Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Department of Public Works

 

TO:

David L. Corliss, City Manager

 

FROM:

Chuck Soules

 

CC:

Cynthia Boecker, Diane Stoddard, Shoeb Uddin, Mark Thiel

Date:

May 28, 2009

 

RE:

Regular Agenda Item, June 2, 2009

N. 2nd Street & Locust Street

Geometric Intersection Improvements

City Project No. 27-G15-505(S)

State Project No. 23 U-2041-01

 

Please include the above referenced project on the City Commission agenda for June 2, 2009

 

Project History:

2005                                          Project programmed into KDOT 5-Year Plan.

 

November 2005        Hired TranSystems to prepare design.

 

April 19, 2006           Met with Depot, Parks & Recreation, Rick Renfro (Johnny’s Tavern),       Historic Resource Administrator, Ted Boyle (North Lawrence        

                             Improvement Association), and Cory Brinkerhoff.

 

April 29, 2006           Met with ICL to discuss traffic control.

 

May 8, 2006            Met with North Lawrence Improvement Association.

 

June 13, 2006          Options for design reviewed at City Commission meeting.  Directed to

proceed with option 2 (widening to the east), and option 3 (which

prohibits the left turn from southbound N. 2nd Street to eastbound

Elm Street).

 

February 2008                   Project bid by KDOT – No bids received.

 

Spring 2008              Staff met with contractors to discuss plans and identified three main       

issues.

1.      Schedule - Construction schedule was too short with high liquidated damages.

2.      Traffic control  and working area – Plans included keeping two lanes of traffic open at all times which limited the working area and was a safety concern with the deep excavation (20+ ft.) adjacent to traffic for installation and upgrade of storm sewer.

3.      Water main location – The water main was to be replaced above the storm sewer.  There is only one line across the Kansas River to North Lawrence and contractors saw difficulty in maintaining the water service while installing the storm sewer 15 ft. to 20 ft. below.

 

February 2009          Submitted project to KDOT for ARRA (American Reinvestment and Recovery Act) funding.

 

March 2009             Received $2,000,000 in ARRA funding.  Plans were revised to address contractor’s issues:

 

1.      Schedule:  Bid - June 17, 2009

                                                     Contracts – July 2009

                                                                    Phase I completed – November 2009

                                                               Phase II completed – March 2010

 

2        Traffic Control:  Phase I - Will close three lanes through the project.  Only one south bound lane will remain open.  Staff has coordinated with ICL, NLIA, Fire and Medical and adjacent businesses.

Phase II – Will complete the remaining south bound lane.

 

3        Water main:  Location has been moved 10 ft. +/- to the east providing area for contractors to work on storm sewer.

 

Project Description:  Reconstruction of intersection to include a left turn lane, improved geometrics, and signalization.

 

The project includes widening and reconstruction of the intersection.  The widening will permit a left turn lane to be added for N. 2nd Street traffic at the intersection of Locust Street.  The intersection will be reconstructed with 10” concrete. (Option 2)

 

The intersection at Elm Street will be reconstructed to prohibit left turns from southbound N. 2nd Street traffic.  The sight distance for this movement is not sufficient.  A motorist cannot see oncoming traffic due to the vertical alignment of the street and bridges. (Option 3)

 

The Historic Resources Administrator concurred with the eastern widening; Parks and Recreation also agree with widening to the east.  A construction truck route using 3rd Street to Locust has neighborhood and ICL’s agreement.  We have worked with Parks and Recreation on tree replacement and landscaping.  The water main is being replaced and additional stormwater inlets and increased pipe sizes are being installed per the North Lawrence Drainage Study.

 

These improvements were presented to the North Lawrence Neighborhood Association, and adjacent property owners, at the ICL and City Commission.

 

Project Funding:  In addition to the $2,000,000 in ARRA funding, KDOT through the STP (Surface Transportation Program) has budgeted $1,000,000.  The STP funds require a match from the City of $250,000.

 

Pending bid, the City will be responsible for any costs above the committed funds.  As this project is currently advertised for bid it is not prudent to publicize the estimate.

 

City staff will provide inspection and be reimbursed for this effort.

 

The ARRA funds do come with a few additional reporting requirements with main issues being:

·         Audit requirements – Staff has recently attended training.  Local officials including Commission, MPO Board and City staff could be asked about their approval/role/involvement with the project during an audit.

·         The other issue specific to the ARRA funds is that the contractor is allowed to work at any time (24 hours a day) and that the City will issue any permission to allow the contractor to complete work.

 

Action Required:   Authorize Mayor to sign cancellation of Original Agreement (which only included STP funds) and authorize Mayor to sign City/State Agreement with KDOT for improvements to North 2nd Street and Locust Street.

 

Please let me know if additional information is needed.

 

Respectfully submitted,

Charles F. Soules, P.E.

Director of Public Works

 

CFS/ch

 

Attachments:  Option 2

                   Option 3