The Public Works Director is asking the City Council on June 1, 2026 to authorize submitting a grant application to the Federal Railroad Administration’s Railroad Crossing Elimination Program for construction of the East 2nd Street Overpass, identified as the preferred project in the city’s RCE planning grant and an objective in the recently adopted Growth Policy. The city previously hired HDR in 2024 to complete the planning study, formed a task force in 2025, and has held three task force meetings and two open houses to shape the recommendation. The current cost estimate for the overpass is $42M (including a 60% contingency), with the grant expected to cover 80% of construction and the remaining 20% split between the city and BNSF if awarded. Applications are due June 8, 2026, making this an active federal grant pursuit and a clear precursor to large-scale design and construction procurements once funding is secured. Vendors offering heavy civil design-build, bridge and road construction, rail coordination, cost estimating, and grant-support services have a near-term opportunity to assist with the application, refine scope and cost, and position for subsequent project delivery work.

HDR is the incumbent planning consultant; BNSF has approached the City to join the construction gran...