Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Engineering

TO:	Dave Corliss, Assistant City Manager/Director of Legal Services
FROM:	Terese Gorman, City Engineer
CC:	Chuck Soules, David Woosley
Date:	April 20, 2005
RE:	33^rd and Nieder Road

The intersection of 33^rd and Nieder Road receives a large volume of traffic from the adjacent commercial properties, and does not manage this traffic efficiently and safely.  There are significant delays for Nieder Road traffic trying to enter 33^rd Street, and there have been eight crashes there in the past two years. 

A traffic study of the intersection of 33^rd and Nieder Road in 2000 projected that a traffic signal at this intersection may be warranted by 2005, but that due to the close proximity of the traffic signal at 33^rd and Iowa, the signal would not operate efficiently.   However, a one-lane roundabout may provide better traffic handling capabilities and was recommended as a possible option with further investigation needed at full development of the area. 

With the upcoming development of the property on the southwest corner of 33^rd and Iowa, this area is fully developed and this intersection needs to be improved.  All of the property owners will benefit from the efficient management of traffic at this intersection by minimizing travel times to their customers.  Additionally, the construction of a median on 33^rd Street between Iowa and Nieder Road will improve access management for this important street.   There was discussion of the need for these improvements as the City Commission approved the preliminary development plan for the Auto Exchange site at 33^rd and Iowa.

The estimated cost of the improvement, including design, inspection and any necessary property acquisition, is approximately $600,000.