolidation project(the "Project"), which Project is more particularly described on Exhibit "A",
attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference; and
WHEREAS, the Project has been divided into three phases; and
WHEREAS,the first phase of the Project will include: the consolidation of the Burlington
and the Union Pacific tracks onto the Burlington tracks from a point located directly east of Lemay
Avenue,to a point located directly north of Mulberry_ Street("Colorado Highway 14");_ the removal
of the Union Pacific track between Lemay Avenue and Mulberry Street; the removal of the Union
Pacific crossings at both Lemay Avenue and Mulberry Street; and the installation of new railroad
signals,with gates and concrete railroad crossing material, at the remaining Burlington crossings at
both Lemay Avenue and Mulberry Street; and
WHEREAS, an agreement has been negotiated among the City, Burlington, Union Pacific
and CDOT for the purpose of accomplishing Phase I of the Project,which phase is estimated to cost
approximately $694,000, with the City's share thereof constituting $57,000; and
WHEREAS, the City's share of the cost of Phase I of the Project has been budgeted and
approved by the Council pursuant to Ordinance No. 35, 1992; and
WHEREAS,the City's staff and other participants have developed the Project in coordination
with numerous affected associations, interests, stakeholders, business and citizens; and
WHEREAS,the Council has determined that the Project in general, and Phase I in particular,
clearly and substantially benefit the health, safety and welfare of the citizens of the City,are essential
to the implementation of the Downtown Plan and the Poudre River Trust Plan, and will help
revitalize North College Avenue; and
WHEREAS, Article III, Section 16 of the City Charter provides that the Council may enter
into Agreements with other governmental bodies for the performance of cooperative or joint
activities.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS that the Mayor be, and hereby is, authorized to enter an Agreement among the City, the
Colorado Department of Transportation, the Burlington Northern Railroad and the Union Pacific
Railroad, for the construction of Phase I of the Downtown Track Consolidation Project, as more
particularly described on Exhibit "A," attached hereto and incorporated herein by this reference, for
a total cost of$694,000, with the City's share constituting $57,000.
Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the Council of the City of Fort Collins held this
7th day of February, A.D. 1995.
a orIT -
ATTEST:
k City Clerk
EXHIBIT A
PROJECT SCOPE
The proposed track consolidation project will construct ajoint use BN/IJP track from Lemay Avenue
to just east of College Avenue along Riverside Avenue. A new connecting track will be installed east
of College Avenue to tie the BNRR mainline in to the new consolidated track. This will eliminate the
need for the BNRR to cross College 8 times to exchange cars and 4 times to go to Greeley. A new
exchange track will be constructed between Lemay Avenue and Prospect Road which will eliminate
the exchange of freight cars in the downtown and the delays on Mulberry Street. Flashing signals
with gates will be installed at Linden, Lincoln, Mulberry, and Lemay on the consolidated track and
on Willow at the crossing on the new connection track. Fourteen railroad crossings and miles of
excess track will be removed, which will provide for a much smoother ride for our motorists and open
up land for redevelopment.
PROJECT PHASING -
PHASE I The scope of Phase I is to consolidate the BNRR and UPRR on to the
BNRR's track from just east of Lemay Avenue to just north of Mulberry
Street(IHghway 14). The UPRR track will be removed between Lemay and
Mulberry and the UPRR crossing will be removed from both Lemay and
Mulberry. New railroad signals with gates and concrete railroad crossing
material will be installed on the remaining BNRR crossing at both Lemay and
Mulberry. This will improve safety and ride quality across the railroad
crossing for motorists on Mulberry.
PHASE H The scope of Phase 11 is to construct the new connection track east of College
Avenue between the BNRR mainline and the UPRR branch line which will
become the joint use track east of that point. Crossing signals with gates and
concrete railroad crossing material will be installed at the new crossing on
Willow Street. The BNRR branch line crossing on College Avenue and
Cherry street will be removed and the UPRR crossing on College Avenue and
Cherry Street will be upgraded with new track and crossing material. This
will greatly reduce the traffic delays caused by the trains on College Avenue
and will improve the ride across the railroad crossings for motorists.
PHASE III The scope of Phase III is to construct the new exchange tracks east of Lemay
Avenue and remove the existing exchange tracks and switch yard tracks in the
downtown area east of College Avenue between Willow and Jefferson Streets.
The joint use track will be constructed from west of Linden Street to just
north of Mulberry Street and the UPRR track along Riverside Avenue
between Lincoln and Mulberry will be removed. Crossing signals with gates
and concrete railroad crossing material will be installed on the joint use track
on Linden Street and Lincoln Avenue. The removal of all but the joint use
track between Willow and Jefferson will allow for the area to be redeveloped,
and will eliminate the noise and traffic congestion caused by the switching of
railroad cars.