Bismarck's Quiet Rail Zone study has been extended to include three new rail crossings.

The City Commission voted Tuesday night to amend a Quiet Rail Zone Study, which had included studying crossings at Fraine Barracks, Third, Fifth and 12th Streets in Bismarck.

The Quiet Rail Zone, which would be built by BNSF Railways and charged back to the city, involves safety improvements ranging from $590,000 to $650,000 per crossing at the various crossings so trains would not have to blow their horns, as currently required by federal law.

Extending the rail zone study eastward will cost an additional $10,702 and extend the study for a maximum of six months. Total cost of the study, done by SRF Consulting Group, will be $26,538.

The commission also voted to set in place a policy for approval of changes in professional services contracts. According to the new policy, all changes to any services including any change in scope, timing or dollar amount require prior approval from the City Commission; items that are less than 10 percent of the contract or less than $15,000 will be placed on the consent agenda, and items that are more will be on the regular agenda.

Commissioner Sandi Tabor expressed the need for accountability of change orders, with both Commissioners Connie Sprynczynatyk and David Jensen expressing concerns about the new policy.

Sprynczynatyk's main concern was that the new policy would slow down necessary processes; Jensen was also concerned that change orders may bog down the agenda, adding that if a company is asking for changes, perhaps it is not doing an adequate job of the services it was contracted for. He also added that change orders to professional services have not been very frequent.

Sprynczynatyk agreed to testing out the process, with Tabor adding that they may revisit or review the process within a year, or if it becomes too cumbersome.

The motion passed, with Jensen voting against.

Other items on the agenda included the approval of a liquor license for Bismarck Cuisine to use in Ruby Tuesday; approval to revisit bids after airport staff reviews for a "boarding bridge baggage lift"for the airport, which would make moving carry-on baggage to the hull of the plane more efficient; and a motion to rebid the purchase of a refuse compactor to include new specifications.

(Reach reporter Crystal Reid at 250-8261 or at crystal.reid@;bismarcktribune.com.)