Consider Recommendation for City Council to approve pedestrian and bicycle facility option as part of Improvement Project #23-04, 167^th Avenue Reconstruction

Purpose:
The purpose of this case is to consider a recommendation for the City Council to approve pedestrian and bicycle facility option as part of Improvement Project #23-04, 167^th Avenue Reconstruction.
 
Background:
City Improvement Project #23-04 proposes to reconstruct 167^th Avenue between Nowthen Boulevard (CSAH 5) and Saint Francis Boulevard (TH 47). The street totals approximately 6,000 linear feet (1.13 miles) in length, and the width varies between 40-feet on the westerly rural section (0.97 miles) and 48-feet (0.16 miles) on the easterly urban section. A full shoulder/parking lane exists on both sides of this street segment.
 
This segment of 167^th Avenue is a Municipal State Aid (MSA) street, and must be designed to MSA standards, including a 10-ton pavement design. Any pedestrian and bicycle facilities must also follow MSA design and be ADA compliant.
 
To date the following City Council actions have occurred for this project:

• June 14, 2022; Resolution #22-130 accepting proposal from Bolton & Menk for topographic survey of the project area.
• August 23, 2022; Resolution #22-201 ordering the City Engineer to prepare plans and specifications.
• August 23, 2022; Resolution #22-204 accepting proposal from Haugo Geotechnical service for a geotechnical report of the project area.
• October 11, 2022; Resolution #22-235 authorizing Staff to apply for the Minnesota Active Transportation State Infrastructure Program Grant to construct pedestrian and bicycle facilities along 167^th Avenue as part of Improvement Project #23-04.
• November 22, 2022; Resolution #22-270 accepting proposal from Bolton & Menk to prepare final plans and specifications for Improvement Project #23-04.

 
The Ramsey Public Works Committee reviewed this project on August 22, 2022. The committee recommended some sort of pedestrian facility would be necessary for 167^th Avenue and that it should be included in the design. Additionally, the committee discussed traffic calming on the east end of the road, near the commercial businesses. Staff confirmed traffic calming and pedestrian improvements will be investigated as part of the design.
 
Staff directed Bolton & Menk to provide alternatives for pedestrian and bicycle facilities as part of the 167^th Avenue reconstruction. Additionally, Staff directed the facilities to be between Nowthen Boulevard and Quicksilver Street, with a connection at Quicksilver Street to the commercial businesses west of Saint Francis Boulevard. Because no pedestrian facilities exist along Saint Francis Boulevard, and a pedestrian crossing for Saint Francis Boulevard at 167^th Avenue would not be feasible, Staff does not support extending pedestrian facilities to Saint Francis Boulevard. If a trail is constructed along Saint Francis Boulevard in the future, pedestrian facilities could feasibly be constructed along the remaining block of 167^th Avenue at that time.
 
Proposed layouts and engineer’s estimates as prepared by Bolton & Menk are attached to this case for the three proposed pedestrian and bicycle facility options.
 
Option 1: On-Road Bike Lanes

• Mark bike lanes and a buffer on the pavement
  • Maintain existing 40-foot rural section
    • 11-foot drive lanes; 3-foot marked buffer; 6-foot bike lanes
    • Parking would no longer be allowed between Nowthen Blvd and Quicksilver St
  • Provide pedestrian landings at Quicksilver St and Nowthen Blvd
  • No proposed Wetland Impacts
  • No proposed Right of Way Acquisitions
  • No proposed Power Pole Relocations
  • No additional Project Timeline Impacts
  • Estimated Total Construction Cost     $1,559,948.50
    • Bike Lanes (included)            $111,589.50

 
Option 2: Off-Road North Shared Use Path

• Construct 8-foot bituminous trail north of roadway
  • Right of way constraints
    • Reduce pavement width
    • Re-grade swale
    • Shared use path placed on north side of swale
  • Reduce to 34-foot rural section
    • 11-foot drive lanes; 6-foot shoulders (paved); 1-foot gravel shoulders
      • 20-foot swale; 2-foot clear zone
      • 8-foot bituminous trail
  • Provide pedestrian landings at all crossing streets between Nowthen Blvd and Quicksilver St (on north side of 167^th Ave)
  • Wetland Impacts (0.314 Acres)
  • Right of Way Acquisitions 11 properties anticipated (19,370 SF)
  • Relocate Power Poles to right of way
  • Relocate Hydrants
  • Additional Project Timeline Anticipated
    • Wetland delineation / permitting
      • Wetland delineation requires plant growth (spring)
      • Permitting process can take several weeks plus
    • Property Acquisition process is highly dependent on property owners
    • Utility Pole Relocation requires coordination with utility company
      • Generally, timeline is several months
    • Construction would not likely occur until 2024
      • Could construct off-road trail in 2024 and reconstruct street in 2023
  • Estimated Total Construction Cost                $1,897,472.50
    • Bituminous Trail Cost (included)       $239,162.00
    • Following are in addition to construction costs:
      • Wetland Credit Cost               $39,250.00
      • Property Acquisition Cost      $48,425.00
      • Utility Pole Relocation Cost   $140,000.00

 
Option 3: Off-Road South Shared Use Path

• Construct 8-foot bituminous trail south of roadway
  • Right of way constraints
    • Reduce pavement width
    • Re-grade swale
    • Shared use path placed on south side of swale
  • Reduce to 34-foot rural section
    • 11-foot drive lanes; 6-foot shoulders (paved); 1-foot gravel shoulders
      • 20-foot swale; 2-foot clear zone
      • 8-foot bituminous trail
  • Provide pedestrian landings at all crossing streets between Nowthen Blvd and Quicksilver St (on south side of 167^th Ave)
  • Wetland Impacts (0.63 Acres)
  • Right of Way Acquisitions, 10 properties anticipated (28,721 SF)
  • Relocate Power Poles to right of way (several utility pedestals need relocation also)
  • Relocate Fences on 4 properties
  • Additional Project Timeline Anticipated
    • Wetland delineation / permitting
      • Wetland delineation requires plant growth (spring)
      • Permitting process can take several weeks plus
    • Property Acquisition process is highly dependent on property owners
    • Utility Pole and Pedestal Relocation requires coordination with utility companies
      • Generally, timeline is several months
    • Construction would not likely occur until 2024
      • Could construct off-road trail in 2024 and reconstruct street in 2023
  • Estimated Total Construction Cost                $1,841,490.75
    • Bituminous Trail Cost (included)       $297,237.88
    • Following are in addition to construction costs:
      • Wetland Credit Cost               $78,750.00
      • Property Acquisition Cost      $71,802.50
      • Utility Pole Relocation Cost   $50,000.00

 
Traffic Calming between Quicksilver Street and Saint Francis Boulevard
Staff discussed potential traffic calming solutions to the existing 48-foot urban section between Quicksilver Street and Saint Francis Boulevard. The following observations were made:

• Posted speed limit is 50 mph
  • An improved crossing at Quicksilver is not supported at current speed
• Current traffic levels are moderate 2,332 ADT
  • Right turn lanes should not be necessary
• Existing off-road parking is adequate
  • Parking is not necessary on 167^th Avenue
• Most effective traffic calming would be a reduced pavement width
  • 12-foot drive lanes; 12 – 16-foot shared center turn lanes
    • Section has recently been used for several MSA projects
      • Bunker Lake Boulevard and Puma Street
      • Riverdale Drive Extension (Llama St to Bowers Dr)
    • Posted speed limits 30 – 40 mph
  • ADT levels should allow for right turns into parking lots without traffic back-up
  • Shared center lane allows for safer left turns into parking lots
  • Reducing speed limit allows for potential improved crossing at Quicksilver
    • The pedestrian improvements as a whole would impact this decision
  • Not currently in the project design

 
Estimated Cost Summary
Estimated costs were provided by Bolton & Menk, based off preliminary designs. The construction costs include 10% contingency costs. The costs do not include traffic calming improvements between Quicksilver Street and Saint Francis Boulevard. It should be noted costs provided do not include indirect costs beyond the topics required to compare the pedestrian facility options.
 

Summary of Pedestrian and Bicycle Facility Options: Engineers Estimates
	Option 1: Bike Lanes	Option 2: North Path	Option 3: South Path
Roadway Cost	$ 1,228,546.00	$ 1,299,815.00	$ 1,315,282.38
Path / Bike Lane Cost	$ 111,589.50	$ 239,162.00	$ 297,237.88
Storm Sewer Cost	$ 210,353.00	$ 222,783.00	$ 222,783.00
Watermain Cost	$ 9,460.00	$ 135,712.50	$ 6,187.50
Total Construction Cost	$ 1,559,948.50	$ 1,897,472.50	$ 1,841,490.75
Wetland Delineation Cost	$ 0	$ 39,250.00	$ 78,750.00
Property Acquisition Cost	$ 0	$ 48,425.00	$ 71,802.50
Relocate Poles Cost	$ 0	$ 140,000.00	$ 50,000.00
Total Estimated Cost	$ 1,599,948.50	$ 2,125,147.50	$ 2,042,043.25

 
Per the estimated costs, Option 1, Bike Lanes is estimated to be $525,199 less than Option 2 and $442,094.75 less than Option 3. The CIP Estimated Project Cost for this project, not including pedestrian facilities, was $1,848,000. With 23% indirect costs added to Option 1, the total project cost is estimated to be $1,967,937.

Staff estimates 25 minutes will be needed to present this case and respond to questions.

Observations:
A similar 6-foot bike lane / shoulder was marked on Variolite Street between Alpine Drive and 161^st Avenue, which serves as the pedestrian facilities. Since it’s implementation in 2020, Staff has not received resident concerns relating to its use.
 
All three options include addition of pedestrian ramps at the intersection of 167^th Avenue and Nowthen Boulevard, which is within the Anoka County right of way. Staff will be required to work with Anoka County, whose approval will be required for any improvements made within their right of way. City Staff has had some preliminary discussions with Anoka County, and received a resolution of support from the County, supporting the City’s Active Transportation Infrastructure Program Grant Application for shared use path improvements on 167^th Avenue from Nowthen Boulevard to Quicksilver Street.

Engineering department staff received crash report data from the Ramsey Police Department several hours before this case was published.  During the meeting Staff will review our findings with the Committee related to the data obtained from the crash reports, including any recommended pedestrian safety improvements.    
 
Alternatives:
Alternative #1 – Motion to recommend that the City Council authorize Staff to design Option 1: Bike Lanes as part of Improvement Project #23-04, 167^th Avenue Reconstruction.
 
Alternative #2 – Motion to recommend that the City Council authorize Staff to design Option 2: North Shared Use Path as part of Improvement Project #23-04, 167^th Avenue Reconstruction.
 
Alternative #3 – Motion to recommend that the City Council authorize Staff to design Option 3: South Shared Use Path as part of Improvement Project #23-04, 167^th Avenue Reconstruction.
 
Alternative #4 – Motion of other.

Funding for pedestrian improvements as part of Improvement Project #23-04 are proposed to come from the Municipal State Aid Fund.  If awarded, Active Transportation Infrastructure Program grant funds are proposed to be used in lieu of MSA funds for all applicable pedestrian facility improvements constructed as part of this project. 

Staff recommends Alternative #1, design Option 1: Bike Lanes between Nowthen Boulevard and Quicksilver Street. If Alternative #2 or Alternative #3 were chosen, the impacts to the project timeline would no longer allow construction to occur in 2023.
 

Motion to recommend that the City Council authorizes Staff to design Option 1: Bike Lanes as part of Improvement Project #23-04, 167^th Avenue Reconstruction.