Adopt Resolution #15-07-175 Ordering Feasibility Report for 2016 Street Maintenance Program Division C, Andrie Street and 164th Lane Reconstruction; Improvement Project #16-00

Purpose:
The purpose of this case is to adopt Resolution #15-07-175 ordering preparation of a Feasibility Report for the Division C improvements of the 2016 Street Maintenance Program, Improvement Project #16-00, which involves reconstructing Andrie Street and 164th Lane between Alpine Drive and Jarvis Street.  These streets measure approximately 2 miles in length in total.  Figure 1 (attached) shows the proposed project scope.


Background:
Both Andrie Street and 164th Lane are part of our Municipal State-Aid Street (MSAS) system so MnDOT State Aid standards must be complied with during design.  Both streets are classified as collectors, have traffic volumes less than 2,000 ADT, and have 30 mph design speeds.  Based on these criteria, State Aid standards call for a minimum design width for on-road bicycle lanes of 5’ to 6’ (Staff proposes 6’ for safety purposes), 8’ parking lanes, and 11’ to 12’ drive lanes (Staff proposes 11’ drive lanes to help keep street widths to a minimum).
 
Existing Conditions –
Andrie Street and 164th Lane were originally constructed in 1985.  Both streets are 31’ wide from back of curb to back of curb, and have pavement sections consisting of 2” of bituminous over 4” of class 5 aggregate base with bituminous berm curbing.  Both streets received cracksealing and sealcoating improvements in 1999.
 
The pavement sections on both streets are in poor condition and have Pavement and Surface Evaluation Rating (PASER) ratings of 2.  This places them just slightly better than the pavement conditions on Garnet Street, 168th Avenue, and Jarvis Street, which all have PASER ratings of 1 but are being reconstructed in 2015.  The pavement surface is exhibiting numerous types of deformation, but of particular interest is the significant raveling that is occurring along the gutter lines due to the frequent flow of water along the gutters.  While some of this water is directly attributable to stormwater runoff from rain and snowmelt events, much of it is also due to the numerous irrigation systems being used along these streets.
 
No off or on-road pedestrian facilities exist.
 
Minimal storm sewer exists in the form of catch basins with concrete pipe leading to outlets to adjacent low areas.
 
No public water supply or sanitary sewer utilities exist in this area of the City.
 
Proposed Improvements –
Due to the poor condition of the pavement sections, Andrie Street and 164th Lane are proposed to be reconstructed in 2016 per the City’s Capital Improvement Plan.
 
In 2008, the City adopted a Feasibility Report for reconstructing these streets.  At that time, the proposed improvements included reclaiming the existing bituminous pavement and curbing and using it to provide 4” to 6” of base material for the proposed 3½” of new bituminous pavement.  The street width was proposed to be 32’ wide and centered in the 66’ right of way, and a concrete sidewalk was also being considered.
 
In 2009, the City prepared plans and specifications and advertised for bids, which included an alternate bid for constructing sidewalks along both streets.  However, a controversy arose over whether sidewalks should be constructed with the project, as well as over proposed assessment amounts.  These issues eventually led to a petition being filed against the project, effectively killing it.  A copy of the 2008 Feasibility Report is attached for reference, which includes copies of the project petition and sidewalk survey results.
 
Over the last year and a half, Staff has discussed the proposed improvements with the Public Works Committee on several occasions to determine how to best move this project forward to avoid further delays.  While there has been a renewed interest by some area residents to reconstruct Andrie Street and 164th Lane, similar to 2008 there appears to be little interest in constructing sidewalks with the project.  After much discussion, the Public Works Committee passed a motion to recommend that the City Council order a Feasibility Report to explore the use of an on-road bike lane in place of off-road sidewalks.  The Public Works Committee recommends a 36’ wide street section with two 11’ lanes, a 6’ on-road bike lane on one side, and an 8’ parking lane on the other side, though it was discussed that several areas have trees near the street which may allow the City to request a variance from State Aid standards to allow on-street parking to be removed from those areas to save the trees.  Staff will explore the viability of a variance while preparing the Feasibility Report.  The on-road bike lane is intended to connect the trail along the north side of Alpine Drive to the proposed on-road bike lanes to be constructed along Jarvis Street in 2015.
 
The existing storm sewer system will need to be reconstructed since the street is proposed to be widened.  This will also require additional stormwater treatment facilities to meet the Lower Rum River Watershed Management Organizations permit requirements.

Public utilities are not proposed to be constructed with this project since there are no plans to serve this area with City utilities.

Public Works staff has spent a considerable amount of time and money patching these streets in recent years and has recently had to enlist the services of a contracted spray patcher to help fill potholes to maintain the streets in reasonable condition.  Reconstructing these streets will therefore allow City staff to expend resources to maintain streets in other areas of the City more effectively in future years.

Observations:
The Feasibility Report will explore numerous aspects of the proposed improvements including whether the proposed improvements are feasible and necessary, whether they are cost-effective, and whether they should be completed as proposed or in conjunction with some other improvement project.  The estimated costs of the proposed improvements will be explored in more detail, as will a project funding program including a description of the methodology used to calculate individual assessments for affected parcels.  A proposed project schedule will also be identified.
 
Completing the Feasibility Report at this time will allow the City to develop the project in a timely manner and to advertise for bids over the winter when bidding is typically most competitive.

Alternatives:
Alternative Action #1 – Motion to adopt Resolution #15-07-175 ordering a Feasibility Report for the Division C improvements of the 2016 Street Maintenance Program, Improvement Project #16-00, which involves reconstructing Andrie Street and 164th Lane between Alpine Drive and Jarvis Street.

Alternative Action #2 – Motion to deny adoption of Resolution #15-07-175 at this time.

The Feasibility Report will be completed in-house as part of staff’s regular duties.  Soil borings will be required to complete the geotechnical evaluation section of the report.  This work is estimated to cost $5,000 to $10,000.  All other costs required to prepare the report will be minimal.

Special assessments to benefiting properties are proposed to fund a portion of the improvements. Street Reconstruction Bonds will fund the majority of the project costs, including all costs incurred to prepare this Feasibility Report. Storm Water Funds will be used to pay for storm sewer improvements. Other funding sources will also be explored within the Feasibility Report.

Motion to adopt or deny adoption of Resolution #15-07-175 ordering a Feasibility Report for the reconstruction of Andrie Street and 164th Lane between Alpine Drive and Jarvis Street in 2016.