STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Transportation & Infrastructure
AGENDA DATE: January 22, 2025
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S): 6, 11, 12
DEPARTMENT: Department of Transportation and Public Works
EXECUTIVE: Dev Rastogi
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SUBJECT
Title
Authorize the City Manager to provide the Notice of Intent to establish Quiet Zones along the Dallas Area Rapid Transit’s Silver Line corridor (formerly known as the Cotton Belt Line) encompassing 11 railroad crossings on the following streets: East Belt Line Road, Dallas Parkway Southbound, Dallas Parkway Northbound, Knoll Trail Drive, Davenport Road East/West, Campbell Road, Davenport Road North/South, McCallum Boulevard, Meandering Way, Dickerson Street, and a crossing at the future Copenhagen Avenue in the Cypress Waters Development as provided for in the Federal Railroad Administration’s Final Train Horn Rule - Financing: No cost consideration to the City
Body
BACKGROUND
Dallas Area Rapid Transit (DART) is currently in the final construction phases of the 26-mile rail line between Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport and the City of Plano, known as the Silver Line Project. DART anticipates that service on the Silver Line will begin in late 2025 to mid-2026. The project will have 11 at-grade crossings within the city of Dallas covering: East Belt Line Road, Dallas Parkway Southbound, Dallas Parkway Northbound, Knoll Trail Drive, Davenport Road East/West, Campbell Road, Davenport Road North/South, McCallum Boulevard, Meandering Way, Dickerson Street, and a crossing at the future Copenhagen Avenue in the Cypress Waters Development. These at-grade crossings would greatly benefit from the implementation of “Quiet Zones.”
Quiet Zones improve the quality of life for persons living near a rail line by preventing locomotive trains from sounding their horn as the train approaches a street grade crossing. The establishment of a Quiet Zone by a public authority is recognized by the Federal Railroad Administration and requires a detailed process that includes providing a Notice of Intent, the implementation of appropriate supplemental and/or alternative safety measures at the crossing deemed necessary by a multi-agency diagnostic team, followed by the City issuing a Notice of Establishment of the Quiet Zone.
On January 22, 2020, the City Council authorized the execution of an Interlocal Agreement between the City of Dallas and DART, for the prohibition of freight services on DART’s Silver Line of approximately a three-mile section from the Dallas City Limit at the Dallas North Tollway to the Dallas City Limit west of Waterview Parkway without the express written consent of the Dallas City Council and all applicable federal agencies.
On August 12, 2020, the City Council authorized Supplemental Agreement No. 11 to the existing Master Interlocal Agreement between the City of Dallas and DART, that establishes certain obligations, conditions, roles, and responsibilities for the implementation and the long-term maintenance associated with the portion of the Silver Line Project located within the city of Dallas.
On August 26, 2020, the City Council authorized a resolution to support the City of Coppell as the applicant for the establishment of Quiet Zones at the DART Silver Line’s at-grade crossings on East Beltline Road and in the Cypress Waters area based on the city of Dallas’s review and approval of the final diagnostic team recommendations in accordance with the Federal Railroad Administration Train Horn Rule.
On October 12, 2022, the City Council authorized a professional services contract with BCC Engineering, LLC, for construction management, engineering, and inspection (CMEI) services to assist the City in managing the construction activities of DART’s Silver Line Project within the City's public right-of-way, which includes multiple crossings covering: East Belt Line Road, Hillcrest Road, Dallas Parkway Southbound, Dallas Parkway Northbound, Knoll Trail Drive, Davenport Road East/West, Campbell Road, Davenport Road North/South, McCallum Boulevard, Meandering Way, Dickerson Street, Knoll Trail Train Station, Coit Road, and a small portion of the future trail/roadway connection into the Cypress Waters Development.
On August 14, 2024, the City Council authorized Supplemental Agreement No. 1 to the professional services contract with BCC Engineering, LLC, for additional inspections, plan reviews, survey verification, and material testing for the Silver Line Project, to maintain the current level of services provided by BCC Engineering, LLC, through the end of DART’s current project schedule.
If approved, this action will authorize the required Notice of Intent to establish Quiet Zones along the DART Silver Line corridor within the city of Dallas encompassing the 11 railroad crossings listed above.
PRIOR ACTION/REVIEW (COUNCIL, BOARDS, COMMISSIONS)
On January 22, 2020, the City Council authorized the execution of an Interlocal Agreement between the City of Dallas and DART for the prohibition of freight services on DART’s Silver Line of approximately a three-mile section from the Dallas City Limit at the Dallas North Tollway to the Dallas City Limit west of Waterview Parkway without the express written consent of the Dallas City Council and all applicable federal agencies by Resolution No. 20-0202.
On August 12, 2020, the City Council authorized Supplemental Agreement No. 11 to the existing Master Interlocal Agreement between the City of Dallas and DART that establishes certain obligations, conditions, roles, and responsibilities for the implementation and the long-term maintenance associated with the portion of the Silver Line Project located within the city of Dallas by Resolution No. 20-1166.
On August 26, 2020, the City Council authorized a resolution to support the City of Coppell as the applicant for the establishment of Quiet Zones at the DART Silver Line’s at-grade crossings on East Beltline Road and in the Cypress Waters area based on the city of Dallas’s review and approval of the final diagnostic team recommendations in accordance with the Federal Railroad Administration Train Horn Rule by Resolution No. 20-1230.
On October 12, 2022, the City Council authorized a professional services contract with BCC Engineering, LLC, for CMEI services to assist the City in managing the construction activities of DART’s Silver Line Project within the City's public right-of-way by Resolution No. 22-1538.
On August 14, 2024, the City Council authorized Supplemental Agreement No. 1 to the professional services contract with BCC Engineering, LLC, for CMEI services to assist the City in managing the construction activities of DART’s Silver Line Project within the City’s public right-of-way, in order to maintain the current level of services provided by BCC Engineering, LLC, through the end of DART’s current project schedule by Resolution No. 24-1073.
FISCAL INFORMATION
No cost consideration to the City.
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