RENO RETRAC

The City of Reno recently constructed the $244 million ReTRAC Project, a four-mile depressed railway through downtown Reno, Nevada. The ReTRAC Project involved the lowering of the Union Pacific Railroad corridor below street level through the central portion of the City of Reno. The ReTRAC project eliminated 11 at-grade street crossings, improved traffic flow and public safety, and reduced railroad noise and vibration. JBR provided on-call environmental technical support to the City of Reno for preparation and technical adequacy review of the ReTRAC Project EIS. Specifically, JBR prepared the initial Notice of Intent for the EIS for publication in the Federal Register and performed initial reviews on the Preliminary and Administrative Draft ReTRAC EIS for technical adequacy.

JBR also completed all state and federal environmental permit applications for the ReTRAC Project related to the construction of a stormwater outfall structure discharging into the Truckee River. JBR prepared the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers Nationwide Permit Application, EPA Section 401 Water Quality Certification, Nevada State Lands Permit, Nevada Division of Environmental Protection Temporary Permit for Work within Waterways, and Carson-Truckee Water Conservation District Encroachment Permit. JBR performed daily monitoring and environmental oversight related to the Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan for the project during construction. JBR also performed Quality Assurance/Quality Control (QA/QC) during construction by taking additional water quality samples upstream and downstream of the project site. Also for the project as a whole, JBR  prepared the Health and Safety Plan and the Surface Water Mitigation Plan (Stormwater Pollution Prevention Plan), Emergency Response Plan, and Mitigation Monitoring Plan. JBR performed an assessment of all buildings within the project area that were proposed for demolition for the presence of asbestos and lead-based paint and made recommendations to the City of Reno for the management and removal of asbestos and lead-based paint. JBR also performed QA/QC oversight of the asbestos abatement contractor during demolition. JBR also performed biological monitoring for the presence or absence of sensitive bat species in buildings proposed for demolition. 

During the mid-construction phase of the project, the City of Reno investigated the potential to construct the ReTRAC Enhancement Project that involved the construction of a cover over a portion of the trench (e.g., constructing a tunnel instead of a trench). JBR, along with several subconsultants, performed detail studies and modeling to determine potential impacts that would result from covering a portion of the trench. Specific studies focusing on the proposed tunnel (above and below ground) included air quality, noise, traffic, cultural resources, public safety, and train operations and trench safety related to hazardous materials. Studies were prepared for the Federal Highways Administration (lead agency) to supplement the NEPA process. The studies specifically focused on the potential for train derailment, emergency response, and idling trains in the tunnel (resulting in air quality impacts and potential affects to disembarking train passengers at the nearby Amtrak Station). The studies also included a detail traffic study and affects to enhancing the streetscape along Virginia Street (downtown Reno).

• Catherine Clark - Division Manager -