Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Works

TO:

David L. Corliss

FROM:

Chuck Soules

CC:

Cynthia Boecker, Diane Stoddard, Shoeb Uddin, Dena Mezger, Mark Hecker, Ernie Shaw, Philip Ciesielski, Dave Wagner

Date:

April 23, 2008

RE:

31st Street – Haskell Avenue to O’Connell Road

City Project No. 18-CP7-507(S)

Expand Scope of Project

Approve Response to County

Approve Placement of Appointments to Steering Committee

April 29, 2008 Regular Agenda Item

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Please include the following item on the City Commission regular agenda for consideration at the April 29, 2008 meeting:

 

Project Details/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.

 

·         6/15/06 – City submitted a Request for Construction Project to initiate the project

·         4/24/07 – City Commission approved consultant selection process

·         8/23/07 – City Commission approves consultant selection of Wilson & Company, Inc.

·         11/1/07 – Study session with City Commission; Wilson & Co. 8/30/07 improvements memo

·         2/12/08 – Approved Scope of Services with Wilson & Co.

 

Tentative Future Timeline.

·        2/12/08 - City Commission consideration of scope of work

·        5/08 – Create Steering Committee

     First Committee meeting – discuss project, Wilson & Co. role, Committee role, receive input

·        6/08 – Second Committee Meeting – Wilson & Co. work plan options, input and feedback.

·        7/08 – Public Meeting – present options, discuss issues, receive input, comments, feedback

·        8/08 – Take input to Steering Committee to address

·        Fall 2008 – 2nd Public Meeting

·        Late Fall  2008 – Presentation of study to City Commission; six months to right-of-way plans

·        Summer 2009 – securing right-of-way corridor

 

Background.   On March 24, 2008 the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC) was briefed on the status of the 31st Street, Haskell to O’Connell, project.  In addition to the Haskell-to-O’Connell segment, 31st Street east of O’Connell to Route 1057 (E 1900 Road) was also discussed.  The City and County partnered on a study of 31st Street in 2003 in which a corridor and several alignments were identified between Haskell and Route 1057.  The study concluded an improved 31st Street will be needed to carry projected future traffic whether or not the SLT is completed, although the study concluded 31st Street east of O’Connell Road could be constructed as a two-lane facility assuming the SLT is completed.

 

During the March 24th discussion, the BOCC expressed their feeling that further study of 31st Street east of O’Connell Road to Route 1057 is needed.  The BOCC felt it prudent to consider the entire extension of 31st Street from Haskell Avenue to Route 1057 in order to ensure improvements in the Haskell-to-O’Connell segment mesh with desired improvements east of O’Connell.  The BOCC identified the need to determine a recommended alignment and identify the required right-of-way needed in order to preserve the corridor, as possible, through the planning process.  The BOCC also felt that early identification of a recommended alignment allows the public and property owners along the alignment to be involved early in the process so that conclusions can be reached and accepted by the public.

Like the study underway for the Haskell-to-O’Connell segment, an expanded study to include areas east of O’Connell to Route 1057 would consider and determine:

·                     Projected traffic counts and traffic classifications

·                     Design parameters including design speed

·                     Recommended typical section

·                     Recommended horizontal and vertical (profile) alignment

·                     Right-of-way requirements for the recommended alignment

·                     Estimated cost of improvements

 

An expanded study to include areas east of O’Connell would also allow for more informed discussion between the City Commission (CC) and BOCC to determine:

·                     Phasing of improvements

·                     Timing of phased improvements

·                     Prospective funding of improvements

·                     City/County collaboration on improvements

 

Attached is a request from the County Commission to the City Commission about expanding the scope of the 31st Street project.

 

Staff agrees that the corridor along 31st Street to Route 1057 (Noria Road) should be consistent, and would recommend that the city and county collaborate efforts for the improvements.  The county has obtained a preliminary scope of services from Wilson & Co. (similar to the city’s contract) for an estimated cost of $220,000.  Although the city’s monetary contribution to the cost of the expansion of the scope of the project would be small, staff could offer significant effort in the coordination of  public participation/media relations process.

 

Attached for the Commission’s consideration is a response/proposal to the county for our contribution to the expansion of the scope of services for 31st Street.

 

Action  Requested: 

·         Pending Commission discussion, approve response to County Commission, if appropriate.

·         Pending County Commission concurrence, approve placement of appointments to the Steering Committee on a future agenda.

 

Respectfully submitted,

 

 

 

Charles F. Soules, P.E.

Director of Public Works

 

Attachments:  County 4/7/08 Letter

                   City Response to County