Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Works

TO:

Dave Corliss

FROM:

Chuck Soules

Date:

September 4, 2007

RE:

31st Street – Haskell Avenue to O’Connell Road

KDOT Project No. 23 U-2117-01 – City Project No. 18-CP7-507(S)

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please request a meeting with the City Commission to discuss goals and vision for the referenced project.

 

Project Details.  In 2006 the City was informed of an $800,000 earmark for the construction of 31st Street from Haskell Avenue to O’Connell Road.  The earmark does not have any conditions attached; essentially this means the funds can be used for preliminary engineering (design), right-of-way acquisition, and construction.  The project will be administered by KDOT.  KDOT can “charge” a 1% administration cost, leaving the total amount available at $792,000.

 

The City submitted a Request for Construction Project on June 15, 2006 to initiate the project.  The project does have a schedule with a tentative letting of October 2008; however, we have to have the project complete in ten years so the letting date could be moved.

 

The Public Works Department has established a website for this project (http://www.lawrencepublicworks.org/31st_street.shtml) which includes a link for providing community input.

 

Project Status.   KDOT will require “Field Check Plans” which need to be 60-70% complete prior to purchasing right-of-way. 

 

Work items include:

·        Execute City-State Agreement - complete

·        Begin consultant selection process – City Commission approved April 24, 2007.

·        Consultant selection:  The City received nine proposals from engineering firms for this project.  Four firms were interviewed: TranSystems, Professional Engineering Consultants, Wilson & Co., and Affinis.  The interview panel included: Brad Finkleldei from the MPO; Michael Caron from “Save the Wakarusa Wetlands”; Keith Browning, Douglas County Engineer; Shoeb Uddin, City Engineer; and Chuck Soules, Director of Public Works.  Firms were evaluated based on their project understanding and approach, work elements and sequencing, experience and qualifications, public participation, and environmental awareness.  On August 23, 2007 the City Commission authorized the City Manager to enter into negotiations with Wilson & Company for professional services. 

·        Meet with City Manager and City Commission to discuss 31st Street Study and goals for project

·        Project Scope:   Staff and Wilson & Company are seeking City Commission input to develop the Scope of Services to be completed in the first phase of the 31st Street project development.  There are a number of options and opinions on how this section of roadway should be developed.  We would like to establish the City Commission goals and understand the community’s vision for the improvements to be constructed.

 

Following is a list of some of the issues:

Ø      What is the purpose of this facility?

o        to move traffic east/west?

o        alleviate congestion on 23rd Street?

o        other.

 

 

Ø      What additional transportation modes should be included?

o        pedestrian, bicycle, other?

Ø      Who are the stakeholders?

o        Commission (City/County), Planning Commission, Haskell Indian Nations University, Prairie Park Neighborhood, Save the Wakarusa Wetlands Organization, others?

Ø      What is the Commission envisioning the facility to be?

o        boulevard, rural section, typical City arterial?

Ø     Access management?

o        will there be access controls?

o        will there be access to Prairie Park and neighborhood?

o        access to future development?

Ø      Intersection control at Haskell Avenue  and O’Connell Road?

o        roundabout or signal?

The answer to many of these questions may be “yes” -- the community may want all the above (amenities) -- but each decision may add or subtract to the cost (financially, environmentally, or aesthetically).  Attached is a memo and project understanding from Wilson & Company discussing many of these issues. 

Work items continued

·        Public process

·        “Field Check Plan”  completion

·        Property acquisition

 

Pending funding:

·         Proceed to final plan

·          Bid/construct

 

Action Request.  Establish date to discuss Commission goals for this project so we might begin establishing Scope of Services.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Charles F. Soules, P.E.

Director of Public Works

 

CFS/je

 

Attachment:  Wilson & Company Memo