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Council obligates FRA funds, approves preliminary engineering for BNSF West track separation study
Summary
Olathe approved consent items to move forward on BNSF West track separation preliminary engineering and formalize an agreement with the FRA to obligate roughly $1.75 million in crossing-elimination grant funds; the council previously discussed that the grant package includes a $500,000 city match and $100,000 from BNSF and that the study will evaluate options for nine crossings without committing to closures.
The Olathe City Council approved consent items Aug. 5 that authorize preliminary engineering for the BNSF West Track Separation project and formalize the agreement with the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to obligate grant funds for a crossing-elimination study.
City engineer Nate Walden told council the city was awarded an FRA grant of $1,750,000, with the city contributing $500,000 and BNSF contributing $100,000 toward the planning work. The study will examine nine western corridor crossings (eight at-grade and one below grade) to evaluate safety, congestion, and whether crossings should be altered, raised or lowered. Walden said the study will produce a project planning package that must be submitted to the FRA by Jan. 2028 and stressed the current phase is exploratory: "We are not making a commitment on anything," he said.
Council approved the related resolution authorizing preliminary engineering (consent item n) and the formal FRA funding agreement (consent item o) by voice and roll-call votes, each passing 5–0.
Walden said staff expect to return with a contract for engineering (Transystems) and that stakeholder engagement and public outreach will follow during the study period; he also said the project could produce options that include temporary measures or permanent track/roadway changes depending on site needs.
Council members asked staff to seek opportunities to accelerate high-priority crossings where regulatory processes allow and to return periodically with updates to the council on schedule and scope.
