Memorandum
City of Lawrence
Department of Public Works
Traffic Engineering Division
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TO: |
Charles Soules, Director of Public Works |
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FROM: |
David Woosley, Transportation/Traffic Engineer |
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CC: |
Shoeb Uddin, City Engineer |
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Date: |
13 April 2012 |
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RE: |
Federal-Aid Safety Program Fiscal Years 2014 and 2015 |
Background
The Kansas Department of Transportation is soliciting projects for the Federal-Aid Safety Program for Fiscal Years 2014 and 2015. The objective of the program is to identify and initiate viable projects with a cost-effective scope aimed at reducing existing crashes. Federal-aid funds under this program are prorated on a 90/10 federal/local split with a cap on federal participation (federal participation being for construction and construction engineering). The projects will need to be let between October 2013 through September 2015. High crash intersections may be submitted together with proposed countermeasures to effectively reduce the existing crash experience. Projects are prioritized based on the crash severity, frequency and rate. Projects are selected based on the estimated net-annual-return and benefit cost ratio of proposed countermeasures for each intersection. There is no guarantee that any projects submitted for consideration will qualify for safety funding, however, Lawrence has typically received funding for at least one (1) project during each cycle in the past and have occasionally received funding for two (2).
Project Selection
City staff has analyzed crash information for high-crash intersections during 2009 and 2010, looking for locations that have a high number of crashes as well as a pattern of crashes that may be corrected by specific countermeasures. The results show the following locations may qualify for funding (map attached):
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Location |
Recommended Countermeasure |
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9th St & Kentucky St |
Improve traffic signal visibility by replacing traffic signal with new longer mast-arms in order to provide a separate signal head for each lane of traffic; currently there is only one (1) overhead signal for each approach to the intersection |
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9th St & Michigan St |
Widen 9th St to provide a two-way-left-turn lane for eastbound traffic turning onto northbound Michigan St and for westbound traffic turning onto southbound Emery Rd |
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13th St & Connecticut St |
Construct compact roundabout similar to 19th St & Barker Ave |
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19th St & Haskell Ave |
Construct roundabout similar to 25th & O’Connell |
Staff Recommendation
Although roundabouts have proven effective in reducing crashes, infill locations may be unpopular with the public. It is recommended that the city apply for Federal-Aid Safety Program funding for safety improvements at the following intersections: 9th St. & Kentucky St. and 9th St. & Michigan St.
Project Cost/Funding
|
Location |
Estimated Cost |
FAS Funding |
City Funding |
|
9th St. & Kentucky St. |
$150,000.00 |
$ 135,000.00 |
$ 15,000.00 |
|
9th St. & Michigan St. |
$ 300,000.00 |
$ 270,000.00 |
$ 30,000.00 |
Project Schedule
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Project Selection by KDOT |
Late 2012 |
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Engineering Design & Construction Plans |
2013 |
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Construction |
2014 |
Action Request
Approve application to KDOT for Federal-Aid Safety Program funding for improvements at 9th St. & Kentucky St. and 9th St. & Michigan St., if appropriate.