The details
The award includes up to $3,139,500 for a grade separation project on McIntyre Road and future Wilmeth Road, where they cross Dallas Area Rapid Transit railroad tracks. The grade separation would include creating a bridge over the existing tracks.
The city will contribute a 30% non-federal match for the grant, the release states. The funds will cover the cost of project planning, development and final design, including studies, surveys and other deliverables associated with the development of the grade separation.
The project was selected due its alignment with the program’s goal of enhancing safety and connectivity while also reducing the potential for future incidents and accidents at railroad crossings.
The funds were granted through the Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program and six Texas projects received funding for a total of $79.2 million awarded, according to the Jan. 10 announcement. The grant is a part of a $1.1 billion investment by the FRA to assess and improve over 1,000 highway rail crossings nationwide, the release states.
“The Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program funding we’re announcing today is a sweeping effort that directly supports cities, towns, and villages in every region of the country in their efforts to protect lives, prevent drivers being delayed by blocked crossings, and improve the overall quality of life for their citizens,” U.S. Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said in the release.
What else?
McKinney City Council members considered the grade separation project as well as other railroad crossings and potential projects during a Jan. 7 work session meeting.
The McIntyre Road grade separation project is estimated to cost $27.3 million. Director of Engineering Gary Graham noted in a presentation at the meeting that the grade separated crossing would be safer than the at-grade crossing and that city staff has pursued additional FRA grant funding for the project. Graham also noted that due to the low volume of trains running along the track, about eight to 10 per week, the grant application is not as competitive as some other applications.
“As the FRA is evaluating these grant proposals, they’re looking for the biggest bang for their buck,” Graham said.
Graham said improvements to the crossing, which will be completed as part of the extension of Wilmeth Road to the east, would cost about $5 million if the crossing was kept at-grade. City Council members did not direct city staff to continue pursuing the grade separation project at this time, noting the low volume of trains using the rail line.
“It seems like a luxury to me, especially with eight or 10 trains a week,” council member Patrick Cloutier said of the project.
Diving in deeper
The presentation also included details on a proposed at-grade railroad crossing at where Lamar Street meets the DART railroad tracks in East McKinney. The project would provide additional access for residents and travelers who have seen roadway impacts due to development in the area, including construction of the new McKinney City Hall, Graham said.
To complete the project, the city would be required to relocate DART siding currently located along the track near Lamar Street. Siding is an additional set of tracks alongside the railroad that allows DART to park trains or do switching maneuvers, Graham said. With the cost of the siding relocation, the project is estimated to cost $40 million-$55 million.
Council members supported the project and agreed with the need for additional roadway access in the area.
“We’re building ourselves into needing that to happen with where we put city hall,” Cloutier said of the proposed crossing. “When you go between Virginia [Street] and [US] 380, there’s nowhere to cross these tracks and there’s no better opportunity than Lamar [Street].”
Due to DART requirements to add an at-grade railroad crossing, city officials would be required to eliminate one or more other at-grade railroad crossings and pay a $2 million fee. Council members directed Graham to explore and negotiate other options that would enable the city to create the at-grade crossing at Lamar Street without removing another existing crossing.
One more thing
Another project considered would have widened the Broad Street railroad crossing, which is currently a one lane underpass on Broad Street below the DART tracks. The project would cost around $20 million-$25 million, Graham said.
Council members did not support pursuing the widening project at this time, but council member Justin Beller did note his desire for city staff to conduct trash clean-up around the crossing.
“We just need to make it look better,” Beller said of the Broad Street crossing. “It’s a cool crossing. I drove my kids under there for preschool for years and it’s their favorite part of the city.”
