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City of San Leandro <br />Meeting Date: October 6, 2014 <br />Staff Report <br />Agenda Section:File Number:14-404 CONSENT CALENDAR <br />Agenda Number:8.H. <br />TO:City Council <br />FROM:Chris Zapata <br />City Manager <br />BY:Uchenna Udemezue <br />Engineering & Transportation Director <br />FINANCE REVIEW:David Baum <br />Finance Director <br />TITLE:Staff Report for a Resolution Authorizing the City Manager to Enter into a <br />Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) <br />for the Modification of the Railroad Crossing at Polar Way <br />SUMMARY AND RECOMMENDATIONS <br />Staff recommends that the City Council approve a resolution authorizing the City Manager to <br />enter into a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) <br />for the modification of the railroad crossing at Polar Way. <br />BACKGROUND <br />Polar Way (formerly Hudson Lane) provides the only access to the Preferred Freezer site, <br />which is located at 400 Polar Way. This site was previously occupied by Hudson Lumber, and <br />was previously permitted access across the UPRR railroad tracks by UPRR under a private <br />crossing license. The California Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) allows private crossing <br />access only to a single owner. To upgrade the roadway access across the existing UPRR <br />tracks, and expand future opportunities, Hudson I.C.S. requested the City’s assistance in <br />changing the status of the railroad crossing from private to public. This change ensures that <br />access to the site will no longer be restricted by the terms of Hudson Lumber Company's <br />private crossing license. Only a public agency having jurisdiction over adjacent, receiving <br />public right-of-way has the authority to apply for a public crossing license and therefore the <br />City led the negotiations for the change in status of the crossing. The CPUC approved the <br />request for change in crossing status in April 2004, consequently making it necessary for <br />UPRR to enter into a MOU with the City for any modifications to the crossing. <br />Analysis <br />The upgrade to the crossing will involve the widening of Polar Way, allowing for two (2) lanes <br />of traffic in each direction of travel, and installation of new ADA compliant sidewalks on both <br />sides of Polar Way. The work will be performed in three (3) phases: relocation of the existing <br />Page 1 City of San Leandro Printed on 9/30/2014