Title
A Resolution Of The City Commission Of The City Of Hollywood, Florida, Authorizing The Execution Of A Letter Agreement Between The City Of Hollywood, Florida East Coast Railway, LLC, And Brightline Trains Florida LLC, Modifying Existing Crossing Agreements For The Garfield Street, Johnson Street, And Washington Street Crossings Participating In The Broward County Sealed Corridor Project Funded Through The Federal Railroad Crossing Elimination Program Grant Administered By The Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization.
Strategic Plan Focus
Infrastructure & Facilities
Body
Staff Recommends: Approval of the attached Resolution and Letter Agreement.
Explanation:
The Broward Metropolitan Planning Organization (“BMPO”) has received a federal Railroad Crossing Elimination Program (“RCEP”) Grant to implement the Broward County Sealed Corridor Project (“Project”), which will install safety enhancements at twenty-one (21) grade crossings along the Florida East Coast Railway (“FECR”) Corridor.
The City Commission has previously adopted Resolution No. R-2024-395 authorizing the City’s participation in the RCEP Grant Program and Resolution No. R-2025-218 approving the City’s Supplemental Agreement with Brightline Trains Florida LLC (“Brightline”) and FECR for safety improvements at the Garfield Street Crossing. The City of Hollywood is a participating agency in this countywide safety improvement initiative. The Project includes safety upgrades at the following City 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
Brightline will construct all improvements under the RCEP Grant and will be reimbursed pursuant to its Subrecipient Agreement with the BMPO. The City will contribute its proportional local share through a separate Reimbursement Agreement.
With the proposed safety upgrades, the existing Crossing Agreements responsibilities require clarification. FECR and Brightline have proposed a Letter Agreement, attached as Exhibit “1”. The Letter Agreement is between FECR, Brightline, and the City of Hollywood and modifies the City’s maintenance responsibility for the Garfield Street crossing from fifty percent (50%) to one hundred percent (100%). No changes to maintenance responsibility are proposed for Washington Street and Johnson Street crossings, as the City is already responsible for one hundred percent (100%) of the maintenance costs at those locations. The existing Crossing Agreements, originally executed between 1927 and 1977, will remain in full force and effect. In addition, the Letter Agreement ensures continuity of responsibilities of the Crossing Agreements as the City participates in this federally funded safety improvement program.
The Department of Development Services supports execution of the Letter Agreement to allow inclusion of the City’s crossings with future federally funded Broward County Sealed Corridor Project improvements and to ensure compliance with existing FECR Crossing Agreements.
Fiscal Impact:
Approval of this resolution will not fiscally impact the City as this is a proposal to execute a letter of agreement between the city of Hollywood, Florida East Coast railway, LLC, and Brightline Trains Florida LLC, modifying existing crossing agreements for the Garfield Street, Johnson Street, and Washington Street crossings participating in the Broward County sealed corridor project.
Future funding for all ongoing maintenance costs, including signal maintenance, and crossing surface maintenance of all active FECR crossings within the City limits will be budgeted in 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. Dir. of Development Services/Chief City Engineer
Andria Wingett, Director of Development Services
Raelin Storey, Assistant City Manager