Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Planning & Development Services

TO:	David L. Corliss, City Manager
FROM:	Todd Girdler, Senior Transportation Planner
CC:	Cynthia Wagner, Assistant City Manager Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager Scott McCullough, Planning and Development Services Director
Date:	November 9, 2010
RE:	Approval of Agreement with the KDOT for the funding and participation in the development of the US Highway 40/K-10  Interchange Area Transportation Plan

During late 2009 and early 2010 the Technical Advisory Committee (TAC) of the Lawrence-Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) discussed the proposal of developing a corridor plan for the section of US 40 on the west end of Lawrence including the US 40/K-10 interchange area. The TAC includes KDOT, City and County transportation officials. These TAC discussions resulted in a KDOT proposal to study US Highway 40 between East 800 Road and George Williams Way. When completed this project will provide the local governments and KDOT with a plan that will serve as a framework for potential highway enhancements, help identify and preserve right-of-way that may be needed to accommodate projected highway enhancements, set access management objectives for the highway, and plan for the connection of the local road network to the highway.

Recent TAC and MPO discussions also lead to the MPO acting to amend its 2010 work program to approve funding and staff support for this study. Specifically, on January 21, 2010 the MPO approved a Unified Planning Work Program (UPWP) amendment that includes $11,000 in federal transportation planning funds for this project with the non-federal match coming from cost sharing activity funding supplied by KDOT. There is no need for City funds to match these federal MPO dollars. However, KDOT is also requesting that the other two local planning partners (i.e., City of Lawrence and Douglas County) also help fund this project with an equal $11,000 share and provide staff support as needed.

KDOT will act as the administrator for this project and has now gone through the RFP process and chosen a consultant for this study. MPO, City and County staffs were invited to offer comments during the consultant selection process and did participate. KDOT is now requesting that the local planning partners (City of Lawrence, Douglas County, and Lawrence-Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Organization) approve an agreement that describes this project, the funding arrangements for this study, and the responsibilities of each of the planning partners. This agreement is enclosed with this memo. The agreement has been reviewed by the City and County legal staffs, KDOT legal staff, and the MPO staff. This agreement will be scheduled for MPO review and approval at the L-DC MPO meeting on December 16, 2010. The Douglas County Commission is expected to approve this agreement soon.

The Staff requests that you place this item on a City Commission agenda so that they may approve this agreement.