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Home My WebLink About15.B.3. Rail Safety Committee's Recommendations for the City of Shakopee 1s-.t3,3 , CITY OF SHAKOPEE Memorandum TO: Mayor & City Council Mark McNeill, City Administrator FROM: Bruce Loney, Public Works Director SUBJECT: Consider Accepting the Rail Safety Committee's Recommendations For The City of Shako pee DATE: March 1,2004 INTRODUCTION: Attached to this memo are the City of Shakopee's Rail Safety Committee's recommendations, as prepared by Julie Carr of Mn/DOT and also attached are additions and deletions from Matt Lehman, City Council member, on the committee. The purpose of this agenda item is for City Council to consider the recommendations for acceptance and provide some direction on possible implementation. BACKGROUND: At its October 7, 2003 City Council meeting, City Council did agree to participate in a Comprehensive Plan to improve safety at railroad crossings in the City of Shakopee. Matt Lehman and Terry Joos were appointed to be on the committee at the November 18, 2003 City Council meeting. Attached to this memo IS the City of Shakopee's Rail Safety Committee's recommendation after the Rail Safety Committee met on December 8, 2003 and January 12,2004. The committee members included Matt Lehman, Terry Joos and Bruce Loney with the City of Shakopee; Gary Wilwerding of Union Pacific Railroad; and Joshua Collins and Julie Carr from Mn/DOT. The main concern of the Rail Safety Committee was to review the ten railroad crossings within a twelve-block stretch in downtown Shakopee. Five of these crossings do not have any active warning devices, such as signals or gates. The recommendation from the committee has long term and short term recommendations. The 10m! term recommendations include: 1. Installing active warning devices at all public crossings in the downtown Shakopee area. --- ------ - --- --- --- ---- -------- ---- ----.- ----- ----------- -- -- - ---------- ---._-- -----.- --- warning devices, this would leave Apgar Street, Scott Street and Atwood Street with no active warning devices. The next potential time for railroad safety funding would be in 2008. Some of the short term recommendations can be done with Council approval such as the signalization of Sommerville and Spencer Street railroad crossings, the installation of stop signs at the Atwood Street crossing and increase education by way of the cable excess channel. If Council wishes to consider the closure of Apgar Street, this would involve directing staff to begin the process and including a public hearing. ALTERNATIVES: 1. Approve a motion accepting the City of Shakopee's Rail Safety Committee's recommendation, as compiled by MnlDOT. 2. Approve a motion accepting the City of Shakopee's Rail Safety Committee's recommendation, and as modified by Matt Lehman, City Council member. 3. Approve a motion accepting the City of Shakopee's Rail Safety Committee's recommendation, and as modified by City Council. 4. Provide direction to staff on the short term recommendations, as provided by the Rail Safety Committee. 5. Do not provide direction to staff on the short term recommendations. 6. Table for additional information. RECOMMENDATION: 1. Staff would recommend Alternative No. 3 and No.4, approving a motion accepting the City of Shakopee's Rail Safety Committee's recommendations, and as modified by City Council. 2. Provide direction to staff on the short term recommendations, that are ultimately accepted by the City Council. ACTION REQUESTED: 1. Staff would recommend Alternative No. 3 and No.4, approving a motion accepting the City of Shakopee's Rail Safety Committee's recommendations, and as modified by City Council. 2. Provide direction to staff on the short term recommendations, that are ultimately accepted by the City Council. ~n~ Public Works Director BUpmp ENGRlEMPLOYEEFOLDERlP ATPENNINGTON/COUNCIURRSAfETY City of Shakopee Rail Safety Committee Recommendations Back2round The City of Shako pee has federal funding available to them for two railroad crossing signals in 2005. Mn/DOT Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations (OFCVO) representatives presented information about the available funding to the Shakopee City Council. It was pointed out that the city currently has five railroad crossings that currently are not protected with active warning devices (flashing light signals). City Council approved active city participation in a comprehensive review of the downtown railroad crossings at the October 7,2003 council meeting. The Rail Safety Committee was formed to review the appropriate use of the 2005 funding. The Rail Safety Committee has since met twice: December 8, 2003 and January 12, 2004. Committee Members Matt Lehman, Terry Joos, Bruce Loney; City of Shako pee Gary Wilwerding; Union Pacific Railroad Joshua Collins, Julie Carr; MnlDOT Discussion A general review of background information such as selection process, funding information, sight distances, and city development was discussed. From that all options were put on the table from closing every crossing to signalizing every crossing. The committee then deliberated on each of the options. Safety and feasibility were the most commonly debated issues. Secondarily, funding options for all options were discuss. Safety Issues The city of Shakopee has 10 railroad at-grade crossings within a 12-block stretch in downtown. Each crossing presents a safety hazard and even more-so when it isn't protected by an active warning device such as flashing lights. Recommendations The committee's goal was to optimize safety within our funding and timing constraints. The safest crossing is the closed crossing but that does away with any of the city's traffic demands, which also have to be considered. The committee developed both long- and short-term recommendations balancing traffic demands and safety measures. Long-term recommendations: -Install active warning devices at all public railroad crossings in the downtown Shakopee area -Consider a study that evaluates traffic flows, future development, and potential railroad crossing closures coinciding with potential rail safety funding in 2008. Short-term recommendations: -Signalization (flashing light signals) of Sommerville and Spencer Street railroad crossings in 2005. -Install Stop Signs at the Atwood crossing - with potential federal railroad safety funding in 2008. -Consider the closure of Apgar Street based on: . 3-track crossing is dangerous due to restricted sight lines. . Difficulty to safely install active warning devices that would protect all three tracks. . If we protected two tracks with gates, traffic could get stopped on the third (unprotected) track by the gate-arm. . There are some additional railroad and Federal funding benefits if this crossing is closed prior to June 2004. -Increase education (including Operation Life Saver sessions and local cable programs). -Explore the possible closure of other crossings. City of Shakopee Rail Safety Committee Recommendations Back2:round The City of Shakopee has federal funding available to them for two railroad crossing signals in 2005. MnlDOT Office of Freight and Commercial Vehicle Operations (OFCVO) representatives presented information about the available funding to the Shakopee City Council. It was pointed out that the city currently has five railroad crossings that currently are not protected with active warning devices (flashing light signals). City Council approved active city participation in a comprehensive review ofthe downtown railroad crossings at the October 7,2003 council meeting. The Rail Safety Committee was formed to review the appropriate use of the 2005 funding. The Rail Safety Committee has since met twice: December 8, 2003 and January 12, 2004. Committee Members Matt Lehman, Terry Joos, Bruce Loney; City of Shako pee Gary Wilwerding; Union Pacific Railroad Joshua Collins, Julie Carr; MnlDOT Discussion A general review of background information such as selection process, funding information, sight distances, and city development was discussed. From that all options were put on the table from closing every crossing to signalizing every crossing. The committee then deliberated on each of the options. Safety and feasibility were the most commonly debated issues. Secondarily, funding options for all options were discuss. Safety Issues The city of Shakopee has 10 railroad at-grade crossings within a 12-block stretch in downtown. Each crossing presents a safety hazard and even more-so when it isn't protected by an active warning device such as flashing lights. Recommendations The committee's goal was to optimize safety within our funding and timing constraints. The safest crossing is the closed crossing but that does away with any of the city's traffic demands, which also have to be considered. The committee developed both long- and short-term recommendations balancing traffic demands and safety measures. Long-term recommendations: -Install active warning devices at all public railroad crossings in the downtown Shakopee area -Consider a study that evaluates traffic flows, future development, and 169/69 traffic impacts with or without this access. A potential railroad crossing closure, coinciding with potential rail safety funding in 2008. Short-term recommendations: -Signalization (flashing light signals) of Sommerville and Spencer Street railroad crossings in 2005. -Install Stop Signs at the Atwood crossing - with potential federal railroad safety funding in 2008 for active crossing devices. -Consider the closure of Apgar Street based on: . 3-track crossing is dangerous due to restricted sight lines. . Difficulty to safely install active warning devices that would protect all three tracks. . If we protected two tracks with gates, traffic could get stopped on the third (unprotected) track by the gate-arm. . DELETE THIS LINE: There are some additional railroad and Federal funding benefits if this Ci'ossing is closed prior to June 200-1. -Increase education (including Operation Life Saver sessions and local cable programs). 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