Section 2: After C&M Agreement Execution
If C&M Agreement is Not Executed During
the Ready to Let
During
the Ready to Let
The C&M Agreement may not be executed until after a construction
project goes to letting. In these scenarios, TxDOT may choose
a
Conditional Let
, to release a construction or maintenance contract
to the contractor. Refer to the Design Division website
for releasing projects after Ready to Let period
.If the Project has already let, the district may
contact Construction Division (CST) and request a Conditional Release
Option. This allows the contractor to start work outside of railroad
right of way prior to having a fully executed contractor Right of
Entry Agreement.
Agreement Fees
After the C&M Agreement is executed,
the district
will
approve payment of any license agreement processing
fees.
TxDOT agrees to pay the railroad company as stated in the C&M
Agreement. The fees are paid from
the project
CSJ. Fees may be agreed upon in the following situations:- New overpass.
- Overpass widening or modification.
- ITSconduits under or over tracks.
- New underpass or modification.
- Utility installations.
TxDOT does not pay
license agreement processing
fees
for at-grade crossing work.Railroad Coordination Meeting
A railroad coordination meeting is required on TxDOT construction
projects. This meeting occurs at the same time as the preconstruction
meeting. The district is responsible for arranging and conducting
the meeting. Items of discussion:
- Construction schedule.
- Scheduling railroad flaggers.
- Scheduling railroad company signal and track crews.
- Train operations.
- Railroad safety requirements.
- Right of Entry Agreement and insurance.
- Construction issues such as stockpiling material near the rail, temporary haul roads and crossings, orange construction fencing parallel with rail, etc.
- Shoring and demolition submittals to the railroad company.
- Railroad company workinspection process.
- Railroad company invoices review andapproval process.
The following individuals should be present at the meeting:
- District railroad coordinator.
- Area engineer.
- TxDOT project manager.
- Prime contractor.
- Subcontractors.
- Local government traffic signal representative (if preemption is involved).
- Railroad company.
Refer to the contractor Right of Entry
Agreement for railroad contacts and preconstruction meeting requirements.
Right of Entry Agreement and Safety Training
Prior to working on railroad right of way, the contractor
will
be
required to enter into a Right of Entry Agreement with the operating
railroad company, if required in the PS&E. See Chapter 8 for details.Most railroad companies require contractors working within
their right of way to complete an online safety training course.
Each individual working within the railroad right of way must possess a
card certifying completion of the safety training course, including
TxDOT personnel. Employees found working on railroad right of way
not in possession of the card or demonstrating unsafe practices
may be expelled from the property and/or fined by federal and/or
state safety inspectors.
Contractor Submittals
TxDOT’s contractor provides shoring, erection, erosion control
and demolition plans for review and approval to the railroad company
prior to beginning bridge work within railroad right of way. Refer
to the individual railroad company’s guidelines for developing these
plans. On underpass projects or projects with shoring within OSHA
Zones A or B, shoring guidelines are typically included in the PS&E
and would not need to be developed by TxDOT’s contractor. See
sheet
3
of the Railroad Requirements for Bridge Construction
for further details.Authority to Order Materials
On TxDOT construction and
Section 130
projects,
TxDOT will issue an Authority to Order Materials letter to the railroad
company to begin assembling materials. This letter also provides
the railroad with approval to begin necessary electrical service
installation, final design, and incidental site work at the project
location.
Assembling materials can take up to 6 months,
so the letter should be issued accordingly. The letter is issued
by the district on construction projects unless RRD
issues the
letter upon C&M Agreement execution. On Section 130
projects,
the letter is issued by RRD
as part of the
Exhibit B or with the executed Force Account Agreement.On replanking projects, the Project Notice or Force Account
Agreement
includes
the Authority to Order Materials
for the railroad company.Work by Local Government
On
Section 130
projects, the TxDOT district
railroad coordinator coordinates any work done by the city or county.
This work includes:- Median installation.
- Civil features such as curb and gutter, guardrail, retaining walls and culverts.
- Traffic signal adjustments.
- Utility adjustments.
- Removing sight distance obstructions such as vegetation.
- Signing and striping.
- Roadway alignment improvements.
- Installing conduit for traffic signal preemption (typicallynotreimbursed by TxDOT).
This work usually needs to be completed prior to any work
done by the railroad company and will affect the issuance of the
Work Order to the railroad company from
RRD
.Railroad Flagging
Railroad flaggers are required
when
the
contractor is working within 25 feet of the rail, using equipment
that could foul
the tracks, or at
the discretion of the railroad involved.
The railroad
company has the final authority in deciding if railroad flagging
is
are needed. The contractor is responsible for determining
when flaggers will be needed based on the construction schedule.On some projects, the railroad company may choose to post
a flagging position internally for dedicated
personnel
to
support the project throughout the duration of the construction.
The Contractor Right of Entry Agreement will give detailed instructions
on ordering and dismissing railroad flaggers.The project inspector should verify railroad flaggers are
only requested when needed by the contractor.
As of 2017, the Class 1 railroads use approved contract
flaggers. TxDOT contractors and consultants request flagging support directly
from the approved contract flaggers for the affected railroad. Standard
provisions have been updated to allow the contractors and consultants
to be reimbursed at actual cost plus an administrative fee.
Railroad Flagging for
TxDOT Employees Only
Railroad Flagging for
TxDOT Employees Only
If the railroad will provide their own labor for flagging,
the district railroad coordinator shall request a flagging agreement
from RRD in support of any railroad provided flagging. For a contract flagger,
please follow the steps outlined on the Rail Division Crossroads
site. This blanket purchase order is only used for TxDOT labor and
is reimbursed through district funds.
Railroad Property Access
Training
Railroad Property Access
Training
TxDOT and contractor personnel shall have a valid railroad
specific property access training certification (PAT) in their possession
while working on railroad property. This certification is non-transferrable
between railroads. This includes attending diagnostic inspections,
construction inspection, performing maintenance work, temporary
traffic control or other activities. This does not include routine
driving over a crossing.
Work Order
On construction,
Section 130
, and replanking
projects, TxDOT issues a Work Order to the railroad company to provide
labor for installation, modification, and removal of crossing surface panels,
railroad warning devices, track and/or other railroad equipment.
A Work Order will also
be required for railroad
flagging. On Section 130
projects, a Work Order
is issued to the local government for any work to be reimbursed
by TxDOT.The Work Order is issued after the district has identified
a proper means to inspect the work to be performed, including any
traffic control performed by the railroad company’s contractor.
The railroad company will request the Work Order after materials
have been assembled and 2 weeks prior to a crew beginning work.
The district will issue the Work Order on all types of projects.