STAFF REPORT
Planning and Development Committee, May 14, 2008
Parkside Town Commons – Railroad Crossing Changes Agreement (EN08-095)
Consideration of entering into an agreement for railroad crossing changes and road improvements
Speaker: Mr. Tim
Bailey
From: Tim Bailey, P.E., Engineering Director
Prepared by: Tim Bailey, P.E., Engineering Director
Approved by: William B. Coleman, Jr., Town Manager
Approved by: Benjamin T. Shivar, Assistant Town Manager
Parkside Commons is a recently approved development located in the Alston area at the northeast quadrant of the I-540 and NC 55 interchange. The project will extend O'Kelly Chapel Road connecting the development to RTP. O'Kelly Chapel Road extension is a major thoroughfare shown on the Town's transportation plan. The CSX railroad track separates Parkside from RTP. Parkside prefers to cross the railroad at grade adding gates, flashers and necessary equipment. To permit the new crossing the railroad requires other crossings to be eliminated. In the Carpenter area our long range plans call for eliminating two at‑grade railroad crossings and adding a single grade-separated crossing which will provide a direct road connection for Carpenter Fire Station Road and Morrisville-Carpenter Road. If this proposal is approved, it will require that the new road link and bridge be accelerated, allowing closure of the two at-grade railroad crossings in Carpenter. A copy of the developer's request is attached.
General terms of the agreement are outlined below. The final text is not finalized at this time.
● Cary will accelerate the funding and construction of a bridge project.
● Parkside will provide $500,000 in cash toward the construction of the bridge.
● Parkside will not request any form of reimbursement for the thoroughfare road improvements they construct in conjunction with the project.
● Parkside will pay for temporary road improvements to close the existing Carpenter Fire Station Road at-grade railroad crossing; this is necessary to construct the new bridge at this location.
● Parkside will pay for improvements in road widening and turn lanes to redirect traffic to the Morrisville-Carpenter Road at-grade railroad crossing; Parkside will also pay the cost of removal of the grade crossing in this location when the bridge is complete and open to traffic.
● The Town will enter into a separate agreement with the railroad for the at-grade closings, new bridge and new at-grade crossing at O'Kelly Chapel Road.
If Town Council agrees with the concept, staff will work on an agreement and bring it back for final approval to execute the agreement.
A public hearing on the railroad crossing closures will be required by the Town and NCDOT since these are State maintained roads. Staff will bring the agreement back to Council after the railroad crossing closure is approved following the public hearing. NCDOT has agreed with the concept to close the railroad crossings because of overall improved safety.
Fiscal Impact: This proposal provides significant cost savings to the Town to construct the new bridge. These cost savings come from receiving a direct payment, avoiding the cost of temporary improvement for the detour, higher collection of transportation development fees, and the cost of demolishing the existing at-grade crossings. It does , however, also commit the Town to move forward with the bridge and will limit the flexibility to make other road improvements unless additional funding sources are pursued. As we approach the 15% debt service limit recently discussed, our funding sources are limited.
Staff recommendation: Staff recommends approval of the concept and scheduling a public hearing for the at-grade railroad crossing closures.