This project seeks to perform engineering design and environmental analysis to rehabilitate mvrra track between franklin, MN to hanley falls, MN

This $650,000 Project Grant award from the Federal Railroad Administration's Consolidated Rail Infrastructure and Safety Improvements (CRISI) program aims to perform engineering design and environmental analysis to rehabilitate the Minnesota Valley Regional Rail Authority (MVRRA) rail track between Franklin, MN and Hanley Falls, MN. The project will address track geometry and slope stability issues along the line, including a constrained curve connection to the BNSF railroad at Hanley Falls and slope instability issues near Franklin. The grant will fund MVRRA's delivery of a project management plan, final performance report, preliminary engineering package, and National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) documents. These deliverables will provide the required planning and approvals to support future final design and construction to rehabilitate the MVRRA rail line, which serves 16 communities in Renville, Yellow Medicine, and Redwood counties in Minnesota.

At the west end of the line at hanley falls, the mvrra line connects to the bnsf. The out of service connection is a 12 degree curve to the north. This curvature does not meet bnsf design standards and will inhibit if not eliminate interchange with the bnsf. The track geometry in this area is constrained by geographic limitations. The other issue starts just west of franklin, MN where the track descends to the minnesota river valley (franklin hill area). The rail line currently traverses a slide area, requiring constant effort to maintain a safe track. An evaluation of the problems, possible solutions, archaeological resources and issues, and costs need to be performed to determine the best course of action in this area.mvrra (grantee) will complete the following deliverables: a project management plan, final performance report, preliminary engineering package, and national environmental policy act (nepa) documents. These will result in the required documentation and approvals to support future final design and construction efforts to rehabilitate the mvrra track. The project BEN emvrra minnesota prairie line renville county, MN yellow medicine county, MN and redwood county, MN.