Resolution Number 12-26
RESOLUTION NUMBER 12-26
SUPPORTING THE CSAH 7 AND CSAH 101 RAILROAD CROSSINGS ELIMINATION PLANNING PROJECT
WHEREAS, there are 122 active railroad crossings on the county road system in St. Louis County that generate on average one to two crashes per year involving a train and vehicle; and
WHEREAS, crashes that involve a train and vehicle are nearly 16 times as likely to result in a serious injury or fatality compared to crashes that occur on the county road system not at a railroad crossing; and
WHEREAS, the best strategy to reduce the risk of crashes at railroad crossings on the county road system is through elimination (closure) and grade separation (construct a bridge overpass); and
WHEREAS, the St. Louis County Railroad Crossing Safety Plan, developed in 2024, recommended 19 railroad crossing closures and 12 grade separations for railroad crossings located on the county road system; and
WHEREAS, St. Louis County has identified four railroad crossings, identified as USDOT #252375H, #252070K, #251970X and #260126X which cumulative carry up to 53 trains per day located on CSAH 7 (Hwy 7) and CSAH 101 (Hwy 101) within the cities of Eveleth and Mountain Iron and Clinton Township as candidates for elimination and safety improvements; and
WHEREAS, CSAH 7 (Hwy 7) serves 3,500 vehicles per day and CSAH 101 (Hwy 101) serves 2,300 vehicles per day, and the combination of a high volume of trains and vehicles results in significant delays for traffic on CSAH 7 (Hwy 7) and CSAH 101 (Hwy 101) and creates a risk for high-speed rear-end type crashes; and
WHEREAS, the St. Louis County Railroad Crossing Safety Plan recommends grade separations for two railroad crossings (USDOT #252070K and #252375H) on CSAH 7 (Hwy 7) and one railroad crossing (USDOT #260126X) on CSAH 101 (Hwy 101); and
WHEREAS, CSAH 7 (Hwy 7) and CSAH 101 (Hwy 101) are regionally significant highway corridors that serve the Eveleth, Mountain Iron and Virginia areas of the Iron Range; and
WHEREAS, St. Louis County is seeking funding through the Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) Grant Program for the CSAH 7 and CSAH 101 Railroad Crossings Elimination Planning Project; and
WHEREAS, this project will complete a planning and preliminary engineering process to develop recommendations for the four railroad crossings on CSAH 7 (Hwy 7) and CSAH 101 (Hwy 101) which will support a future capital project to improve highway mobility and safety at these railroad crossings.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF MOUNTAIN IRON, MINNESOTA, that the City supports St. Louis County’s funding application to the Railroad Crossing Elimination (RCE) Grant Program for the CSAH 7 and CSAH 101 Railroad Crossings Elimination Planning Project.
DULY ADOPTED BY THE CITY COUNCIL THIS 18th DAY OF MAY, 2026.
____________________________________
Mayor Peggy Anderson
ATTEST:
__________________________________
City Administrator
