Focus Area: Infrastructure (Engineering)
Staff Contact: Mary Jaeger / Nate Baldwin
Subject: Agreement with BNSF Railway for funding of the BNSF West Track Separation Preliminary Engineering Project, PN 3-C-029-24.
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TITLE:
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Consideration of an Agreement with BNSF Railway for funding of the BNSF West Track Separation Preliminary Engineering Project, PN 3-C-029-24.
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Summary:
The City of Olathe is bisected by the BNSF Emporia Subdivision, which runs north and south at-grade through downtown Olathe. There are eight at-grade crossings and one low clearance crossing of these railroad tracks, each presenting a unique set of challenges to the City and its residents. The BNSF railroad tracks act as a major east-west barrier with the City, preventing the free flow of traffic and compounding safety issues for all modes of transportation. This project will provide conceptual engineering of the nine crossings along these railroad tracks to improve the reliability of east-west travel time in western Olathe.
On January 10, 2025, the City was selected for an award of $1,750,000 from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) under the Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) program. This grant award was approved by City Council on August 5, 2025. BNSF Railway committed $100,000 in support of the project if awarded the grant. This agreement is for $100,000 in BNSF Railway contributed funding towards the project.
The development of a Project Management Plan (PMP) is currently underway, and it is anticipated that it will be submitted to the FRA in Q1 2026. After FRA approval of the PMP, work on the study will begin. Initial stakeholder engagement is anticipated for Summer/Fall 2026. The Final Performance Report will be completed no later than January 31, 2028, per the RCE grant agreement.
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Financial Impact:
Funding for the BNSF West Track Separation Preliminary Engineering Project, as approved in the 2026-2030 Capital Improvement Plan, includes:
GO Bonds $500,000
BNSF $100,000
RCE Grant $1,750,000
Total $2,350,000
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Action Needed:
Approval of an Agreement with BNSF Railway for funding of the BNSF West Track Separation Preliminary Engineering Project, 3-C-029-24.
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Attachment(s):
A. Project Location Map
B. Project Fact Sheet
C. Agreement