DEPARTMENT: Transportation
FILE TYPE: Consent Action
TITLE
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Authorization To Execute Joint Powers Agreement With Dakota County Regional Railroad Authority To Construct Improvements At Greenway Railroad Crossings And Authorization To Amend 2024 Capital Improvement Program And Budget
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PURPOSE/ACTION REQUESTED
Authorize the execution of a joint powers agreement (JPA) with the Dakota County Regional Railroad Authority (Authority) for Parks Projects P00127 and P00147 that will construct improvements at greenway railroad crossings. Amend the 2024 Dakota County Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and Budget.
SUMMARY
The Dakota County Parks CIP and Budget includes greenway projects that construct improvements to greenway crossings of railroads. The Minnesota River Greenway Fort Snelling Project (P00127) will construct a grade-separated greenway crossing of the Union Pacific (UP) Railroad in Fort Snelling State Park. The Veteran’s Memorial Greenway (P00147) will construct a grade-separated railroad crossing of the Canadian Pacific Kansas Southern (CPKC) Railroad near Trunk Highway 3 in Eagan as well as make at-grade crossing improvements of the UP Railroad at 105th Street in Inver Grove Heights.
The Authority has powers under Minn. Stat. § 398A to plan, construct, and improve railroads and transitways. The railroad crossing elements of P00127 and P00147 were identified as eligible for use of Authority fund balance because they improve rail crossing safety. Staff identified a portion of each project for potential Authority fund balance utilization in order to offset the use of other Parks funding sources including the Environmental Legacy Fund (ELF), Levy, County Program Aid (CPA), and the Parks Fund. Proposed funding amounts to transfer are below:
• Minnesota River Greenway, Fort Snelling UP Railroad bridge (P00127): $2,610,131
• Veteran’s Memorial Greenway (P00147):
o Grade-Separated Crossing of CPKC, Eagan: $600,000
o At-Grade Crossing of UP, Inver Grove Heights: $400,000
A budget amendment is required to shift funding sources from the various sources in the Dakota County Parks CIP and Budget to the 2024 Authority CIP and Budget. A JPA is also required between Dakota County and the Authority to define staff roles, responsibilities, and cost share. A separate action will be brought to the Authority for consideration at the August 27, 2024, meeting.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Staff recommends authorization to execute a JPA with the Authority to define roles, responsibilities, and cost share for PP00127 and PP00147. Staff also recommends amending the 2024 Dakota County CIP and Budget.
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EXPLANATION OF FISCAL/FTE IMPACTS
The proposed action aims to align available funding resources with eligible projects replacing $3,610,131 million of County funding with Regional Rail Authority funding.
☐ None ☐ Current budget ☐ Other
☒ Amendment Requested ☐ New FTE(s) requested
RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, the 2024 Dakota County Capital Improvement Program (CIP) and Budget includes Parks Projects P00127 and P00147; and
WHEREAS, the Projects construct improvements to greenway crossings of railroads; and
WHEREAS, the Projects are eligible for inclusion in the 2024 Dakota County Regional Railroad Authority (Authority), CIP, and Budget because they improve railroad safety; and
WHEREAS, funding eligible rail safety projects through the Authority CIP and Budget better aligns available funding resources with eligible projects; and
WHEREAS, a budget amendment is required to shift funding sources for Projects P00127 and P00147 to the Authority CIP and Budget; and
WHEREAS, a joint powers agreement is required between Dakota County and the Authority to define staff roles and responsibilities as well as cost share for the Projects.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, That the Dakota County Board of Commissioners hereby authorizes the Physical Development Director to execute a joint powers agreement with the Dakota County Regional Railroad Authority for Parks Projects P00127 and P00147 that improve safety of rail crossings at Dakota County greenways; and
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, That the 2024 Dakota County Parks Capital Improvement Program is hereby amended as follows:
Revenue
ELF (MnRGW Fort Snelling) P00127 ($1,918,571)
CPA (MnRGW Fort Snelling) P00127 ($566,913)
Park Fund (MnRGW Fort Snelling) P00127 ($100,000)
Levy (MnRGW Fort Snelling) P00127 ($24,647)
Park Fund (Veterans Memorial Greenway) P00147 ($1,000,000)
Total Revenue ($3,610,131)
Expense
MnRGW Fort Snelling P00127 ($2,610,131)
Veterans Memorial Greenway P00147 ($1,000,000)
Total Expense ($3,610,131)