Monday, July 11, 2011

Rail Yard Relocation Update and Possible Impact to Southeast Sioux Falls

A quarterly update was presented to the City Council on July 5th providing information related to the 2001-2002 Railroad Relocation Master Plan. The master plan was divided into 4 phases. It is nice to hear that Phase I of the plan is done. It had 3 major projects:
  • Benson Road Siding - Completed
  • Phillips Ave. Extension - Completed
  • Paisley Park Underpass - Completed
Phases II and III are in progress and Phase IV is ongoing. Phase II consists of a new rail switch yard and construction to replace tracks in the downtown area. Phase III is also related to the rail construction replacement in Downtown and new construction of the main line.

Phase IV is working on an agreement between Burlington Northern and the city regarding eliminating grade crossings throughout Sioux Falls. In 2008 the 57th Street grade crossing was eliminated with the construction of a bridge over 57th Street. The 69th Street Bridge will be completed in August 2011. This phase will look at potential future crossings throughout the city.

The meat of the Master Plan, however, is Phases II and III dealing with the downtown rail relocation. It appears the sticking point in this project is the environmental assessment. The Feds appropriated $40 million for this project in 2006 and there is something like $38 million remaining in the allocation. This money is not sitting in a city account. The money remains with the Feds through the FHA who will authorize the release of the funds when the city signs a contract related to the project. 

Councilor Jamison asked if this was a city project and the reply was yes with reservation. It was stated that the Environmental Assessment is the key to getting the federal dollars. If this was purely a city project funded with city funds, there would be no need to do the EA.

City staff is currently working on the Environmental Assessment which entails multiple design meetings to identify feasible alternatives and meetings with the major stakeholders. It is taking a long time to make progress on the Environmental Assessment.

It is also taking a long time to determine what sites are feasible so the EA can get rolling. The past sites identified as feasible were:
  • Rice Street Corridor between Sioux Falls and Brandon
  • Ellis & Eastern Mainline yard
  • Downtown Y connector alternative for NE and NW lines - 2nd bridge across the river in Falls Park
  • Modification of the existing bridge across the river in Falls Park (this alternative has since been crossed off the list because it is no longer a feasible option.)
The city added a new alternative in this update - the Canton Line in Southeast Sioux Falls. They said the reason for adding this alternative as feasible is because of the 57th Street Bridge and the new bridge currently being constructed across 69th Street. 

Councilors expressed some concerns/questions regarding this new alternative. I was glad to hear their concerns considering the city is thinking about moving the main switching line to the residential southeast area of Sioux Falls which is a growing residential area.

If you live in the central or southeast part of Sioux Falls, then you are familiar with the trains that travel the Canton line into Sioux Falls. These trains travel this line at all times of the day and night but they especially create havoc when they move through town around 7:30 or 8 a.m. or close to quitting time at work. It's nice that there is bridge over 57th Street but those trains have to travel over the 49th Street grade crossing, the 26th Street grade crossing, the 14th Street grade crossing and the Cliff Ave. grade crossing on it's way to the downtown rail yard at 8th Street. The traffic disruption when those street crossings are cut off is atrocious and has a major impact on the eastside.

A switch yard on the Canton line in southeast Sioux Falls would now mean the train traffic will double what it is today.  Instead of switching in downtown as they do today, the trains from all the quadrants would have to travel through the central and southeast part of town out to the new Canton switching line and then travel back to where they want to go.

When trains now travel the Canton line through southeast and central Sioux Falls over those grade crossings, the trains cut off all traffic in that entire corridor. How is that progress? How is that an improvement? The impact to the quality of life in southeast Sioux Falls will decrease with this alternative site. Now the residents in that area of Sioux Falls will hear double the train noise and horn tooting anytime day and night. What are they thinking? They said the reason for this new alternative is to minimize the falls area and cost.

Cost, that pesky factor in anything the city does these days. Evidently there is not enough federal money for the bridge allocation in the falls park alternative. There might be barely enough money for the siding option but the fact is the city could have to provide additional dollars to the federal allocation to get this project completed. That means 2nd penny tax dollars in the capital program or bonding.

That might explain the new alternative using the Canton line as a solution, sacrificing the quality of life for the southeastern section of the city. Quicker and cheaper, affordable and prudent -  that may be the continuing line down at City Hall. Forget the fact that a huge residential part of the city will have to sacrificed for this progress. It was said that the Ellis & Eastern Mainline yard was already determined as feasible. So why are we considering the new Canton line as an alternative if there is already a feasible site?

The timeline was set out as follows:
  • Over the next 90 days, city staff should be able to finalize the design work.
  • The next update is October 3.
  • Two public meetings will be held in November 2011 and May 2012.
  • The draft EA will be ready by January 2012 with the final review and approval by September 2012.
  • Construction in 2012-2014
People need to start paying attention to this project. More rumbling trains, tooting horns and major traffic delays may be in your distant future if you live in southeast Sioux Falls and the surrounding area. 

10 comments:

  1. Is this now the favored route or just an alternative at this point?

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  2. The Feds appropriated $40 million for this project in 2006 and there is something like $38 million remaining in the allocation. This money is not sitting in a city account. The money remains with the Feds through the FHA who will authorize the release of the funds when the city signs a contract related to the project.
    ~~~~

    I suspect, like the Lewis and Clarke water debacle, this federal money will be a long time in coming.

    A more immediate concern. What is going on with the River Greenway project? Near as I can tell, not a shovel full of dirt has been moved in three months. Five million, and all I can see is a project 20% complete, and work at a standstill. What's up with that one?

    Polly Amalo

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  3. Polly - Regarding the River Greenway, they've been pouring concrete for the better part of the past month. Work is focused on the amphitheater area with seating, steps, columns, etc. I'm told everything is still on schedule to have it open from 6th to 8th by October.

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  4. If the Event Center is built bonding it with repayment by the 2nd penny sales tax, there will be no money left for any infrastructure needs of this city for the next 22 years. Think about that Sioux Falls!

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  5. Anonymous said...
    If the Event Center is built bonding it with repayment by the 2nd penny sales tax, there will be no money left for any infrastructure needs of this city for the next 22 years. Think about that Sioux Falls!
    -----------
    Exactly ... his "plan" will simply leave a future Mayor and a future City Council to deal with the fallout, and the taxpayers (some not even born yet) to foot the bill!!

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  6. More traffic on the Canton line? You have got to be kidding. I burn when I am waiting on 26th to get to McKennan or Sanford from the East side, but the lucky people can get to their ball games umimpeded at Paisley. Then I wonder how long is this train or is there another coming and is it going to block the firefighters on 49th Street from getting to emergencies East of the Canton line? Maybe a truck from 10th or Sycamore stations will need to be dispatched?

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  7. Regarding the River Greenway, they've been pouring concrete for the better part of the past month. Work is focused on the amphitheater area with seating, steps, columns, etc. I'm told everything is still on schedule to have it open from 6th to 8th by October.
    ~~~~~

    I'm finding the whole River Greenway project at this point in time a little troubling. From my favorite perch of the Big Sioux River DT it is really hard to see Phase I being done in it's entirety by October. Like I say, doesn't look like a whole lot has changed lately. Phase I is much more than just blocks and concrete for yet another amphitheater. 5.1 million was allocated for Phase I of the project (between 6th and 8th street) 3.3 million of that was supposed to go towards items that are ENVIRONMENTALLY related. I fail to see how tons and tons of concrete between 6th and 8th street is environmentally related.

    And this is even more troubling.

    http://www.siouxfalls.org/News/2011/July/15/greenway_money

    The city says the 1.9 million in this trust fund is going to be used for improvements from 6th to 10th street. Huh???? As I recall, the taxpayer funded 5.1 million was supposed to be for improvements from 6th to 8th street. Another 3 million, of which this 1.9 million is part of, was originally intended for Phase II from 8th street to 10th street.

    About that 1.9 million dollars. That is money from a settlement with John Morrell for polluting the Sioux River back in the '90's. It is called "The Big Sioux River ENVIRONMENTAL Trust Fund." It was established in 1996 by court order. The money was to be used primarily for these 3 reasons.

    1. Reduce pollution along the Big Sioux River.

    2. Identify continuing sources of pollution along the Big Sioux River.

    3. Develop and implement strategies to reduce and/or eliminate pollution along the Big Sioux River.

    How does a heavy concentration of concrete along a small stretch of DT meet these ends?

    Polly Amalo

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  8. I wonder if part of the 1.9 million dollar environmental trust fund is going to be used to demolish the river ramp...if so, I think this would certainly skirt the intent of this settlement...

    With the cost overruns that have already occurred on the 6th to 8th Street portion of the river greenway project...seems like it's time for some investigative reporting by our local newspaper!!! And, why is the City Council not asking questions about this??!!

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  9. ~~~~~~~
    I wonder if part of the 1.9 million dollar environmental trust fund is going to be used to demolish the river ramp...if so, I think this would certainly skirt the intent of this settlement...
    ~~~~~~

    The intent of the use of that 1.9 mill was clearly laid out in the 1996 settlement. It is called The Big Sioux River Environmental Trust Fund for a reason. I stated the top three reasons above. Using that money to build concrete and block barriers for stages every 200 feet, or two pedestrian walkways within 100 feet of the 8th street crossing does not meet the environmental smell test IMHO.

    ~~~~~~~
    With the cost overruns that have already occurred on the 6th to 8th Street portion of the river greenway project...seems like it's time for some investigative reporting by our local newspaper!!! And, why is the City Council not asking questions about this??!!
    ~~~~~~~

    IMHO bringing the 1.9 mill into play now BEFORE the 6th to 8th street phase is even close to completion says one thing. A while back finding bedrock for phase I added a mere 1.4 mill to the cost. Just another cost overrun. Something this city knows real well. Is this "environmental" trust money being used to finish phase I, or will it be used to turn 8th to 10th street into a concrete jungle? GREENWAY project? Yeah....right.

    Argus? Reporting?

    City council? Asking questions?

    Can you say Oxy-Moron?

    Polly Amalo

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  10. I read this blog all the time, and don't usually comment, but what irritates me is how frequently the subject matter of a particular blog gets sidetracked onto a totally different subject by those who comment. This railroad relocation has a huge impact for me because I live on the eastside.This blog isn't about the river greenway. I can't believe eastsiders want this to happen. City officials obviously have never been stuck in traffic back ups at 26th street or Cliff Ave when these trains come through and cut off everyone living on the other side of I-229. So what that you built those beautiful overpasses at 57th and 69th. You have not fixed Cliff, nor 26th St., or 49th St or Southeastern and River Blvd! What about those crossings? Are you going to build overpasses at each of those intersections too? I doubt it! This can't be allowed to happen!!

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