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Council advances 19th Street rail feasibility study, approves professional-services agreement up to $500,000
Summary
The Springfield City Council moved a feasibility study forward for the 19th Street rail corridor and authorized a professional-services agreement with Hanson Professional Services Inc. for preliminary engineering work not to exceed $500,000; councilors asked for public outreach and an updated cost analysis.
The Springfield City Council on Tuesday moved forward a feasibility study for the 19th Street rail corridor and authorized a professional-services agreement with Hanson Professional Services Inc. for preliminary engineering not to exceed $500,000.
Mayor Jim Buscher told the council that an earlier study predicted up to nine trains per day on the 19th Street tracks by 2030 but that current counts show two trains a day, and that the scheduled 2027 closure of the Kinkade Power Plant could further reduce rail traffic. “So very different than the old study,” the mayor said, arguing that a new analysis is needed to reassess costs and community impacts.
Mike Minnehil of Hanson said the consultant’s typical schedule would be about six months after the agreement is executed by the city and then by the state, with stakeholder outreach and at least one public meeting during the study. Staff said the study will include an updated cost analysis and a high‑level review of possible funding sources to inform future decisions.
Council members who supported debate said they wanted assurances the study would lead to action and not sit on a shelf, and asked staff to include clear timelines and funding options. One council member asked whether city funds were pledged; a Hanson representative estimated roughly $6,000,000 of city contribution toward a larger federally and state-funded project estimated at about $550,000,000, but said that figure was a rough ballpark.
The ordinance authorizing the consultant agreement (preliminary engineering PE‑1 and PE‑2) was placed on debate and is expected to be before the council for a final vote next week. The council also approved moving related ordinances that together aim to begin the feasibility and engineering work.
Next steps: staff said they will execute the agreement with Hanson once approved, schedule public and stakeholder outreach during the study, and supply an updated cost estimate and funding options to the council.
