1.

This $1,202,000 Project Grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Railroad Administration under the Railroad Crossing Elimination (CFDA 20.327) program will fund a comprehensive corridor study for the City of Emporia, Kansas. The study aims to identify improvements necessary to create a "sealed corridor" concept, which will enhance safety, mobility, and transportation efficiency within the city. Key activities include public engagement, conceptual design, and an implementation plan for future projects that support a sealed railroad corridor. The study will analyze design alternatives, assess environmental impacts, and develop cost estimates to advance the project into preliminary engineering and NEPA review. The intended beneficiaries are mobility users and railroad operators in Emporia, as the study seeks to address train delays and conflicts at grade crossings.

Purpose

The objective of the project is to complete a comprehensive corridor study that identifies the improvements necessary to create a sealed corridor concept within the city of emporia. Planning activities undertaken by the study will include public engagement, creation of project inventory, conceptual design, and an implementation phasing plan outlining how the city of emporia and bnsf can implement future improvement projects that support a sealed corridor. 2.

Activities

Alternatives analysis of design concepts to include a no-built option alternative, public engagement process, roadway closure treatment designs, utility upgrades and relocation designs, new pedestrian grade-separated crossing over tracks at exchange street design, review of trespasser mitigation throughout the corridor in design, feasibility review of grade separating the commercial street crossing VS. Keeping the crossing at grade, crossing safety enhancement review and design at commercial street (k-99 highway), review of safety and structural enhancements at the existing state street roadway underpass and include them within the overall design, completed proposed design work to support future entry into the preliminary engineering-nepa project development phases, and engineers opinion of probable cost of construction.3. Deliverables expected outcomes: PMP, final performance report, preliminary purpose and need statement, stakeholder coordination plan (public involvement plan), existing conditions report, an analysis design concepts (includes alternative analysis, data collection transportation analysis, environmental analysis, and the draft study), and a capital cost estimate. 4. Intended beneficiary: the project is intended to benefit to mobility users and railroad operators in the city of emporia. The study intends to find solutions to train delays and conflicts during train crossing events.