BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Agenda Item #26
Title
Request for direction on proposed transportation projects on Tower Road and associated roadways and intersection in the Tower Road grid area. (Amended)
Amount
N/A
Description
Request for direction on the Tower Road, SW 61st Street/SW 20th Avenue intersection, the SW 20th/24th Avenue sidewalk, the SW 20th Avenue overpass over I-75 and the SW 8th Avenue/SW 91st Street intersection.
Recommendation
Direct staff concerning the Tower Road, SW 61st Street/SW 20th Avenue intersection, the SW 20th/24th Avenue sidewalk, the SW 20th Avenue overpass over I-75 and the SW 8th Avenue/SW 91st Street intersection.
Alternative(s)
• For Tower Road, do not authorize staff to proceed with really simple plan and provide staff with direction • For SW 61st Street/20th Avenue intersection, do not authorize staff to proceed with the design of the traffic signal and completion of sidewalks on SW 20th/24th Avenue from SW 75th Street to I-75 overpass and provide staff with direction. • For SW 20th Avenue overpass, do not authorize staff to proceed to complete the study for submittal to the FDOT and provide staff with direction. • For SW 8th Avenue/91st Street intersection, do not authorize staff to proceed with the design of the traffic signal and provide staff with direction.
Requested By
Richard Hedrick, 352-374-5245 (contact: David Cerlanek, ext 1214)
Originating Department
Public Works
Attachment(s) Description
Powerpoint of Tower Road Grid Projects Powerpoint presentation for Tower Road Powerpoint presentation for SW 61st St and 20th Ave intersection SW 20th/24th Ave Sidewalk feasibility study Powerpoint presentation for SW 20th Ave and Interstate 75 overpass Powerpoint presentation for SW 8th Ave and 91st St intersection Public Comment Forms for SW 8th Ave and 91st St intersection
Documents Requiring Action
N/A
Executive Summary
Starting in 2003, staff began working on the design of the Tower Road project. During this design, it became apparent that it would impact several other roadway segments and intersections on the Tower Road grid. In 2005, HNTB performed a network analysis for the Alachua County Public Works Department as a part of Tower Road design. As a result of that study, staff is presenting four projects to the Board for consideration as they are all intertwined in some fashion. Staff will present the Tower Road project first with staff recommendations from the Board direction from last year to re-examine the Tower Road project. The SW 61st Street/20th Avenue project is associated with the re-opening of 8th Avenue, east of Tower Road, which was identified as a needed project as part of the Tower Road grid identified in the network analysis. The Board also asked staff to explore the feasibility of completing the sidewalk network on SW 20th/24th Avenue from SW 75th Street to I-75. The widening of the SW 20th Avenue overpass was also identified as a needed project and the 8th Avenue/91st Street intersection was identifed as an intersection that should be analyzed as a part of the Tower Road grid network. The roadway projects are all identified in the Capital Improvements Element of the Comprehensive Plan and the intersection of SW 91st and 8th Avenue is identified in the Transportation Improvement Program. Staff Recommendation for each area: For Tower Road, approve the Really Simple Plan with selected intersection improvements which includes: Mill and Resurface the Roadway Add Paved Shoulder Modify selected intersections with turn lanes Construct new sidewalks Add landscaping enhancements For SW 61st Street/20th Avenue intersection, authorize staff to proceed with the design of the traffic signal and completion of sidewalks on SW 20th/24th Avenue from SW 75th Street to I-75 overpass. For SW 20th Avenue overpass, authorize staff to proceed to complete the study for submittal to the FDOTFor SW 8th Avenue/91st Street intersection, authorize staff to proceed with the design of the traffic signal
Background
Tower Road: Causseaux, Hewett & Walpole, Inc. (CHW), formerly Causseaux and Ellington, Inc is the County’s Engineering Consultant for the Tower Road project. The original contract was awarded on June 24, 2003 in the amount of $794,000. The contract was subsequently amended for a total contract amount of $890,000. The construction plans are 60% complete, and $103,520 remains in the existing contract with CHW. During the development of the 60% plans, discoveries were made and issues identified that required the re-evaluation of the original scope. These issues include: Intersection Treatments Stormwater Management · Underground Utilities · Value Engineering (typical section, roadway profile, pavement design, use of gravity wall, etc) · Additional Network Enhancement projects At the completion of the 60% plans, there were still 4 key issues that needed to be addressed before the project can move forward. On May 25, 2010, staff provided the BoCC with a project update, and the BoCC directed staff to proceed with the re-evaluation of these 4 key issues using the remaining funds left on CHW’s contract ($103,520). The BoCC directed staff to proceed with the following: 1. Proceed with addressing four (4) key issues using remaining project fees: Stormwater Management, Design Alternatives for two Intersections, Right of Way Requirements, and Project Costs. 2. Direct staff to return with a simplified divided two lane plan for Tower Road that de-emphasizes or eliminates roundabouts and focuses on the more simply multimodal design features. 3. Present key issue results and recommendations and discuss the projects final course of action with the Commission. Staff has completed the additional engineering evaluation and recommends approval the Really Simple Plan with selected intersection improvements which includes: -Mill and Resurface the Roadway -Add Paved Shoulder -Improve Selected Intersections w/ Turn Lanes -Construct New Sidewalks -Landscape Enhancements Project History: CHARRETTE –May 7-9, 1999 for Tower Road and SW 24th Ave, funded by MTPO. Requests pertaining to Tower Road: ? Curb and gutter section with 2- eleven foot travel lanes, 5-foot bike lanes, median with turning pockets will feed into either one or two-lane roundabouts at major intersections and at other appropriate locations. ? Sidewalks shall be set back to an area near the right-of-way line. ? Hearty planting of shade-producing street trees on both sides and in the center median. ? Heavy emphasis on pleasant transit stops and increased transit shall be included. ? Utilities will be handled underground Tower Road and SW 24th/20th Ave Corridor Study by HDR, February 2000 ? Purpose was to validate the charrette’s recommendations. ? Consisted of a traffic capacity analysis to determine the future configuration of Tower Road and SW 24th/20th Avenue (2 vs 4-lane divided facility). ? Intersections were also reviewed to estimate future intersection control. ? Study determined project could meet long-term capacity needs. Alachua County Board of County Commissioners, May 22, 2001. Directed staff to adhere to the typical section ? 16-ft median with left turn lanes, where appropriate ? two, 11-ft travel lanes ? 6-ft striped, in-street bicycle lanes ? 8-ft sidewalks hugging the outer edge of the right-of- way ? Landscaping with large shade trees ? Construct roundabouts at SW 42nd Ave/SW 41st Place, SW 13th Road/Martha Manson Drive, SW 8th Ave, and additional intersections should be considered as future conditions warrant. ? Install appropriate bus bays. ? Underground all utilities ? Extend GRU reclaimed water trunk lines, where feasible. Alachua County Board of County Commissioners, February 21, 2006. The BoCC directed staff to proceed with the final design of Tower Road with the following provisions listed below. Following each provision is an update of the action taken to date. 1. Sidewalks are to be eight feet wide and located as close to the outside edge of the right-of-way as technical constraints will allow. Sidewalk easements outside the right-of-way should be pursued. Action: The 60% plans currently provide for eight foot sidewalks, hugging the outer edge of the right-of-way as close as technically feasible or as needed to preserve existing landscaping. Sidewalk Easements will be pursued as deemed necessary. No land rights have been pursued at the present time. 2. All lighting should be designed to minimize glare and spillage outside of the right-of-way. Action: Lighting will be designed at the 90% plan phase. Coordination with GRU will be done to ensure that the lighting design is done to minimize glare and spillage outside of the right-of-way. Per the Board’s directive, the 60% plans were prepared to accommodate the relocation of the overhead utilities underground and extend GRU reclaimed water lines. 3. Landscaping should maximize the use of shade trees between the back of the curb and sidewalk consistent with safety constraints. Action: The 60% landscape plans were developed to maximize the use of shade trees between the back of the curb and sidewalk. Staff will continue to coordinate with the landscape architect to finalize the landscape plans. 4. Work with MTPO staff for funding the Tower Road projects. Action: Staff has worked with the MTPO staff to attempt to identify a funding source but since the project is not a true capacity enhancement, an outside funding source has not been identified. 5. Pursue the Southwest 8th-Southwest 61st Street grid connection. Action: 30% plans are currently being reviewed and will soon be presented to the BoCC and the MTPO. 6. Authorized staff to negotiate an amendment to the contract with CHW to conduct a preliminary engineering study and prepare engineering plans for the proposed roadway network enhancements for the purpose of including them in the Tower Road project. Action: This has been completed. 7. Directed staff to develop funding options for the construction of Tower Road and the network modifications in the Tower Road area. Action: This has been completed. 8. Model the charrette recommended design for Southwest 24th Avenue and consider and model additional grid connections within the charrette area concurrent with development of preliminary engineering studies prepared by staff. Action: Staff will attempt to perform this task in-house. Alachua County Board of County Commissioners, May 25, 2010. The BoCC directed staff to proceed with the following: 1. Proceed with addressing four (4) key issues using remaining project fees: Stormwater Management, Design Alternatives for two Intersections, Right of Way Requirements, and Project Costs. 2. Direct staff to return with a simplified divided two lane plan for Tower Road that de-emphasizes or eliminates roundabouts and focuses on the more simply multimodal design features. 3. Present key issue results and recommendations and discuss the projects final course of action with the Commission. Intersection of SW 61st and SW 20th Avenue: The Tower Road/SW 24th Avenue Design Charrette recommended that SW 20th/24th Ave and SW 61st St intersection be modified to a roundabout and that the SW 8th Avenue/SW 61st Street Connection be restored for the overall operation of the Tower Road Grid system. SW 20th/24th Ave and SW 61st St A traffic study for the SW 20th/24th Ave and SW 61st St intersection was completed by HNTB and 5 intersection modification options were evaluated. The traffic signal option was found to be the most viable option for the intersection. Board direction is needed for the intersection modification so that this project and the SW 8th Avenue extension can proceed to the 30% design phase. SW 20th/24th Ave Nort
Issues
Although these items are listed as a Public Hearing, formal notice requirements are not required. Staff has advised interested stakeholders through e-mails and press releases that these items are being presented to the Board. Tower Road: The Really Simple Plan will result in the following: 1. LOS is only improved at selective intersections. 2. Deviation from charette design elements. 3. Lowest satisfaction of Adopted LOS 4. Higher side street delays 5. No Federal, State, or Tansit Funding Available. This project is not currently funded but could be funded with the County Transportation Infrastructure Surtax, should that initiative be successful. Intersection of SW 20th Avenue and SW 61st Street: Construction Phase is not fully funded. Widening of SW 20th Avenue/I-75 Overpass: Construction Phase is not funded. Intersection of SW 91st Street and 8th Avenue: All the roundabout options will have some impact on the scenic road buffer and will require the acquisition of additional right-of-way. None of the property owners that staff has talked to are willing to sell their property. Therefore, the County will have to utilize its power of eminent domain to acquire the additional right-of-way. The signal with left turn lane option and all the roundabout options will increase runoff in an area that experiences significant flooding during major storm events. This increase in runoff will be mitigated.
Fiscal Recommendation
That the Board authorizes staff to proceed with all projects. Funding sources will be identified when the individual projects are brought back to the Board for contract approval.
Fiscal Alternative(s)
That the Board not authorize staff to proceed with all projects and provide staff with direction.
Funding Sources
Gas Tax, Sales Tax Bond, Transportation Trust Fund, Campus Development Agreement Funds and Impact Fees
Account Code(s)
To be determined with each project
Attachment: SW20th and Interstate 75 Overpass Presentation.pdf
Attachment: SW 8th Ave and 91st Street Presentation.pptx
Attachment: SW 20th 24th Avenue Sidewalk Feasibility Study.pdf
Attachment: SW 20th Avenue and 61st Street Presentation.pptx
Attachment: Tower Road Grid Projects.pptx
Attachment: Tower Road Presentation.pdf
Attachment: SW20th Overpass presentation.pptx
Attachment: SW 20th Avenue and 61st Street Presentation.pdf
Attachment: Tower Road Grid Projects.pdf
Attachment: 91st Street at 8th Avenue Intersection Public Comments.pdf
Attachment: SW 8th Ave and 91st Street Presentation.pdf
Attachment: Tower Road Presentation.ppt