Viaduct will close crossing

A Linden Avenue railroad crossing could become one of Fremont’s most important and painful compromises.

At a study session of the Fremont City Council Tuesday night, council member Bob Warner questioned city staff about the future of a Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railway at-grade crossing on Linden Avenue on the west side of town.

The future of the railroad crossing will be affected directly by a Jan. 15 vote for a new viaduct over those railroad tracks on West 23rd Street near Somers Avenue and Airport Road, said city administrator Bob Hartwig. The viaduct would also go over Fremont and Elkhorn Valley Railroad tracks, which run parallel with the BNSF tracks there.

Fremont Department of Public Works director Clark Boschult said federal and state funding for the viaduct would require that all at-grade crossings within a certain distance of the viaduct be closed. Boschult said this morning that it would affect the Linden Avenue crossing, but not a BNSF crossing at Military Avenue.

The crossing at Linden Avenue provides an access to the Davenport residential subdivision, Ridge Cemetery, the Gen. John C. Fremont Army Reserves Center and Christensen Field. However, those areas can also be reached from West 23rd Street and Military Avenue.

Hartwig said Fremonters wouldn’t lose everything at the Linden Avenue crossing. The city’s trail system that runs through there would be maintained with a pedestrian walkway, most likely over the railroad tracks.

Hartwig said there is some discussion about whether the pedestrian walkway would run over or underneath the tracks.

“I’d rather see it over because the water table here is so high,” he said.

Boschult has said it will take about two years after the vote before construction of the viaduct could begin. It will take about one year to design the viaduct and another year to acquire the necessary rights of way. When the city has most of the rights of way secured, staff can bid the project.

The viaduct would cost about $9 million with the city responsible for about $3 million. Funds are available in the street department’s budget. The remaining funds will come from state and federal sources.

Hartwig has said that taxes will not be affected by the vote, which is required by state law to authorize the viaduct over railroad tracks.

Support for the viaduct developed from lengthy delays at the three crossings throughout the years. Delays also affect emergency assistance to areas west of the tracks from police officers, firefighters and paramedics.

In another matter, council members heard the second reading of an ordinance to rezone a 6-acre site just south of U.S. Highway 30 on County Road 26 from agriculture district to rural residential district.

The ordinance is scheduled for a final reading at the council’s Nov. 27 meeting, when it would be considered by vote of council members.

Peace Lutheran Church is in the process of acquiring the land.

The 6-acre tract is currently attached to 80 acres of farm land owned by Lee Seemann.

Boschult said the rezoning is necessary because the minimum lot size for agriculture district is 20 acres.

Peace Lutheran Church, a three-year-old congregation of about 115 members, meets each week at Calvary United Methodist Church, 2438 E. 12th St., after the Methodist church’s services.