Port Jervis seeks up to $6 million federal grant for pedestrian railroad crossing; Collier Engineering to prepare application

Valerie Majinski updated the council on the federally funded railroad crossing-elimination project for a pedestrian crossing at Fowler and Fourth Street, and asked the council to approve submitting an application for up to $6 million to take the project from conceptual design through final engineering and construction.

Majinski said the existing track-one grant paid for conceptual design and totaled $199,500 (80% federal, 20% city). "The current project totals $199,500 of which 80% or $159,600 is federal grant and 20% or $39,900 is the city's match," she said. Collier Engineering prepared the original grant application and is working on the current design contract.

A new Railroad Crossing Elimination Program grant round, Majinski said, closes June 8 at 11:59 p.m.; current grant holders such as Port Jervis would receive a scoring preference. The council was asked to authorize the city and the Port Jervis Community Development Agency to submit an application for track two (final design) and track three (construction) totaling up to $6 million, which Majinski described as an 80% federal grant with a 20% city match (approximately $4.8 million federal, $1.2 million city match).

The council also authorized engaging Collier Engineering to write the application for a fee of $10,000 plus incidentals. Majinski said the track-one contract runs through Jan. 31, 2028, and that, if awarded, the new project would begin after that close date; she said the city would seek other funds if needed to offset the local match.

The council approved the CDA resolution to engage Collier and to submit the application. No final construction contract or timeline was approved at this meeting; the application decision rests with the federal agency.