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Page 1 of 4 <br />Item #6 <br /> CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT <br /> <br />December 16, 2025 <br />Community and Economic Development <br /> <br />TITLE: AUTHORIZE THE CITY MANAGER TO EXECUTE A PROFESSIONAL SERVICES <br />AGREEMENT WITH KIMLEY-HORN AND ASSOCIATES, INC, IN THE AMOUNT <br />OF $168,858 FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF A RAILROAD QUIET ZONE IN <br />PLEASANTON <br /> <br />SUMMARY <br />At the August 19, 2025, City Council meeting, the City Council approved the creation of a new <br />Capital Improvement Program (CIP) Project to develop a Railroad Quiet Zone in Pleasanton <br />(CIP No. 26510). Staff prepared and circulated a request for proposals on October 15, 2025. <br />Kimley-Horn and Associates, Inc. was the only firm to submit a proposal. After review of the <br />proposal, evaluation of their references, relevant project experience, and discussion with the <br />proposed project manager, staff recommends that the City Council approve the agreement <br />with Kimley-Horn Associates, Inc., for a not-to-exceed amount of $168,858 for the project, the <br />scope of which would cover services to support the necessary analysis, preliminary and final <br />design, stakeholder engagement, and permitting for the project. <br /> <br />RECOMMENDATION <br />Approve and authorize the City Manager to execute the Design Professional Services <br />Agreement with Kimley-Horn and Associate, Inc., in the amount of $168,858 for the <br />development of a Railroad Quiet Zone in Pleasanton. <br /> <br />BACKGROUND <br />In 2006, the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) adopted Federal regulations, known as the <br />Final Rule on the Use of Locomotive Horns at Highway-Rail Grade Crossings, 49 CFR 222 <br />(Horn Rule). This Rule established criteria to eliminate the requirement for trains to sound their <br />horns when approaching highway-rail grade crossings. <br /> <br />Since the adoption of the 2006 Horn Rule, staff has included a quiet zone study on the list of <br />potential City projects for priorization and funding, but it has not been previously prioritized, <br />mainly due to the previously anticipated high construction cost (estimated at $2 million). <br />Recently, however, several East Bay local agencies have implemented Quiet Zones with <br />construction costs much lower than the prior cost estimate.. Based on this and ongoing <br />concerns about train horn noise raised by community members, in August 2025, the City <br />Council approved a Capital Improvement Project to conduct a feasibility study and design the <br />Pleasanton Quiet Zone (CIP No. 26510). <br /> <br />Staff issued a Request for Proposals for the project in October 2025 and received one <br />proposal from Kimley-Horn Associates. After review of the proposal, firm references and <br />qualifications, and discussion with their project manager, staff recommends that Kimley-Horn <br />be retained to complete the work. Kimley-Horn has extensive experience implementing quiet <br />zones and railroad-related projects, including the development of quiet zones in both Menlo <br />Docusign Envelope ID: 2430EB25-F48A-45D4-91C5-9340C4FBB5C9