Emergency Access and Safety Wabash Local Trax Railroad Grade Separation Are INDOT and the City of Wabash coordinating How will this project impact emergency response with local emergency responders during the time? environmental study and design? Removal of the at-grade intersection will provide Yes, emergency responders are a major stakeholder emergency services with a route that has a “known” Frequently Asked Questions and will engaged throughout the project. travel time that cannot be impacted by stopped trains DES# 1801915 on the tracks. As with any roadway, motorists will be How will this project improve access and expected to pull over/stagger to allow passage for turning radii for emergency equipment? emergency vehicles. Project Scope Each intersection altered or modified by the project will be analyzed to ensure the required What is the goal of the Wabash Local Trax Project? How did you determine that East Street was turning movements can be met. The goal of the project is to improve safety and the best location for the overpass (cont’d)? mobility by addressing the adverse effects of the Preliminary review revealed that constructing current at-grade crossings. By constructing a bridge the overpass at East Street required the least to carry the motorists and pedestrians over the amount of right of way and impacts to historic Public Involvement railroad, safety is greatly improved by reducing the properties. It is also the least expensive to potential for train, vehicle and pedestrian collisions design and construct. Are the meeting presentations, exhibits and How can residents get involved in the project? while simultaneously providing unobstructed north- fact sheets available online? If so, where? Public involvement is a critical part of the south access, reducing delays in emergency Did engineers consider building a tunnel at Yes, all project information is available at environmental and design process. The public can response times. SR 13? www.cityofwabash.com/traxproject. submit comments at the various public meetings Yes, the option of tunneling under SR 13 was offered or through the methods listed below. Who will oversee this project? considered. However, because of shallow bedrock When will the public have an opportunity to Local Trax is a partnership with INDOT, local in the area and the proximity to the Wabash River, comment on the plans? Will the project team assemble advisory communities, businesses, industries and railroads to costs for geotechnical investigations and drainage Public involvement will occur throughout the committees or host special stakeholder meetings? improve the quality of life for residents through mitigation made the tunnel cost-prohibitive. environmental process, including additional No advisory committees or special stakeholder large-scale rail related transportation projects. The public information meetings – where the public meetings are planned at this time. If residents would City of Wabash, INDOT and Norfolk Southern Why are intersections being closed? can comment on the current design status – and like to provide comments, they are encouraged to Railroad (NSRR) are partnering on the Wabash Reducing the number of intersections with the a public hearing for the environmental document. submit those via email or postal mail and attend the Local Trax project. railroad greatly reduces the chance for accidents. public meetings. The East Street overpass will be large enough to Will a public hearing be held before design is When was the the preliminary preferred alterna- accommodate the traffic currently carried by four finalized? tive selected? streets well into the future. Yes, a public hearing is tentatively scheduled for The Engineer’s Report updated in June 2020 late 2021 or early 2022. identified the overpass at East Street as the What intersections will be eliminated as part preliminary preferred alternative. of this project? Once complete, East Street will cross over the Questions or Comments? Are other alternatives still being considered? NSRR tracks and the intersections at Spring, Six “build” alternatives and one “no build” alternative Huntington and Thorne streets will be closed. were analyzed. While the overpass at East Street is Jackie Dohrenwend, WSP INDOT Next Level Customer Service the preliminary preferred alternative, design will not How did you determine which intersections (855) INDOT4U (855-463-6848) (317) 287-3410 be finalized until the environmental document has to close? [email protected] [email protected] been approved. INDOT, the City of Wabash and NSRR had several discussions about the best intersections to close 115 W. Washington St., Suite 1270S How did you determine that East Street was the based on traffic counts, accident data and the Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 best location for the overpass? capacity of adjacent streets. All three entities Please mention “Wabash Local Trax Project” in your correspondence. East Street is already a major thoroughfare through determined that Spring, Huntington and Thorne Wabash, while some of the other adjacent streets streets best fit the criteria to be closed. evaluated are less traveled. www.cityofwabash.com/traxproject March 2021 Project Scope (Continued) Right-of-Way Acquisition What role does Norfolk Will this project be constructed in existing right How will the diminishing values of the homes Southern play in this plan? of way, or will you need to purchase land? around the overpass be compensated? NSRR is a major stakeholder in the This project will impact many property owners and land Impacts to properties will be evaluated project. The project team has worked will need to be acquired before construction can begin. throughout the project development process. closely with them to develop the purpose and need of the project and How much land might need to be purchased? If a property may be impacted, should will continue to do so throughout While design is preliminary and impacts to specific owners delay plans for improvements to their design and construction. properties have not yet been identified, up to 2.3 home? acres may need to be acquired. Specific impacts to Because design is preliminary, specific impacts Will the planned overpass include property will not be identified until later in the to properties have not yet been identified. lanes for bicycles and pedestrians? environmental study. Yes, the preliminary preferred alternative currently includes accommodations Current Design of East Street over NSRR Does this project affect residences and businesses? for cyclists and pedestrians to use the new No, at this point, only residential properties will be overpass. Impacts and proposed mitigation for those properties will impacted by this project. be an important part of the environmental document. Is this project expected to impact any parks, schools or historic properties? What engineering firm is overseeing the Traffic Impacts The project is early in the environmental process, environmental study and design? and environmental resources – including historic WSP is the lead engineering firm overseeing the Have you conducted traffic counts for all streets Can the preliminary preferred alternative properties and parks – are being analyzed. environmental study and design. affected by this project? handle all of the local traffic diverted from the Yes, traffic counts were taken at the intersection of intersections that are closing? East Street and Hill Street, and during the peak hours Yes. After traffic analysis is complete, adjust- Schedule at the intersection of East Street and Walnut Street, ments to the typical section or turn lanes at in August 2020. intersections may be needed to ensure adequate What is the schedule for the environmental study? When will right-of-way decisions be made? traffic flow through and around the project area. Environmental study and early coordination is Design will not be finalized until the environmental Is traffic expected to increase after this project is ongoing. The environmental document is process is complete. Final design and impacts to constructed? Are there plans to widen East Street on each expected to be published in September 2021, with specific properties could be identified in late 2021. Yes, it is expected that traffic from the surrounding side of the overpass? a public hearing in late 2021 or early 2022. The at-grade railroad crossings will choose the East No, in order to minimize impacts to the surrounding team hopes to finalize the environmental Street overpass during train events to avoid delays. areas, changes to East street will be limited to document by March 2022. What is the anticipated construction timeline? the area between the Hill Street intersection to Construction – which is expected to last two years – Do you believe this project will reduce travel time approximately 150 feet past the Maple Avenue What is the design schedule? could begin as early as 2023. through this area? intersection. Once the environmental document is approved, Overall, travel times are expected to decrease due to design will continue until late 2022. the elimination of the at-grade railroad crossings. Funding What is the estimated budget? Will both State and local funds be used? Total project costs are currently estimated at Yes. The City of Wabash was awarded $8.56 million About Local Trax $9.97 million, which includes planning, design, from the state-funded Local Trax grant. The The Local Trax rail overpass program provides grants to cities, right-of-way, utility