Passenger Rail Station Consultant ProposalTHE CITY OF
DUB E
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
MEMORANDUM
August 30, 2007
TO: The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members
FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager
SUBJECT: Rail Station Consultant Proposal
Economic Development Director Dave Heiar recommends City Council approval to hire
Frank Hall, a retired Amtrak employee, as a consultant to investigate the best potential
platform/station site for a passenger rail station to service Amtrak in Dubuque. The cost
of this analysis will not exceed $6,000. Mr. Hall will consider the former rail station
which is connected to the museum, and the area considered for a future Intermodal
facility; however, he will not limit his investigation to these two sites.
I concur with the recommendation and respectfully request Mayor and City Council
approval.
Michael C. Van Milligen
MCVM/jh
Attachment
cc: Barry Lindahl, City Attorney
Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager
David J. Heiar, Economic Development Director
THE CTTY OF
DUB E MEMORANDUM
Masterpiece on the Mississippi
August 27, 2007
TO: Michael Van Milligen, City Manager
FROM: David J. Heiar, Economic Development Director
SUBJECT: Rail Station Consultant Proposal
BACKGROUND
In early 2006, the Envision 2010 Committee announced that Passenger Rail Service
was one of the top 10 projects for the Dubuque area. Since that time a committee of
volunteers has been meeting on a regular basis to discuss ways to make this project a
reality.
Shortly thereafter, the State of Illinois Department of Transportation announced that
they were paying for a feasibility study of passenger train (Amtrak) service from Chicago
to Dubuque (via Rockford). This study was released in early 2007 and revised in June
of 2007. The study indicated preliminary infrastructure costs and projected ongoing
operational subsidies to make this link to Chicago workable. The following is a summary
of the financial aspects of the report:
Cost of Infrastructure repairs $32.3 million
Annual Operating Costs $4.4 million
Projected Annual Ridership 74,500 passengers
Revenue from Ridership $1.5 million
Annual Operating Deficit $2.9 million
In several meetings since this study was released the Illinois DOT has made it very
clear that the creation of a route that ends in Dubuque will require a financial
commitment from the Iowa DOT as welt as by the City of Dubuque. It is possible for the
State of Illinois to end this route in Rockford, Galena, or East Dubuque. If the route ends
in Illinois, it is doubtful that it will be extended to Dubuque in the foreseeable future.
There have been initial discussions between the staff at the Illinois DOT and the staff at
the Iowa DOT to discuss how these capital and operating costs could be shared. The
cost share could be based on miles of track and/or ridership. With the assistance of
ECIA, there has also been a meeting of a coalition of Iowa communities (Dubuque,
Quad Cities, Iowa City/Coralville) in Ames with IDOT Director Nancy Richardson to
begin a dialogue on the process needed to get state funding for passenger rail service.
The IDOT Director and staff appeared very supportive of our goals and have agreed to
facilitate periodic meetings of this coalition. As one would expect, funding (lack of
revenue) is the real impediment from IDOT's perspective.
Based on recent actions by the Illinois legislature, it appears that capital funding for
Amtrak expansions will be delayed until next year. This could actually be beneficial for
Iowa. It allows a little more time to convince our legislature and the Iowa DOT that
funding for Passenger Rail is critical.
The Envision Committee has taken on the task of getting public support behind an effort
to encourage Legislators to allocate funding for Passenger Rail Service in the State
budget. In the near future they are planning a community meeting to advocate this
message to over 100 local organizations and service groups. The intent is to create an
aggressive campaign to carry a message to Des Moines that passenger rail is a long
term need for the State of Iowa and that we have a window of opportunity to work with
the State of Illinois to coordinate our efforts.
On July 12, 2007 a delegation of Dubuque representatives attending a meeting in
Galena facilitated by BARC (Blackhawk Area Rail Coalition). Amtrak representatives
were in attendance to discuss the need for adequate rail passenger stations. Due to
recent regulations and ADA requirements, many factors need to be considered prior to
Amtrak approval of a station facility.
Due to the unique complexities of setting a rail platform (station), every community,
along the route that hopes to have an Amtrak stop was encouraged to hire a consultant
to help evaluate options. A retired Amtrak employee, Frank Hall, has agreed to serve as
a consultant for communities along the Chicago to Dubuque route.
Should the City decide to hire Mr. Hall, he anticipates reviewing the Port of Dubuque for
the best potential platform/station site. He will certainly consider the former rail station
which is connected to the museum, and the area considered for a future Intermodal
facility. However, he will not limit his investigation to these two sites. Attached is a copy
of the cover letter and contract which provide the details of his consultation services. In
total, Mr. Hall estimates the work will take between 40 and 80 hours. The City will be
billed on an hourly basis not to exceed a cost of $6,000. Budget Director Jenny Larson
has indicated that this cost could be financed by the savings realized from other Port of
Dubuque projects.
RECOMMENDATION/ACTION STEP
Based on the specific needs of providing a passenger rail station to service Amtrak,
recommend that the City Council approve the attached contract for consultation
services for an amount not to exceed $6,000.
Attachments
F:\USERS\DHeiar\Memos to MVM\Rail Station Consultant Proposal.doc
August 15, 2007
David J. Heiar
Economic Development Director
City of Dubuque
50 W. 13th Street
Dubuque, IA 52001
Dear Mr. Heiar,
It was a pleasure speaking with you about Dubuque's rail passenger station project and
your interest in using my services. Per our conversation and my eazlier letter to Janet
Fisher, I will offer my services for a rate of $60 per hour, to include travel any other time
working on said project, plus expenses.
Dubuque should require two days of travel and meetings and one inspection (site survey
to pinpoint locations of buildings, rail, etc.}.
If preliminary estimates and drawings are required I would assume 1-2 days for estimates
and 2-3 days for drawings (per location). This assumption is based on past experience.
• Estimates would include a spread sheet with a best guess of items needed to
establish a station at a particulaz site. Item list to be confirmed with Amtrak.
• Drawings would include a site plan and typical platform drawings to be used to
submit to the FRA, CN and Amtrak for approval.
• Expected expenses include meals, lodging, car rental or mileage, gas, highway
tolls and or extraordinary phone, mailing, etc. My assumption, based on our
conversations, is that Dubuque would require a between 1 and 3 days overnight
travel depending on what we find and what meetings are required.
I estimate a work period of 40 and 80 hours, plus expenses, for this project or an estimate
of $2750 with a high of $6000 depending on what we find at our initial site visit and if
additional services are required other than what is listed above.
I look forward to your response and working with you in the future.
Sincerely,
Frank T. Hall
1680 Briarheath Dr
Aurora, I160505
Tel: 630-898-0907
Email: fthallrysbcglobal.net
RAIL PASSENGER FACILITY CONSULTING AGREEMENT
AGREEMENT made this 16th day of August, 2007, by and between Frank T.
Hall, whose address is 1680 Briarheath Dr, Aurora, IL 60505,
hereinafter referred to as the "Consultant", and the City of Dubuque
(IA), whose principal place of business is located at 50 West 13°
Street, Dubuque, IA 52001, hereinafter referred to as the "City".
WHEREAS, the City desires to engage the services of the Consultant
to perform for the City consulting services regarding the
establishment of a rail passenger station within that City as an
independent contractor and not as an employee; and
WHEREAS, Consultant desires to consult with the the officers of the
City, and the administrative staff, and/or their representatives to
undertake for the City consultation as to the direction of certain
functions in said management of;
NOW, THEREFORE, it is agreed as follows:
1. Term. The respective duties and obligations of the contracting
parties shall be for an unspecified period of commencing on
and may be terminated by either party giving thirty
(30) days' written notice to the other party at the addresses stated
above or at an address chosen subsequent to the execution of this
agreement and duly communicated to the party giving notice.
2. Consultations. Consultant shall be available to consult with the
officers of the City, and the heads of the administrative staff, and or
their representatives at reasonable times, concerning matters
pertaining to the location and design of a rail passenger station in
the City of Dubuque, IA.
3. Liability. With regard to the services to be performed by
the Consultant pursuant to the terms of this agreement, the
Consultant shall not be liable to the City, or to anyone who may
claim any right due to any relationship with the City, for any
acts or omissions in the performance of services on the part of the
Consultant or on the part of the agents of the Consultant, except when
said acts or omissions of the Consultant are due to willful misconduct
or gross negligence. The City shall hold the Consultant free and
harmless from any obligations, costs, claims, judgments, attorneys'
fees, and attachments arising from or growing out of the services
rendered to the City pursuant to the terms of this agreement or in any
way connected with the rendering of services, except when the same
shall arise due to the willful misconduct or gross negligence of the
Consultant and the Consultant is adjudged to be guilty of willful
misconduct or gross negligence by a court of competent jurisdiction.
4. The Consultant shall receive reimbursement from the City for the
performance of the services to rendered to the City pursuant to the
terms of the agreement $ 60 per hour for work performed by the
Consultant; however, in no event shall the compensation paid to the
Consultant by the City be less than that agreed upon and as noted in
the Consultant's letter of agreement dated August 15, 2007. In
addition, the City shall reimburse the Consultant per diem for any
reasonable out of pocket expenses incurred by the Consultant pursuant
to the terms of this agreement and the Consultant's letter of agreement
dated August 15, 2007. The Consultant shall submit itemized statements
of hours of services performed and expenses incurred during any
particular month by the fifth (15th) day of the next succeeding month.
The amount shall be paid to the Consultant by the fifteenth (15th) day
of the latter month.
5. Retainer. A minimum retainer of Dollars ($ ) will
be paid Consultant by City in advance of any consultations and will
be applied by client in advance of any consultations on account of
the fee for such consultations.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have hereunto executed this Agreement
on the day of 2007.
"City"
Witness City Name
By: Witness
"Consultant"
Witness Firm's Name (if applicable)
By: Witness