Southeast Main Avenue Railroad Grade Separation Safety Project
 Studies and design for the City of Moorhead’s Southeast (SE)
Main Avenue Railroad Grade Separation Safety Project are moving forward. Design layout and preliminary engineering
activities are near completion. A
computer animation of the project design has been completed and was
displayed at the July 19th public hearing. The environmental documentation was recently
approved by the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) and Minnesota Department
of Transportation (Mn/DOT) and is available for review through August 2. In addition, $13 million in federal funds has
been allocated to the project as part of the 2005 Federal Transportation Bill.
Project Design
Design for the grade separation includes constructing three railroad
overpass bridges and reconstructing the SE Main Avenue/20th Street/21st Street
intersection. Access to SE Main Avenue, 20th Street, and 21st Street will be
modified along the reconstructed portion of these roadways. The grade
separation will also accommodate pedestrian/bicycle trails along SE Main Avenue
and 20th Street/21st Street. Approximately
1,800 feet of new railroad tracks will be constructed to accommodate the
railroad wye connection between the BNSF Moorhead Subdivision and BNSF Mainline
tracks. The wye will eliminate the need
for northbound trains to enter downtown Moorhead, where they block traffic and
create unwanted noise and disturbance. It will also improve safety in the area.
Environmental Documentation
An Environmental Assessment/Environmental Assessment Worksheet (EA/EAW) was completed and approved for public review in July 2006. This
document provides detailed background information on the need for the project, anticipated
effects of the project, and potential mitigation measures to reduce impacts
associated with the project. The EA/EAW will be used by FHWA and the City of
Moorhead to determine whether the project has potential for significant environmental
effects that would warrant the preparation of an Environmental Impact Statement
(EIS).
Key issues addressed by the EA/EAW include:
- Traffic
- Noise
- Air
Quality
- Right
of Way
- Socio-Economic
The EA/EAW can be reviewed at the following locations:
- Moorhead
City Hall, 500 Center Avenue, Moorhead 56561
- Fergus
Falls Public Library, 205 E. Hampden, Fergus
Falls 56537
- Lake
Agassiz Regional Library – Moorhead Public Library, 118 5th Street South
Moorhead, MN 56561
- City
of Fargo Public Library, 102 Third Street, North Fargo 58102
The EA/EAW is available for download in Adobe Acrobat (PDF)
format by selecting the links below.
A “Findings of Fact and
Conclusions” document has been prepared for the project. The “Findings of Fact and Conclusions”
document will be used by the City of Moorhead in determining if all state
requirements for environmental review of the SE Main Avenue/20th Street/21st
Street Railroad Grade Separation Safety Project have been met. This document includes copies of all
comments received during the EA/EAW review period, along with responses to all
substantive comments. The
“Findings of Fact and Conclusions” document is available on this Web site.
The Findings of Fact and Conclusions document is available for download in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format by selecting the links below.
An “Environmental
Assessment Update” has been prepared
for the project. The Environmental
Assessment (EA) Update summarizes new information since completion of the EA
and the public involvement process. The EA Update was used by the City of Moorhead and the Minnesota
Department of Transportation to request a Finding of No Significant Impact from
the Federal Highway Administration.
The Environmental Assessment
Update document is available for download in Adobe Acrobat (PDF) format by
selecting the links below.
The Federal Highway
Administration (FHWA) issued a Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) on
January 16, 2007. The FHWA FONSI
concludes the federal environmental review process. The FONSI is available for download in Adobe Acrobat (PDF)
format by selecting the link below.
Next Steps
Final design and construction plan preparation are underway
and will be complete in fall 2007. Right of way acquisition has started and will continue through
2007. Construction could begin in
2008, subject to funding availability and other factors.
For More Information
Questions, comments or requests for more information regarding the SE Main Avenue Railroad Grade Separation Safety Project may be directed to:
Assistant to City Engineer
500 Center Avenue
P.O. Box 779
Moorhead, MN 56561
(218) 299-5394
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