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Port approves FRA-funded track-use agreement to rebuild Quint Street lead
Summary
The commission approved a track-use agreement with Union Pacific and BNSF to reconstruct the Quint Street lead, using a $3 million FRA grant and a 10% local match. NEPA clearance was obtained and staff plans construction bidding later in 2015.
The Port Commission on April 22 authorized staff to execute a track-use agreement with Union Pacific and Burlington Northern Santa Fe to reconstruct the Quint Street lead track, a roughly 0.9-mile freight rail spur serving the port.
Steven Reel, the project manager, told the commission the federal Railroad Administration awarded the port a $3,000,000 rail-line grant in September 2011; the grant requires a 10% local match, making the minimum project value $3.3 million. "The FRA granted us a categorical exclusion a few weeks ago," Reel said, signaling completion of the NEPA step that had delayed the project.
Reel described key agreement terms: phased work on segments of the lead with UP inspection and acceptance of each segment, continued railroad operations in limited work windows, no fee for use of the track, port responsibility for maintenance of reconstructed segments, and a term running through Dec. 30, 2015. Staff expects to enter the grant agreement pending Board of Supervisors action and to begin final engineering in June, advertise for construction bids in December and request authorization to award the construction contract in April 2015.
Commissioners voted in favor of the item on a voice vote. Staff emphasized the project is intended to increase reliability and allow six-axle locomotive operations into the port, improving freight service efficiency.
Next steps: execute the use-of-track agreement, finalize the grant agreement after Board action, commence engineering and return with bid and award authorizations as described.
