Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Works

TO:	Mark Thiel, Asst. Public Works Director
FROM:	David Cronin, P.E., City Engineer David Woosley, P.E., Transportation Engineer Zach Baker, P.E., Project Engineer Nick Voss, P.E., Project Engineer Carol Fittell, E.I.T., Project Engineer
DATE:	November 3, 2015
RE:	PW1503 Bob Billings Parkway Corridor Improvements K-10 to Kasold Drive

History and Background

Bob Billings Parkway is classified as a Principal Arterial street from Iowa Street west to Kansas Highway 10 (K-10) and is constructed 4-5 lanes wide. Arterial streets serve to carry longer-distance flows between important centers of activity and are the backbone of a traffic network and should be designed to afford the highest level of service. Bob Billings Parkway has been designed this way by providing four (4) lanes of through traffic, limiting private driveway access and providing separate left-turn lanes at many access points. Bob Billings Parkway is particularly critical due to the limited number of east-west arterial streets in Lawrence. Current traffic volumes range from 6,500-15,500 vehicles per day with higher volumes near Iowa Street and lower volumes west of Wakarusa Drive.

In 2013 KDOT proceeded with construction of the K-10 and Bob Billings Parkway interchange that is anticipated to be complete in December of 2015.  City Staff held a public meeting with neighbors in January 2014 to receive input regarding traffic concerns along Bob Billings Parkway (BBP) from K-10 interchange to Kasold.  A summary of public concerns include the following:

• Need for traffic signals or roundabouts in corridor to control speed and access.
• Left-turn lanes are needed in areas with only four lanes.
• Sight distance is inadequate at several intersections.
• A pedestrian crossing of Bob Billings Parkway is needed between Bob White Drive and Foxfire for the residents south of BBP to access the DeVictor Park Trail north of BBP.

The 2015 Capital Improvement Plan budgeted $2,250,000 for improvements on Bob Billings Parkway from Kasold to Wakarusa; $1,650,000 from infrastructure sales tax and $600,000 in general obligation bonds.  In April 2015 city staff again met with neighbors at Langston Hughes Elementary school in a public meeting to help identify the priority locations for a 2016 construction project and gauge public interest in alternate ideas such as traffic signals vs. roundabouts.  Over 200 residents attended the public meeting and the highest priorities were:

• A dedicated center left-turn lane on BBP between Kasold and Crossgate
• Intersection improvements at BBP and Stone Meadows
• Intersection improvements at Inverness Drive (south) intersection
• Intersection improvements at Bobwhite Drive
• Pedestrian crosswalk east of Bobwhite Drive to provide access to DeVictor Park

In addition to the traffic concerns, there is a need to address the pavement condition on BBP. The section between Kasold and Wakarusa undergoes annual internal street maintenance work due to base failures and surface spalling. A major maintenance project with patching, mill/overlay and curb replacement is needed in this section of the corridor.

City staff has been working with the 'Billings Safety Group' (BSG), an informal coalition of 16 neighborhood associations bordering BBP. Following the April public meeting, staff met with the BSG in May and October to discuss comments and neighborhood priorities and staff has proposed potential projects that can best address the most areas with the $2,250,000 budgeted. A short term plan for construction in 2016 would address pavement condition and lower cost options for traffic concerns such as pavement restriping to add turn lanes and possibly access control at intersections.  A long term plan would be to identify segments of Bob Billings Parkway to be reconstructed with new pavement, storm sewer, sidewalks, bike facilities and intersection improvements. This memo describes the potential improvements that can be made in the 2016 construction year. Plan sheets showing the potential improvements are attached.

Recently Completed Projects

In 2014 the City initiated plans to construct a traffic signal and turn lanes at the intersection of George Williams Way and Bob Billings Parkway.  The project included extending a center turn lane west to tie-in to the KDOT project and provide safer turning movements for the intersection of BBP and Legend Trail Drive. The project was constructed in the summer of 2015 at a cost of $700,000.  In 2015 the city also reconstructed BBP from Wakarusa to Foxfire to include new bike lanes and improved center turn lanes with a cost of $1,000,000.  Concurrently, Corpus Christi funded improvements through a benefit district to construct a center left turn lane on BBP for their east driveway entrance.  With this project a left turn lane was installed for eastbound traffic to access Goldleaf Place.

Traffic Study - Kasold to K-10

City staff conducted a traffic study to review all the intersections on Bob Billings Parkway and review each for: meeting warrants for signal/roundabout, crash history and intersection sight distance. The BBP corridor was divided into three segments: Kasold to Crossgate, Crossgate to Wakarusa, and Wakarusa to K-10.  Recommendations are in bold.

BBP - Kasold to Crossgate

Left-Turn Lanes:  Left-turn lanes are currently provided at the signalized intersections with Kasold Drive and Monterey Way; the rest of the segment provides only four (4) lanes of traffic; however, there is approximately 52-53 feet of pavement. It is recommended that the pavement be remarked with five (5) 10-foot lanes, including a two-way-left-turn-lane. 

Sight Distance: This segment of Bob Billings Parkway has three additional intersections where there are some concerns that need to be addressed.

1. At the intersection of St. Andrews Drive, there is insufficient sight distance to the west for 40mph traffic; however, there is currently no signing recommending a lower speed and crashes have not been an issue at the intersection; there have been eight (8) reported crashes during the past four (4) years; however, only one (1) of the crashes involved a northbound and eastbound vehicle; five (5) of the other reported crashes were rear-end collisions involving westbound vehicles stopping to make a left-turn onto St. Andrews Drive.  It is recommended that the southwest corner of the intersection be regraded to improve intersection sight distance with an estimated cost of $30,000.

2. At the intersection of Medinah Road, there is insufficient sight distance to the east for 40mph traffic; however, there is sufficient stopping sight distance for westbound traffic on Bob Billings Parkway.  Crashes have not been an issue at this intersection; there has not been a reported crash during the past four (4) years. It is recommended that this intersection be monitored for crashes periodically.

3. At the intersection of El Dorado Drive (east), there is insufficient sight distance to the west for 40mph traffic; however, there currently is not a sign recommending a lower speed and crashes have not been an issue at the intersection; there has been one (1) reported crash during the past four (4) years; it was a rear-end collision involving westbound vehicles. It is recommended that signing be installed for eastbound traffic on Bob Billings Parkway in advance of El Dorado Drive (east) advising of a side street intersection with a recommended speed of 35mph and that the intersection be monitored for crashes periodically.

Eastbound Right Turn Lane/Bus Turnout:  From public comment it was noted that eastbound traffic backs up at the Bob Billings Parkway and Kasold intersection behind buses that stop at the bus stop just west of the intersection. A right turn lane/bus turn out can be constructed west of the intersection to allow buses to pull out of the through lanes of traffic to load passengers. Bob Billings Parkway would need to be widened near the intersection to the south to construct this right turn lane. The existing bus stop and sidewalk would need moved to the south as well. Some right-of-way or sidewalk easement would need to be acquired. The traffic signal pole on the southwest corner would not need to be relocated. Staff recommends construction of the right turn lane/bus turn out with an estimated cost of $75,000.

Crossgate Drive to Wakarusa Drive

Traffic Signal/Roundabout:  There are two (2) intersections with a Collector street in this segment of Bob Billings Parkway that are not signalized. Traffic data collected show that both of these intersections meet the minimum criteria provided in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for consideration of a traffic signal.

1. Inverness Drive (north) currently meets the minimum volume requirements for Warrant #3, Peak-Hour; however, crashes are not currently an issue at this intersection; there have been four (4) reported crashes in the past four (4) years susceptible to correction by a traffic signal. It is recommended that this intersection be monitored periodically and that a traffic signal be constructed when needed.   Due to the steep approach grades of BBP, a roundabout is not recommended at this intersection in the future.

2. Inverness Drive (south) currently meets the minimum volume requirements for Warrant #1A, Eight-Hour Vehicle Volume, Warrant #1B, Interruption of Continuous Traffic, Warrant #2, Four-Hour Vehicle Volume, and Warrant #3, Peak Hour; however, crashes are not currently an issue at this intersection; there have been five (5) reported crashes in the past four (4) years susceptible to correction by a traffic signal. It is recommended that this intersection be included in the 2016 construction project for intersection improvements.  A roundabout was favored by those that commented at the April public meeting and the Billings Safety Group.  A roundabout would need to be sized identically to the Wakarusa & Inverness intersection and maintain two-lanes in each direction on BBP. The north side of the intersection is a private drive to Bella Sera on the northwest corner and future access to residential development on the northeast corner.  The Bella Sera residents favored the traffic signal due to proximity of their building and the existing security gate to the parking garage.  The owner of the northeast property also had concerns about a roundabout and favors a traffic signal.  Due to the lack of right-of-way and impact on adjacent property owners the traffic signal is the most feasible improvement.  A traffic signal would cost approximately $360,000 and include the addition of turn lanes.  Alternatively, a roundabout would cost $600,000 and include a full reconstruction of the intersection.

3. Several citizen requests have been received to evaluate the need for a traffic signal/roundabout at Stone Meadows Drive/Quail Pointe Driveway which are classified as residential streets. There is insufficient sight distance looking both east and west at this intersection for 40mph traffic; however, the results show that none of the warrants are currently met for consideration of a traffic signal. Crashes are not currently an issue at this intersection; there have been two (2) reported crashes during the past four (4) years; one (1) involving an eastbound vehicle and one (1) involving a westbound vehicle.   The intersection doesn't meet warrants for a traffic signal but with the insufficient sight distance and lack of alternate routes particularly for those south of BBP, the recommendation is to install a traffic signal.  The adjacent neighbors strongly favored construction of a roundabout over a traffic signal, however, from staff's preliminary analysis, there is not enough right-of-way to construct a roundabout.  The estimated cost to install a traffic signal would be $300,000 and include sidewalk ramps, crosswalk markings, and widening pavement on Stone Meadows Drive to accommodate a right turn lane.

Sidewalk Gap: There is a current sidewalk gap on the south side of BBP from Monterey Way to Inverness Drive.  Staff is recommending constructing a sidewalk from Monterey Way to Inverness Drive (south).  The residents of Quail Point are in favor of a sidewalk from Monterey Way to Quail Point Terr. but not in favor of extending the sidewalk from Quail Point Terr. to Inverness Drive.  The estimated cost of the sidewalk is $220,000. 

Wakarusa Drive to K-10

Left-turn Lanes:  The segment west of Foxfire is constructed approximately 59 feet wide and marked for four (4) lanes of traffic and two (2) bicycle lanes; there are five (5) intersections with public streets and two (2) private driveways serving Corpus Christi.  The street is not wide enough to narrow the lanes and stripe a center left turn lane without removing the bicycle lanes.  A future reconstruction project should address the need to widen the street and provide left turn lanes.

Traffic Signal/Roundabout:  There are two (2) intersections with Collector  streets in this segment of Bob Billings Parkway that are not signalized. Traffic data collected show that neither of these intersections meet the minimum criteria provided in the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices for consideration of a traffic signal.

1. Legends Drive does not currently meet any of the warrants for consideration of a traffic signal; however, Warrant #1b, Interruption of Continuous Traffic, is met for one (1) of the required eight (8) hours during a typical day. Crashes are not currently an issue at this intersection; there has not been a reported crash during the past four (4) years. It is recommended that this intersection be monitored periodically and that a traffic signal or roundabout be constructed when needed.

2. Bobwhite Drive does not currently meet any of the warrants for consideration of a traffic signal; however, Warrant #1b, Interruption of Continuous Traffic, is met for three (3) of the required eight (8) hours during a typical day. Crashes are not currently an issue at this intersection; there have not been any reported crashes during the past four (4) years susceptible to correction by a traffic signal. It is recommended that this intersection be monitored periodically and that a traffic signal be constructed when needed.  The neighborhood strongly favored the roundabout option over the traffic signal option, however due to the limited right-of-way and approach grades, a sufficiently sized roundabout is not feasible.  The neighborhood's request for a pedestrian crossing with a Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon (PHB) just east of Bob White Drive was recommended for approval by the Traffic Safety Commission.  It is recommended to install a PHB with an estimated cost of $80,000.   

Sight Distance: There are two (2) intersections in this segment of Bob Billings Parkway where there is insufficient sight distance to the west for vehicles making a left-turn.

1. At the intersection of Legends Drive, there is insufficient sight distance looking east at this intersection for 40mph traffic; the westbound approach is currently signed with a recommended speed of 30mph. Crashes are not currently an issue at this intersection; there has not been a reported crash during the past three (3) years. It is recommended that this intersection be monitored periodically and that a traffic signal or roundabout be constructed when needed.

2. At the intersection of Goldleaf Place, there is insufficient sight distance looking east for 40mph traffic; however, there is sufficient stopping sight distance for westbound traffic on Bob Billings Parkway and crashes have not been an issue at this intersection; there has not been a reported crash during the past four (4) years. It is recommended that this intersection be monitored for crashes periodically.

Summary of Recommendations for 2016 Construction

• Mill/overlay BBP from Kasold to Wakarusa and restripe lanes between Kasold and Crossgate to accommodate a center turn lane.  Estimated cost of $1,000,000.

• Construct a dedicated right turn lane/bus turn out for the eastbound approach to BBP & Kasold intersection.  Estimated cost of $75,000.

• Improve sight distance at intersection of St. Andrews Drive.  Estimated cost of $30,000.

• Construct a traffic signal at the intersection of BBP & Stone Meadows Drive/Quail Point Drive.  Estimated cost of $300,000.

• Construct a traffic signal or roundabout at the intersection of BBP & Inverness Drive (south leg).  Estimated cost $360,000 for traffic signal or $600,000 for roundabout.

• Construct a pedestrian hybrid beacon with crosswalk east of Bobwhite Drive.  Estimated cost of $80,000.  (Alternate option: Construct traffic signal with estimated cost of $350,000).

• Construct a 6' sidewalk on the south side of BBP from Monterey Way to Inverness Drive.  Estimated cost of $220,000.

The total construction cost estimate for the recommended options is between $2M and $2.25M.  The estimated design costs are approximately $200,000.  Staff is recommending sending a Request for Qualifications to Engineering firms to select a firm to begin design plans this fall/winter to have plans prepared for construction in summer 2016.  The final design plans will be presented to the City Commission for final approval before letting the project for construction.

Action

Provide city staff with recommendations for which roadway/intersection improvements to pursue to utilize the $2,250,000 budgeted for the Bob Billings Parkway corridor for the 2016 construction year.

Direct staff to send a request for proposal to design consultants for engineering services to design the project.