Council reviews Active Transportation grant plans for Fairfax Trail West; engineering and railroad crossing remain open issues

The council discussed a proposed active transportation project to extend the Fairfax Trail West along Third Avenue Southwest and north toward downtown along Old Highway 75. Staff said the trail concept came from a community design process and that the project is eligible for a MnDOT active-transportation infrastructure grant.

Staff reported estimated engineering costs and related right-of-way and permit contingencies. One staff member said the engineering work came in "just over $200,000" and that a Minnesota Department of Natural Resources grant could cover up to $200,000 of engineering costs; staff estimated the remaining city‑responsible costs for right-of-way and permits at about $191,000, noting the estimate assumes no acquisitions are ultimately required.

A key open issue is a railroad crossing on the proposed route. Staff explained that to build a trail crossing the railroad requires replacing and lengthening the existing concrete panels rather than simply adding adjacent panels; that revision could raise costs. Staff said MnDOT, the agency funding the active-transportation grant, would likely cover the portion of the crossing directly impacted by the trail but that the city is estimating conservatively and expects to negotiate responsibility for additional crossing work.

Council members asked whether the route could be adjusted to reduce crossing costs and whether the project might be bundled with other projects or bonds. Staff said the project scope can be scaled and that engineering bids and right‑of‑way reviews will determine final costs. Staff also said they will apply for additional grants to offset engineering and construction expenses and that the project can be scaled down if bids come in high.

No formal vote was taken; the item was presented as a discussion item and staff said they will return with grant applications and refined cost estimates.