Recommendation to Close 15th Street Railroad At-Grade Crossing - Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited Railroad RequestCity of Dubuque
City Council Meeting
Action Items # 04.
Copyrighted
June 3, 2024
ITEM TITLE: Recommendation to Close 15th Street Railroad At -Grade Crossing -
Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited Railroad Request
SUMMARY: City Manager recommending City Council adopt the attached resolution
approving the permanent closure of the existing 15th Street railroad at -
grade crossing and authorize the City Manager to develop and execute
an agreement with Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited Railroad and
Iowa Department of Transportation for said closure.
SUGGESTED
DISPOSITION:
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
MVM Memo
Staff Memo
Resolution
Council Memo
RESOLUTION Authorizing to permanently close the 15th Street railroad
at -grade crossing
Suggested Disposition: Receive and File; Adopt Resolution(s)
CPKC Letter of Support
CPKC Request to Close 15th St RR Crossing
Type
City Manager Memo
Staff Memo
Resolutions
Supporting Documentation
Supporting Documentation
Supporting Documentation
THE CITY OF
Dubuque
DUB TEE1.
All -America City
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
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zoo�•*o 13
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TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Recommendation to Close 15th Street Railroad At -Grade Crossing
Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited Railroad Request
DATE: May 31, 2024
City Engineer Gus Psihoyos, Assistant City Engineer Robert Schiesl, and Project
Manager Steve Sampson Brown are recommending City Council adopt the attached
resolution approving the permanent closure of the existing 1511 Street railroad at -grade
crossing and authorize the City Manager to develop and execute an agreement with
Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited Railroad and Iowa Department of Transportation
for said closure.
After receiving a request from the Canadien Pacific and Kansas City Southern railroad
(CPKC), at the April 1 City Council Meeting I made a recommendation to City Council
that the city consider closing the 15t" Street railroad crossing.
On May 28, 2024, the City submitted a grant application with the U.S. Department of
Transportation Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for a Consolidated Rail
Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant to assist with funding for
proposed safety, efficiency, and reliability improvements to at -grade railroad crossings
within the City.
The City is also examining the feasibility of creating a Railroad Quiet Zone in Dubuque.
A Quiet Zone is where the trains are not required to blow their horns as they approach
individual railroad at -grade crossings because the crossings have been upgraded with
adequate warnings and barriers that motorists and pedestrians were adequately
protected from attempting to cross the railroad tracks and therefore do not need the
added warning of a train horn.
If the City is successful in being awarded the CRISI grant, the proposed Supplemental
Safety Measures (SSMs) that could be installed at all eleven (11) railroad at -grade
crossings in the downtown area would allow the City to request the FRA establish a
Railroad Quiet Zone designation for Dubuque.
As the City was developing plans to submit the application for the RAISE Capital
Implementation Grant to assist with funding for proposed multimodal transportation
corridor improvements to the Elm Street corridor, the 16th Street corridor, the Kerper
Blvd. corridor, Chaplain Schmitt Island corridor, and the proposed 14th Street Railroad
(vehicular and pedestrian) Overpass bridge project, the City collaborated with Canadian
Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) Limited Railroad. During these discussions, CPKC staff
posed the question if the City would consider the permanent closure of the existing 15th
Street railroad at -grade crossing.
With the impending doubling in train traffic due to the merger of the Canadian Pacific
and Kansas City Southern railroads, CPKC has identified safety improvements that will
need to be made at the 15th Street crossing location if it is not closed. Closing the 15th
Street railroad crossing would have a similar effect as investing in crossing
improvements in that the trains do not need to blow their horns at a closed crossing.
As part of the railroad's efforts to improve safety and reduce delays at railroad crossings
they will be implementing expensive technology improvements (Centralized Traffic
Control or CTC) at each of the railroad crossings later this year. Therefore, they are
asking the city to decide quickly so they can avoid making these technology
improvements at the 15th Street crossing.
There is an additional at -grade rail crossing one block to the north at 16th Street and one
block to the south at 14th Street. Just north of 16th Street there is a pedestrian/bike
underpass which connects with Garfield Avenue. Traffic volume counts show that 300
cars per day use 15th Street, while 6,000 cars per day use 16th Street and 3,970 cars
per day use 14th Street.
The city has plans to complete major improvements to the 14th Street crossing with
construction of a vehicle/pedestrian/bike overpass. This work is contingent on receiving
a $25 million federal grant. Regardless of when this overpass is built it is difficult to
justify the continued existence of the 15th Street Crossing.
The railroad is offering to pay the costs of the closing of the 15th Street crossing and to
provide $100,000 to the City to help defray safety improvement costs at other crossings.
To implement the Quiet Zone the railroad will also support a grant application by the
City to the Iowa Department of Transportation for a crossing -closure incentive match
payment of an additional $100,000 from the State Iowa Section 130 grant program. In
addition, it is the belief of the railroad that closing the 15th Street crossing might reflect
positively on the City's RAISE grant application to build the 14th Street overpass.
I believe that in furtherance of the City efforts to create a Quiet Zone designation and to
end the noise burden of downtown residents, downtown businesses, and guests at
locations such as nearby hotels who experience all of the train horn noise 24 hours a
day, it is appropriate to close the 15th Street crossing.
As directed by City Council, input from the public was solicited via 801 direct mailings to
property owners and residents who live between Central Avenue and Sycamore Street
and between 12th Street and 18th Street. The information letter on the closing of 15th
Street offered people the opportunity to complete an online survey or contact
Engineering Department staff as a way to provide feedback on the potential crossing
closure. To date 50 people have taken the survey and one person has called the
Engineering department. Nobody has expressed opposition to the closure. The
responses indicate a vast majority of people equally use 141" and 161" Streets
predominantly and only use 15t" Street as a third option.
Engineering Department staff also hosted an open house on May 30t" at the Old Engine
House between 4-7 pm as an additional opportunity for residents to provide input on the
15t" Street closing. Four residents attended the meeting. Two attendees were residents
from 14t" Street and came to ask questions about the planned overpass, one attendee
was a resident from Elm Street who did not see a problem with closing the crossing, and
one attendee lives on Washington Street advocated for slowing trains down through
Dubuque to improve safety and suggested not closing the 15t" Street crossing until the
14t" Street overpass bridge was constructed.
Regarding the establishment of the Quiet Zone, input from the public was also solicited
via social media postings distributed by the Public Information Office. The social media
postings offered anyone living or working near the railroad tracks the opportunity to
provide feedback via a short online survey.
As summary of the final Quiet Zone survey results is as follows:
Total Responses = 479
People who live or work within the city limits = 96.7%
People who live or work near railroad tracks = 75.4%
Years living or working near railroad tracks:
■ More than 5 years = 43%
■ 1-5 years = 24.6%
■ Less than 1 year = 7.4%
■ Did not answer = 32.7%
Does train noise bother you:
Yes = 73.1 %
No = 26.9%
Has train noise ever negatively impacted your quality of life:
■ Yes = 67.2%
■ No = 32.8%
3
Do you believe train noise can devalue a home or property?
■ Yes = 85.2%
■ No = 14.8%
Do you support creating quiet zone(s) in the City of Dubuque?
■ Yes = 87.7%
■ No = 12.3%
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Y
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:sv
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
Robert Schiesl, Assistant City Engineer
Steve Sampson Brown, Project Manager
Barry Lindahl, Senior Counsel
Teri Goodmann, Director of Strategic Partnerships
12
THE CITYF
DUijB- El
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
Robert Schiesl, Assistant City Engineer
Steve Sampson Brown, Project Manager
Dubuque
AII•Anedea M
W�I
1IIII®r
2007-2012.2013
2017*2019
SUBJECT: Recommendation to Close 151h Street Railroad At -Grade Crossing
Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited Railroad Request
DATE: May 31, 2024
INTRODUCTION
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide information pertaining to the
recommendation to permanently close the existing 15th Street railroad at -grade crossing.
BACKGROUND
On May 28, 2024, the City submitted a grant application with the U.S. Department of
Transportation Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) for a Consolidated Rail
Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) grant to assist with funding for proposed
safety, efficiency, and reliability improvements to at -grade railroad crossings within the
City.
The City is also examining the feasibility of creating a Railroad Quiet Zone in Dubuque.
A Quiet Zone is where the trains are not required to blow their horns as they approach
individual railroad at -grade crossings because the crossings have been upgraded with
adequate warnings and barriers that motorists and pedestrians were adequately
protected from attempting to cross the railroad tracks and therefore do not need the added
warning of a train horn.
If the City is successful in being awarded the CRISI grant, the proposed Supplemental
Safety Measures (SSMs) that could be installed at all eleven (11) railroad at -grade
crossings in the downtown area would allow the City to request the FRA establish a
Railroad Quiet Zone designation for Dubuque.
As the City was developing plans to submit the application for the RAISE Capital
Implementation Grant to assist with funding for proposed multimodal transportation
corridor improvements to the Elm Street corridor, the 16th Street corridor, the Kerper Blvd.
corridor, Chaplain Schmitt Island corridor, and the proposed 14'h Street Railroad
(vehicular and pedestrian) Overpass bridge project, the City collaborated with Canadian
Page 1 of 4
Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) Limited Railroad. During these discussions, CPKC staff
posed the question if the City would consider the permanent closure of the existing 15th
Street railroad at -grade crossing.
The impending increase in train traffic due to the merger of the Canadian Pacific and
Kansas City Southern railroads, CPKC has identified safety improvements that will need
to be made at the 15th Street crossing location.
In consideration of the proposed 14th Street Railroad (vehicular and pedestrian) Overpass
bridge, and the City's interest in implementing safety improvements at all eleven (11)
railroad at -grade crossings in the downtown area, which may allow for a Railroad Quiet
Zone designation, CPKC proposed to the City in lieu of the railroad investing costs at the
15th Street crossing location, CPKC would compensate the City in the amount of $100,000
for the permanent closure of the existing 15th Street railroad at -grade crossing.
Subsequently, the City has received a formal request from the CPKC to close the 15th
Street railroad crossing. Closing the 15th Street railroad crossing would have a similar
effect as investing in crossing improvements in that the trains do not need to blow their
horns at a closed crossing. Attached is a copy of the CPKC letter requesting the
closure of the 1511 railroad crossing location.
As part of the railroad's efforts to improve safety and reduce delays at railroad crossings
they will be implementing expensive technology improvements (Centralized Traffic
Control or CTC) at each of the railroad crossings later this year. Therefore, they are
asking the city to decide quickly so they can avoid making these technology
improvements at the 15th Street crossing.
There is an additional at -grade rail crossing one block to the north at 16th Street and one
block to the south at 14th Street. Just north of 16th Street there is a pedestrian/bike
underpass which connects with Garfield Avenue. Traffic volume counts show that 300
cars per day use 15th Street, while 6,000 cars per day use 16th Street and 3,970 cars per
day use 14th Street.
The city has plans to complete major improvements to the 14th Street crossing with
construction of a vehicle/pedestrian/bike overpass. This work is contingent on receiving
a $25 million federal grant. Regardless of when this overpass is built it is difficult to justify
the continued existence of the 15th Street Crossing.
The railroad is offering to pay the costs of the closing of the 15th Street crossing and to
provide $100,000 to the City to help defray safety improvement costs at other crossings.
To implement the Quiet Zone the railroad will also support a grant application by the City
to the Iowa Department of Transportation for a crossing -closure incentive match payment
of an additional $100,000 from the State Iowa Section 130 grant program. In addition, it
is the belief of the railroad that closing the 15th Street crossing might reflect positively on
the City's RAISE grant application to build the 14th Street overpass.
Page 2 of 4
We believe that in furtherance of the City efforts to create a Quiet Zone designation and
to end the noise burden of downtown residents, downtown businesses, and guests at
locations such as nearby hotels who experience all of the train horn noise 24 hours a day,
it is appropriate to close the 15t" Street crossing.
Public Involvement:
Input from the public was solicited via 801 direct mailings to property owners and
residents who live between Central Avenue and Sycamore Street and between 121" Street
and 18t" Street. The information letter on the closing of 15t" Street offered people the
opportunity to complete an online survey or contact Engineering Department staff as a
way to provide feedback on the potential crossing closure. To date 50 people have taken
the survey and one person has called our department. Nobody has expressed opposition
to the closure. Acknowledging we have only received a limited number of survey
responses; the initial responses indicate a vast majority of people equally use 141" and
16t" Streets predominantly and only use 15t" Street as a third option.
Engineering Department staff also hosted an open house on May 30t" at the Old Engine
House between 4-7 pm as an additional opportunity for residents to provide input on the
15t" Street closing. Four residents attended the meeting. Two attendees were residents
from 14t" Street and came to ask questions about the planned overpass, one attendee
was a resident from Elm Street who did not see a problem with closing the crossing, and
one attendee lives on Washington Street advocated for slowing trains down through
Dubuque to improve safety and suggested not closing the 15t" Street crossing until the
14t" Street overpass bridge was constructed.
Regarding the establishment of the Quiet Zone, input from the public was also solicited
via social media postings distributed by the Public Information Office. The social media
postings offered anyone living or working near the railroad tracks the opportunity to
provide feedback via a short online survey.
As summary of the final Quiet Zone survey results is as follows:
Total Responses = 479
People who live or work within the city limits = 96.7%
People who live or work near railroad tracks = 75.4%
Years living or working near railroad tracks:
■ More than 5 years = 43%
■ 1-5 years = 24.6%
■ Less than 1 year = 7.4%
■ Did not answer = 32.7%
Page 3 of 4
Does train noise bother you:
■ Yes = 73.1 %
■ No = 26.9%
Has train noise ever negatively impacted your quality of life:
■ Yes = 67.2%
■ No=32.8%
Do you believe train noise can devalue a home or property?
■ Yes = 85.2%
■ No = 14.8%
Do you support creating quiet zone(s) in the City of Dubuque?
■ Yes = 87.7%
■ No = 12.3%
RECOMMENDATION
In furtherance of the City efforts to construct the 1411 Street Overpass Bridge, to
implement safety improvements at all eleven (11) railroad at -grade crossings, and the
establishment of a Railroad Quiet Zone designation for the downtown urban core, it is
recommended and deemed appropriate to permanently close the existing 15th Street at -
grade railroad crossing.
ACTION TO BE TAKEN
We respectfully request Mayor and City Council adopt the attached resolution approving
the permanent closure of the existing 15t" Street railroad at -grade crossing and authorize
the City Manager to develop and execute an agreement with Canadian Pacific Kansas
City Limited Railroad and Iowa Department of Transportation for said closure.
cc: Cori Burbach - Assistant City Manager
Crenna Burmwell - City Attorney
Barry Lindahl - Senior Counsel
Teri Goodman - Director of Strategic Partnerships
F:\PROJECTS\CRISI Grant - 2024\15th Railroad Crossing Closure
Page 4of4
Prepared by: Robert Schiesl. City of Dubuque Engineering, 50 W. 1311 Street, Dubuque, IA 52001 (563) 589-4270
Return to: Adreinne N. 8reitfelder, City Clerk, 50W 13'� Street, Dubuque, IA 52001 (563) 589-4100
RESOLUTION NO. 179-24
RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING TO PERMANENTLY CLOSE THE 15TH STREET
RAILROAD AT -GRADE CROSSING
WHEREAS, the impending increase in train traffic due to the recent merger of the
Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern (CPKC) railroads will negatively impact our
City with the number of trains passing daily through the downtown urban core of the City
doubling, from 9 trains to 18 trains by 2027; and
WHEREAS, in consideration of the proposed 14th Street Railroad (vehicular and
pedestrian) Overpass bridge, and the City`s interest in implementing safety improvements
at all eleven (11) railroad at -grade crossings in the downtown area; and
WHEREAS, said railroad at -grade crossings improvements would allow the City
to request the Federal Railroad Administration establish a Railroad Quiet Zone
designation for Dubuque-, and
WHEREAS, as part of the CPKC's efforts to improve safety, and reduce delays at
railroad crossings, the railroad has identified safety improvements that will need to be
made at the 15th Street crossing location; and
WHEREAS, in lieu of CPKC investing costs at the 15th Street crossing location,
the railroad will compensate the City in the amount of $100,000 for the permanent closure
of the existing 15th Street railroad at -grade crossing; and
WHEREAS, to assist with the implementation of the Railroad Quiet Zone, the
railroad will support a grant application by the City to the Iowa Department of
Transportation for a crossing -closure incentive match payment of an additional $100,000
from the State Iowa Section 130 grant program; and
WHEREAS, there are existing at -grade rail crossings one block to the north at 16th
Street and one block to the south at 14th Street; and
WHEREAS, in furtherance of the City efforts to create a Railroad Quiet Zone
designation and to end the noise burden of downtown residents, downtown businesses,
and guests at locations such as nearby hotels who experience all of the train horn noise
24 hours a day, it is appropriate to close the 15th Street crossing; and
WHEREAS, the permanent closure of the 15th Street railroad at -grade crossing will
improve safety and help the City establish a Railroad Quiet Zone designation.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF DUBUQE, IOWA, THAT:
SECTION 1. The City is hereby authorized to permanent closure of the existing
15th Street railroad at -grade crossing.
SECTION 2. The City Manager is authorized to develop and execute an agreement
with Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited Railroad for the permanent closure of the
existing 15th Street at -grade railroad crossing.
Passed, approved, and adopted this 31d day of June 2024
Brad M. q0anagh, Mayor
Attest:
'9'� A4�& -
Adreinne N. Breitfelder, City Clerk
THE CITY OF
Dubuque
DUB TEE1.
All -America City
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
� pp
zoo�•*o 13
zoi720zoi9
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited Railroad Request to Close 15th
Street Railroad Crossing
DATE: March 27, 2024
The City of Dubuque is examining the feasibility of creating a Railroad Quiet Zone in
Dubuque. A Quiet Zone is where the trains are not required to blow their horns as they
approach individual railroad crossings because the crossings have been upgraded with
adequate warnings and barriers that motorists and pedestrians were adequately
protected from attempting to cross the railroad tracks and therefore do not need the
added warning of a train horn.
Closing a railroad crossing has a similar effect as investing in crossing improvements in
that the trains do not need to blow their horns at a closed crossing.
The city has received a request from the Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited Railroad
to close the 15th Street railroad crossing.
As part of the railroad's efforts to reduce delays at railroad crossings they will be
implementing expensive technology improvements at each of the railroad crossings
later this year. Therefore, they are asking the city to decide quickly so they can avoid
making these technology improvements at the 15th Street crossing.
There is a crossing one block to the north at 16th Street and one block to the south at
14th Street. Just north of 16th Street there is a pedestrian/bike underpass.
The city has plans to do major improvements to the 1411 Street crossing with
construction of a vehicle/pedestrian/bike overpass. This is contingent on receiving a
$25 million federal grant. Regardless when this overpass is built it is difficult to justify
the continued existence of the 15th Street Crossing.
The railroad is offering to pay the costs of the closing of the 15th Street crossing and to
provide $100,000 to the City to help defray costs at other crossings. To implement the
Quiet Zone the railroad will also support a grant application to the Iowa Department of
Transportation. It is the belief of the railroad that closing the 15th Street crossing might
reflect positively on the City RAISE grant application to build the 14th Street overpass.
I believe that in furtherance of the city efforts to create a Quiet Zone and end the burden
of downtown residents, downtown businesses and guests at places like hotels who
experience all of the train horn noise 24 hours a day, it is appropriate to close the 15tn
Street crossing.
I respectfully recommend that the Mayor and City Council schedule this question to be
placed on the June 3, 2024, City Council Meeting to make a decision on closing the 15tn
Street railroad crossing.
In the interim, city staff will count the number of vehicles using this crossing and visit
with the nearby property owners to hear their opinions.
v
Mic ael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:sv
Attachment
cc: Crenna Brumwell, City Attorney
Cori Burbach, Assistant City Manager
Gus Psihoyos, City Engineer
Chandra Ravada, East Central Intergovernmental Association Interim Executive Director
Larry Lloyd 11306 Franklin Avenue E larry.11oyd@cpkcr.com
Senior Director Franklin Park, IL P (224) 373-1746
US Government Affairs USA 60131
CPKC
May 3, 2024
The Honorable Pete Buttigieg
Secretary
U.S. Department of Transportation
1200 New Jersey Avenue, SE
Washington, DC 20590
Re: Support for Dubuque's DOT RAISE Application
Dear Secretary Buttigieg:
I write on behalf of Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) to convey our support for the City of Dubuque's
"Rebuilding American Infrastructure with Sustainability and Equity" (RAISE) application to the U.S. Department
of Transportation (USDOT). Dubuque seeks RAISE funding to construct a new vehicular and pedestrian/bike
overpass at the 14th Street railroad tracks crossing. This effort is in -line with CPKC and USDOT long held policy
that the safest crossing is the one that does not exist.
Dubuque's effort towards a RAISE grant is also in -line with the many conversations CPKC continues to have
with the community regarding crossing safety. We are working closely with the community and Iowa
Department of Transportation (IADOT) to look at various state and federal avenues to increase the protection
at crossings throughout the city as well to potentially close a crossing in 2024. USDOT assistance would further
this partnership by creating a dedicated funding stream to enable a grade separation, and CPKC is committed
to helping Dubuque fulfill its local match requirements. CPKC will provide the city a crossing closure incentive
for the closure of an at -grade crossing at 151" Street. Moreover, we will support the city's application to IADOT
for a match of our crossing closure incentive from the state's Section 130 funds for our crossing closure
incentive payment. This combined effort has the potential to contribute up to an additional $200,000 that the
city may use to support the wider set of rail safety and Building Bridges to Employment and Equity (B2E2)
project components. If the City of Dubuque can close the 151" Street at -grade crossing by September 1st, 2024,
CPKC is willing to contribute a 5% share of the grade separation at 14t" St. up to a maximum of $1,000,000.
The merger between Canadian Pacific and Kansas City Southern Railway was approved by the STB in 2023 and
will result in additional trains operating over the rail corridor through Dubuque. As a result, any existing
challenges at the 141" Street grade crossing may increase in future years. We compliment the city's proactive
approach and partnership with CPKC in working towards this grant application. We respectfully ask that you
give the City of Dubuque's B2E2 project your utmost consideration.
Sincerely,
A14,
Larry Lloyd
Senior Director of US Government Affairs
Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited
Larry Lloyd 11306 Franklin Avenue E larry.11oyd@cpkcr.com
Senior Director Franklin Park, IL P (224) 373-1746
US Government Affairs USA 60131
CPKC
March 14, 2024
Michael C. Van Milligen
City Manager
50 W 13th Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
Dear Mr. Milligen,
On behalf of Canadian Pacific Kansas City (CPKC) through our subsidiary, the Dakota, Minnesota, and
Eastern Railroad Corporation, I am writing to you concerning the future state of the 151" Street
Highway -Rail Crossing in Dubuque (FRA Crossing ID: 376126W, on CPKC's Marquette Subdivision at
Milepost 44.19). We appreciate the partnership and dialogue we have developed with Dubuque over
the last couple of years in looking at various ways to enhance rail safety within the community. To that
end, CPKC believes the closing of the 15t" Street crossing would have many mutual benefits for us both.
As is well documented, CPKC is following through on our commitments to make significant capital
improvements along our network in order to facilitate the efficient movement of additional train
traffic. One of those upgrades is the completion of Centralized Traffic Control (CTC) through Dubuque
by the end of 2024. These upgrades will benefit Dubuque as crossing occupancy times by trains will be
reduced as the trains will not need to stop for switches to be aligned. However, those upgrades will
significantly affect the crossing protection equipment in place at the 15th Street crossing, which would
make its closure helpful.
CPKC hereby offers the City of Dubuque a $100,000 crossing -closure incentive payment, on the
condition that the City closes the 151" Street crossing by September 10, 2024. In such case, CPKC would
further support the City's application to Iowa DOT for a crossing -closure incentive match payment of
an additional $100,000 from the State Iowa. CPKC would also cover the costs associated with the 15tn
Street crossing closure. It should be noted that CPKC would consider a similar, and potentially more
robust, crossing -closure incentive payment should the City consider closing the 16t" Street crossing as
well. Yet, we understand the City may be reluctant to do so given its current traffic -management
considerations.
Finally, CPKC believes that the City should use the closure of the 15t" Street crossing as a component of
the Federal Railroad Administration's Rail Crossing Elimination (RCE) grant program, which could then
be utilized to support a grade separation at 141" Street. The RCE grant program is tailored to look at a
corridor (consisting of more than one at -grade rail -highway crossing) and gives significant
consideration to communities that are willing to close a crossing in addition to grade separating one.
CPKC would be willing to play a significant role in supporting that grant application.
We appreciate your consideration of this request, and the CPKC team and I are standing by to address
any questions or concerns you or the Dubuque City Council may have on the matter. Be safe and well.
Sincerely,
Larry Lloyd
Senior Director of US Government Affairs
Canadian Pacific Kansas City Limited
Cc: Kristopher Klop - Kristopher.Klop@iowadot.us