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Committee briefed on Brush Creek/UPRR crossing tied to 2019 bond work; plan would close two crossings and open a single six‑lane crossing
Summary
Staff described a UPRR crossing project that would close two existing at‑grade crossings and replace them with a consolidated six‑lane crossing including a quiet zone and emergency preemption; the project ties to the 2019 bond program and to Hickory Creek widening efforts.
Trevor Crane, director of capital projects for the City of Denton, briefed the Mobility Committee on a railroad crossing project at Brush (Brush Creek) that is part of the 2019 bond program. Crane and other staff explained that the proposal is intended to trade two existing, angled or unsafe at‑grade crossings for a single new crossing that meets Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) guidelines.
Crane said the plan would close Bonnie Brae and Johnson crossings and create a new crossing aligned to provide safer vehicle and active‑transportation movements. "This project is based on our mobility plan," staff said, adding that the new crossing would provide six lanes, will be constructed as part of the Hickory Creek widening funded in the 2019 bond program on the eastern side, and would include quiet‑zone treatments and signal preemption for emergency vehicles.
UPRR and safety requirements: Staff explained that UPRR typically requires closing multiple nearby crossings when a new crossing is created. They said the new crossing will include roadway and pedestrian accommodations, but that pedestrian gate technology differs from vehicle gates. Quad gates and other full‑width gate options are available for vehicles but are optional for pedestrians and considerably more expensive; the staff said agencies often use staggered or Z‑style pedestrian gates to control access. Committee members asked for designs that would not force people to go around Z‑gates (which can be difficult for cargo bikes or trailer rigs) and staff agreed to evaluate gate configuration and whether one arm could block both the bike path and vehicle lanes depending on road width.
Right of way and previous work: Crane said the city has already acquired rights of way on the south side of Sage Brook and that the plan has been in development for years. The project will close the two crossings once the new facility is available. Staff committed to providing members visual alignment plans and to circulate those plans to the full committee.
Bond and coordination: The committee was told the crossing is coordinated with the Hickory Creek widening bond project; staff noted several intersections of project scope including frontage road reconnections and connectivity to Allred and nearby arterial projects. The briefing emphasized multi‑agency coordination with UPRR and indicated the project is advanced in planning because of prior right‑of‑way acquisition.
