Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Works

TO:	Charles F. Soules, P.E., Director of Public Works
FROM:	David P. Cronin, P.E., City Engineer
CC:	David Woosley, P.E., Transportation/Traffic Engineer
DATE:	July 6, 2016
RE:	Application for FY 2018 & 2019 Federal-Aid Safety Program

Background

The Federal-Aid Safety Program (HSIP) Funds is a federal program administered by the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT). Under this program, funding is made available to local communities for construction of safety improvements on highways and local streets. The program is competitive and award decisions are made based on life-cycle cost-benefit analysis of the proposed improvement measures. This is a 90/10 cost sharing program to pay for the construction cost of safety improvements; 90% Federal-Aid and 10% local match. The local entity is also responsible for 100% of the cost of engineering design and other miscellaneous expenses.  Each community can submit up to four (4) intersections for consideration of funding.

Project Selection

Staff has preliminarily identified two (2) locations for potential projects of FY 2018/19 Safety Funds at the following locations:

1. 23^rd Street, Ohio Street to Vermont Street
2. 13^th Street & Massachusetts Street

23^rd Street, Ohio Street to Vermont Street

City staff is proposing widening the roadway to provide a two-way-left-turn lane so that left-turning vehicles can get out of the through lane of traffic (see attached map).  This would include some R/W acquisition and completion of sidewalk gap on the north side of 23rd Street. There have been 20 reported crashes in this section during the past three (3) years.

The total estimated cost of this project is $300,000 ($270,000 state/$30,000 city).

13^th Street & Massachusetts Street

City staff is proposing to mill-and-overlay the roadway (Massachusetts Street) to provide one (1) northbound lane of traffic, one (1) southbound lane of traffic, one (1) two-way-left-turn lane and two (2) bicycle lanes from 12^th Street to 14^th Street (see attached map). There have been 11 reported crashes at the intersection during the past three (3) years; three (3) have involved pedestrians and bicycles.

The total estimated cost of this project is $110,000. ($99,000 state/$11,000 city).

Staff Recommendation

Staff recommends submitting an application to KDOT for safety funds at both locations.

Project Schedule

The applications are due July 2016 and it is anticipated that the funding decision will be made by KDOT in late 2016 or early 2017. If approved, the plans could be developed in-house with city staff in 2017/2018.  Construction would likely occur in 2018/2019.

Action Requested

If appropriate, authorize staff to submit FY 2018/2019 Federal-Aid Safety Program application for improvements on 23^rd Street, Ohio Street to Vermont Street, and at 13^th Street & Massachusetts Street.