Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-26-1999 Meeting RAILWAY SUBCOMMITTEE MEETING COMMITTEE ROOM - January 26, 1999 12:00 noon Opening remarks. 1. Consider the closing of the crossing at Goshen Industrial Boulevard. 2. Consider the purchase of hydra switch units for the downtown area. 3. Other business. I RAILWAY SUBCOMWTTEE MEETING COM:MITTEE ROOM - January 26, 1999 12 noon PRESENT: S. Shepard. Chairman, 1. Beard, P. Tucker E:MA Director, Battn. ChiefH. Willis, AFD; D. Devlin, Norfolk Southern; R. Phelps, CSXT, members; B. Young, Mayor, J. Brigham, Commissioner; H. Hornsby. Asst. Administrator, J. Wall, Attorney; G. Patty and M. Pitts, P&Z; J. Murphy, PW & Engineering Director; P. Belvin, ARC; L. Bonner, Clerk of Commission. ALSO PRESENT: S. Eidson, Metro Spirit. I Mr. Shepard: We've been working primarily at the staff level on two issues in the Railway Subcommittee. The two issues which are shown on the agenda are first which was referred to us by the full Commission relates to a crossing closing at Goshen Industrial Boulevard and that issue primarily concerns the Norfolk Southern because that is its tracks alone. The second issue is involving both the Norfolk Southern and the CSX because the hydra switches will be placed, two of them at facilities that are subject to the joint use of the railroads, primanly they are the CSX trackage. My recommendation to the Committee is that we refer this back where it came with a recommendation from this Committee and we point toward the second meeting in February. Ifwe can have this. finished with any attorney input and any staff work that needs to be done, we want to have this finished. ! I Mr. Murphy: B~low State Route 56 there are three (3) crossings. The first spur track leads into Huron Tech. The second (2) one leads into Olin Chemicals and the third (3) is PQ. If you'll remember right after we opened up the Huron Tech crossing there was an accident that was standing on the tracks and that caused us to have many meetings after that. The bottorn line now is that most of the industries want three flashing lights and bells, but no gates at the three crossings. We're taking about $100,000 each. We have come to the point now where we can get these three crossings with the signals by simply closing Goshen Industrial Boulevard which will eliminate a crossing that's adjacent to New Savannah Road. By doing this the industries will pay a third, Georgia DOT will pay a third and the railroads will pay a third. There will be no cost to Augusta except the closing of Goshen Industrial Boulevard and it won't get done unless we close the crossing. Mr. Shepard: The action requested of the Commission is to authorize the closing of that crossing. Financially it seems to be fairly straight forward. Does Jim need to have ~ agreement or do we need to have a resolution that closes the crossing? Mr. Murphy: Essentially all we need is a resolution, and this will be forwarded to the proper people. I Mr.. Beard: I recommend that item number one the closing oillie crossing.at Goshen Boulevard be referred to the February 16 Commission meetUig and have the letter of understanding available. I Mr. Shepard: Second. Motion carried unanimously. Consider the purchase of hydra switch units for the downtown area. Mr. Belvin: We're looking at three switching devices. Switch (A) is on the CSX railroad and Norfolk Southern is not involved in that one. Originally we had proposed to use solar powered switches but now we think we can hook them up to the Georgia Power Company and do away with the solar. Th~ parti~ular switch would be controlled and maintained solely by CSX. Switches (B) and (C) are on trackage jointly served with the two railroads and (B) and (C) switches would be operated simultaneously so that when the CSX comes in at switch (B), switch (C) would align it to go into the CSX yard. When the Norfolk Southern comes down 6th 'Street and comes to 'switch (B), switch (C) would . align itself to allow the train to go into the Norfolk.Southern yard. We have agreements with the railroads and worked out all the bugs and I think the two. ra.i1r9~ are working together and it looks very positive that we can aCcomplish this. What it would do is allow the trains to continue to come through town and the switches would be thrown I automatically and the train would not have to stop. Mr: Shepard: Have we identified the cost factor? Mr. Belvin: Originally, we allotted.$IS',OOO per switch, we have $50,000 put aside for all three. We do not see the cost increasing at all in fact it may even be a little bit less. As I understand it, the railroads will buy these switches and bring the switches in. The railroads at this point will install and m~tain the switches. In our agreement I think we would include that if for some reason the switches are taken' out then they would become the property of our government. The railroad will be responsible for the power bill. Mr. Murphy: How soon will we expect to do all this? Mr. Belvin: I think we can expect to have some agreement from the railroads within the next sixty days and then we can go to work in ninety days. Mayor Young: This project will be completed and in operation in what kind of time line? . Mr. Belvin: Once the switches are here, 1 think they can be installed in a week. Mr. Beard: I so move we refer this to the Engineering Services Committee at- I the next meeting with a draft from the Attorney and the recommended cost factors. I Mr. Shepard: Second. Motion carried unanimously. With no further business to discuss the meeting was adjourned. /bb I I Lena J. Bonner Clerk of Commission