Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Department of Public Works

 

TO:

David L. Corliss

FROM:

Chuck Soules

CC:

Diane Stoddard, Cynthia Boecker, Jonathan Douglas, Shoeb Uddin

Date:

August 10, 2009

RE:

31st Street, Haskell Avenue to O’Connell Road – Project No. 18-CP7-507(S)

Tiger Grant Application

 

Please include the following item on the City Commission agenda for consideration at the August 18, 2009 meeting:

 

Project History.  This project received an $800,000 earmark in late 2006.  The City hired Wilson & Co. in August 2008 to complete a concept phase and alignment study.  The contract with Wilson & Co. included completion of a concept alignment, public input, design memorandum, and a formal submittal summarizing how the concept alignment was determined.  This work completed approximately 10% of the design. 

 

Project History. 

·         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.

·         3/24/08 – Briefing of Board of County Commission

·         4/7/08 – Formal letter from Board of County Commissioners to City Commission to expand scope of project to Route 1057

·         5/29/08 – Met with City and County staff to discuss project

·         6/13/08 – Steering Committee Meeting

·         7/11/08 – Steering Committee Meeting

·         7/25/08 – Met with O’Connell Youth Ranch Board of Representatives

·         9/29/08 – Public meeting at Fairgrounds

·         10/20/08 - Met with KDOT/FHWA regarding environmental process and project responsibilities

·         10/31/08 – Steering Committee Meeting

·         11/10/08 – City/County Commission Study Session

·         12/9/08 – City Commission approved alignment and design speed of 45 mph

 

Project Status.  The final design agreement between the City/KDOT/Wilson was finally approved by KDOT.  Wilson & Co. is surveying and completing geotechnical borings.  Tentative completion, pending state review, is early 2010.  The project has been cleared by the State Historical Office.

 

The Tiger Grant Program is another “stimulus” program aimed at large projects ($20 million +).  The 31st Street project from Haskell Avenue to County Road 1057 with right-of-way acquisition could approach the size of project that would be eligible for this program.

 

Discussions with City and County staff determined that community wide this project could meet the funding requirement, provide significant community benefit, have potential economic impacts, can meet the time schedule of construction completed in 2012, and has state support.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Action Requested.  Authorize staff to complete Tiger Grant application for the completion of 31st Street from Haskell Avenue to County Road 1057.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Charles F. Soules, P.E.

Director of Public Works

 

CFS/je