ICAAP Grant Application_Rail ImprovementsTHE CITY OF
Dui
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
Dubuque
kital
All- America City
II h/
2012
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Iowa Clean Air Attainment Program (ICAAP) Grant Application for Rail
Improvements
DATE: February 13, 2013
Economic Development Director Dave Heiar and ECIA Transportation Director Chandra
Ravada are recommending the City submit a $2,618,071.20 grant application through
the Iowa Department of Transportation Iowa Clean Air Attainment Program (ICAAP) to
provide needed improvements in the Port of Dubuque for passenger rail service from
Chicago. The project would include passenger rail access, construction of a platform
and a train layover facility. The City budget includes the required $654,517.80 local
match.
The City would also be committing to maintaining and operating the facilities once
completed.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
hrit44
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM:jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
Teri Goodmann, Assistant City Manager
David Heiar, Economic Development Director
Chandra Ravada, ECIA Transportation Director
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
MEMO
TO: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: David Heiar, Economic Development Director
Chandra Ravada, Transportation Director
RE: ICAAP Grant Application for Rail improvements
DATE: February 11, 2013
Dubuque
bikri
All- America City
1
2007
PURPOSE
To discuss the application for an Iowa Clean Air Attainment Program (ICAAP) grant and request official
certification from city council that it shall (1) commit the necessary local matching funding for project
implementation and (2) upon project completion, be responsible for adequately maintaining and
operating the project for public use during the project's useful life.
BACKGROUND
The City of Dubuque Millwork District Intermodal Facility is proposed as a transportation facility which
will bring together local transit, intercity bus, parking and passenger rail service for the City. While the
historic Millwork District is considered the best location for the intermodal facility, because it has good
access to Highway 151/61 for intercity buses, easy connections for local transit and adequate land
available for parking, the ability to also provide rail passenger service directly to the site is complex.
Last fall, T.Y.Lin International, working with City stakeholders, the Canadian Pacific and Canadian
National Railroads and Amtrak prepared concept plan alternatives for rail access alignments,
passenger platform configurations and overnight train layover and servicing of passenger service to the
Millwork District. These alternatives were previously included in plans prepared by Neumann Monson
Architects dated December 21, 2011.
Since that time, the City has had ongoing discussions with the railroads and state DOT's which have
identified issues which were impossible to resolve within the 2014 construction schedule set by the
Illinois DOT for Amtrak Passenger rail service to Dubuque. Not the least of these issues is the lack of a
source of funding for the City to make these passenger rail improvements. The cost estimates were
over $10 million and did not include property acquisitions.
On May 25, 2012 the City again met with its railroad partners and the two state DOTs to explore
options for the development of rail passenger facilities which could be implemented on the same
schedule as the current Illinois DOT schedule of construction completion by early 2015.
Following this meeting with the railroad partners and DOTs, the 3rd Street option (In the Port of
Dubuque near the former train depot) was developed as an alternative which would be easier to
implement, involve a single freight railroad and potentially have a lower cost. An important
consideration is the need for the City to identify a facility which could be implemented on the same
schedule as the current Illinois DOT schedule of construction with completion by early 2015. The 3rd
Street option could be considered as the initial phase of passenger rail service for Dubuque which
could be relocated to the Millwork district as funding and power plant redevelopment allow, or as its
final location. This option is illustrated on Map 1 which accompanies this summary. The capital
construction items noted on the drawing correspond to the table attached to this summary.
DISCUSSION
The proposed ICAAP application will be used to provide improvements to accommodate passenger rail
access, construction of platform and Train Layover facility
Rail Access
The 3rd Street option identifies the reactivation of a 1400 foot City -owned rail siding near 3rd Street and
the casino. This would allow passenger trains to remain under CN control and would not involve a
connection to the CP. A new powered turnout connecting the CN to the siding would need to be
reinstalled at its prior location just south of 5th Street. The grade crossing of Ice Harbor Drive would
also need to be reinstalled and signalized crossing protection provided. Finally, the siding track would
likely need to be reconstructed for its full length. The total cost of improvements is estimated to be
$1,862, 800.00.
Platform Location
The 3rd Street option has a siding of about 1100 feet of track east of Ice Harbor Drive; however, the first
300 feet of track is in a 12 degree curve which would not be suitable for a platform. Therefore, the
platform would begin at the east side of the parking area and extend 275 feet to the east. Since this
platform is located on track not adjacent to mainline freight, it will need to be level with the rail car floor,
or approximately 15 inches above top of rail. The platform area would include a partial canopy, rider
amenities and information systems. The total cost of improvements is estimated to be $672,060.00.
Train Layover
The length of the siding is adequate for both platform and train storage facilities. Similar to other
options, the Amtrak overnight layover facility would include a small maintenance building and standby
power. Since a funding source has not been identified and the site is near the historic station, it may be
possible for train crews to receive their orders at the station and defer the construction of the building.
City staff has met with Jerry Enzler of the National Mississippi River Museum and he was eager to work
with the City on making this happen. The total cost of improvements is estimated to be $305,000.00.
This option would allow passenger trains to remain under CN control and would not involve a
connection to the CP. Since the facilities would be located on City owned track, track construction could
be by a railroad contractor rather than railroad forces which would reduce costs. Similarly, platform
construction would not be along an active track which would eliminate the need for railroad flagging,
insurance and lower costs. It should result in the lowest allocation of railroad operating costs since it
uses the least amount of railroad track.
FINANCIAL
The proposed improvements would be funded through ICAAP funds from the Iowa DOT with match
funds from the city of Dubuque. The City has set aside $245,187 in a 2013 CIP (360 -2426) to use as
local match. The proposed CIP in the 2014 budget also includes $650,963 in FY2015 that will provide
more than adequate funding for the balance of the local match required if this application is approved
by the IDOT.
F: \USERS \Econ Dev \Transit \Transit - ICAAP Grant Application \MEMO ICAAP Rail 2014 01- 11- 2013.doc
$ 2,618,071.20
Plan Sheet
Item
Description
Unit Quantity Unit Cost Total Cost
Rail Corridor Access Improvements
1
New No. 10 Left Hand Powered Turnout at connection to CN
each
1
$ 750,000.00
$ 750,000.00
2
Grade Crossing at Ice Harbor Drive
each
1
$ 200,000.00
$ 200,000.00
2
Grade Crossing Signalization at Ice Harbor
each
1
$ 200,000.00
$ 200,000.00
5
Renew Siding Track (Includes Rail, Ties, and Ballast by Contractor)
per foot
1320
$ 450.00
$ 594,000.00
5
Track Removal
per foot
_
_ 1320
$ 90.00
$ 118,800.00
Subtotal $ 1,862,800.00
Platform Area Improvements
3
Concrete Platform - 12' x 275'
per foot
275
$ 1,080.00
$ 297,000.00
3
Platform Canopy
Sq. foot
1500
$ 150.00
$ 225,000.00
6
Platform Lighting /Electrical
LS
1
$ 60.00
$ 60.00
3
Pedestrian Improvements (sidewalks, pavement markings)
LS
1
$ 50,000.00
$ 50,000.00
3
Platform and Directional Signage
LS
1
$ 50,000.00
$ 50,000.00
6
Allowance for depot modifications
LS
1
$ 50,000.00
$ 50,000.00
Subtotal
Layover Facility Improvements
$ 672,060.00
4
Access Road (10" Compacted Aggregate Service Road)
LS
1
$ 25,000.00
$ 25,000.00
4
Utilities to Layover Site - 480V Electrical, Water, and Sewer
LS
1
$ 200,000.00
$ 200,000.00
4
New Amtrak Layover/Maintenance Building (includes 20' x 20' -
Garage type facility on slab)
LS
1
$ 80,000.00
$ 80,000.00
Subtotal 111M $ 305,000.00
Grant Administration and project management
1
Project management
0.3 FT
$ 30,000.00
$ 30,000.00
1
Grant administration
0.15 FT
$ 15,000.00
_ $ 15,000.00
Subtotal = $ 45,000.00
15 % contingence $432,729.00
Total
$ 3,272,589.00
RECOMMENDATION /ACTION
The purpose of this memo is for your recommendation to city council for approval of a resolution
approving (1) commitment of the necessary local matching funding for project implementation and (2)
upon project completion, be responsible for adequately maintaining and operating the project for public
use during the project's useful life.
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LEGEND
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1
RESOLUTION NO. 61 -13
A RESOLUTION ENDORSING THE SUBMISSION OF AN IOWA CLEAN AIR
ATTAINMENT PROGRAM (ICAAP) GRANT APPLICATION TO THE IOWA
DEPARTMENT OG TRANSPORTATION TO FUND IMPROVMENTS TO
ACCMODATE PASSENGER RAIL IMPROVEMENTS
Whereas, the Iowa Clean Air Attainment Program (ICAAP) provides funding for
reducing congestion, reducing travel or single- occupant vehicle usage, and improving
air quality: and
Whereas the ICAAP program is an 80/20 match, 80% federal funds, 20% local
match funds; and
Whereas, the City Council finds that the Passenger Rail service between
Dubuque and Chicago would improve air quality in the region, improve safety and
provide a new form of public transportation service for citizens of Dubuque.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
DUBUQUE, IOWA:
Section 1. That the City Council of the City of Dubuque, Iowa hereby endorses
the attached application to the Iowa Clean Air Attainment Program which includes for a
20% local match for the passenger rail improvements.
Section 2. The City also agrees to be responsible for adequately maintaining
and operating the project for public use during the projects useful life.
Section 3. That the City Manager is authorized to sign, on behalf of the City
Council, the application for ICAAP.
Passed, approved and adopted this 18th day of February, 013.
Attes Kevin Firnstahl, City Clerk
Roy +. Buol, Mayor
F: \USERS \Econ Dev \Transit \Transit - ICAAP Grant Application \RESOLUTION from City of Dubuque 02- 12- 2013.docx