HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Committees - Planning and Economic Development Committee - 03/13/1969 MAYORS MEETING
RAILROAD CROSSING SAFETY STUDY
DATE: MARCH 13, 1969
PLACE: V.R.P.C. OFFICE - 232 SOUTH SECOND - KENT, WASHINGTON
TIME: 4:30 P.M.
SUBJECT: APPLICATIONI FOR RAILROAD CROSSIMG SAFETY STUDY
Ken Cottingham, of Engineered Industrial Systems, Inc. ,
presented the application to be submitted to the State for
approval of funding of a railroad crossing study, by the VRPC,
A combination of funds from the VRPC and member cities would
be $16,560.00, with Federal funding being in the amount of
$19,040.00 for completion of the project. The project time
period would be from July 1969 to June 1970. Mr. Cottingham
said, Olympia has been most cooperative in assisting in pre-
paring the application, and have given extreme encouragement
to the VRPC. This application is a very unusual one, because
it is a combination of the six cities working as one. Services
and material by member cities will be ;provided in the amount
of $9600.00, VRPC's contribution would be $6960.00.
Dick Bowen, representative of the Great Northern Railroad,
said his company felt it was not justifiable to use this amount
of money on a railroad crossing study, and stated his company
has always been willing and agreeable to meet with any organ-
ization or the Valley cities to discuss their mutual problems.
Robert Munn, of Northern Pacific Railroad, agreed with Mr. Bowen.
Russell Segner and Fred Simpson of the Milwaukee Railroad,
announced they felt this type of study was needed in the area,
and would give full support to the project in anyway they could.
Mayor Custer asked if the railroads have been asked for
contributions to !perform this study? Gordon Hall, President
of VRPC, said the subject has been discussed, but not finalized.
Jean De Spain, Kfng County Engineer, said the first subject
ever mentioned is always regarding the signals at crossings, He
wanted to know if this study also covers other items, such as
visual aids, sufficent lighting, volumes, speeds, and etc. ?
Mr. Cottingham sais the study would cover all of these areas
as well as many others. Mayor Thornton asked if King County
had offered to contribute? Mr. Hall announced that Ed Sands,
of King County Planning, had at one time said they would be able
to assist the VRPC with services rendered on some of their
projects. Perhaps they would be able to assist on this one.
Francis Pugh, of Pacific, made a motion to proceed with the
application as outlined. Mayor Thornton asked if this didn' t
require Council approval before signature? Mr. Cottingham said,
there is no obligation of funds from the city at this point of
the application, This is just one step of the application to
get the ;project started. The motions was passed with one dissent-
ing vote. Dick Bowen said, "My Company is voting against this
proposal, but will work with any committee to assist in the project."
Mr. Hall, as Project Director, signed the application, which will
be sent to Olym;3ia.
Page 2
SUBJECT: FUTURE WORK PROGRAM FOR VRPC
Rudi Gast, Planning Consultant, had been asked to submit a
purposal of a three to five year work program for the VRPC. He
felt that aoPlying for 701 funds at this time would not be advis-
able. Vrpc has neither the funds available, work program estab-
lished, or proper staff to apply for 701 funds.
The first project of the VRPC would be to determine what is
needed in the Valley, second - develop a list of needs in order
of priority, third - develop a work program, fourth - identify
items in the work program eligible for 701 funds (or 'other fund-
ing), fifth - determine availability of 701 funds, and others
to finance program, and sixth - develop final 3 to 5 year work
program, including preliminary cost estimates and funding sources.
Mr. Gast estimated time for the work outlined, would total
about 35 to 45 working days. Allowing time for arranging appoint-
ments, appropriate meetings, exchange of correspondence - would
require a period of 3L4 to 411 months, at a cost of between $3000
and $6000, depending on availability of information already
gathered.
Mayor Custer said he felt there is a definite need to determine
the needs of the Valley and just which direction the VRPC should
be going. He suggested, if the VRPC has the funds to hire a
person for this program, the Mayors and the Exective Committee
would list the specifications to submit to the cities. VRPC
Executive Board Members were in agreement with Mayor Custer,
and will work on this plan.
NEXT EXECUTIVE BOARD MEETING: TUESDAY - MARCH 18th - 7:30 A.M.
V R P C OFFICE
ADJOURNED: 6: 15 P.M.
ATTENDING:
OWEN RATHORNE KING COUNTY
ETHAP, ROBBINS KE'IT
DICK BOWEN GREAT NORTHERF RR
ROSEMARY HOR'400D STATE PLANNING AND
COMMUNITY AFFAIRS AGCY
ALEX THORNTON MAYOR OF KENT
STAN 0. MINKLER MAYOR OF TUKWILA KEN COTTINGHAM SEA
FRANCIS PUGH PACIFIC SUE SCHWARTZ- SEA-TIMES
IRV IVERSON TUK'WILA SUSAN HUTCHINSON,
GORDON HALL KENT SEA PI
GORDON GOULD ALGONA JOE STREET KENT
ED JEFFORDS TAC-NES+IS TRIBUNE HELEN IRWI�.' VRPC
HERB VEDDER VALLEY PUBLISHING CO
JEAN DE SPAIki KING COUNTY
RUSSEL SEGNER MILWAUKEE RR
J. FRED SIMPSON MILWAUKEE RR
GENE GATTAVARA MAYOR OF PACIFIC
JOHE MATCHETT MAYOR OF ALGO•'•A
DOMALD CUSTER MAYOR OF REITOR
DEL BEND-'.ETT REPTOF:
JAW KLIPPERT RENTON
RUDI GAST BELLEVUE
DAVE MOONEY KING COUNTY
ROBERT MUNN NORTHERN PACIFIC RR