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Home My WebLink About03/19/2002 Adjourned Meeting 464 CITY OF YAKIMA, WASHINGTON ADJOURNED MEETING OF THE CITY COUNCIL MARCH 19, 2002 - 7:30 A.M. 129 NORTH 2 STREET - COUNCIL CHAMBERS 1. ROLL CALL Present: Council: Mayor Mary Place, presiding, Council Members Clarence Barnett, Lynn Buchanan, Paul George, Larry Mattson, and John Puccinelli, Staff: City Manager Zais, Sr. Engineer Robert Desgrosellier, and City Clerk Roberts Also: Chris Wolcott and Gary Phillips, consultants from Berger ABAM Engineering, and Ross Widener, consultant from Widener & Associates Absent: Council Member Bernard Sims (excused) 2. REVIEW OF RAILROAD GRADE SEPARATION PROJECT • Purpose of Study Session Gary Phillips explained that they are here to provide a report on the status of the proposed railroad grade separation project. He advised Council that one component of today's presentation is missing due to the fact that the Transpo consultant could not get across the mountain pass yesterday; however, that information will be available at the April 4th Open House. He stated he also has an updated booklet on the project overview to distribute to Council and the public today. • The consultants review the updated information on the project • overview Chris Wolcott reviewed the problem definition as follows: a Traffic 2001 — average traffic delay of 9 minutes per crossing per train 2030 — average traffic delay of 11 minutes per crossing per train Mr. Wolcott explained that this average delay time includes the train crossing time and the time it takes to clear the resultant backed -up traffic. The increase in the average traffic delay estimated for 2030 is based upon increased vehicular traffic. 465 MARCH 19, 2002 - ADJOURNED MEETING • Trains • 4_to 6 through- trains per day at present 12 to 14 through- trains per day present capacity • 22 to 24 through- trains per day future capacity with Stampede Pass tunnel and other line improvements Mr. Wolcott stated that the number of trains would be a key issue to traffic delay. There are now four -to -six through- trains per day with a potential of 12 -to -14 through- trains, based on a letter received from Burlington Northern. A little less clear is the projected build -out for this line. We have documents that indicate it is 22 -to -24 trains per day and another document from the Association of Washington Public Port Association that estimates train traffic at 20 -to -26 trains per day. The increased train traffic would require improvements to the line. The railroad is a private company and their business fluctuates with the economy. This is a 30 -year timeframe and the odds are that they will grow. They are at capacity on their Columbia Gorge route and this is the route that would most likely be expanded. Council Member Puccinelli asked why doesn't the railroad use the Old Milwaukee line that crosses the desert and does not go through so many cities and towns. Council Member Buchanan responded that the rail line was abandoned and the railroad would have to purchase the right -of -way. Mr. Puccinelli then asked if someone had investigated the cost of operating the Old Milwaukee line versus the cost to create all these crossings. City Manager Zais reported that during a negotiation session with the railroad it was said that their cost to use that abandoned line would be $250 million and their cost for railroad crossing is 5% of the project cost. • Safety At -grade railroad crossings have caused accidents and one fatality in recent years Road blockages delay emergency response Mr. Wolcott explained that the fatality occurred on Mead Avenue and involved the Central Railroad. There is also the issue of daily emergency vehicle response time for police and fire due to the division of the city by the tracks. • Air Pollution Idling traffic waiting for trains results in increased carbon monoxide levels 2 466 MARCH 19, 2002 - ADJOURNED MEETING Mr. Wolcott stated that Yakima is a non - attainment area for carbon monoxide. Mr. Wolcott reviewed the Alternatives Identification and Evaluation Process: • City staff and consultant team meet monthly with three committees: Citizen's Advisory Group Project Guidance Team Interdisciplinary Team • Focused meetings with affected groups Front Street Merchants Association Fruit Row north of D Street City Council Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway • General Public Involvement Media briefings Newsletters Web Page Open houses Mr. Wolcott stated that after receiving direction from the Council that this is a viable project, a more extensive economic study will be done about the impact this project will have on the surrounding businesses, including the construction impact. Council discussed the removal of Yakima Avenue from the project. A request by Council Member Mattson to direct staff to determine the impact to the businesses on Yakima Avenue did not reach consensus and was withdrawn. • Major Funding Partners were identified as: Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board City of Yakima Federal Highway Administration Housing and Urban Development Transportation Improvement Board Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway City Manager Zais stated that the Freight Mobility Board advised him that the entire corridor needed to be reviewed and a 30 -year plan needed to be developed for the crossings. He reported that Yakima Avenue was reviewed in the plan, but it won't be included in the grade separation project at this time. 3 467 MARCH 19, 2002 - ADJOURNED MEETING Mr. Wolcott said the reasons that B Street and Lincoln Avenue are included in phase I of the grade separation project, is primarily due to the amount of traffic utilizing those streets. He then reviewed the 30% Engineer's estimate of probable construction cost for Phase I calculated at $24,963,339. He stated that the City has committed funding for $14,686,000 leaving $10,277,339 to be funded. Also included in the Council's information packet were drawings showing the proposed BNSF railroad bridges at B Street and Lincoln Avenue, the realignment of Front Street, and the two vehicular bridges at B Street and Lincoln Avenues on Front Street. The consultants also showed a video rendering of the two underpasses. Mayor Place asked Mr. Wolcott to review the plans for the new County jail to ensure the two projects are compatible and suggested he add the new six -story jail to his model. Mr. Wolcott responded to Council's questions concerning underpass elevation, steepness of the underpass grade compared to the Walnut Street underpass, accessibility for 53' semi - trailers, location of the bicycle /pedestrian lane on the left side of the road rather than the right side, and proposed construction timeframe. Also discussed was the difference in opinions about the number of trains projected to use the tracks in the future. Council Member Mattson commented that the delay from the number of trains is not the only factor to consider, Council needs to look at the air pollution problem created by the vehicles waiting for the trains to cross the intersections. • What are the next steps? Mr. Wolcott stated that a resolution would be presented to Council on April 16th to approve the continuation of the project with the recommended alternative for B Street and Lincoln Avenue. The economic analysis would be prepared simultaneously with the environmental analysis. An Open House will be held on April 4 to present this project to the public. Mayor Place asked that the City's Telecommunications Division video the Open House. Bob Desgrosellier reported that a newsletter would be mailed to 600 -800 interested parties and asked Council to advise him about any information they would like to have included. • Citizen comments Gordon Wonder, downtown property owner, expressed concern about the economic impact this project would have on the Yakima Avenue and Front Street businesses, both during construction and after construction. 4 466 MARCH 19, 2002 - ADJOURNED MEETING Mark Peterson, Yakima Avenue businessman, also expressed concern about the proposed project and the information gathered to substantiate the need for the grade separation. He, too, '-was deeply concerned about the economic impact this could have on the surrounding businesses. 3. ADJOURNMENT • The meeting adjourned at 9:04 a.m. READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY: _�� It�� ,,, .__ 7/ 4 — 00 NCIL MEMBER DAY ° (/' 7 •DU NCIL MEMBER _ D AT ATTEST: CITY CLERK MARY PLACE, MAYOR Minutes prepared by Linda Watkins and Karen Roberts. An audio and video tape of this meeting are available in the City Clerk's Office 5