Title
A Resolution of the City Commission of the City of Hollywood, Florida, Authorizing the Appropriate City Officials to Execute A Supplemental Grant Participation And Reimbursement Agreement With Brightline Trains Florida, LLC For The Implementation Of The Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program “Broward County Sealed Corridor” Improvements At The Garfield Street Crossing Of The Florida East Coast Railway, With A Current Estimated City Funding Responsibility of Approximately $314,000.00.
Strategic Plan Focus
Infrastructure & Facilities
Body
Staff Recommends: Consideration of the attached Resolution.
Explanation:
On December 4, 2024, the City Commission adopted Resolution No. R-2024-395 authorizing execution of the Railroad Crossing Elimination Program (RCEP) Grant Participation and Reimbursement Agreement (“Agreement”), attached as Exhibit “i”, with the understanding that the Garfield Street crossing of the Florida East Coast Railway (FECR) would remain open rather than the proposed crossing closure, identified in Exhibit “B” of the Agreement. The City executed agreement was returned to the Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), and the understanding was modified in the final executed RCEP Grant Participation and Reimbursement Agreement (“Final Agreement”) with Garfield Street Crossing identified as a Proposed RCEP Crossing Closure, attached in Exhibit “ii”.
While the understanding for the Garfield Street Crossing to remain open was not reflected in the Final Agreement, the MPO was informed by the Federal Railway Administration (FRA) that the RCEP grant execution is imminent, thereby necessitating the need to finalize the RCEP project scope.
The MPO provided the City with the options below:
Option 1) The City and Brightline Trains Florida LLC execute a Supplemental Grant Participation and Reimbursement Agreement for Improvements at the Garfield Street Crossing (“Supplemental Agreement”), attached as Exhibit “iii”, allowing the project to advance and ensuring that FRA grant-funded quad-gates at Garfield Street Crossing may proceed. This includes the City being responsible for an estimated cost of approximately $314,000.00 for quad-gate installation.
With quad-gate installation, additional traffic control measures or traffic signalization will be required, and the City will be responsible seeking and identifying funding for these improvements, as well as for initiating, implementing, and completing these improvements in accordance with applicable warrants and approvals from all participating agencies including Broward County, Florida East Coast Railway, and Florida Department of Transportation. The installation of a traffic signal (including design and construction) is estimated to be $1M.
All additional required traffic safety measures must be approved, installed and operational prior to the quad-gates being placed into operation.
Option 2) No RCEP grant-funded work will occur at the Garfield Street Crossing if the Supplemental Agreement is not executed.
Option 3) Participate in the RCEP project for a full crossing closure at Garfield Street.
Upon the City Commission’s decision on one of the above options, all prior understandings established in the Agreement under Resolution No. R-2024-395 pertaining to the Garfield Street Crossing shall be null and void. The previously proposed and agreed railroad crossing improvements at the Johnson Street and Washington Street Crossings and terms within the Agreement will remain unchanged.
BACKGROUND:
On June 23, 2022, the MPO hosted a town hall with the FRA, local governments, and transportation partners to discuss railroad safety. FRA’s concerns were raised about the County's Quiet Zone due to multiple fatalities along the FEC railway corridor. At the town hall meeting, the FRA announced it would review the FEC corridor, emphasizing the need for local and regional partners to collaborate on interventions and improvements to prevent further fatalities while maintaining the Quiet Zone. FRA’s suggested strategies included:
• Trespassing mitigation
• Elimination of grade crossings
• Installation of safety equipment (e.g., quad gates, hardened medians)
• Enhanced public safety campaigns
• Stricter enforcement of traffic laws.
The MPO coordinated with the FRA, Broward County, and municipalities, reviewed data, and developed a preliminary action plan. A joint workshop was held to finalize short-term and long-term improvements. On October 10, 2022, on behalf of Broward County, the Cities of Dania Beach, Fort Lauderdale, Hallandale Beach, Hollywood, Pompano Beach, and Wilton Manors, the MPO applied for the FRA RCEP Grant to fund the Broward County Sealed Corridor project for safety improvements at 21 crossings over 26 miles of FEC railway. The RCEP Grant application outlined a total project cost of $19,300,000 for the safety improvements. The local governments committed $3,860,000 to meet the required 20% non-federal match, with the remaining $15,440,000 funded by the Federal share.
On June 5, 2023, the MPO received a Notice of Award of $15,440,000 in RCEP Grant funds from the FRA for the Broward County Sealed Corridor project. In 2024, the MPO and Brightline prepared preliminary plans for the 26 crossing improvements at 21 FEC at-grade crossings identified in the Grant application, prepared the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) requirements, and addressed project-specific terms and conditions with the FRA for the RCEP Grant. In August 2024, FRA notified the MPO that all NEPA documentation requirements were satisfied, and the FRA RCEP Grant Agreement for the Broward County Sealed Corridor project is under final review.
Fiscal Impact:
Funding expenditure for the Agreement in the amount of $533,628.00 is available in FY 2025 account 336.149901.54100.560003.001123.000.000 Capital Improvement Plan. This includes the Year 2023 previously estimated cost for the Garfield Street Crossing closure improvements of $114,485.76. Should the Commission choose Option No. 1 and execute the Supplemental Agreement, future funding allocation will be budgeted for the additional funding required for the Garfield Street Crossing quad-gates improvements in the approximate amount of $314,000.00, and for the required intersection safety improvements.
Recommended for inclusion on the agenda by:
Clarissa Ip, PE, City Engineer
Andria Wingett, Director of Development Services
Raelin Storey, Assistant City Manager