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Home My WebLink About134-26 RESOLUTIONPage 1 113 West Mountain Street Fayetteville, AR 72701 (479) 575-8323 Resolution: 134-26 File Number: 2026-1809 A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE AN APPLICATION FOR A FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION GRANT TO MAKE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS TO RAILROAD CROSSINGS IN FAYETTEVILLE WHEREAS, the Cities of Fayetteville and Springdale, in collaboration with the Arkansas & Missouri Railroad, were awarded a 2022 Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant in the amount of $576,000.00 to conduct planning activities to scope improvement projects at various at-grade crossings, to improve mobility, and to enhance safety for the area; and WHEREAS, on January 2, 2024, the City Council passed Resolution 148-24, accepting the Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant; and WHEREAS, on October 15, 2024, the City Council passed Resolution 256-24, authorizing an engineering services agreement with Olsson, Inc. for the Railroad Crossing Elimination Study; and WHEREAS, the study focuses on eight railroad crossings spanning a 14-mile rail corridor across both cities to identify individual solutions to the unique combinations of challenges and safety hazards at each crossing, all of which intersect with some of the busiest roads in Northwest Arkansas; and WHEREAS, utilizing findings and design concepts developed during the current study, the FY 2026 Federal Railroad Administration Crossing Safety Program grant application will seek funds to make critical safety improvements at three of these crossings: University and Frisco Avenues in Fayetteville and Randall Wobbe Road in Springdale; and WHEREAS, improvements will address mobility and safety challenges, emergency vehicle access, transit connections, reliability of commercial transport via rail, and network resiliency for all forms of transport using intersecting roads. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS: Section 1: That the City Council of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas hereby authorizes Mayor Rawn to submit an application for the Fiscal Year 2026 Federal Railroad Administration Grant to make critical safety improvements to railroad crossings in the City of Fayetteville. PASSED and APPROVED on June 2, 2026 Docusign Envelope ID: 56E3B042-A1E5-86AB-8350-9E8FDA398C3F Resolution: 134-26 File Number: 2026-1809 Page 2 Approved: _______________________________ Molly Rawn, Mayor Attest: _______________________________ Kara Paxton, City Clerk Treasurer Docusign Envelope ID: 56E3B042-A1E5-86AB-8350-9E8FDA398C3F Page 1 City of Fayetteville, Arkansas Legislation Text 113 West Mountain Street Fayetteville, AR 72701 (479) 575-8323 File #: 2026-1809 A RESOLUTION TO AUTHORIZE AN APPLICATION FOR A FEDERAL RAILROAD ADMINISTRATION GRANT TO MAKE SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS TO RAILROAD CROSSINGS IN FAYETTEVILLE WHEREAS, the Cities of Fayetteville and Springdale, in collaboration with the Arkansas & Missouri Railroad, were awarded a 2022 Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant in the amount of $576,000.00 to conduct planning activities to scope improvement projects at various at-grade crossings, to improve mobility, and to enhance safety for the area; and WHEREAS, on January 2, 2024, the City Council passed Resolution 148-24, accepting the Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant; and WHEREAS, on October 15, 2024, the City Council passed Resolution 256-24, authorizing an engineering services agreement with Olsson, Inc. for the Railroad Crossing Elimination Study; and WHEREAS, the study focuses on eight railroad crossings spanning a 14-mile rail corridor across both cities to identify individual solutions to the unique combinations of challenges and safety hazards at each crossing, all of which intersect with some of the busiest roads in Northwest Arkansas; and WHEREAS, utilizing findings and design concepts developed during the current study, the FY 2026 Federal Railroad Administration Crossing Safety Program grant application will seek funds to make critical safety improvements at three of these crossings: University and Frisco Avenues in Fayetteville and Randall Wobbe Road in Springdale; and WHEREAS, improvements will address mobility and safety challenges, emergency vehicle access, transit connections, reliability of commercial transport via rail, and network resiliency for all forms of transport using intersecting roads. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FAYETTEVILLE, ARKANSAS: Section 1: That the City Council of the City of Fayetteville, Arkansas hereby authorizes Mayor Rawn to submit an application for the Fiscal Year 2026 Federal Railroad Administration Grant to make critical safety improvements to railroad crossings in the City of Fayetteville. Docusign Envelope ID: 56E3B042-A1E5-86AB-8350-9E8FDA398C3F City of Fayetteville Staff Review Form 2026-1809 Item ID 6/2/2026 City Council Meeting Date - Agenda Item Only N/A for Non-Agenda Item Kenneth Patterson 5/13/2026 ENGINEERING (621) Submitted By Submitted Date Division / Department Action Recommendation: Staff requests approval to submit a FY 2026 Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) grant application. The grant application will seek additional FRA funding to achieve selected recommendations as defined by our Railroad Crossing Elimination Study. Budget Impact: 4702.860.7220-5809.00 Streets Projects 2022 Bonds Account Number Fund 46020.7220 Streets Bond Projects - Futrall/Gregg & Shiloh/Gregg RR Crossings Project Number Project Title Budgeted Item?Yes Total Amended Budget $ 1,236,052.00 Expenses (Actual+Encum)$ 1,212,820.01 Available Budget $23,231.99 Does item have a direct cost?No Item Cost $- Is a Budget Amendment attached?No Budget Amendment $- Remaining Budget $23,231.99 Purchase Order Number:Previous Ordinance or Resolution # Change Order Number:Approval Date: Original Contract Number: Comments:A Budget Amendment will be brought to Council if the application is successful. 6/2/2026 Docusign Envelope ID: 56E3B042-A1E5-86AB-8350-9E8FDA398C3F Mailing address: 113 W. Mountain Street Fayetteville, AR 72701 www.fayetteville-ar.gov CITY COUNCIL MEMO 2026-1809 MEETING OF JUNE 2, 2026 TO: Mayor Rawn and City Council THROUGH: Justin Bland, City Engineer FROM: Kenneth Patterson, Federal Aid Project Manager SUBJECT: Request to Submit FY 2026 Grant Application to the Federal Railroad Administration RECOMMENDATION: Staff requests approval to submit a FY 2026 Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) grant application. The grant application will seek additional FRA funding to achieve selected recommendations as defined by our Railroad Crossing Elimination Study. BACKGROUND: Beginning in 2024, the City of Fayetteville has been partnering with the City of Springdale and Olsson, Inc. to complete the Railroad Crossing Elimination Study, with 80% funding for the study coming from the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA). The $720,000 study focuses on eight railroad crossings spanning a 14-mile rail corridor across both cities to identify individual solutions to the unique combinations of challenges and safety hazards at each crossing, all of which intersect with some of the busiest roads in Northwest Arkansas. If awarded, FY 2026 FRA funding will allow the City to begin building on the outcomes, public input, research, and investment of the study. DISCUSSION: Utilizing findings and design concepts developed during the current study, the FY 2026 FRA Crossing Safety Program grant application will seek funds to make critical safety improvements at three of these crossings, which are prioritized based on community safety concerns: University and Frisco Avenues in Fayetteville, and Randall Wobbe Road in Springdale. These improvements will address mobility and safety challenges, emergency vehicle access, transit connections, reliability of commercial transport via rail, and network resiliency for all forms of transport using intersecting roads. BUDGET/STAFF IMPACT: This grant application is based on an estimated total cost, for all three crossings combined, of $48,140, 930. The two crossings in Fayetteville (University Ave. and Frisco Ave.) have an estimated combined cost of $19,632,150 (inclusive of management costs), which makes up 41% of this total. Fayetteville and Springdale will proportionately contribute to the required 20% match of $9,628,186, resulting in an estimated obligation of $3,926,430 for Fayetteville if the grant application is successful. ATTACHMENTS: 3. Staff Review Form Docusign Envelope ID: 56E3B042-A1E5-86AB-8350-9E8FDA398C3F