Memorandum

City of Lawrence

Public Works Department

 

TO:

David Cronin, P.E., City Engineer

FROM:

Nicholas Voss, E.I.T., Project Engineer

CC:

Mark Thiel, Assistant Director of Public Works

Charles F. Soules, P.E., Director of Public Works

Date:

May 15, 2014

RE:

Project PW1341: Wakarusa Drive, North of Oread West to North of Inverness Drive, City Bid No. B1439 - Approve Resolution No. 7074 to begin condemnation process and set bid date of June 17, 2014

 

 

Please include the following item on the City Commission Consent Agenda for consideration at the May 27, 2014 meeting.

 

Project Need

The pavement on Wakarusa has been failing for several years.  The pavement has significant deterioration, rutting, cracking and base/subgrade failure.  As the road is reconstructed, staff looks at complete streets and future needs for all modes of transportation including motor vehicles (cars and trucks), emergency service vehicles, buses, pedestrians and cyclists.  The construction of a roundabout at Wakarusa and Inverness will provide a safe intersection and accomplish the City complete street goals (see aerial map).

 

Improvements

The improvements on Wakarusa include:

-       Total pavement removal and reconstruction with a ten inch concrete pavement

-       Two lanes in each direction (north and south) and a center turn lane

-       Bike lanes in both directions

-       Sidewalks on both sides

-       Intersection control at Wakarusa/Inverness in terms of a roundabout:

-       15 feet lanes in roundabout

-       12 feet truck apron

-       Splitter islands on all four quadrants for pedestrians to safely cross

-       Bike lanes on Wakarusa will end at the entrance to the roundabout. Cyclists should either “take the lane” and navigate through the roundabout similar to a motor vehicle or exit the road onto an 8’ sidewalk and cross the intersecting street

-       Traffic will be carried through the project at least one lane in each direction on Wakarusa. 

 

Project History

At the Commission meeting on November 5, 2013 staff presented the preliminary plan for the Wakarusa Drive Reconstruction project. The properties at the intersection, plus businesses along Wakarusa Drive, were mailed notifications of the City Commission meeting on October 25th.

 

On November 26, 2013 staff followed up responding to the commissioners questions about the proposed roundabout. The commission directed staff to proceed with the design. There was notification to the neighborhoods as well as businesses.

 

On February 27, 2014, Public Works held an open house on all 2014 projects. Separate mailers were again sent to the neighborhoods, businesses, and school notifying of the meeting.

 

On March 25, 2014 and March 27, 2014 staff and appraisers met with property owners to review right-of-way acquisition.

 

Letters were sent out to property owners on April 23, 2014 with an offer to purchase right of way at the appraised value.  Property owners were given a date of May 15th to respond to the request.

 

On May 20, 2014 city staff met with the Bicycle Advisory Committee to discuss the intersection of Wakarusa and Inverness/Legends Drive.  The Bicycle Advisory Committee passed a motion to support a dual lane roundabout on Wakarusa.  They also directed us to investigate adding signs prior to where the bike lane ends.

 

Property acquisition is needed from four properties at the intersection of Inverness & Wakarusa.  Following is the status of negotiations of the four tracts:

 

Tract 1 - Finalized agreement

Tract 2 - Verbal agreement / documents pending signature

Tract 3 - Discussions continue with one property owner

Tract 4 - Discussions will continue however staff is recommending to initiate the condemnation process.  A review appraisal is being completed.

 

The condemnation process can take up to 2-3 months.  Negotiations will continue to work towards an agreement to keep the project on schedule.

 

In order to bid the project this summer and to ensure timely completion of the property acquisition process, staff is recommending adoption of Resolution No. 7074, authorizing the use of the City’s eminent domain authority and the making of a survey.  This will be followed in coming weeks with a condemnation ordinance.

 

Project status

A final review of the plans was completed on May 23, 2014.  Final plans, a construction contract, and an engineer’s estimate will be completed by May 30, 2014.  Pending city commission approval the project will be ready to bid on June 4, 2014.  Construction is scheduled to start in July 2014 with a tentative project completion date in November 2014.

 

Supplemental Information Requested on Round-a-bouts

Attached is a memo providing additional information from neighboring communities and the Bicycle Advisory Committee.

 

Action Request

Adopt Resolution No. 7074 to begin condemnation process.

 

Set Bid Date of June 17, 2014 for PW1341, Wakarusa Drive, North of Oread West to North of Inverness Drive.