Council directs staff to pursue closure of 15th and 22nd Street rail crossings to speed Downtown Quiet Zone

City engineering staff updated council on the multi‑phase Downtown Quiet Zone project, noting phase 1 construction completed in January 2025 and that phase 2 plans have been revised to use wayside horns rather than a quad‑gate system. Staff said Union Pacific’s remaining comments have been addressed except for plan decisions at the 15th and 22nd Street crossings, and that closing those crossings could speed the overall schedule and reduce maintenance obligations.

Staff presented cost estimates for options: approximate material costs were presented as roughly $1.9 million to raise and keep 22nd Street open (not including Union Pacific review and other unknowns) and about $1.0 million for 15th Street improvements; staff said the construction cost to close both crossings was previously estimated at roughly $200,000 and noted potential incentives from TxDOT’s Section 130 program and Union Pacific cost participation. Multiple council members (Edge, Torres and others) voiced support for closing the two crossings to expedite the quiet zone; the mayor said staff had direction to proceed with closure agreements and to remove medians where appropriate. Staff said that if council directs opening the crossings instead it would likely delay bidding and add significant design and right‑of‑way tasks. The council did not take a formal recorded vote in this session but provided clear direction for staff to move forward with closure agreements and subsequent resubmission to Union Pacific.