Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Works

 

TO:

Tom Markus, City Manager

FROM:

Amanda Sahin, Transportation Engineer

DATE:

July 3, 2018

RE:

Questions about Traffic Calming Projects and Main Trafficways Ordinance

 

Background

The 2018 Traffic Calming (PW178CIP) projects were approved at the June 12, 2018 City Commission meeting. These projects are funded by General Obligation Bonds.   In order to issue debt for the improvements the City must first adopt an ordinance to designate the streets as main trafficways. 

 

At the June 19, 2018 City Commission meeting the second reading of Ordinance No. 9483 was on consent agenda.  It was pulled from consent agenda by Ted Boyle of North Lawrence Improvement Association (NLIA).  He was concerned about Lincoln Street being designated as a main trafficway.  Several questions were raised and the Commission deferred the item to give staff a chance to respond to the concerns.  Following is a response to questions and concerns.

 

Questions and Answers

 

Q: What is does it mean to be designated a main trafficway?

 

A: The main trafficway designation has no other impacts on the street or how it is handled other then we can issue debt to fund improvements.  The Major Thoroughfares map identifies the street designations that impact design standards and are the main consideration for priority snow routes.  These designations are Principal Arterial, Minor Arterial, and Collector.  None of the streets that are part of Ordinance No. 9483 are designated as a Major Thoroughfare and this Ordinance does not change that.  They are all local streets and will remain local streets.

 

Q: Why is it necessary to designate a street as a main trafficway in order to use General Obligation Bonds?

 

A: See the attached letter from the City’s bond counsel, Gilmore & Bell. 

 

Q: Are there Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds to construct speed humps on Lincoln Street?

 

A: Traffic Calming was approved on Lincoln Street from 3rd to 7th in August of 2017.  The original request came from a resident on the street (not NLIA), the requestor and several other residents spoke at the Transportation Commission meeting in support of the project.  In December 2017 Public Works started working with the requestors of the highest ranked traffic calming projects to notify neighbors and obtain votes, Lincoln Street was one of those streets.  In February the requestor notified staff that she had obtained the necessary votes so the project was added to the recommended 2018 project list.

 

In November 2017 NLIA applied for CDBG funds to construct a speed hump on the 300 and 400 block of Lincoln Street and one on the 300 block of Lyon Street for a total of three speed humps, this was not communicated to the staff who was working on identifying the traffic calming projects for 2018 at that time.  Once NLIA found out the City was going to fund four speed humps on Lincoln St (2 more than requested by NLIA) they requested that the CDBG application be modified to fund speed humps on the 700 to 900 blocks of Lyon Street.   This portion of Lyon has been on the approved traffic calming list since January 2015.  In May 2018, the Community Development Advisory Committee (CDAC) recommended that NLIA receive funds for five speed humps (one more then requested). Resolution No.  7250 approving the Consolidated Plan which included these speed humps was adopted by City Commission on May 15, 2018.  The Consolidated Plan was submitted to HUD and written agreements won’t be available until it is approved (expected sometime after Aug 1). The specific location of the speed humps was not identified in the plan, to allow flexibility.  The Community Development Division, Public Works and the City Manager’s Office met with Ted Boyle with NLIA on 7/2/18 and he stated that he wants to construct the speed humps on Lyon with the 2018 CDBG funds. Therefore, there is no CDBG funding for the speed humps on Lincoln Street.

 

Q: What is the notification process for these projects?

 

A: Ordinance No. 9483 affects traffic calming projects on Missouri Street, Arkansas Street, Lincoln Street, East 13th Street and West 24th Street. Per the current Traffic Calming Policy, the original requesters of each of these speed humps was required to notify every resident within 300’ of a proposed speed hump.  This was completed and each of the projects received approval from more than 70% of those residents.  The exception to this is the 13th Street Bicycle Boulevard.  Since this project involves a combination of traffic calming and bicycle facility types, it was previously discussed that notifications would be completed through public input opportunities during the upcoming design phase.

 

Attachments

Letter on Main Trafficways Ordinance from Gilmore & Bell, Bond Counsel