Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Railroad Crossings Grants topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Committee asks staff to evaluate Section 130 and other grants for railroad crossing improvements
Summary
Transportation Director Paul Luedke outlined the city's at-grade railroad crossings ("about 40-something") and discussed potential funding sources including federal Section 130 and a one-time COG/RTC program; the committee asked staff to return with findings on Section 130 applicability.
Transportation Director Paul Luedke presented a map of at-grade railroad crossings in the city and summarized potential funding sources for improvements. "I think it's about 40 something crossings that we've got in the city," he said, noting crossings owned by KCS (now CPKC) and other rail operators. Luedke described funding channels: the city's CIP, a COG/RTC railroad-crossing improvement program that previously allocated $10 million, and the federal Section 130 program, which he said had about $245,000,000 in that year and is distributed based on accident rates.
Committee members asked whether the statewide Section 130 total would meaningfully help local projects and discussed the staff resources needed to apply for grants. Luedke cautioned that applying requires substantial staff time and that even if awarded, federal projects can take years to reach construction: "if we were awarded something this year, it takes probably two or three years minimum till you actually can... use the money and go spend it." He added that TxDOT typically administers the federal portion, which can reduce the city's direct administrative burden.
The committee asked staff to evaluate Section 130 eligibility for the city's crossings and to return with findings. Members emphasized triaging grant work toward projects the city is likely to win and noted the trade-off between staff time spent applying and the potential award size.
