Public Works Dept.

Memo

To:                 Mike Wildgen

cc:                David Corliss, Debbie Van Saun, Terese Gorman, Linda Finger

From:            Chuck Soules

Date:            February 3, 2004

Re:                O’Connell Road Improvement              

 

The O’Connell Road improvement project is scheduled to bid April 21, 2004.  This project has been on the City’s 5-Year Plan with KDOT for a number of years. The improvement includes the construction of a 3 lane road (one lane in each direction, north and south, and a center turn lane), bike lanes, 5 ft sidewalk on both sides, a roundabout at 28th Street, grading, and storm sewer.   Recent plans for development in the area of this project have prompted the need for a decision on whether to proceed with this timetable for or take another option.

 

Background Information

This project is partially State funded.  The City is responsible for 100% of right of way acquisition, utility relocation, and preliminary engineering.  The State and City share the cost of construction and construction engineering at a ratio of 80/20 respectively.  To date the following City costs have been accrued:

 

          Utility Relocation                                                                     $ 17,000

                        Preliminary Engineering                                                          257,808

                        Right of Way Acquisition                                                         144,576

                        Estimated Construction Cost - $2,940,000 @ 20%               588,000

           Estimated Construction Engineering - $441,000 @ 20%        88,200

                                              Total City Cost                                             $1,095,584

 

The development on the west side of O’Connell was submitted August 8, 2003 and included a roundabout at 25th Street.  The preliminary plat, excluding the PRD, was approved by the Planning Commission on September 24, 2003.  The PRD area will be presented to the Planning Commission at their February 25, 2004 meeting. 

 

During this same time period, plans for O’Connell were submitted to KDOT on August 18, 2003 for office check.  By October 6, 2003 KDOT had completed their review process and returned the plans with their remarks to be included in the final set of plans resubmitted on January 5, 2004.

 

On November 20, 2003 the City received a written request from Southwind Capital, LLC requesting that a benefit district be established for the roundabout at 25th Street.  At the City Commission meeting on December 2, 2003 the City Commission was apprised of the request for the roundabout.  At that time the plans for O’Connell were too far along to incorporate the roundabout design, and Staff thought that a change order could be added to the construction project after the project was bid.

 

 

 

 

 

 

On December 12, 2003 a preliminary plat and traffic study for the development of the east side of O’Connell (Farmland Northeast Addition) was submitted.  This project could generate significant traffic volumes and the traffic study submitted recommends the following improvements:

 

1.      Dual left turns for westbound K-10

2.      Right and left turn lanes for east bound K-10

3.      A five-lane section on O’Connell from 25th Street to K-10

4.      Signalization of O’Connell and K-10

 

This area is currently zoned agriculture.  Horizon 2020 shows the area as predominately low density with mixed use along the highway.  The newly adopted commercial chapter includes a neighborhood shopping center at this intersection.  The preliminary plat for the single family and duplex areas (low density) will be on the February 25, 2004 Planning Commission agenda.  Staff has not completed their review of the commercial and industrial areas.

 

On January 21, 2004 City staff met with KDOT staff to discuss the proposed Farmland Northeast Addition, Traffic Impact Analysis, and the O’Connell Road Improvement project.  After this meeting was held, KDOT presented the City with three options:

 

1.      Let the project as is in the April letting with no change orders for the roundabout allowed due to cost unknowns, right of way issues, utility issues, bidding criteria, the need to give all bidding contractors the same opportunity to bid on the work, etc.  The building of the roundabout could be done by the city if and when the zoning changes occurred.

2.      Redesign the project and include the roundabout.  This will delay letting the project for six to twelve months.  We would schedule a letting for the twelve-month time frame and move or reschedule it sooner when the plans are done, right of way acquired, and utilities are all moved.  There are some design issues necessary that need to be dealt with when re-designing from three lanes to a roundabout intersection.  KDOT Funds for this project will continue to depend on the amount of obligation authority available to Lawrence.

3.      Revise the plans and stop the project short of where the roundabout is planned to begin and call this Phase One.  This could possibly be let sooner than Option Two but after the April letting date.  The roundabout could be let as Phase Two as soon as the plans are done, right of way acquired, and utilities are adjusted.

 

Staff Recommendation

The Farmland Northeast project, as presented, has the potential to significantly change the function and capacity needs of O’Connell Road.  This development could also necessitate improvements on K-10.  At this time the Farmland Northeast project is still in the review process.  The Planning Commission will review the preliminary plat for the low density areas in February.  However, review of the commercial areas, impact to the sanitary sewer system, and KDOT review of the impact to K-10 have not been completed.  The current O’Connell Road project has been designed as a three-lane collector street.  Right of way and easements have been acquired and utilities adjusted based on this design.  Therefore, staff would recommend to proceed with the O’Connell Road project as currently designed with an April bid letting date (KDOT option #1).

 

Please feel free to call should you have any questions.

 

Respectfully Submitted,

 

 

Charles F. Soules, P.E.

Director of Public Works