Cheyenne finance panel advances Reed Avenue corridor funding after engineering briefing

City engineers and council members on April 7 laid out the next steps for the Reed Avenue rail-corridor project and the committee voted to recommend the ordinance’s approval on second reading, provided the city reaches a final written agreement with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad (BNSF).

Tom Cobb, the city engineer, told the finance committee that the project is advancing through the BNSF and Federal Railroad Administration processes and that the city is preparing 60% design plans and a contract modification to expand adjacent side-street work. Cobb said an FRA crossing-elimination grant requires a “2295” agreement spelling out the project scope and federal assurances, and that the agreement — as described in staff remarks — would include removal of four active crossings, upgrades at six additional crossings, corridor fencing, and stormwater drainage improvements.

"The agreement doesn't obligate either party to proceed with construction," Cobb said, adding that a separate construction-and-maintenance agreement will be required before the city…