Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Works

TO:	David L. Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Charles F. Soules, Director of Public Works
CC:	Cynthia Boecker, Diane Stoddard, Jonathan Douglass , Shoeb Uddin, Mark Thiel
Date:	October 26, 2009
RE:	Kasold Drive, 23^rd Street to 31^st Street Project No. PW0903 Project Update

Project Background.

November 2008	Voters passed 0.3% sales tax for infrastructure and equipment
May 5, 2009	Received City Commission approval to begin negotiations for engineering services with Bartlett and West (B&W)
June 9, 2009	City Commission authorized agreement with Bartlett & West for design
June 27, 2009	Presented to City Commission, 2009 Street Maintenance Program and Sales Tax Projects
August 31, 2009	Public Meeting
November 3, 2009	City Commission discussion

Project Description.

Kasold Drive, from 31^st Street to Clinton Parkway, is a failing arterial street carrying 13,000+ vehicles a day. This existing street section contains retaining walls, sidewalks, recreational path, stormsewer, and a water main all in good condition. We anticipate saving as much of these improvements as practical. The pavement will be replaced with 10” concrete and the sidewalk and recreational path will be connected around the curve to 31^st Street to provide a continuous pedestrian and bike facility. The need for turn lanes and medians has been reviewed during the design process. Traffic control will probably be the most significant issue as several neighborhoods have only a single exit access onto Kasold.

Attached is some of the contractual work including:

Typical section with 11 feet lanes and landscaped median/center turn lane - Item1
Horizontal layout - Item2a and Item2b
Sight distance improvements at 24^th Terrace - Item3
Establish left and right turn lanes at E. 1200 Road on Kasold curve – Item4

Connect multiuse path and sidewalk around Kasold curve

Public Meeting. Approximately 100 residents attended a public meeting held on August 31^st at Holcom Park Recreation Center. Attached is the survey and additional comments received.

Design Issues.

· Retaining wall versus improved site distance on vertical curve at 24^th Street. Staff has looked at options to keep as much of the existing retaining wall and recreational path. However, in order to improve the vertical curve and sight distance at 24^th Street the adjacent retaining wall and recreation path will need to be replaced. Several options and costs were reviewed. The blocks in the existing wall will be reused. In addition to improving the vertical sight distance, reconstructing the existing retaining wall allows us to build it outside of the horizontal sight triangles, which will additionally improve intersection safety at 24^th Place and 24^th Street.

· Medians/Left-Turn Lane. Residents believe medians would assist people crossing the road. Medians, however, include additional curb, landscaping, maintenance, and snow removal operations are more time consuming. The recommendation is to place medians where there is not a necessity for a left-turn lane for a few hundred feet.

· Traffic Control. The City Commission authorized Bartlett & West to complete two traffic control scenarios: closing Kasold or keeping open to traffic. We have discussed this with contractors and residents and there is no clear answer. This section of Kasold presents a lot of challenges if closed to traffic. There are over 400 homes on the east side of Kasold that only have Kasold as an access out of their neighborhood. Those residents would have to “cut through” the neighborhood to the west and then across Kasold on temporary (gravel) access drives to their homes. Contractors didn’t know if any time or costs could be saved.

· Alternative Bid for Traffic Control. An alternative bid for traffic control is not acceptable to KDOT. It would be difficult to determine how the bid would be awarded. In other words, if closing the road only generated a savings of $5,000 and didn’t save any construction time the low bid would not be acceptable. At this time we are recommending to keep the road open to traffic. The alternative design will not be pursued.

· It is also recommended that left turns be restricted through the construction limits.

· Utility Relocation. We continue to try to minimize all utility relocation. A force main along the curve will need to be relocated a few hundred feet to install the right-turn lane. Some adjustments for the waterline to get around storm sewer inlets will be needed. Pending the depth of the water main at 24^th Street (over the hill) [the grade will be lowered to improve site distance] we may need to lower that section of waterline. We are anticipating keeping the existing street lights in place. Also, there may be some Black Hills Energy gas main relocation.

· Right-of-Way/Easements. The project will, for the most part, not require any right-of-way. The exception will be on the curve to the south. Construction easements will be needed in a few places to appropriately tie in grades for maintenance.

· Intersection at Clinton Parkway. Future traffic projections and intersection geometrics indicate the necessity for dual left-turn lanes. The existing median will be removed and a yellow striped area will replace the median so that in the future the second left-turn lane can be added without reconstruction. Additionally, a right turn lane will be added to the project to improve traffic flow and efficiency of the intersection.

Schedule.

The project was planned for a spring 2010 bid opening. The Stimulus Programs have placed a lot of additional work on KDOT. These programs have strict timelines which must be met or the state could lose some of the funding. Additionally, KDOT has not been immune to the slow economy and staffing levels are down which has added to the work load issues. At this time KDOT is only committing to allowing this project to proceed to bid within four months of receiving final PS&E’s (plans, specifications and estimates). Staff has presented for KDOT concurrence a proposed schedule that includes their reviews, environmental and utility clearances that could place this project into a summer 2010 letting schedule. That schedule is being reviewed. The project will take two construction seasons which is another reason to proceed with a traffic control plan that keeps traffic open to one lane in each direction.

Funding.

Current estimate for this project is approximately $6 million. This project is to be financed from the approved sales tax. KDOT is contributing approximately $1 million.

Below are estimated costs for components at the intersection of E. 1200 Road. Staff is seeking City Commission direction to request that Douglas County fund the improvements for this intersection.

In general, the limits of the intersection are from beginning of the taper for the right-turn lane from southbound Kasold to E. 1200 Road, to a point 150 feet east of the southeast edge of curb return at E. 1200 Road and Kasold intersection. The overall cost for concrete pavement, curb and gutter, fly ash treated subgrade, sidewalk, recreation trail, and sidewalk ramps is $277,715. The quantities and costs do not include earthwork, storm sewers, inlets, pavement markings, etc. City staff believes that it is appropriate to request County financial participation in the amount of $277,715 because this intersection serves both the City and unincorporated County. Douglas County has financially participated in similar projects with Lawrence and other Douglas County cities when both City and unincorporated interests are served. Additionally, Lawrence makes up a substantial portion of the County’s tax base. County funds can be provided in either the 2010 or the 2011 budget year.

Action Requested:

1. Direct staff to maintain a single lane of traffic in each direction and restrict left turns through the project limits.

2. Direct staff to continue working with KDOT to improve construction schedule.

3. Direct staff to request participation from Douglas County for improvements to the intersection of Kasold Drive and E. 1200 Road in the amount of $277,715.

With these directions City staff anticipates finalization of the project plans and KDOT bidding of the project by summer 2010.

Respectfully Submitted,