Charles City considers closing Lane Street railroad crossing as rail and DOT funds are negotiated

Charles City council members received an update on a package of changes tied to a proposed closure of the Lane Street railroad crossing that would be carried out at the railroad’s request.

The mayor said the group has “come up with some progress” with Canadian Pacific/Kansas City (CPKC) and other stakeholders: the railroad would close Lane Street if the city supports regrading and making another nearby crossing available for regular semitrailer traffic. The city would expect roughly $100,000 from the railroad and $100,000 from the Iowa Department of Transportation toward related crossing work, the mayor said.

Why it matters: closing Lane Street would remove one crossing but is presented as part of a trade that funds more substantial upgrades at nearby crossings. Council members pressed the staff and the railroads on emergency-vehicle access, whether low-clearance “lowboy” semitrailers could still reach certain facilities a few times a year, and whether the city would be left with liability or long-term maintenance obligations for small segments of roadway adjacent to private property.

Details and timing: a DOT representative, Christopher, explained how the federal/state/railroad funding split typically works and warned councils not to treat the railroad’s $100,000 figure as the city’s sole cost: the city pays 20% of the entire project price, which can include roadway approach work the city must perform. Christopher said the federal grant funding for the Grand Avenue project must be closed by Sept. 30, 2028, and recommended signing an agreement early next spring so component lead times (six to nine months for signal components) do not jeopardize federal deadlines.

Local business owners who use the crossing raised operational concerns. One co-owner of a recycling business said his operation relies on weekly semi access and warned closing the public through-street could force a costly relocation. A representative participating remotely (Chuck) said his company would prefer the status quo but can accept changes if the city regrades the alternate crossing and vacates a small road segment so the company can control access.

Railroad safety and speed: council members asked whether closing Lane Street would let trains run faster. The group was told that speed changes are regulated by federal rules and by physical track constraints at the CN/CP diamond where two railroads cross. Staff will ask both railroads to confirm whether any changes to track or signal arrangements would allow increased track speeds.

Outcome: no formal action was taken; the discussion was an informational update. Staff and council agreed to meet with CN and CPKC the following day to resolve outstanding questions—especially whether Canadian National (CN) will permit regrading of the Bracket Street crossing and what the final cost shares will be—and to return with cost estimates and a recommended schedule.

Next steps: staff will (1) seek definitive confirmations on regrading and signal/speed constraints from both railroads, (2) clarify whether the small street segment in front of a business would be vacated or remain a city street, (3) produce refined cost estimates and a draft agreement, and (4) present those findings at a future planning session.