Title
Approving crossing agreements with the Union Pacific Railroad for the proposed Robert Piram Regional Trail.
Body
WHEREAS, the City of Saint Paul ("City") and Dakota County are planning for the creation of a new bicycle and pedestrian trail that will fill several important gaps in the regional trail system (the "Robert Piram Regional Trail" or "Trail"). The new Trail segment will connect the Harriet Island Regional Park and its trail system to Kaposia Landing Park in South St. Paul. The project will also make improvements to the connection between the Lilydale Park trail and the Big Rivers Trail in Dakota County. The Robert Piram Trail project is part of the Great River Passage Master Plan that was reviewed at multiple community input sessions. The completed Trail is expected to become part of the Mississippi River Trail, a multi-state bike trail that begins at the Mississippi River's headwaters at Itasca State Park and extends all the way to the Gulf of Mexico adjacent to the river. The Trail development will include two boardwalk bridges, landscaping, wayfinding signage, site furnishing nodes, and interpretive kiosks. It is currently anticipated that the Trail will begin construction in 2019; and
WHEREAS, the proposed Trail alignment requires the acquisition of permanent and temporary easements and various other agreements to secure the necessary property rights for the Trail construction and use; and
WHEREAS, as part of the acquisition of property rights for the Trail the City has reached agreement with the Union Pacific Railroad ("UPRR") to permt the Trail to cross its railroad tracks at three separate locations along the Trail route; as documented in the following crossing agreements:
1) Public Highway at-Grade Crossing Agreement - Barge Channel Road (UP Real Estate Folder No. 2982-91), attached hereto as Exhibit A,
2) Public Highway at-Grade Crossing Agreement - Eaton Street (UP Real Estate Folder No. 3083-04), attached hereto as Exhibit B, and
3) Pedestrian Path At-Grade Crossing Agreement - State Street (UP Real Estate Folder No. 3083-05), attached hereto as Exhibit C; and
WHEREAS, said agreement identified in Exhibit A would further authorize the at-grade crossing of the Barge Channel Road right-of-way over UPRR tracks, which authorization would replace the 1972 Road Crossing Agreement between the Saint Paul Port Authority and Chicago, Rock Island and Pacific Railroad Company, predecessor to the UPRR; and
WHEREAS, each of the agreements contain a requirement that the City indemnify the Union Pacific Railroad; and
WHEREAS, the City Council finds that the construction of the Robert Piram Regional Trail has a legitimate public purpose in providing additional recreational opportunities to the public; and
WHEREAS, the expenditure of public funds, which includes the promise of indemnification and defense, will facilitate that public purpose; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, that the Council of the City of Saint Paul does hereby authorize and approve said crossing agreements for the Robert Piram Regional Trail in a form and content substantially as set forth Exhibits A, B and C attached hereto; and be it
FURTHER RESOLVED, that the proper city officials are authorized and directed to take any and all actions necessary to execute said documents and pay any related fees associated with execution of same; and to file, if necessary, said documents with Ramsey County property records and the UPRR.