The latest thinking on creating a railroad quiet zone in Jefferson is that all four Union Pacific railroad crossings could be left open and modified with supplemental safety structures at a cost of about $350,000. City engineer Jim Leiding of Bolton & Menk named that figure as a “ballpark estimate” as he presented a proposal for consulting services to the city council’s street committee Tuesday.
Of the total, $76,000 would be the cost of Bolton & Menk’s work.
Bolton and Menk had made a preliminary proposal a few months ago, but the proposal was denied because it included replicating some of the work another engineering firm had already done on the project. Leiding was asked to review that work and then come back with a less costly proposal.
Leiding was able to take $400,000 off the top of the estimate given by the other firm because that plan pre-dated construction of the Highway 4 overpass. Work on the Elm St crossing to allow for a quiet zone was $400,000. That is no longer necessary.
The earlier study also included the Pinet St crossing, which has since been closed.
Bolton & Menk’s work would be divided into six phases. The first five phases total $49,700 in cost. The sixth phase, overseeing the actual construction, would cost $26,400. Leiding said it would be acceptable for the city to agree to the first five, and then make a final decision about proceeding with construction.
City council members Matt Gordon and Larry Teeples were at the meeting At city administrator Mike Palmer’s suggestion, they’ll “chew on it” until the February committee meeting. They could possibly make a recommendation to the full council at the Feb. 27 meeting.
