Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Works

 

TO:

Chuck Soules

FROM:

Mark Thiel

CC:

Tom Orzulak, Steve Lashley

Date:

4/13/2011

RE:

Pavement Management Program Summary and 2011 Project Update

 

 

Pavement Management Program Summary and Need

 

In 2009 staff completed the second review (cycle) of the City’s street infrastructure.  The overall average PCI was reported at 70.28 for nearly 320 miles of streets up from cycle one PCI of 69.0 for 299 miles of streets.  Deterioration rates were calculated for the classifications of residential, collector, and arterial streets and it was determined that 29.8% (down from cycle one’s 31.5%) of city streets were unacceptable and potentially need to be reconstructed.  These results from the comparative rating analysis between cycle one and two displayed a positive movement towards overall sustainability.  Sustainability as a goal is supported by continued focus on “keeping good pavement in good condition”.

 

Goals outlined were:

·         Slow the deterioration rate of city streets.

·         Extend the life cycle of city streets.

 

Objectives included:

·         Timely application of preventative maintenance techniques to effectively postpone pavement deterioration/failure.

·         It is more economical to preserve streets than to delay the proper repairs and end up with the need for minor/major rehabilitation of streets.

 

Public Works has addressed the deterioration of streets in good condition by implementing a more aggressive crack seal program and using microsurfacing (thin asphaltic surface seal) maintenance work.  These applications have slowed the deterioration rate of our “good” streets.  We are also addressing streets that are near the critical point, where preventative maintenance would no longer be effective, by performing mill and overlay and other significant rehabilitation maintenance work.  As the program progresses a greater number of city streets will be considered in good condition and thus will be maintained at a lower cost.  As we increase the inventory of streets rated “good” or better additional focus will be placed on the streets that have deteriorated below the critical range and are in a condition requiring more expensive maintenance.  This program will allow us to apply more funding toward critical streets without negatively impacting the deterioration of our “good” streets.

 

Since 2006 construction costs have significantly increased affecting the progress of the program.  In 2006 asphalt prices were $44/ton; at the high point in 2008 the City saw $84/ton; in 2010 the prices ranged from $50-$60/ton.  Street miles have also increased 7% to approximately 322 center-line miles since 2006.

 

The program is making a difference on the streets that we can service.  Staff has improved material specifications, more permanent repairs are completed, and the City has increased their tool box using crack sealing, microsurfacing, patching, and mill and overlay treatments to extend pavement longevity.  These efforts have slowed/decreased deterioration rates and have increased pavement service for streets that have been maintained.

 

In 2008, the City overwhelmingly supported a sales tax for infrastructure maintenance that will provide funds to reconstruct the City’s major arterial/collector streets that are failing.  The election results confirmed that the citizens agree that additional funds need to be spent on street infrastructure and that the City was making progress on those streets that we had budgeted to address.  Sales tax funds were utilized in 2009 to repave 9th Street from Iowa to Tennessee. The 2009/10 winter revealed that Iowa from Yale to BBP will need to be rebuilt and funding will come from a number of sources including $1,000,000 from the sales tax.

 

In the current economy the outlook for the 2011 / 2012 budget is not promising.  However, providing timely application of preventative maintenance techniques can effectively and cost efficiently postpone pavement deterioration and failure. As we saw this spring the City’s pavement infrastructure is still vulnerable and we have a lot of work to complete.

 

2011 Maintenance Program Summary

 

The City’s 2011 annual pavement maintenance program was reviewed and approved by the City Commission on December 14, 2010.  The various projects include: the 2011 Microsurfacing Program was awarded on February 22,  the 2011 Crack Seal Program (to be performed by City internal crews), 2011 Overlay Program Phase1 & 2, the KLINK Overlay & Geometric Improvements work on 6th St from Massachusetts St to Iowa St and Monterey Way to Folks Rd, and the Reconstruction of Bob Billings Pkwy (westbound) from Crestline Dr to Kasold Dr (funded from the Sales Tax) are also planned for this construction season as presented at the December 14, 2010 City Commission Meeting.

 

Project Funding.  The pavement maintenance program is funded from several sources including the general fund, gas tax funds, sales tax and sales tax reserve, and capital improvement reserve accounts.  Funding for the program was approved in August, 2010 and adopted in the 2011 City Budget. The projects include an asphalt index which may require change order(s) based on the increases/decreases in asphalt oil pricing.

 

2011 Approved Budget Amount =

$5,595,919.00

Total Encumbrance to date (including this project) =

$1,660,850.08

Remaining Funding =

$3,935,068.92

 

2011 Project Status

 

2011 Microsurfacing Program – This project began on March 14, 2011 with a completion date on July 29, 2011; it is approximately 5% complete.

 

The phasing of the street location areas generally dictates the order of completion beginning with “Phase A”.  Lane reductions and possible street closures may occur during the pavement patching process and the follow up surface sealing process in most locations.   Impacted streets are planned to be reopened to 2-way traffic on the same day. Traffic calming devices (speed humps) are to be installed on Carmel and in North Lawrence.

 

 

2011 Overlay Program Phase 1 – This project has a planned start on April 18, 2011 with a completion date on July 29, 2011.

 

The phasing of the street location areas generally dictates the order of completion beginning with “Phase A”.  Temporary single lane closures are to be expected but traffic will be generally maintained except on the day of surface asphalt overlay when most likely a street may be closed.

 

2011 Downtown, Misc. concrete Repairs – Planned bid date on May 3, 2011, with work planned in June/July/August.

 

The project limits extend from 6th St to North Park St and Vermont to New Hampshire.  The block of Vermont from 7th to 8th will be excluded due to future impacts/development of the Library.  This project will include intermittent concrete curb and street pavement repairs.  Impacts include some parking limitations and single lane impacts but traffic will be generally maintained in both directions and the contractor will be limited to traffic impacts on a per block basis. Coordination with downtown events, vendors and residents will be on-going.

 

2011 Crack Sealing – Planned to begin on June 6, 2011 with work planned in June and July.

 

This project will be performed with in-house staff and rental equipment. We have planned for the same quantity of materials to be placed as in previous years at a substantial cost reduction. Crack sealing is one of the most important projects we do in meeting the goal of keeping our pavement in good condition.

 

6th St from Folks Rd to Monterey Way – Planned bid date on May 3, 2011 with construction in June and July of 2011.

 

This project includes milling, overlay, and the construction of a center turn lane.

 

2011 KLINK (6th St. Iowa to Massachusetts) – Planned bid date on May 2011 with a scheduled completion of August 15, 2011.

 

This project includes milling, overlay, and right turn lanes / bus stop lanes at 6th and Michigan and 6th and Maine.

 

Bob Billings Parkway (Crestline to Kasold, west bound lane only) - Planned bid date on May 2011 with a scheduled completion of August 15, 2011.

 

This project will rebuild the west bound lanes only. The project will only remove the pavement. The curb and gutter will remain. The street will be rebuilt with treated subgrade and 12 inches of asphalt. Funding for this project is from the GO Bonds.

 

2011 Overlay Program Phase 2 – Tentative bid date coming in May, 2011 with construction in June through late Summer/early Fall.

 

This is a curb and gutter and milling and overlay project.  Temporary single lane closures are to be expected but traffic will be generally maintained except on the day of surface asphalt overlay when most likely a street may be closed.  Access to driveways may be limited.

 

Phase 2 also includes some major work to Kasold (north of 6th ) from Trail Road to Peterson Rd funded through the sales tax.

Kasold (31st to 23rd) - This project began in December 2010 with a completion date on November 23, 2011. And is approximately 23% complete.

 

This is a complete rebuild with stabilized subgrade, shared use path and turning medians.

 

In summary, our pavement maintenance program is moving forward and given the continued support from the community, we are confident that the PCI numbers and street conditions will continue to improve. In combination with in-house Street Division projects and contracted work we have a very aggressive maintenance program that requires coordination with all stakeholders and continued financial support.

 

Please let me know if we can provide you with any additional information.

 

Attachments:

2011 pavement maintenance project location map

Pavement maintenance pamphlet