Title
A Resolution Of The City Commission Of The City Of Hollywood, Florida, Authorizing The Execution Of An Amended And Restated Letter Of Agreement Among The City Of Hollywood, Florida East Coast Railway, LLC, And Brightline Trains Florida LLC, Modifying Existing Crossing Agreements For The Johnson Street And Washington Street Crossings Participating In The Broward County Sealed Corridor Project Funded Through The Federal Railroad Crossing Elimination Program (“RCEP”) Grant Administered By The Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization And Removing Garfield Street Crossing From The RCEP Grant Participation, And Superseding The Letter Of Agreement Authorized By Resolution No. R-2026-027.
Strategic Plan Focus
Infrastructure & Facilities
Body
Staff Recommends: Approval of the attached Resolution and Letter Agreement.
Explanation:
This item authorizes the execution of an Amended Letter of Agreement to remove the Garfield Street railroad crossing from the Broward County Sealed Corridor Project ("RCEP") and to modify the RCEP construction lead from Brightline Trains Florida LLC ("Brightline") to Florida East Coast Railway, LLC ("FECR").
The City maintains existing Crossing Agreements with FECR for railroad crossings within the Florida East Coast Railway Corridor ("Corridor") which includes the Garfield Street, Johnson Street, and Washington Street crossings. These agreements establish the responsibilities of the parties for the construction, operation, and maintenance of each crossing. The Corridor is also utilized by Brightline for the operation of intercity passenger rail service.
On January 21, 2026, the City Commission approved modifications to the Crossing Agreements for the Garfield Street, Johnson Street, and Washington Street railroad crossings as part of the RCEP, which is administered by the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization ("BMPO"). The Commission also authorized the execution of a Letter of Agreement, among the City, FECR, and Brightline pursuant to Resolution No. R-2026-027.
To maintain the Garfield Street railroad crossing open to vehicular traffic, and in coordination with the BMPO, the City is removing the Garfield Street crossing from participation in RCEP. The City is pursuing separate grant funding for improvements at this crossing and has submitted a grant application to fund the planning and preliminary engineering phases, as further described below. The proposed Amended Letter Agreement, attached as Exhibit "1," removes the Garfield Street crossing from the RCEP.
Additionally, Brightline is no longer serving as the construction lead for RCEP improvements. Under the proposed Amended Letter Agreement, FECR will assume responsibility as the construction lead.
The Department of Development Services recommends approval of removal of the Garfield Street railroad crossing from the RCEP and approval of the Amended Letter Agreement designating FECR as the construction lead for the remaining RCEP improvements at the Johnson Street and Washington Street railroad crossings.
BACKGROUND
The BMPO received federal grant funding through the RCEP to implement safety enhancements at twenty (20) at-grade railroad crossings along the FECR corridor. The Project originally included twenty-one (21) crossings, including the Garfield Street railroad crossing.
The City Commission previously authorized the City's participation in the RCEP Grant Program (R-2024-395) and approved a Supplemental Agreement with Brightline and FECR for safety improvements at the Garfield Street railroad crossing (R-2025-218). The City also approved modifications to the Crossing Agreements for the Garfield Street, Johnson Street, and Washington Street railroad crossings and authorized execution of a Letter Agreement among the City, FECR, and Brightline (R-2026-027).
The Project initially included safety improvements at the following City railroad crossings:
• Garfield Street, DOT #272582G, Mile Post 348+0364
• Johnson Street, DOT #272584V, Mile Post 348+1410
• Washington Street, DOT #272589E, Mile Post 349+1518
Under the original Letter Agreement, Brightline was designated as the construction lead for the RCEP improvements and would be reimbursed pursuant to its Subrecipient Agreement with the BMPO. The City will provide its required local cost share through a separate reimbursement agreement with the BMPO.
The previously executed Letter Agreement also modified the City's maintenance responsibility for the Garfield Street railroad crossing from 50% to 100% upon completion of the RCEP improvements. No changes were made to the maintenance responsibilities for the Johnson Street and Washington Street crossings, as the City is already responsible for 100% of the maintenance costs at those locations. The underlying Crossing Agreements, executed between 1927 and 1977, remain in full force and effect, with the Letter Agreement providing for the continuity of the parties' respective responsibilities while participating in the federally funded safety improvement program.
GARFIELD STREET CROSSING UPDATE
With the removal of the Garfield Street crossing from the RCEP Project, the City has applied for $452,244 in Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (“CRISI”) Program grant funding. If awarded, the City will provide the required 20% local match of $113,062 in non-federal funds to support the Garfield Street Railroad Crossing Safety and Mobility Improvements Project.
Building upon the work completed through the BMPO’s RCEP initiative and the preliminary conceptual alternatives developed by the City's consultant, HDR Engineering, Inc., the CRISI grant will fund the next phase of project development.
Specifically, the grant will support the preparation of a Planning Study Report to evaluate and advance a preferred alternative that enhances safety, mobility, and operational efficiency while maintaining rail corridor connectivity.
The proposed scope of work includes a comprehensive planning study, traffic operations analysis, railroad operations evaluation, environmental screening, surveying, geotechnical investigations, stakeholder coordination, and preliminary engineering. Additional tasks include roadway design, traffic signal and railroad preemption analysis, pedestrians and bicyclists accommodation, drainage improvements, utility coordination, lighting evaluation, maintenance of traffic planning, permitting coordination, and the preparation of preliminary construction cost estimates.
The planning effort will identify a preferred alternative that minimizes conflicts between rail and roadway users, enhances safety for motorists, pedestrians, and bicyclists, improves emergency access and traffic operations, strengthens community connectivity, and positions the City to pursue funding for final design and construction in implementing the recommended improvements.
Fiscal Impact:
Approval of this resolution will have no immediate fiscal impact on the City, as it authorizes the execution of an Amended Letter Agreement among the City, FECR, and Brightline to modify the existing crossing agreements for the Johnson Street and Washington Street railroad crossings participating in the Broward County Sealed Corridor Project.
Future funding for the City's ongoing maintenance obligations, including signal and crossing surface maintenance for active FECR railroad crossings within the City limits, will be requested and budgeted through subsequent fiscal years' Operating Budgets, subject to approval and adoption by the City Commission.
Recommended for inclusion on the agenda by:
Clarissa Ip, P.E., Asst. Director of Development Services/Chief City Engineer
Andria Wingett, Director of Development Services
Jose Cortes, Assistant City Manager