Another train line planned through Clovis

CLOVIS — At a relatively short Clovis Public Works meeting Wednesday, committee members got basic updates on city and school projects, plus a hint that there may be an additional train line coming through Clovis.

City Manager Justin Howalt notified members during a 20-minute meeting that BNSF was planning to add a third track to its north side, going from Clovis to Farwell.

Howalt said he had concerns on traffic, particularly at the Norris Street crossing. The crossing is seeing much more activity with the Prince Street Overpass closed for repairs.

The line would be within BNSF’s right-of-way, Howalt said, but he still shared concerns that another line would have an impact —particularly on truckers that may be partially in the Mabry-Norris intersection while waiting at the crossing.

Regarding the lack of the Prince Street Overpass, District 3 City Commissioner Helen Casaus asked Howalt about heavier policing of Hull Street near its overpass. She said many motorists are traveling in far excess of the 35 mph limit.

Howalt said he had not received any communication back from the Department of Transportation. But on Thursday, a speed meter was present south of the overpass.

The committee handled one action item during the meeting, a right-of-way in the Dollar New Mexico Properties Subdivision. Louis Gordon of the building safety department said the right-of-way has existed for more than 60 years, but serves the city no purpose and has no utilities impacted should the requester purchase that land as intended.

“So,” Commissioner Gary Elliott said, “there’s really no reason not to do away with this.” The measure passed by voice vote, and will now move on to the planning and zoning commission.

Howalt updated members on the following city projects:

• Seventh Street repairs from Norris to Maple are out for bid, with bids due Nov. 13.

• Martin Luther King pre-construction from Seventh Street to the railroad crossing is having a contract finalized with K. Barnett and Sons, which was the low bidder.

• Main Street sidewalk repairs are ready to begin, but Howalt said the city is holding off on work until 2019 to avoid interfering with holiday shopping season or the Christmas Lights Parade.

• Effluent water reuse pipeline Phase 1C has five bids, and staff is looking over the paperwork on each.

• Upgrades for U.S. 60/84 from Prince to Wheaton will be broken into three phases — Wheaton to Martin Luther King, MLK to Grand and Grand to Prince.

John King, executive director of operations for Clovis Schools, updated the committee on three projects:

• Highland Elementary construction is on schedule, even with recent rainfall cutting some work days short.

• The east parking lot for Clovis High School should start in either January or February. King said the district is waiting for the go-ahead from the department of transportation, and, “We’re going to start as soon as we can start it.”

• King expects the CHS tennis courts to be finished by December.

“We knew there was a gas line, but it had never been marked,” King said. “We found it with a trencher, so that shut us down for a while.”