Union Pacific Safety Zone Project – City of Ennis

Ennis Texas

The City of Ennis identified the need for engineering, surveying, railroad coordination, and project management for the development of a safety zone along the Union Pacific Railroad (UPRR) between the intersections of Martin Luther King Drive and Lampasas Street. The UPRR Safety Zone project is one of the critical components of the City’s Downtown Master Plan (DMP) developed in March 2016 to revitalize its downtown. The City envisions the safety zone as a means to safely and effectively separate the railroad corridor from critical roadway thoroughfares while creating an aesthetic gateway feature to welcome residents and visitors into the vibrant downtown district.

LAN is providing track, structural and civil engineering, along with, railroad coordination and project management services. This project involves multiple grade crossing closures and bridge condition assessments.

The City of Ennis is progressing efficiently with the projects outlined in the Downtown Master Plan, with hopes that the gateway will become a recognizable landmark that will be unique to the city.

At a glance

32,000+ miles of rail are covered by Union Pacific railroads throughout the U.S.

The City of Ennis has been recognized in UP’s Train Town USA Registry as a city with a historical connection to the railroad.

Features

Modifications to Ennis Avenue railroad profiles to create a new grade-separated crossing, introducing an iconic gateway feature envisioned in the Downtown Master Plan as a threshold into the city’s center of commerce

Improved connectivity and reduced traffic congestion throughout the downtown district

Providing provisions for pedestrian accommodation elements and safety features along the railroad right of way (ROW) and at crossings