The Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Department of Public Works

 

TO:

David L. Corliss, Debbie Van Saun

FROM:

Chuck Soules

CC:

David Woosley

Date:

June 13, 2007

RE:

2007 Sidewalk and Traffic Calming Program

 

Project Description.  The City Commission provided $250,000 in the 2007 budget for sidewalk and traffic calming projects.

 

Project History.  It was established at the 2006 City Commission Goal Setting Session that within one year a sidewalk plan would be developed after the following steps were completed:

1.

Scheduled a study session to review current policy and policy options.

2.

A City Commission decision on whether to alter current policy and require city participation in repairing sidewalks and completing sidewalk network.

3.

Drafted changes to current policy.

4.

Completed a sidewalk inventory.

5.

Assessed the cost of compliance with any policy changes.

6.

Prioritized and incorporated projects into the operating budget and CIP, as appropriate.

March 9, 2006 – At a City Commission Study Session staff presented a Sidewalk Program Maintenance and Connectivity memo (attachment 1).  Commission direction/guidance included that sidewalk maintenance should remain the responsibility of the adjacent property owner as defined by State Statute, and that staff should look for ways to assist property owners with this responsibility.

Summer 2006 – Completed sidewalk inventory (attachment 2); (map).

Traffic Calming – May 5, 2003 – Traffic Safety Commission approval of University Place Traffic Calming Plan.  June 7, 2003 – City Commission approval of University Place Traffic Calming Plan.

 

Project Details: 

SIDEWALKS

I.                   As a first priority, staff recommends closing the gaps on major arterial roads.  Attached is a list of those areas with criteria used in the evaluation (attachment 3).  On February 22, 2007 staff met with the Pedestrian Advisory Committee to discuss criteria that should be considered to fill in “gap”/missing sidewalks.  Generally, PAC agreed with staff that arterials (highways) should have a high priority for sidewalks.  Second priority would be collector streets with sidewalks missing on both sides, and areas with accidents involving pedestrians.  Additional criteria would include transit stops and pedestrian traffic generators (i.e. grocery stores). 

         

          The City has submitted a grant application for the Safe Routes to Schools Program that could provide other (grant) funds that may be available for sidewalks around schools.  Therefore, at          this time (2007) the available city budget should be spent on sidewalks that meet the above criteria.

 

 

 

 

       Sections recommended for 2007 are:

6th Street, South Side,  Rockledge  to Schwarz

$62,415.00

 

Principal arterial

 

 

Sufficient right-of-way

 

 

Pedestrian accidents

 

 

Transit stop

 

9th Street, North Side, Sunset to Iowa

$35,370.00

 

Collector

 

 

Sufficient right-of way

 

 

Neighborhood to north has no access across 9th Street

 

Trail Road, South Side, Lawrence Avenue to Rockfence  Place

$45,000.00

 

Collector

 

 

Sufficient right-of-way

 

 

Residential

 

 

Traffic calming request along Trail Road

 

 

Continuous sidewalk would provide pedestrians a safe place to walk

 

          The project would include the construction of a 6’ sidewalk in the identified areas, at an estimated project cost of $150,000.00.

     

II       With the direction that sidewalk maintenance remain the responsibility of the property owner, does the City want to actively pursue repairs to sidewalks rated as critical or direct repairs on a complaint basis?

Attached is a Sidewalk Maintenance Compliance Program (attachment 4).  This program will initially focus on sidewalks with a condition rating of critical.  Staff will notify the adjacent property owners of their responsibility.  The city will offer the owner the option of having the city bid the work and charging the costs back to the property or taking care of the repairs themselves.  This will take a considerable amount of staff time.

 

III      Other Funding Opportunities:

A.     Typically in August KDOT solicits applications for funding of pedestrian and bicycle facilities.  This funding source is generally 80/20.  Last year the Burroughs Creek Rail Trail project was submitted, which may be a priority project.

B.     The PAC (Pedestrian Advisory Council) has developed an application to KDOT for “Safe Routes to Schools” program.  This program could assist with repairs and gaps along identified school sidewalk routes.

C.     In December applications are accepted for the CDBG Program.  Discussions with the Community Development Coordinator indicate that the establishment of a sidewalk program and a specific project, such as construction of gap areas or reconstruction of sidewalks in critical condition in low-moderate income identified areas, would be eligible and probably be well received.  Limitations on the amount of funding available could be $20,000 - $30,000.

 

TRAFFIC CALMING

Traffic calming improves safety and livability of neighborhoods.  It involves changes in street alignment or the installation of physical measures to reduce traffic speeds or cut-through volumes.  The goals of traffic calming include:  slower speeds, reduction in accidents and their severity, improved safety for pedestrians and bicyclists, reduced cut-through traffic, reduced need for law enforcement, safe and attractive streets, improved quality of life, and pollution reduction.

 

There have been many traffic calming devices constructed in Lawrence. 

In new subdivisions the city has required:

·         roundabouts at the intersection of the collector streets,

·         traffic circles at 4-way intersections of local streets,

·         traffic calming measures (typically speed humps) are required on streets of extended length (600+ ft.).

 

Downtown Lawrence Improvements:

·         bulb outs at intersections along Massachusetts shorten the distance for pedestrians to cross the street,

·         elevated crosswalks provide improved pedestrian visibility on New Hampshire Street.

 

Traffic circles, pedestrian refuges, center islands for lane narrowing, speed humps and speed cushions have been used in multiple locations identified on the attached map.

 

Neighborhood Calming Projects Include: 

Barker Avenue – Accident rates for 3 years.  Preceding this project (including the roundabout at 19th Street) 19 accidents were recorded, including several injury accidents.  Accident rates for three years after the improvements totaled 4 minor accidents.

Harvard Road – In 2001 speed studies throughout the area showed an 85th percentile speed ranging from 35 to 40 mph with maximum speeds up to 60 mph.  In 2007 the 85th percentile speed is 31 mph with a maximum speed of 36 mph.

Folks Road – This project incorporated a few traffic calming devices.  The 85th percentile speed is 33 mph.

 

The city has a traffic calming policy and ranking procedure.  Neighborhood involvement is an integral part of the city’s decision making process in implementing traffic calming devices.  Other factors include traffic volume, number of lanes, speeds, road classifications, accidents, location of schools………

 

The city has approved several traffic calming projects.  The University Place Neighborhood Traffic Calming Plan rates at the top of the project priority rating list (attachment 5); this project has been approved since 2003 (attachment 6).  There are five traffic calming devices proposed for this area.  The neighborhood association has provided staff with their priorities (attachment 7).  Staff agrees with the neighborhood and would recommend the construction of the diverter on 18th Street between Maine and Missouri, and the construction of a raised crosswalk on Louisiana between 18th and 19th.  Staff would provide design in house.  Estimated cost for construction - $100,000. 

 

Respectfully submitted,

Charles F. Soules, P.E.

Director of Public Works

 

CFS/je