City Council
	Agenda Request
Agenda Of:	August 26, 2008	Agenda Request No:		v c
Initiated By:	Patrick Walsh, P.E. Assistant City Engineer	Responsible Department:		Business & Intergovernmental Relations
Presented By:	Patrick Walsh, P.E. Assistant City Engineer	Department Head:		Joe Esch
		Additional Department. Head (s):		N/A
Subject / Proceeding:	Rail Issues Review and Discuss
Exhibits:	N/A
Clearances			Approval
Legal:	N/A		Executive Director:	Joe Esch Business & Intergov. Relations
Purchasing:	N/A		Asst. City Manager:	N/A
Budget:	N/A		City Manager:	Allen Bogard
Budget
Expenditure Required: $			N/A
Amount Budgeted/Reallocation: $			N/A
Additional Appropriation: $			N/A
Recommended Action
Review and discuss rail issues affecting the City.
Executive Summary
The railroad corridors in the Sugar Land vicinity significantly impact mobility, quality of life, and safety of City residents. A number of activities that have recently been completed or are underway have the potential to improve or exacerbate these impacts. Such activities include the following: · TxDOT’s Regional Freight Rail Study is complete; · The Gulf Coast Freight Rail District is considering a next-level Fort Bend Freight Rail Bypass study; · The U.S. 90A Commuter Rail Feasibility Study has been completed, which identified commuter rail as feasible down U.S. 90A; · H-GAC has completed the Regional Commuter Rail Connectivity Study, which recommends commuter rail down the F.M. 2759 corridor; · METRO included commuter rail down U.S. 90A in its METRO Solutions plan; and · Fort Bend County Transit intends to initiate park and ride service down U.S. 90A to the Medical Center. While staff has been monitoring these activities, direction from Council is needed in order to identify City Council’s priorities and preferences. Staff intends to summarize these issues for City Council and receive Council input and direction on how to respond.
Exhibits