Railroad Company Cost Estimates

Construction projects will require an estimate from the railroad company for labor and materials provided by the railroad company on the project. Construction activities requiring a railroad company cost estimate:
  • Flagging.
  • Preliminary and construction engineering.
  • Construction
     inspection.
  • Planking or replanking.
  • Installation, relocation, or removal of grade crossing warning devices.
  • Railroad circuitry adjustments.
  • Installation or adjustment of
    railroad
     drainage structures under tracks.
  • Relocating
    railroad
     utilities on railroad right of way.
  • Licensing fee for C&M Agreement and Right of Entry Agreement.
Prior to drafting a C&M Agreement,
RRD
 will review the estimates to verify:
  • Project location and description information is correct.
  • Estimates are accurate given comparable recent projects.
  • Quantities of major items match design shown in Exhibit A. Major items for grade crossing warning devices include gates, cabins, mast flashers, cantilevers, foundations, signs and flashing light pairs. On planking projects,
    major items include
     length and size of crossing surface panels and rail and tie quantities.
  • Profit is not
    billed
     by a railroad company.
  • A maximum 5% overhead rate is
    billed
     if an audited rate does not exist for a contractor or railroad company. FHWA approved additive rates are used by railroad companies as indicated on the railroad estimate.
Any railroad wireline diagrams should also be verified for:
  • Correct location of shunt placement given any preemption time requested and speed of fastest train on each track.
  • Location of warning devices matches design in Exhibit A.
  • Warning devices and flashing lights match design in Exhibit A.
  • Gate and cantilever lengths match Exhibit A.
  • Cabin location matches Exhibit A.
  • Distances between cabin, warning devices, roadway, and rail match Exhibit A.
  • Roadway design (number of lanes, medians, shoulders, and widths of these items) matches Exhibit A.
  • If needed, phased implementation shown to match Exhibit A.
With proper supporting documentation, federal railroad reimbursement policy permits TxDOT to pay the actual cost of railroad work, even if it is more than the project cost estimate.
See Chapter 9, Construction and Inspection Process, Section 4, Invoices.