Epic Land Solutions, Inc. congratulates David Evans and Associates, Inc. (DEA), the City of Rainier, ODOT Region 2, and all other engineering and construction services firms and community members involved in the “A” Street Rail Safety Improvements Project for winning the APWA 2021 Project of the Year Award in the Transportation Category. The project realigned and “day-lighted” 2,800 feet of existing railroad track that previously ran through the center of A Street through the City’s main commercial district. The new design separates vehicles and pedestrian/bicycle facilities from the tracks, improved the rail crossings with new gates, constructed new sidewalks with current ADA standards, and added filtered storm water collection. This critical project was constructed with $11.1 in funding with contributions from ODOT’s Rail and Public Transit Division, a Connect Oregon grant and matching PNWR funds, as well as additional state Regional Solutions program funds and local funding.
EPIC was the right-of-way services subconsultant to DEA for this important project. Although most of the project work was performed in the City’s street right of way, some private property interests were impacted by the sidewalk and ADA ramp construction at multiple intersections. EPIC provided 15 real estate appraisals, coordination of appraisal reviews, acquisition negotiations to obtain six permanent easements, and 11 temporary construction easements (TCEs) for the project. EPIC agents utilized the ODOT Minimum Payment Offer approach to obtain TCEs to reduce the project schedule by 90 days and create 75% savings in overall Right of Way Acquisition costs.
Project design engineering, construction, and oversight agencies that worked alongside DEA and Epic include City of Rainer, Oregon Department of Transportation, Genesee & Wyoming Inc., Thompson Bros Excavating Inc., Wiser Rail Engineering, Northwest Geotech, Inc / Northwest Testing, Inc., and Historical Research Associates, Inc.
Photos courtesy of DEA’s project video: https://www.deainc.com/project/a-st-rail-safety-improvements/
