Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Works

 

TO:

Mike Wildgen, City Manager

CC:

Dave Corliss, Debbie Van Saun, Terese Gorman, Linda Finger, Keith Browning

FROM:

Chuck Soules, Director of Public Works

Date:

May 3, 2005

RE:

Kansas Department of Transportation Five-Year Plan Update

 

Attached is a letter from the Kansas Department of Transportation (KDOT) requesting the City to update our Five-Year Construction Plan by adding projects for FY 2010.  Currently, the City receives approximately $1,000,000 each year from the State.  These funds are available for improvement projects on existing roadways functionally classified as collector or arterial. The projects included in this plan are all funded eighty percent (80%) by KDOT and the remaining twenty percent (20%) is paid by the City.  These funds are available for only construction and inspection.  The City is one hundred percent (100%) responsible for the cost of right-of-way acquisition, utility relocations, and engineering design.

Status of Current Five-Year Projects

Kasold Drive Bridge over the KTA.  This project is scheduled to be bid by the State in December 2005.  The local portion of these project costs have been shared by Douglas County and the Kansas Turnpike Authority (KTA) with the City’s contribution being this funding source from KDOT.

23rd Street, Iowa to Louisiana.  This project is the city’s Access Management Project scheduled for bid in June 2007.  This project is funded as Economic Development. 

31st Street, Ousdahl Road to Louisiana.  This project is scheduled to be bid in October 2008.  Part of this street is outside the city limits and may require county participation.

Kasold Drive, Peterson to KTA.  This project is scheduled to bid October 2006.

Intersection, North 2nd Street and Locust Street.  Rebuild intersection.  This project is scheduled to bid in October 2007. 

Intersection of K-10 and Harper.  This project is for the construction of a right turn lane on northbound Harper to eastbound 23rd Street / K-10.  Scheduled to bid January 2008.

Staff is recommending the addition of Kasold Drive from approximately 6th Street to 15th Street.  This project would reconstruct the existing arterial road with four lanes, a median with left turn lanes at appropriate intersections, curb and gutter, sidewalks, and underground storm sewers.  Kasold was originally constructed in 1972.  The road was originally 7” concrete.  No base or subgrade drainage was provided.  The street has been overlaid in 1980, 1994, and 1998.  Staff is recommending that this section be overlaid with the 2005 Street Maintenance Program.  This project would be scheduled for a late 2009 construction letting.  Current PCI (Pavement Condition Index) is 46.3.  Current ADT (Average Daily Traffic) is approximately 20,100; future estimates are 30,000.  It is not anticipated that additional right-of-way will be necessary.  Estimated construction cost is $3,500,000.

Other options evaluated include:

§                                 23rd Street and Iowa.  Construct geometric and traffic signal improvements including construction of double left turn lanes with a median and right turn lanes on all four legs of the intersection per the study completed by TranSystems Corporation in 1999.  Estimated construction cost = $2,500,000.  This project needs additional review.  Right-of-way costs may be excessive, potentially doubling the cost of the project.

 

§                                 31st Street, Haskell Avenue to O’Connell Road.   Reconstruct the existing gravel road to a four-lane divided arterial with a 10’ recreational path on one side per the recently adopted 31st Street Corridor Study.  Part of this street is outside the city limits and may require county participation.  Right-of-way costs are unknown, but could be significant.  There may also be an opportunity for the development to participate in the costs through a benefit district.  The estimated construction cost is significant at $4,500,000.

 

§                                 Folks Road, Trail Road around the curve to the intersection of Martin Park and Peterson Road.  Reconstruct the existing gravel road to a 36-foot wide collector street with bike lanes and sidewalks on both sides.  There are several existing homes on this road.  Additional right-of-way will be an issue.  There is the potential that a benefit district could be formed.  Estimated construction cost = $2,000,000.

 

All of the above estimates are construction costs only and do not include engineering design, right-of-way acquisition or any utility relocations.  KDOT only participates (80%) in the construction costs.

 

The TAC (Transportation Advisory Committee) approved these projects into the TIP (Transportation Improvement Program),  and  the Planning Commission approved these projects on April 25, 2005.

 

Action Requested:  Approve addition of the reconstruction of Kasold Drive from 6th Street to Bob Billings Parkway (15th Street) to the City’s 5-Year Plan.  Authorize Mayor to sign Request for Construction Project.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Charles F. Soules, P.E.

Director of Public Works

 

CFS/je

 

Attachments