Title
Resolution to Approve a Contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) for the Allen Creek Railroad Berm Opening Project
Memorandum
Attached for your review and consideration for approval is a contract with the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT) to occupy the railroad right of way for the construction of the Allen Creek Railroad Berm Opening Project.
The railroad berm near the mouth of Allen Creek, in the vicinity of Depot Street and Main Street, just west of the Ann Arbor Amtrak Station, is perpendicular to the overland drainage flow pattern and causes the floodplain in this area of the City to be as deep as 10 feet during heavy storm events. Upstream of the influence of this berm, flood depths are more typically in the 3 to 5 foot range.
There is a known trespassing hazard near the project. The lack of a convenient and reasonable pedestrian access linking the downtown area to the B2B Trail leads to the dangerous and illegal trespassing behavior in the railroad right-of-way. The project will install a large culvert beneath the railroad that will provide safe and legal access to the Border-to-Border (B2B) trail from the population center and eliminate this hazard.
Providing this pedestrian access and eliminating the trespassing hazard is acceptable to the Michigan Department of Transportation (MDOT), which owns the railroad.
In December of 2013, the City and its consultant, OHM Advisors, completed a feasibility study to determine if it was possible to create openings in the railroad berm to accommodate passage of floodwaters, as well as to allow pedestrians to cross safely under the railroad to get to the park facilities to the north. The feasibility study indicated that it would be possible to lower the floodplain elevation in the area by as much as 6.5 feet as well as accommodate non-motorized access under the railroad.
This project includes the installation of two storm water culverts beneath the railroad that when in...
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