Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure Electrification topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Claremore approves license with BNSF for underground electric line under Highway 66
Summary
The Claremore City Council and Public Works Authority approved a perpetual pipeline license agreement with BNSF Railway Co. to allow an underground electric line to be bored beneath BNSF property near Highway 66; the permit cost is about $7,400 and most work will be bored to minimize traffic impacts.
The Claremore City Council and Claremore Public Works Authority on a unanimous vote approved a pipeline license agreement with BNSF Railway Company to allow a new underground electric line to cross BNSF property near the Highway 66 and Stuart Road intersection.
City staff said the license is for the electric project that will run from the Baker Hughes (Tyler 2) facility to the Houston substation. The “approximate cost of this permit is about $7,400,” city staff member Mr. Ball told the council, and BNSF indicated it will make the terms of the agreement perpetual.
The agreement covers boring and other work under the railroad right-of-way. Ball said about 85% of the project will be bored, limiting surface disruption, and that the total bore length under Highway 66 is roughly 300 feet. He said crews are “supposed to start this week” on the project and that any railroad-specific crew requirements or contractor safety classes will be handled by the contractor.
Ball also told the council the city already maintains an insurance policy that covers this work and that the city paid additional fees to obtain BNSF’s blanket liability coverage to expedite the process. He said similar perpetual agreements have been used on prior crossings, and that if the city sought a term-limited arrangement BNSF indicated the process could take another four to six weeks to restart.
The motion to approve the license passed on roll call; councilors recorded as voting yes at the roll call included McSpadden, Erwin, Totten, Thelma, Callender, Long and Bulby.
The council did not set an effective date in the discussion. Staff recommended approval and said any remaining scheduling or traffic-control details would be managed as the contractor coordinates with railroad and state highway authorities.
