Modesto approves crossing agreement with Union Pacific to advance Seventh Street Bridge project

The Modesto City Council on April 22 authorized an agreement with Union Pacific Railroad to secure additional rights and to pay for crossing improvements at the intersection of Seventh Street and B Street, a required step for the city’s Seventh Street Bridge reconstruction project.

Toby Wells, the city’s director of engineering services and city engineer, told council the agreement has two parts: a permit to work in and around Union Pacific’s right-of-way, and payment to Union Pacific for the track and crossing improvements needed to match the rebuilt intersection. “That railroad crossing needs to be widened, new track improvements, new rail crossings, and that's all work that has to be completed by Union Pacific Railroad,” Wells said.

Wells said the crossing agreement is one of the last pieces in the right-of-way process needed for the city and Stanislaus County to obtain funding and begin construction. He said the county is the lead agency and the earliest construction start would be late 2025, with early 2026 as a possible later start date if funding timelines slip.

Council members asked for and received clarification that costs for the permit portion are covered by right-of-way expenses in an existing memorandum of agreement between the city and county, and that construction funding and agreements with the county will cover the rest of the work. Council member Wright noted the railroad hold-up had delayed the project and the item would allow the city to move forward after a prior adjudication between Union Pacific and the California Public Utilities Commission had been resolved.

There was one public question asking whether the agreement involved a separate private rail line that sometimes crosses Ninth Street; staff clarified that the subject of the agreement was the Union Pacific crossing at Seventh Street and B Street and not the private MTET line discussed by the speaker.

The council approved the resolution authorizing the public highway at-grade crossing agreement and authorized the city manager to execute the agreement. Motion by Council Member Escudia Brayton; second by Council Member Rickey. Roll call recorded ayes from Council Members Alvarez, Rickey, Williams, Wright, Escudia Brayton and Mayor Suze Wallen. The motion carried 6-0.

Ending: With the crossing agreement approved, staff said the project team will proceed with right-of-way steps and continue coordination with Stanislaus County and Union Pacific toward construction funding and scheduling.