4/16/1991 - Laserfiche WebLink

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r- APR, 16 11 AAp t7 Public Works Director Jim Davis presented staff's perspective on railroad bridges by citing some articles in the Public Works magazine dated August, 1988, which reported on a project in Grand Rapids, Michigan to raise a railroad above an existing roadway; it was a 7 -year project which had been expedited and was considered record time for construction of a railroad grade separation; the cost was three million. He pointed out that the projects are similar except CR512 in the future possibly should be expanded to seven lanes instead of five lanes. Director Davis felt he was educated on the subject from reading the article as to what the process was like. He feels our project is more complex due to some existing buildings in the area and the need for more retaining wall. Director Davis reported the funding sources for the Michigan project were the Federal Highway Commission, the CSX Railroad, which is the railroad company in Michigan, as well as the Kent County Road Commission. Commissioner Scurlock pointed out that funds in this district or zone are being generated in the amount of about half a million dollars a year and Mr. Brodie had indicated a cost in the range of five to seven million dollars, which means a fourteen -year period of collecting impact fees to fund that activity; in the meantime we have to keep current with our open road system for the Comp Plan. Commissioner Bowman felt we are not thinking of that as a short range plan but rather a ten or twelve year plan and feels impact fees are going to increase without doubt in the next ten years. Commissioner Scurlock described a cycle of inadequate service levels causing no new building permits and no new impact fees. Chairman Bird also commented that you cannot earmark all the money that goes into the fund just for the railroad bridge because the other road systems need maintenance. Commissioner Scurlock understood at that intersection we are at nine thousand trips and in his understanding when we reach thirteen thousand we have started to exceed our transportation and service levels and historically that is not very far off. He asked how much would that particular improvement cost. Director Davis estimated the twin pairs project would be eight hundred thousand dollars. Commissioner Bowman asked how many years would that adequately take care of the traffic. 22