Council authorizes consultant agreement to study railroad crossings for future quiet zone

Aberdeen City Council approved a staff recommendation on July 8 to move forward with a professional services agreement to study safety improvements on several railroad crossings as part of a long-term effort to establish a Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) quiet zone.

Public works staff presented the project scope, saying the study covers seven crossings including Division/Heron, Duersch Avenue, Port Industrial, 1st Street, Maple and Myrtle and another industrial crossing. Staff said the city applied for a roughly $300,000 project, described in the presentation as $240,000 in grant support with a local match discussed; the consultant selection process resulted in a recommended team (transcript reference to "Cambridge System of Kinetics Incorporated in partnership with WSP"). The project schedule shown to council targeted completion in July 2027 and included multiple public outreach touchpoints.

Engineer Nick Murn said the work will analyze safety improvements necessary to pursue a quiet zone and that stakeholder outreach — including the railroad, Port of Grays Harbor and other partners — will be critical. Council members asked about impacts of closing crossings, potential truck-route migration and costs for installing active crossing arms; staff said those specifics will be defined in the consultant scope and the study.

Council moved, seconded and approved the staff request to authorize the mayor to execute the agreement. Staff will continue coordination with FRA and partners and return with project details and cost estimates as they are developed.