Council approves vacating portion of 5th Avenue NE to meet BNSF grant condition

The Little Falls City Council on July 21 adopted Resolution 2025-20 to vacate a portion of 5th Avenue Northeast adjacent to the BNSF railroad tracks, a move city staff said is required to secure grant funding for widening and adding sidewalks along 1st and 4th Streets.

Public Works Director Greg told the council the city had secured grant money to improve the rail crossings at 1st Street and 4th Street but that BNSF required the city to close one crossing as part of the agreement. “One of the requirements that BNSF has is when we're widening that roadway corridor…it requires us to vacate one of the crossings along their tracks,” Greg said, explaining 5th Avenue was identified because of its location and available alternatives.

Council members pressed staff on timing and local impacts; Greg said the widening work is likely to occur in 2026 and acknowledged that closing 5th Avenue would temporarily increase the distance between crossings for some blocks. A resident who said they live at 6016 Street Northeast asked where barricades would be placed; Greg replied BNSF accepted a 15-foot buffer east of the track to mark the closure and that the access north and south would remain available for neighbors.

The council closed the public hearing on the item and adopted the resolution by roll-call vote. Council members and staff discussed using local artists or other beautification approaches near closures but noted the city must use Type 3 barricades to meet safety standards.

The decision allows the city to proceed with the grant-dependent design work; the public hearing on the related eminent domain item for Mill Island was left open and continued to August 18, 2025. The council recorded the resolution as carried.