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Minnetonka Council OKs $500,000 agreement to preserve Dominic Drive quiet zone
Summary
The council authorized an agreement with the Metropolitan Council to upgrade the Dominic Drive freight crossing so Minnetonka can keep its federally designated quiet-zone status; staff said the work includes constant-warning-time equipment, conduit and crossing replacement and is estimated at up to $500,000.
The Minnetonka City Council on April 13 authorized the mayor and city manager to execute an agreement with the Metropolitan Council to upgrade rail-crossing equipment at Dominic Drive and to spend up to $500,000 from the project budget.
City engineering staff explained the work is required to maintain a federally designated quiet zone established in 2006. Staff said the upgrade includes installing constant-warning-time equipment that measures train speed and distance, running conduit along the railroad corridor, replacing crossing panels and associated concrete work and housing for electrical equipment. The estimate from Met Council’s contractor and city consultants came in at roughly $500,000.
Councilmember Foster Bolton asked why the city could not decline the project; staff replied that the alternative would be to allow train horns to resume at crossings, a change that would affect roughly 1,800 nearby residents. Staff also said current traffic is about two to four trains per day but that freight frequency could increase in the future.
Councilmember Calvert moved to authorize the agreement, amend the capital-improvement plan and permit the city engineer to expend allocated funds up to the $500,000 project budget. The motion passed on a roll-call vote.
Why it matters: Keeping the quiet-zone designation prevents train horns from sounding at the crossing, which residents have said improves livability for neighborhoods nearest the tracks. The project represents a substantial one-time cost for crossing safety equipment and associated civil work; staff said the Met Council provided the contractor and the city’s portion primarily reflects construction and conduit costs.
What’s next: The city engineer is authorized to proceed with the work subject to nonmaterial contract changes approved by the city engineer and the city attorney. The council did not detail funding sources beyond amending the CIP and using the allocated project budget.
