Norfolk Southern/Conrail Rail Connection–Bucyrus, Ohio - Surface ...

1.1.3 Construction Requirements
The proposed construction site is in the eastern half of the City of Bucyrus, Ohio, southeast of the
intersection of the existing Conrail and NS tracks. This urban site consists primarily of commercial lots
surrounded by residences. The commercial lots are mainly disturbed, containing either ballast and fill
dirt or weeds, grasses, shrubs, and a few small deciduous trees. A narrow strip of deciduous trees and
shrubs separates the existing Conrail rail right-of-way from residences to the south. The construction
area is bordered on the north by the Crestline, Ohio to Fort Wayne, Indiana Conrail line and on the west
by NS’ Columbus to Bellevue line. A BP fuel distribution facility with five above-ground storage tanks
is east of the proposed construction site. A former Toledo & Ohio Central Railroad (T&OC) passenger
station, now occupied by a heating and plumbing company, is northwest of the project area.
The proposed construction would affect three properties. Two of the properties are owned by Conrail
but are leased and occupied by the Quinn Brothers Construction Company. A storage yard for
construction materials and a one-story frame office building are on these two properties. The third
property is owned and occupied by the Quinn Brothers Construction Company. The former T&OC
freight depot is on this property and is used as a warehouse by the construction company. Both the
office building and the former freight depot would have to be demolished to construct the proposed
connection. The storage yard would be cleared. NS will construct a natural or man-made visual buffer
to the west of a residential property located within 32 feet of the proposed right-of-way to separate rail
operations. No other modifications to existing structures would be required. The north/south-oriented
electric power lines east of the existing NS rail line would not need to be raised or relocated.
NS’ construction specifications and procedures meet or exceed the practices recommended by the
American Railway Engineering Association (AREA). The entire length of the proposed connection
would involve new construction. Second-hand rail and other track materials (OTM) may be used where
practicable. A new subgrade, subballast, ballast, and ties would be used for the roadbed. The design
specifications for the project are set out in Table 1-1. A typical cross-section is provided in Figure 1.2.
The topography along the proposed connection is generally level. Only minor grading would be
required to prepare the roadbed and ditches east of Rensselaer Street. Fill would be required west of
Rensselaer Street to transition to the height of the existing Conrail roadbed. No grading, drainage, or
erosion control permits would be required. Grading activities typically consist of:
• removal and disposal of vegetative and non-vegetative debris;
• excavation and compaction of existing material to achieve desired subgrade elevation in cut
sections (6,100 cubic yards of excavation);
• placement and compaction of borrow material as required to achieve desired subgrade elevation
in fill sections (475 cubic yards);
• placement of compacted subballast layer upon finished subgrade;
• recontouring of property and ditches as required to ensure drainage; and
• seeding and mulching of all areas in which existing ground is disturbed.
Table 1-1
Design Specifications for the Bucyrus, Ohio Connection
Maximum train speed
25 miles per hour
1-3