Memorandum
City of Lawrence
Department of Public Works
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TO: |
David L. Corliss, City Manager |
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FROM: |
Shoeb Uddin, City Engineer |
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CC: |
Chuck Soules, Mark Thiel, David Woosley |
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Date: |
April 21, 2010 |
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RE: |
April 27, 2010 Agenda Item Iowa Street, from Yale Road to Bob Billings Parkway Proposed Improvements – Options and Funding Scenarios |
Introduction
The excessive cold temperature and record snowfalls during the past winter has caused significant pavement deterioration / failure on many of our arterial streets and thoroughfares, including Iowa Street south from Yale Road to Bob Billings Parkway. In order to address these impending and urgent maintenance needs, the 2010 Street Maintenance program has already been revised.
The original 2010 Street Maintenance Program (presented to the City Commission on December 1, 2009) included comprehensive rehabilitation of Kasold from Trail to Peterson. Under the revised 2010 Street Maintenance program (approved by the CC on March 9, 2010), the scope of Kasold project has been reduced in order to pay for the immediate and urgent repair needs on other heavily travelled city arterial streets, e.g. Iowa, West 31st, Louisiana and W 6th - these streets were not previously included in the original 2010 Street Maintenance program.
In March 2010, maintenance consisting of full depth patching and conventional mill and overlay were completed on Iowa street, from Yale to Irving Hill. This is a short term fix; a long term solution to improve the pavement condition on Iowa is needed.
Summary of Proposed Improvement Options
The original pavement of this section of Iowa Street (from Yale Road to Irving Hill overpass (Exhibit A), was built in 1952, and has been milled and overlaid several times. The original pavement is at the end of its design life and has been requiring more frequent maintenance measures in recent times. Although milled and overlaid as a KLINK project in the summer of 2006, the City’s Street Maintenance Division has been performing routine maintenance (fixing potholes, base repair, full depth patching etc.) on this section of Iowa on a continuous basis. The extensive pavement deterioration caused by this past winter could not be addressed by routine maintenance alone. Therefore, comprehensive maintenance was undertaken in March 2010, which in turn is expected to extend the life of the pavement for a couple more years. Meanwhile, staff is working to figure out a long term solution for this important corridor in Lawrence.
We have recently taken some core samples of the pavement structure to ascertain the underlying condition; it appears the pavement structure has experienced considerable damage including being disintegrated at some locations (Exhibit B). Based on the age, condition of the existing pavement structure and maintenance history, it is evident that the condition on Iowa Street cannot be improved for the long term without complete reconstruction. We believe that the base of the section south of Bob Billings Parkway has not deteriorated as significantly and would recommend the project limits be from Yale Road through the intersection of Bob Billings Parkway. Two options are available:
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§ Complete Reconstruction and Widening In this option, the existing pavement will be entirely removed and replaced with new pavement structure. The new pavement structure will likely be 10 to 12 inch thick concrete or asphalt. Depending on the existence of ground water in the sub-grade, an under-drain system may be installed. The existing footprint of the roadway will be widened to add the center-turn lane. Estimated construction cost: $5.5 million. |
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§ Complete Reconstruction (No Widening) This option would include complete reconstruction (described above) but no pavement widening. Estimated construction cost: $4.5 million. |
The Center Turn Lane – Public Meeting and Citizen Survey
On March 29, 2010 city staff conducted a public meeting to discuss possible improvements including the center turn lane. At this meeting, staff also distributed a citizen survey questionnaire on the issue of the turn lane. Public opinion at the meeting was mixed, with relatively greater support in favor of the center turn lane.
Out of 21 participants in the survey, 14 people expressed support for the turn lane, and 7 expressed opposition. Staff has also received 16 emails in support of the turn lane and 3 emails in opposition (Exhibit C – Citizen Survey; Email Responses/Correspondence).
Those in favor of the turn lane are generally of the opinion that the center turn lane will improve traffic flow and safety. People against the turn lane are concerned that this will encourage more people to make left turns from Iowa onto Stratford and University, and would thereby make an existing bad situation worse.
People opposing the turn lane are also generally of the opinion that the city and KU should work together to make 15th Street, east of Iowa, a four lane road as a solution to the safety problem on Iowa Street. Based on our conversations with KU, it does not appear that KU currently has any funds available to make improvements on 15th Street.
At the meeting (also expressed in the emails and Citizen Survey), there was a general consensus regarding the need for traffic calming measures (speed hump, reduced speed limit, No Parking, etc.) on the side streets to discourage cut-through traffic. These measures, as appropriate, can be completed prior to the Iowa Street Improvement project, or simultaneously as part of the Iowa Street project.
Some of the other ideas / concerns expressed by the residents include pedestrian connectivity and safety, and/or construction of a median island on Iowa Street to prevent left turns altogether.
Staff is currently collecting traffic data on the side streets to have a better understanding of the traffic flow and to address citizen concerns regarding congestion, speed, increased traffic volume etc. by providing effective traffic calming measures.
The center turn lane has been a controversial issue since the late 1980’s. The city has made several attempts in the past to address the safety problem on Iowa Street with no conclusive outcome/consensus.
Based on peak hour traffic volumes on Iowa street, left turn lanes are warranted at all intersections within this portion of Iowa. There have been 76 reported crashes on Iowa Street between Orchard Lane and University Drive in the last three years. Analysis of the accident data (Exhibit D) indicates that a center-turn lane is needed to reduce accidents / crashes in this area.
Funding
Federal Aid Safety Funding:
KDOT is currently soliciting applications for Federal Aid Safety projects for the fiscal year 2012. Maximum available funding: $800,000.00 with a minimum 10% local match. If awarded, earliest date of funds availability: October 1, 2011, beginning of Federal Fiscal Year 2012. In 2007, City received $800,000 of Federal Aid Safety funding for this project, but was unable to utilize the funding due to public opposition to adding a center turn lane on Iowa Street.
Sales Tax Funds / Street Maintenance Funds
The recently passed sales tax for infrastructure maintenance could provide some funding for this project. Iowa is a major arterial road, is a priority over other streets, and would be a worthy candidate to receive funding from this program.
City 5-Year Plan
The Kansas Department of Transportation is requesting cities and counties to update their 5-Year Plan. The 5-Year Program distributes Federal-Aid Highway funds to assist communities in providing construction projects on Federal-Aid eligible routes. Typically the City receives approximately $1 million annually to assist with road construction projects. Projects that have been funded through this program include:
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N. Michigan, Riverridge Road to W. 2nd Street |
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Kasold Drive, Peterson Road to the KTA Bridge |
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Kasold Bridge over the KTA |
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19th & Louisiana improvements |
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2nd & Locust |
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O’Connell Road, 23rd to 31st |
The City’s current 5-Year Plan includes:
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Kasold Drive, 23rd to 31st |
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31st Street, Haskell Avenue to O’Connell Road |
Staff would recommend that Iowa Street be added to the 5-Year Plan (attachment).
Douglas County Participation
Iowa Street (HWY 59) is a major highway servicing Lawrence/ Douglas County. The City would request participation in funding this arterial connection.
Conclusions and Recommendations
Based on the age and the condition of the existing pavement, in combination with the frequent maintenance needs in recent years, it is our conclusion that a complete reconstruction of the street pavement is the best solution and would last about 40 years before requiring any major maintenance. We have discussed these options with KDOT engineers and are in agreement that complete reconstruction is the most cost effective long term measure.
Because Iowa is part of the City Connecting Link (US 59) this project will have to be administered and reviewed by KDOT. KDOT review of project plans and specifications typically takes up to two years. Due to the various complexities in this project (namely, analysis and design of pavement structure, sub-grade treatment options, turn lane or no turn lane, soil analysis, stakeholder participation, power pole relocation, presence of ground water in the sub-grade, intersection geometric improvements on the side streets, etc.), the city will need to hire a consultant to provide the engineering design services and preparation of construction plans. It is anticipated that this project can be ready for bid letting by December of 2011 with construction to begin in early spring of 2012 and anticipated completion by December 31, 2012. Traffic will be carried through the construction site. In order to meet this schedule, engineering design needs to begin immediately. Complete reconstruction of Iowa (Yale Road to the intersection at Bob Billings Parkway), estimated construction cost at $5.5 million, plus engineering and right-of-way, could be financed as summarized below:
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$1,000,000 - from City Sales Tax for annual street maintenance projects. (Sales Tax Spending Plan) |
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$ 800,000 - Federal Aid Safety Funding (will be eligible only if there are safety improvements included in the scope of the project, such as center turn lane or median island. |
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$3 million - Surface Transportation Program (STP) (federal funds the City receives annually for transportation projects). |
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$1.25 million-General Obligation Bonds. |
Staff would recommend the following:
1. Complete reconstruction of Iowa (from Yale Road to intersection at Bob Billings Parkway), and widening to add the center turn lane.
2. Work with neighborhood residents to determine appropriate traffic calming devices / measures on the side streets.
3. An engineering firm will need to be hired in the spring of this year (2010) to meet the proposed KDOT schedule.
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Action Request If appropriate:
Attachments Exhibit A – Project Location Map Exhibit B – Core Samples Exhibit C – Citizen Survey / Email Responses / Bishop 4/16/10 Letter Exhibit D – Iowa Street, Crash Diagram |