Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Works

TO:	Mike Wildgen
FROM:	Chuck Soules
Date:	January 25, 2005
RE:	19^th and Louisiana Roundabout

Attached are the Intersection Improvement Priorities list and the 2003 Intersection Priorities (Renovations) list. 

The Intersection Improvement Priorities list of intersections that warrant improvements for traffic control is for new installations only (intersections that do not have signals).  The criterion for ranking is based on traffic volumes, crash rates, and signal warrants.  In October 2004 the City Commission received the list and directed staff to proceed with the following improvements:

· construction of improvements at 15^th Street (Bob Billings Parkway) and Wakarusa (Priority #3)

·  provide a study on the improvements on Wakarusa from 6^th Street to Clinton Parkway (the study was to address the Wakarusa Street Corridor and the Harvard Road/Wakarusa Drive and Inverness/Legends & Wakarusa intersections (Priorities #1 and #2). 

The Intersection Priorities (Renovations) list of currently signalized intersections need additional geometrics/improvements.  For example, these intersections might have outdated/failing equipment or continued safety/crash issues.  This renovation list includes intersections that have already met the warrants for signalization but are experiencing accidents and/or congestion.  The criteria for selection are more subjective and include:  maintenance issues, traffic flow, volume, age of equipment, crashes, budget and new technology (loops versus video).  A separate list for renovations is needed to ensure maintenance of existing infrastructure. 

In 2002 the City Commission approved Resolution 6368 for the improvements at Clinton Parkway & Kasold Drive, 6^th & Kentucky, 8^th & Kentucky, 15^th & Kasold, and 23^rd & Louisiana.  The intersection at 19^th & Louisiana is included in the Intersection Priorities (Renovations) and was the next priority after the above listed intersections.  In 2003, the City Commission approved Resolution 6478 for the improvements at 6^th Street & Lawrence Avenue and to begin the process at 19^th & Louisiana.

If 19^th & Louisiana were to be evaluated using the new intersection installation criteria, based on the data we have available, 19^th and Louisiana would rank higher than the #1 priority (15^th and Wakarusa). 

EVALUATION:

Rank By Volume:

Peak hour volume	2,353 (10-12% of the daily volume)
Average daily volume	19,600 – 23,520
KDOT traffic counts on 19^th between Ky and Vermont	10,155
KDOT traffic counts on Louisiana between 19^th and 20^th Street	11,510
15^th and Wakarusa had the highest volume for new intersection improvements	19,305

Rank By Warrants Met:

Based on the volumes of each street and the number of lanes, it is staff’s professional opinion that warrants are met even with the existing signal in operation:

1a & 1b	-Eight hour vehicle volume
2	-Four hour vehicle volume
3	-Peak hour vehicle volume
7	-Crash experience

Rank by Crash Rate:

2002-	13
2003-	9
2004-	10
Total	32

Over the last three years the number of accidents is:

Crash rate:  173.95

Considering these criteria, this would rank 19^th and Louisiana as a top priority for improvement.

Summary:

The Louisiana Traffic Calming Study completed in 2000 recommended the construction of a roundabout at 19^th and Louisiana.  The adjacent neighborhoods are supportive of the improvements.  This intersection ranks as the highest priority for improvement.  This is a multi-year project that staff has continued to further in its implementation.

Action Requested:

Provide staff direction.  Authorize City Manager to execute agreement with BG Consultants for a pre-design report for improvements at 19^th and Louisiana in an amount of $37,180.08.

If the Commission desires, the scope could be expanded to include modeling, review of the Louisiana Traffic Calming Study, and/or evaluation of additional geometrics.

Attachments