Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Works

 

TO:

Mike Wildgen

FROM:

Chuck Soules

CC:

Dave Corliss, Debbie Van Saun, Terese Gorman

Date:

August 23, 2005

RE:

Project No. 15-CP4-404(C)

Kasold Drive, Bob Billings Parkway to West 22nd

Street, Storm Sewer Improvements

City Commission Study Session Item – September 9, 2005

                                         

On July 19, 2005 the City Commission discussed the Kasold Drive Reconstruction Project.  At that meeting staff was directed to maintain traffic through the project during construction, with minimum closures as is feasible and practical.   Additional information/discussion was requested about sidewalk options/location.

 

Project History. 

August 23, 2004 – A public meeting was held to introduce and discuss the overall project and preliminary design report.

October 6, 2004 – The City Commission held a study session at which the Kasold Drive Preliminary Study was presented.  Four alternatives were evaluated:

1.       Option 1:  Remove and replace existing pavement.  This option does not make any improvements for access, future traffic, visibility, or safety.  Pedestrian access is also not provided.  This option does provide reduced construction costs and a reduced schedule.  The typical section included four lanes with a median.

2.       Option 2:  This option provided some improvements from Tam O’Shanter Drive to Bob Billings Parkway (15th Street) and Augusta Drive to 22nd Street.  The fifth turning lane was provided from Tam O’Shanter Drive to Bob Billings Parkway and Augusta Drive to 22nd Street.  The intersections at Bob Billings Parkway and Clinton Parkway would be improved to meet future traffic volume demands.  There would not be any grassed area between lanes, and costs are more than desired.

3.       Option 3:  Improves sight distances and grades of the road section of Option 2 to meet current AASHTO standards.  This option increases excavation costs and requires extensive retaining wall construction which drives construction costs up.

4.       Option 4:  This option reduces the scope of the project provided by Option 2.  The project limits are Bob Billings Parkway to West 22nd Street.  No improvements are provided for the intersection at Clinton Parkway.  This option reduces the costs of Option 2 by 20%.  A 10’ rec path and turning lanes are provided, however the grassed median is removed.

 

The study can be accessed at http://www.lawrencepublicworks.org/kasold/pre-design-report.shtml

The study summary /  recommendation is attached.

 

After much discussion, staff was asked to develop an additional option (#5) to include a grassed median, and narrow the project scope to the immediate need to repair the section of pavement that was failing.

October 26, 2004 – Bartlett & West and city staff revisited the scope and parameters of the project and presented Option 5 for City Commission consideration.  The project scope/limit for this option is from Bob Billings Parkway to West 22nd Street.  The typical section includes:

1.      4-11 ft. driving lanes (reduced from 12 ft.)

2.      18 in. dry curb on the medians

3.      8 ft. wide sidewalk

4.      South end of project a 7ft. median; north end of project a 16 ft. median.

 

October 26, 2004 - City Commission directed staff to proceed with Option 5. (attachments:  typical cross sections; minutes from the October 26, 2004 City Commission meeting.

 

June 20, 2005 – Public Works staff and representatives from the project design firm held public meeting to discuss construction sequencing/schedule and answer questions.

 

June 28, 2005 – Neighborhood residents affected by the project discussed their concerns with the City Commission.  The two main issues were construction sequencing and loss of green space.

 

July 19, 2005 – City Commission decides project will carry traffic through construction.  Additional information with respect to sidewalk options/location was requested.

 

Discussion and Options. 

Attached is a matrix of construction components (including estimated cost impacts) that the Commission wanted to re-examine with the evaluation of sidewalk options.  Specifically, there are four components:

o        Lane width

o        Median width

o        Sidewalk options

1.      Reduction of sidewalk width

2.      Remove sidewalk between Augusta and Scioto

3.      Placement of a recreation path on KU Endowment property

o        Retaining wall

 

·         Lane Width:  The City Commission directed staff to reduce the city standard lane width to 11ft.  Reasoning included the need for additional space within the right-of-way for a sidewalk and median, narrower lanes tend to slow traffic, and reduction of storm water runoff.

 

·         Median:  The City Commission directed staff to provide a median throughout the project (as practical).  The median lanes at the south end are 7 ft. wide and at the north end 16 ft. wide.  The median serves several purposes:

1.      Landscaping – the section between Bob Billings Parkway and West 22nd Street will be more appealing.

2.      Traffic calming – boulevard effect on slowing/calming traffic.

3.      Safety – left turns are only allowed at street intersections where turn lanes are provided, therefore, motorists are not stopping in a through lane to make left turns.

4.      Storm water – grassed area versus pavement reduces storm water runoff.

 

If the median were removed the width of the cross section could be reduced, shortening the retaining wall (5-7 ft.).  The green area between Augusta and Scioto would have less disruption; a railing may be needed above the retaining wall.

 

·         Sidewalk Options:

1.      Reducing the sidewalk width only by 2 ft. would not amount to any significant reduction in the retaining wall, nor disruption of the green space being discussed.  Reducing the sidewalk width by 2 ft. and eliminating the median between Augusta and Scioto could provide 9 ft. of space to move the proposed section east.  Significant redesign would be required (see matrix).

 

2.      Removal of the sidewalk on Kasold – a small retaining wall (3 ft.) would be needed about two feet behind the curb and gutter to tie the existing slope into the new vertical alignment.  A sidewalk could be placed within the subdivision; however steep grades exist on local streets which may necessitate retaining walls behind the sidewalk.

 

3.      City staff has discussed the three options with representatives from the Kansas University Endowment Association.  Based on this discussion, it appears that ultimately a path on this property is desirable. It was conveyed, however, that the KUEA Board would probably not approve or commit to a path until master planning options for the area are developed. Such planning may be years in the future. Discussions included three options and even a temporary/licensed project in which the city would relocate the path if and when the Endowment Association needed the property.

 

The KUEA Property Management Committee meets September 16 and this issue can be discussed.  The process would then proceed to the KUEA Executive Board in January, 2006.  Plans would need to be approved by the Board.  If the City Commission desires staff to further pursue this alternative, the Kasold project will be moved into a 2007 construction season. 

 

A path on the Endowment Association’s property following the Yankee Tank drainage channel does not address pedestrian access along Kasold between Bob Billings Parkway and West 22nd Street.

 

·         Retaining Wall:  At the July 19, 2005 Commission meeting one of the neighborhood’s questions was specific to the materials being used for the retaining wall.  Four options were presented and are again presented for Commission direction pending the need for a retaining wall.

 

STATUS.

 

The plans are 90% complete.  A minor change like reducing the sidewalk width by 2 ft., and making the space between the sidewalk and back of curb 2 ft. greater, would not cause any additional work.  Changing the typical section, grades or profiles will necessitate minor to considerable redesign, including cross sections, storm sewer, and possibly affect the waterline plans.  Some private utility work within the right of way has begun and is necessary unless the Commission directs the entire project to be abandoned or significantly redesigned.

 

The retaining wall and disruption of the green space is not only a function of the width of the improvement, but also the grade the Commission selected for alignment.  Moving the sidewalk and deleting the median will not eliminate all of the retaining wall.  Currently the plans have maintained all improvements within the existing right-of-way.  Some temporary easements to tie in driveways will be needed on the east side, a utility easement for the waterline, and an easement to set up a temporary batch plant will be requested from the Endowment Association.

 

Please feel free to call should you have any additional questions.

 

Sincerely,

Charles F. Soules, P.E.

Director of Public Works

 

CFS/je

 

Attachments