Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Works Department

 

TO:

Charles F. Soules, P.E., Director of Public Works

FROM:

Mark Thiel, Assistant Public Works Director

DATE:

October 7, 2015

RE:

City Manager Report – Status update on Public Works / USD 497 issues and projects

 

We would like to take this opportunity to update you on projects and issues we are jointly working on with USD 497 school district.

 

1.    Pinkney Tunnel security camera – a license agreement is currently being prepared for commission discussion at the 10/20/15 Commission meeting. This agreement will allow USD 497 to place a security camera in the Pinkney Tunnel. The camera would belong and be part of the school districts camera network. The City of Lawrence will have no access to the camera. This agreement will only allow the district to place the camera in the tunnel.

 

2.    Pinkney Tunnel access during construction of the Pinkney School – City staff is currently working with the district to come up with a plan that would allow the tunnel to remain open for access across 6th Street during the school construction project. It is our understanding that the Pinkney School project construction start date has moved to summer of 2016 or later.

 

3.    Kennedy School Crosswalk relocation – Commission action is scheduled for 10/13/15 to allow the relocation of the school crosswalk, adult crossing guard and school zone beacon. The relocation is necessary due to the resulting changes from the school renovation. The main entrance to the school is now being moved. This relocation will provide for a better and more direct route for students crossing Harper Street. The district will install the necessary ramps and the City will install the crosswalk and beacons.

 

4.    Cordley School – City staff has received requests to evaluate traffic flow and parking around the Cordley School. As part of that request City staff has discussed with district personnel those request and currently has a public meeting scheduled for October 29, 2015 from 4:30 pm to 5:30 pm to receive public input on issues an options. Next steps after the meeting will be for USD 497 to make a recommendation to the city. City staff will present to the Traffic Safety Commission and City Commission any proposed changes for their discussion and possible action.

 

5.    New York School – City staff met on-site with area residents and representatives of New York School and USD497 on September 17. It was determined that traffic data along New Jersey Street would be collected as soon as school construction in the area is completed and traffic has normalized. The current schedule will provide for traffic counts to be complete late October / early November. Following staff / USD497 recommendations will be placed on the November / December 2015 Traffic Safety Commission agenda. Based on the outcome from TSC, School Board / USD497 recommendation and then City Commission for action.

 

6.    Indian Hills Neighborhood – The sidewalk gap along the north side of 27th Street has been completed; the raised crosswalk on 27th Street at Naismith Valley Park has been completed. The Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon on 27th Street at Naismith Valley Park is under construction and is expected to be completed by the end of November. Traffic counts have been obtained at 27th Street & Louisiana Street and at 27th Street & Ridge Court and show that traffic at those locations have returned to near 2012 traffic counts. In addition to traffic counts, speed measurements were collected. They show similar or reduced speeds from the 2012 study (see attached map). Staff is setting up a public meeting for November 12, 2015 with the same group that met during the fall of 2014 to discuss this information as well as other related traffic calming elements. The information obtained as well as staff recommendations will be presented to the City Commission November / December 2015 timeframe.

 

7.    Sunset Hills School – City staff has received a request from the school district to place an adult crossing guard at the intersection of 6th Street and Schwartz Road for next school year. Due to redistricting some students that were in the Deer Field School will not be attending the Sunset Hills School – which will require them crossing 6th Street if they walk to school. Staff is in the early stages of evaluating this request.