The project would eliminate the railroad crossing on Crystal Falls Parkway and adjust traffic flow by eliminating the need for vehicles to stop when trains pass.
Assistant to the City Manager Kent Souriyasak and Lance Ballard of engineering firm Kimley-Horn spoke to the city council about the project at its Jan. 6 meeting.
The project
Souriyasak said the city’s US 183 Corridor Study identified three places where grade separations—changing the elevation of either the road or the rails to eliminate the railroad crossing—were needed. Of those three places, Crystal Falls Parkway at US 183 was identified as the highest priority.
The proposed project would elevate a portion of the railroad tracks by constructing a bridge supported by pillars over Crystal Falls Parkway.
Ballard said the engineers at Kimley-Horn considered other options, including digging underneath the tracks to depress Crystal Falls, but decided that elevating the tracks is the best option because it would be the most cost-effective and would have the least impact on neighboring homes and businesses.
Why it matters
Souriyasak said the two main goals of the project are to improve safety and traffic flow.
The railroad bridge would improve safety for car and truck traffic, as well as for pedestrians, by eliminating the crossing point where their paths intersect with those of passing trains.
It would also improve traffic flow by eliminating the need to stop at a railroad crossing.
Funding the project
Ballard said the project's anticipated total cost is $103 million.
Souriyasak said the city is applying for a $40 million grant from the Texas Department of Transportation that would cover part of the cost. A preliminary application for that grant has already been accepted. The full grant application is due by Jan. 19, and TxDOT will determine whether to award it by the end of February.
Souriyasak also said city staff are exploring other funding opportunities, including federal and private grants.
The timeline
Once the TxDOT grant is determined, the next steps in the design and planning process will begin.
Ballard said the full design process is likely to take at least two and a half years, and construction is anticipated to take three years.
The city is eyeing a potential opening of the elevated portion of the railroad in 2032.
What they’re saying
Council members expressed support for the project.
“This project is one that is sorely needed,” council member Stephen Chang said. “Our city is growing exponentially. Our traffic is growing, our population is growing, and anyone who’s ever been on Crystal Falls and the 183 corridor knows that there are massive backups up and down and in every direction.”
“I think this is a combination of a whole lot of entities having to come together to try to make this happen–our partnership with CapMetro, city staff, the fact that the state is willing to grant money to be able to do this, because Leander on its own would not be able to accomplish this at all,” council member Becki Ross said. “So I appreciate all the efforts going together to make sure that we can present the best application we can.”
Council member Andrew Naudin said the planning process needs to address community concerns about potential impacts on neighboring areas, but that the railroad bridge is important.
“I love the fact that we’re starting with this project and I definitely support it,” Naudin said.
