R2026-192 Resolution Authorizing the City of Decatur to Engage Deutsche Bahn Engineering, Consulting, and Operations North America, Inc. (DB E.C.O. North America, Inc.) For Technical Services for Environmental Analysis and Mitigation Related to the

Home Browse Search

Council Memo Executive Department No. 2026-06 October 5, 2026 TO: Mayor Julie Moore Wolfe and City Council Members FROM: Melissa Hon, City Manager ShamRA Robinson, Deputy City Manager SUBJECT: Resolution authorizing the City of Decatur to Engage Deutsche Balm Engineering, Consulting, and Operations North America, Inc. (DB E.C.O. North America Inc.) for Technical Services for Environmental Analysis and Mitigation Related to the Union Pacific—Norfolk Southern Merger Impact Analysis for Surface Transportation Board Proceedings and Approving Expenditure of Funds SUMMARY RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of the resolution authorizing the City, as fiscal agent,to make payment under the Agreement with DB E.C.O. North America Inc. for the Union Pacific-Norfolk Southern(UP-NS) merger impact analysis for Surface Transportation Board(STB)proceedings. BACKGROUND: Union Pacific and Norfolk Southern have submitted a proposed merger to the Surface Transportation Board(STB) for approval. Comments and requests for condition must be submitted by November 18, 2026, and this federal deadline is firm. The merger is anticipated to increase rail traffic by roughly 3-7 additional trains per day on the lines through Decatur. The application also calls for a second main track through Decatur terminal as part of roughly $136.6 million in capacity work on the Kansas City Butler corridor. Staff recommend commissioning a technical analysis to provide quantified, Decatur specific evidence for the official record and to support the City's request for mitigation measures. The evidence would give the City of Decatur a foundation for asking the Board to impose mitigation requirements, such as grade separations, limits on crossings, noise controls, or ongoing monitoring, that the railroads would be responsible for funding or implementing. Without a documented, quantified analysis,the City has limited leverage to secure such conditions. A basic comment letter typically does not result in enforceable requirements. Through the City's Qualifications-Based Selection process, one qualified proposal was received from DB E.C.O. North America Inc. The proposed fee is $124,991. The scope of the work includes analysis of rail operations, economic and employment impacts, community and safety effects, including emergency response, and assistance with the City's documentation needed for the STB filing and mitigation requests.