Title
Consider/Discuss/Act on a Resolution of Support Authorizing the City Manager, or Designee, to Apply for a Project Planning and Development Grant for a New Bridge on McIntyre Road East of State Highway 5 (Future Wilmeth Road) over the Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) Rail Lines to Eliminate an Existing At-Grade Railroad Crossing through the Fiscal Year 2023-2024 Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program and Accept Funding, if Awarded
Summary
COUNCIL GOAL: Operational Excellence
(2A: Balance available resources to accommodate the growth and maintenance needs of the city)
MEETING DATE: September 17, 2024
DEPARTMENT: Development Services / Engineering
CONTACT: Shelley Lang, PE, Assistant Director of Engineering
Gary Graham, PE, PTOE, Director of Engineering
RECOMMENDED CITY COUNCIL ACTION:
• Approval of Resolution.
ITEM SUMMARY:
• This Resolution provides City Council support and approval of a Resolution to apply for a project planning and development grant for a new bridge on McIntyre Road east of State Highway 5 (future Wilmeth Road) over the DART rail lines to eliminate an existing at-grade railroad crossing through the FY2023-2024 Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) Grant Program and accept funding, if awarded, from the Federal Railroad Administration (“FRA”).
• Applying for this grant opportunity would support the city’s future goal of providing a new railroad crossing at Lamar Street for improved access to the new City Hall complex and future development in East McKinney, which will require the following steps to be taken:
o Elimination of an existing at-grade railroad crossing by proving a grade separation of the existing crossing at McIntrye Road (future Wilmeth).
o A $2M payment to DART in lieu of eliminating a second existing at-grade railroad crossing.
o Relocating the existing rail siding (a second track for business loading and/or unloading or for trains to pass each other) that cannot be located at the new Lamar Street at-grade roadway crossing.
o Installation of the Lamar Street at-grade crossing, along with the associated DART rail line improvements.
BACKGROUND INFORMATION:
• A Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) has been solicited by the FRA for project applications to be funded by the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (IIJA). The opportunity described in this notice is made available under Assistance Listings Number 20.327, “Railroad Crossing Elimination.” Total funding available for awards under this NOFO is up to $1,148,809,580.
• The purpose of the RCE program is to fund railroad crossing improvement projects that focus on improving the safety and mobility of people and goods. Such projects will improve American rail infrastructure to enhance rail safety, improve the health and safety of communities, eliminate highway-rail and pathway-rail grade crossings that are frequently blocked by trains, and reduce the impacts that freight movement and railroad operations may have on underserved communities.
• The city’s application is to request funding needed to complete the first two project phases as outlined in the NOFO’s project lifecycle stages, which are project planning and project development. The project planning phase will include identifying the purpose and need, consideration of alternatives, finalizing the conceptual engineering design, and stakeholder engagement. The project development phase will include the environmental review process, completing the design plans, finalizing construction cost estimate and schedule, outlining the procurement strategy and coordinating stakeholder agreements.
• The deadline for submitting applications under the FY2023-2024 Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) Grant Program is September 23, 2024.
• Below is a link to the program for more details.
Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program | FRA (dot.gov) <https://railroads.dot.gov/grants-loans/railroad-crossing-elimination-grant-program>
FINANCIAL SUMMARY:
• This grant application submittal request is for $4M to cover the estimated cost for the completion of the project planning and design development phases for the elimination of the at-grade railroad crossing on McIntyre Road (future Wilmeth Road), which includes a commitment of 70% through federal funding for $2.8 million and a 30% local match of 1.2M, if awarded.
• If the city is successful in being awarded this grant, a separate item will be brought to City Council for review and approval to modify the fiscal year 2024-2025 budget and the 2025-2029 Capital Improvements Program (CIP) to appropriate $1.2M for the required local match funds as a new CIP project.
• If awarded, a grant agreement will also be required to be executed at a later date formalizing award for the project.
BOARD OR COMMISSION RECOMMENDATION:
• N/A