Memorandum

City of Lawrence

City Manager’s Office

 

TO:               David L. Corliss, City Manager

FROM:           Nicholas Voss, Project Engineer

Date:            November 18, 2013

CC:               Diane Stoddard, Assistant City Manager

                   Cynthia Wagner, Assistant City Manager

                   Charles Soules, Director of Public Works

                   David Cronin, City Engineer

                   Lynne Zollner, Historic Resources Administrator

RE:               Kansas Department of Transportation TE Award Authorizations

 

 

Please include the following item on the City Commission Consent Agenda for consideration at the December 10, 2013 meeting.

 

Background on City’s Transportation Enhancement Projects:

The City Commission, on December 11, 2012, approved staff to draft applications for projects that are eligible to apply for Transportation Enhancement (TE) funding in 2013. These projects include: extending Burroughs Creek trail (“Haskell Rail Trail”) from 23rd Street to 29th Street; and restoring the Breezedale Monuments at the intersection of 23rd Street and Massachusetts Street.  The Lawrence-Douglas County Metropolitan Planning Organization approved supporting these projects’ applications for TE funding at their meeting on January 17, 2013. The City Commission further authorized submission of the Transportation Funding applications at its February 5, 2013 City Commission meeting.

 

In June, the City was notified by the Kansas Department of Transportation that the TE projects submitted were authorized for TE funding. 

 

Project Descriptions

The historic Breezedale monuments are located on the public right of way on the

south side of the intersection of Kansas Highway 10/ 23rd Street and Massachusetts

Street.  This project will remove, repair, and reinstall the metal sculptures, repair and restore the masonry and bench, and replace the lettering on each monument.

 

The Haskell Rail-Trail project will improve the existing trail from a limestone screening surface to a 10' wide shared use path from 23rd Street to 29th Street.  This project will add connectivity to the bicycle network by connecting the existing Burroughs Creek Rail-Trail to the proposed South Lawrence Trafficway shared use path.

 

 

Project Cost Estimates

Below is a table listing the cost estimates of the City’s three projects. Project applications are included as attachments.

 

TE Category

Project

Total Project Cost Estimate

TE Funds Awarded

City Match plus estimated ineligible expenses

Scenic & Environmental

Breezedale Monuments

$60,500

$44,400

$16,100

Bicycle & Pedestrian

Burroughs Creek “Haskell Rail Trail”

$218,838

$175,070

$43,768

 

The next step regarding proceeding with these Transportation Enhancement projects is authorization to complete Kansas Department of Transportation forms committing to the match for the two projects.   The City match for the Breezedale project will likely come from the historic grant funds (Varsity House item) and the City match for the Haskell-Rail trail will come from the City infrastructure sales tax receipts.

 

Action Request

Authorize the Mayor to sign the City/State agreement for two Transportation Enhancement projects-the Breezedale Monuments Restoration and the Creek Haskell Rail Trail project