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Home My WebLink About2014-10-23 10:00AM WORKSHOPBRAZOS COUNTY BRYAN,TEXAS WORKSHOP SESSION BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT MEMBERS OF THE BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT WILL PARTICIPATE IN A MEETING AS FOLLOWS: MEETING DATE: MEETING TIME: MEETING PLACE: 1. Call to order. October 23, 2014 It1 11 T1! Brazos County Administration Building, 200 S. Texas Avenue, Suite 339, Bryan, Texas Agenda 2. Discussions with TXDOT, City of College Station, Brazos County and UPRR regarding railroad crossings in Brazos County. 3. Adjourn. The Brazos County Administration Building, 200 S. Texas Avenue, Suite 339, Bryan, Texas a wheelchair accessible. Handicap parking spews are available. Any request for sign interpretive services must be made two working days before the meeting. To make arrangements, please call (979) 361 -4102. Vol. 211 Pg. / o Fd ). Y OF Bl vloo BRAZOSCOUNTY BRYAN,TEXAS MINUTES October 23, 2014 BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS COURT WORKSHOP SESSION Minutes Call To Order. ,3°? File Stamped Aaenda.odf J Sian in sheet.ndf The Commissioners' Court of Brazos County, Texas met in a Workshop Session in the Commissioners' Courtroom in the Brazos County Administration Building in Bryan, Brazos County, Texas, beginning at 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, October 23, 2014 with the following members of the Court present: Duane Peters, County Judge, Presiding; Lloyd Wassermann, Commissioner of Precinct 1; Sammy Catalena, Commissioner of Precinct 2; Kenny Mallard, Commissioner of Precinct 3; Irma Cauley, Commissioner of Precinct 4; Karen McQueen, County Clerk. Attached is a list of the citizens and officials in attendance. Discussions with TXDOT, City of College Station, Brazos County and UPRR regarding railroad crossings in Brazos County. C Railroad handout.odf E Commissioners Court handout.pdf The Commissioner's Court met to discuss with TxDOT, City of College Station, Brazos County and Union Pacific Rail Road (UPRR) crossing in Brazos County. Vol. 211 Pg. Lz The County Judge called the meeting to order and announced that this was a workshop and not a Public Hearing. Therefore, he said citizen's comments would not be allowed today. He then turned the meeting over to Andrew Hudanish UPRR representative who explained the siding project and that they were currently investigating locations for the project. He went on to explain the reasons for looking at the Straub Road crossing saying that traffic studies have been done at this site and it is geographically ideal. Construction would begin early summer of 2015 and hopefully be completed by Christmas 2015 or Spring 2016. In return for that crossing, UPRR is offering to upgrade affected roads. Continuing, he said that he was here to ask the County to consider their request to close Straub Road in and asked what the County needed to make traffic flow better as a result of the closing. UPRR has provided comprehensive traffic studies to see what the growth will be to try to anticipate where traffic patterns will be. The County Judge discussed possible safety issues at Straub Road. He sited the angle at which Straub intersects with FM 2154 and line of sight problems. The goal of all this is to improve traffic, and improve the safety of the crossing. He went on to say that if the County was not open to discussions with UPRR, they could park a train at the crossing and the County would be out of the improvements that UPRR has offered to make to ease traffic flow. So he is very open to discussions with UPRR. Mr. Hudanish discussed the three (3) major wrecks that have occurred at that intersection saying that it is a difficult location for train crews and drivers. So because of that and the large hump in the crossing that is why it is being considered. At this point he was interrupted with a question by an unknown member of the audience who did not identify himself. The County Judge said UPRR was looking at another location on Lometa Road in the south end of the county, but this is in addition and not an alternate location. Mr. Hudanish said that they have asked the agencies what will work best for them and are awaiting their input. It will give UPRR a much better idea of what they can provide to the people. Mr. Doug Woods UPRR representative also contributed information. He said UPRR will look at TxDOT, county and the cities requests for traffic improvement and see what can be done to assist with construction. Commissioner Wassermann thanked those in attendance. Explained that Straub and Wade Roads were county roads but that UPRR owned the underlying property at the rail road crossing and fifty (50) feet on either side. UPRR maintains the crossings. Leah Smith, resident asked if UPRR could just block the track/crossing where upon Mr. Hudanish informed her that yes it could under federal law. The County Judge said yes this could happen and then things could be worse if UPRR did that and then the county would not benefit from the improvements offered by UPRR. It's better if we work with them, so that things can improve and not make them worse. Mr. Hudanish stated that they are looking at the options and that is why he is here today. Blocking the crossing with a train is not good business sense. UPRR needs to upgrade the infrastructure to handle the high volume of rail traffic. The County Judge said there would be a public hearing on this subject. Commissioner Wassermann stressed that the County has no say in what happens within that one hundred (100) foot right -of -way. Vol. 211 Pg. L Jean McDermott, resident asked if additional right of way would be necessary. Mr. Hudanish answered that it may or may not be necessary. Zach Etherridge, resident suggested going forward and explaining the benefit without clouding the issue with safety concerns. The County Judge said that safety was the issue. Mark Boller, resident stated that there is no safety issue just dumb people. Emake McDermott, resident asked who is responsible for maintenance on the road up to the rails and right -of -way. Greg Glass, resident encouraged citizens to not focus their energy on UPRR but to look at the elected officials before them. There has been open dialog going on for at least nine (9) months between the officials and UPRR. Mark Fly, resident asked if they could see the reports /proposals. The County Judge replied they were not really far enough in the process for proposals. Donnice White, resident questioned locations and if it would affect Koppe Bridge Road. Larry Young, resident asked how this will affect the new power line that was just put in. Jim Thomas, resident if you have 1000 feet to spare at Wade crossing couldn't it just be shifted to the other side. Dan Daniel, resident said there were safety issues at every crossing. He is a business owner who purchased property there specifically for the Straub Rd. entrance. The County Judge adjourned the meeting. 3. Adjourn. Vol. 211 Pg. /_�� The foregoing minutes of the Commissioners Court Workshop Session held October 23, 2014, have been examined and are approved in open Court this the J 1� day of Duane Peters County Judge my talena Comm' sioner, Precinct 2 Irma Cauley ' Commissioner, Precinct 4 Attest: ke- Karen McQueen County Clerk yan, Brazos County, Texas. Vol. 211 Pg. 13 7 Lloyd NAPassermann Commissioner, Precinct 1 Kenny Mallard Commissioner, Precinct 3 BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT DAY OF Name (PLEASE PRINT) vl wts 17LIaI LinJ$'ov✓1 ,,n 6"D I ,Vi c. Gr.� 20 14 Organization (PLEASE PRINT) 1Z4�� ilo GS lyl�O f � rl -s (f) Vol. 211 Pg. ��' Pg I of - L e jw,7 — 33 c40.QC5 Pg Z of 6 BRAZOS COUNTY COMMISSIONER'S COURT Z DAY OF 20 �/ V Name (PLEASE PRINT) to t. 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