Proposed Sidewalk Widening Under SR 91 RR Bridge

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Project Description

This summer, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is replacing a culvert under SR 91 just north of the Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge near Yours Truly (project info can be found here). Since ODOT received permission from Norfolk Southern to perform work under/near the railroad bridge, the City requested to do a sidewalk project at the same time to avoid the difficulty and significant, indefinable lead time to secure the same permission from Norfolk Southern at a later date. The sidewalk along the west side of SR 91, between Yours Truly and just south of the Railroad Overpass Bridge, would be widened from 5 feet to 10 feet to better accommodate a future segment of Veterans Trail.

The Veterans Trail project is a five-phase trail development to dramatically expand bicycle and pedestrian access in Hudson. View the Veterans Trail Map here.

Why is the City Proposing Widening the Sidewalk?

The Veterans Trail System was derived in a past Parks Master Plan in an effort to provide safe bicycle and pedestrian connectivity into Downtown. The plan has gone through many derivations since its first inception.

The Veterans Trail Phase 5 alignment includes a connection between Veterans Park and Downtown. This section was last reviewed as part of a 2017 “Hudson Downtown Trail & Greenway (Veterans Trail Phase 5)" Study. This study identified that a 10 foot wide trail along SR 91, under the RxR overpass, would provide a safe connection from Veterans Park to Downtown utilizing the public right-of-way along SR 91 South. The sidewalk in this area is currently 5 feet wide.

Project Cost

UPDATED COSTS 3/8/23:

Ever since ODOT received the $185,871 Norfolk Southern Railroad Force Account Fee estimate, ODOT had been negotiating to have the fee amount reduced. This fee covers the Railroad’s inspection and administrative fees. The total project cost of $370,711, including the Railroad Force Account Fee, was coming due to ODOT on March 21 if Council decided to move forward with the project.

ODOT notified the City on Tuesday, March 7 that they had finally succeeded in getting the railroad’s fee reduced to $20,000, which is a $165,871 reduction in total cost. The total for the project is now $204,840. Any unused funds will be returned to the City.

Project Cost Breakdown

Construction Contract Estimate$168,035.58
ODOT Engineering Amount$16,804.42
Norfolk Southern Railroad Force Account$185,871.00 $20,000
Total City Cost$370,711.00 $204,840
Budgeted$175,000

Overage = $370,711 - $175,000 = $195,711 Overage = $204,840 - $175,000 = $29,840


ORIGINAL COST INFORMATION ON 3/1/23 PRIOR TO RAILROAD FORCE ACCOUNT FEE REDUCTION:

ODOT is funding the culvert replacement under SR 91. The City’s initial project cost for the sidewalk project was $175,000 to be paid for by the City of Hudson. However, due to the increased construction administration and Norfolk Southern Railroad fees, ODOT is requesting an additional $195,711.00, for a total City of Hudson cost of $370,711.00.

Why does Norfolk Southern require fees and what are they for?

The Norfolk Southern Fee, or Force Account Estimate, accounts for the railroad’s time associated with the project’s plan review process, construction engineering, administrative fees, and in-construction Railroad Protective Services. Force Account means that the owner (in this case the City) puts up the money and the Railroad draws against the funds. They only pull the funds they need to complete the work.

It is likely that the entirety of the Norfolk Southern Railroad Force Account may not be utilized, but the full amount is required to be paid up front due to insufficient time to negotiate a lower fee, secure the legislation and submit payment to ODOT ahead of their fiscal deadline of March 21. If the entire amount is not used, the money would be refunded to the City.

Project Limits

Click to Enlarge

What's Next? We Need to Hear From You!

We need to hear from you! Tell us what you think about the proposed sidewalk widening project by taking the survey below. City Council will be presented with the findings of the survey at the Council Workshop scheduled for March 14, 2023.

Project Description

This summer, the Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is replacing a culvert under SR 91 just north of the Norfolk Southern Railroad Bridge near Yours Truly (project info can be found here). Since ODOT received permission from Norfolk Southern to perform work under/near the railroad bridge, the City requested to do a sidewalk project at the same time to avoid the difficulty and significant, indefinable lead time to secure the same permission from Norfolk Southern at a later date. The sidewalk along the west side of SR 91, between Yours Truly and just south of the Railroad Overpass Bridge, would be widened from 5 feet to 10 feet to better accommodate a future segment of Veterans Trail.

The Veterans Trail project is a five-phase trail development to dramatically expand bicycle and pedestrian access in Hudson. View the Veterans Trail Map here.

Why is the City Proposing Widening the Sidewalk?

The Veterans Trail System was derived in a past Parks Master Plan in an effort to provide safe bicycle and pedestrian connectivity into Downtown. The plan has gone through many derivations since its first inception.

The Veterans Trail Phase 5 alignment includes a connection between Veterans Park and Downtown. This section was last reviewed as part of a 2017 “Hudson Downtown Trail & Greenway (Veterans Trail Phase 5)" Study. This study identified that a 10 foot wide trail along SR 91, under the RxR overpass, would provide a safe connection from Veterans Park to Downtown utilizing the public right-of-way along SR 91 South. The sidewalk in this area is currently 5 feet wide.

Project Cost

UPDATED COSTS 3/8/23:

Ever since ODOT received the $185,871 Norfolk Southern Railroad Force Account Fee estimate, ODOT had been negotiating to have the fee amount reduced. This fee covers the Railroad’s inspection and administrative fees. The total project cost of $370,711, including the Railroad Force Account Fee, was coming due to ODOT on March 21 if Council decided to move forward with the project.

ODOT notified the City on Tuesday, March 7 that they had finally succeeded in getting the railroad’s fee reduced to $20,000, which is a $165,871 reduction in total cost. The total for the project is now $204,840. Any unused funds will be returned to the City.

Project Cost Breakdown

Construction Contract Estimate$168,035.58
ODOT Engineering Amount$16,804.42
Norfolk Southern Railroad Force Account$185,871.00 $20,000
Total City Cost$370,711.00 $204,840
Budgeted$175,000

Overage = $370,711 - $175,000 = $195,711 Overage = $204,840 - $175,000 = $29,840


ORIGINAL COST INFORMATION ON 3/1/23 PRIOR TO RAILROAD FORCE ACCOUNT FEE REDUCTION:

ODOT is funding the culvert replacement under SR 91. The City’s initial project cost for the sidewalk project was $175,000 to be paid for by the City of Hudson. However, due to the increased construction administration and Norfolk Southern Railroad fees, ODOT is requesting an additional $195,711.00, for a total City of Hudson cost of $370,711.00.

Why does Norfolk Southern require fees and what are they for?

The Norfolk Southern Fee, or Force Account Estimate, accounts for the railroad’s time associated with the project’s plan review process, construction engineering, administrative fees, and in-construction Railroad Protective Services. Force Account means that the owner (in this case the City) puts up the money and the Railroad draws against the funds. They only pull the funds they need to complete the work.

It is likely that the entirety of the Norfolk Southern Railroad Force Account may not be utilized, but the full amount is required to be paid up front due to insufficient time to negotiate a lower fee, secure the legislation and submit payment to ODOT ahead of their fiscal deadline of March 21. If the entire amount is not used, the money would be refunded to the City.

Project Limits

Click to Enlarge

What's Next? We Need to Hear From You!

We need to hear from you! Tell us what you think about the proposed sidewalk widening project by taking the survey below. City Council will be presented with the findings of the survey at the Council Workshop scheduled for March 14, 2023.

Questions?

We welcome your questions about this project. We strive to answer questions within 2 business days. 

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  • Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linkedin Email this link

    First, why can't the NB and SB lanes meet with a double-yellow line and gain almost 6' without having to widen the bridge? Also, have estimates been sought to widen the RR underpass on Owen Brown for 2-way vehicular traffic? The bottleneck on this connector road for vehicular traffic would certainly seen a higher priority, and the process working with the RR would appear similar.

    J&AJ asked 3 months ago

    The bridge itself is not going to be widened. The sidewalk on the north side of the road is being widened to accommodate a 10-foot width under the bridge. The sidewalk widening would utilize the space currently occupied by the turn lane under the bridge.  

    A new sidewalk under the Owen Brown Street railroad bridge is anticipated to be constructed later this summer to improve pedestrian safety at this location (pending final approvals by Norfolk Southern). This solution is cheaper than widening the railroad bridge itself which was estimated at over $2 million in 2020. In addition to the new sidewalk, the railroad bridge will have a traffic signal introduced in 2024 as part of the City’s Adaptive Signal Project currently in design.


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    The budget for this project more than doubled. Can you outline the additional cost from Norfolk Southern and ODOT? When was the original $175k estimated versus the now $370k?

    CMccoy asked 3 months ago

    UPDATED COSTS 3/8/23:

    Ever since ODOT received the $185,871 Norfolk Southern Railroad Force Account Fee estimate, ODOT had been negotiating to have the fee amount reduced. This fee covers the Railroad’s inspection and administrative fees. The total project cost of $370,711, including the Railroad Force Account Fee, was coming due to ODOT on March 21 if Council decided to move forward with the project.

    ODOT notified the City on Tuesday, March 7 that they had finally succeeded in getting the railroad’s fee reduced to $20,000, which is a $165,871 reduction in total cost. The total for the project is now $204,840. Any unused funds will be returned to the City.

    Project Cost Breakdown

    Construction Contract Estimate$168,035.58
    ODOT Engineering Amount$16,804.42
    Norfolk Southern Railroad Force Account$185,871.00 $20,000
    Total City Cost$370,711.00 $204,840
    Budgeted$175,000

    Overage = $370,711 - $175,000 = $195,711 Overage = $204,840 - $175,000 = $29,840


    ORIGINAL COST INFORMATION ON 3/1/23 PRIOR TO RAILROAD FORCE ACCOUNT FEE REDUCTION:
    Project Cost Breakdown

    Construction Contract Estimate$168,035.58
    ODOT Engineering Amount$16,804.42
    Norfolk Southern Railroad Force Account$185,871.00
    Total City Cost$370,711.00
    Budgeted$175,000

    Overage = $370,711 - $175,000 = $195,711

    The Norfolk Southern Fee, or Force Account Estimate, accounts for the railroad’s time associated with the project’s plan review process, construction engineering, administrative fees, and in-construction Railroad Protective Services. Force Account means that the owner (in this case the City) puts up the money and the Railroad draws against the funds. They only pull the funds they need to complete the work.

    It is likely that the entirety of the Norfolk Southern Railroad Force Account may not be utilized, but the full amount is required to be paid up front due to insufficient time to negotiate a lower fee, secure the legislation and submit payment to ODOT ahead of their fiscal deadline of March 21. If the entire amount is not used, the remaining money would be refunded to the City.

    The construction cost estimate of $175,000 has remained consistent since the preliminary plan estimate from August, 2019.

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    You've done a nice job of explaining the Norfolk Southern and City of Hudson costs. How much is ODOT spending on this project?

    DaleM asked 3 months ago

    The sidewalk widening would be a City of Hudson-funded project that is tagging onto a culvert replacement project that ODOT is already performing and 100% paying for under SR 91 South. ODOT secured permission from Norfolk Southern already to work near and under the railroad bridge for their project, so the City is looking to perform the sidewalk widening at the same time to avoid the difficulty of having to secure permission from the railroad in the future.