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Council backs application for $3.65 million passenger-rail planning study with local match
Summary
The council unanimously approved a resolution supporting a $3.65 million planning study for improvements near the Amtrak station, including underpass replacement. Staff said the grant would cover 80% of the planning study and the 20% match would be split between the city and BNSF; the city's portion would come from the utility tax fund.
Council voted 6-0 to support a federal-state partnership grant application for an inner-city passenger rail planning study focused on the Amtrak station corridor. Staff said the study would evaluate alternatives, perform preliminary engineering and a full environmental assessment and study potential changes including replacing the South Street underpass, closing the Mulberry Street crossing and adding pedestrian and bicycle improvements.
"The planning study is estimated to cost 3,650,000 with 80% covered by the grant," Hansen told the council, and staff described that the remaining 20% local match would be split equally between the city and BNSF with the city's portion funded from the utility tax fund. The resolution commits the city to the planning-stage local match and to public engagement during the planning process.
Staff emphasized the application seeks planning dollars only; future construction would require separate funding and approvals. Council members asked no substantive questions and voted to support the application, allowing staff to proceed with the grant submission and committed local-match planning.
