Jasper County enters agreement with IAIS to close railroad at S. 28th Ave. W.

Supervisors last week approved agreements between Jasper County and Iowa Interstate Railroad and the Iowa Department of Transportation regarding the closure of an at-grade rail crossing at South 28th Avenue West just west of Colfax. The contract sets the timeline for the third phase of the F-48 West project.

“It also sets the timeline for us to vacate the right-of-way and then it also sets us to where we get $15,000 from the railroad to help compensate our expenses in basically getting rid of that crossing,” said County Engineer Michael Frietsch. “…It’s kind of a nasty sort of curve right there.”

According to the contract, the county, IAIS and IDOT mutually agree to close and remove the railroad crossing located at our about the intersection of South 28th Avenue West and the railroad company’s right-of-way. The county and IDOT also entered into a crossing closure incentive agreement outlining responsibilities.

IAIS will remove the crossing — including the roadway crossing surface, railroad cross bucks and roadway approach surface — to 25 feet from track centerline within the next six months. The railroad company will also maintain possession of all removed materials and pay the county $15,000.