Report Prepared by: Steven C. Son, City Engineer, Engineering Division
Title
SUBJECT: Railroad Quiet Zone Feasibility Study and Establishment Along the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad Alignment Within City Limits
REPORT IN BRIEF
Updates status of the request for proposals for the Railroad Quiet Zone Feasibility Study and Establishment along the Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad (BNSF) and requests City Council provide further direction.
RECOMMENDATION
Provide Staff with further direction regarding the Railroad Quiet Zone Feasibility Study.
Body
ALTERNATIVES
1. Direct Staff to proceed with one of the Statement of Qualifications; or,
2. Direct Staff to negotiate a fee with reduced scope; or,
3. Reject all proposals.
AUTHORITY
Charter of the City of Merced, Section 200
CITY COUNCIL PRIORITIES
Council has requested Staff renegotiate a consultant fee with reduced scope of work to conduct a study to investigate the possibility of a railroad quiet zone along the BNSF railroad alignment within City limits.
DISCUSSION
Code of Federal Regulation 49 CFR Part 222, Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) requires all train engineers to utilize their locomotive horns at railroad crossings when workers are present or near the tracks, and at any time it is deemed necessary. With both Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) and Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) Railway traversing through the City at times the amount of noise can be excessive. For this reason, the Council expressed an interest in establishing a railroad quiet zone within City limits.
Staff prepared a request for proposals (RFP) to solicit proposals for Professional Service for Railroad Quiet Zone Feasibility Study and Establishment. The scope of work was broken down into two (2) phases. The first phase was to conduct preliminary investigation/risk index update and review, coordinate with governing entities and conduct diagnostic meeting, and form a quiet zone cost calculation analysis. The second ...
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