Update of Downtown Rail Improvements DFWI & Chamber Stakeholders February 26, 2014 Alonzo...

Update of Downtown Rail Improvements

DFWI & Chamber StakeholdersFebruary 26, 2014

Alonzo Liñán, PE, PTOECity of Fort Worth

Agenda

•Tower 55

•Live Oak Connector

•9th Street Crossing

•Questions…

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Tower 55

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Tower 55 TIGER Grant

GoalIncrease Economic ProductivityImprove Community LivabilityImprove Environmental Sustainability

ImpactAdd train capacityReduce train and vehicle congestion

• Close two (2) crossings (BNSF & East 1st and BNSF & Peach Street)• Reconstruct two (2) crossings (BNSF & Gounah and BNSF & Cold Springs)

Improved pedestrian mobility and safety• Sidewalks, Streetlights, Fencing

Install traffic signals at Hampton and BelknapImproved Air Quality Conditions

Two BNSF Rail Crossing

Closures

Tower 55

Peach Street

East 1st

Two BNSF Rail Bridge

Improvements

Cold Springs

Gounah

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Existing Crossing Closures

BNSF & Peach Street

BNSF & 1st Street

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Cold Springs Overpass ReconstructionBefore Before

After

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Before

Gounah St. Overpass Reconstruction

After

Before

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Tower 55 Pedestrian Impacts

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Sidewalk Network

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Gounah

Peach

Tower 55 Fencing

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Tower 55 Fencing

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Tower 55 Pedestrian Impacts

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3rd St Accessibility

• Existing sidewalk at 3rd St underpass

• No Improvements proposed

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East Lancaster St. Bridges• Built in 1906 (est)

• UP led work

• Rehabilitate abutment wall

• Encapsulate center posts with micro piles

• Re-deck entire structure

• Local partners coordination for detours and traffic control

Tower 55 New Traffic Signals

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Live Oak Connector

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Live Oak Connector

Goal• New street construction for reliable neighborhood access

Impact• Construct Live Oak Street from 1st to 4th St• Close (2) UPRR crossings (E 1st and Peach)• Construct fencing on both sides of track• Project still underway

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Live Oak Connector 55 Fencing

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9th Street Crossing

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9th Street Crossing

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9th Street Crossing

Discussions to Date• Reopen at-grade RR crossing• Leave as is (closed)

Considerations• Businesses are restricted• Quiet Zone/Horns• Staging of trains• Number of trains

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Schedule UpdatesTower 55• Anticipated substantial completion date – September 2014• Crossing Closures – Late July 2014

–1st Street and Peach Street– In advance of school year to ensure safe traffic flows

• Grade separations – Complete Mid-June 2014 –Gounah Street – May 1st target completion –Cold Springs Road – June 1st target completion

Live Oak• Plans nearing completion• Expect construction to be done by end of 2015

9th Street• Pending Land Owner Discussions

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Questions?

DFWI & Chamber StakeholdersFebruary 26, 2014