Purpose:
The purpose of this case is update the Public Works Committee on the current status of design options for Variolite Street in preparation of requesting City Council approval of the Feasibility Report on April 14, 2020.

Background:
On September 10, 2019, the City Council authorized Staff to execute proposals from Hakanson Anderson and Associates for topographic survey of the Variolite Street corridor from Alpine Drive to 173rd Avenue in the amount of $12,800, and from Northern Technologies Inc. for geotechnical work along the same corridor in the amount of $29,750.
 
Hakanson Anderson and Associates has since completed their topographic survey in accordance with their proposal, and Northern Technologies Inc. has since completed their geotechnical work in accordance with their proposal.
 
On December 10, 2019, a Feasibility Report was ordered for the purpose of documenting existing conditions and exploring whether the proposed improvements are feasible, necessary and cost-effective, whether they should be completed alone or in conjunction with other improvements, and to explore design options for reducing speeds and improving pedestrian accommodations along the corridor as directed by the Public Works Committee.  Estimated project costs and funding sources are also explored in more detail than was done to develop the Capital Improvement Program (CIP), and a preliminary project schedule is also developed as part of preparing the Feasibility Report.
 
Variolite Street is a State Aid route and as such it is anticipated that numerous design elements will need to meet MnDOT State Aid standards.  And while preparation of a Feasibility Report is not specifically required for this project since special assessments are not proposed to fund any portion of the project, Staff recommended preparing a Feasibility Report for the purpose of documenting existing conditions, design options, funding sources, estimated costs, and staff recommendations.
 
On March 11, 2020, Staff met with MnDOT State Aid Staff to review preliminary design options for pedestrian crosswalk improvement at 161^st Avenue, as well as Staff’s proposed plan to reduce the posted speed south of 163^rd Avenue to 40 mph, which would allow a pedestrian activated crosswalk signal system (rectangular rapid flash beacon’s, or RRFB’s, are typically used in these situations) to be installed at 161^st Avenue.  If the posted speed of 50 mph is not reduced to 40 mph, a crosswalk signal cannot be installed so standard signs would be required.
 
Below is a list of bullet points summarizing MnDOT’s comments related to the preliminary design options discussed on March 11, 2020.

• In general, MnDOT supports City Staff’s preliminary design findings and options.
• Other options suggested for consideration by MnDOT included;
  • A minimum shoulder width of 6 feet is required but consider reducing paved shoulder width to 2-feet and use aggregate shouldering for remaining 4-feet.  This might make the road feel narrower to drivers, especially where the off-street bituminous trail exists.
  • Leave paved shoulders at 8-feet but install dual white striping 2-feet apart to buffer motorists from pedestrians and bicyclists.
  • Add rumble/mumble strips between white striping, though this might not be popular in a residential setting due to the noise.
  • Add additional concrete islands along corridor to help reduce speeds.
• No matter the speed limit, MnDOT State Aid agreed that a raised pedestrian refuge island is the best design for providing safer pedestrian crosswalk accommodations.

 
On April 14, Staff anticipates asking the City Council to accept the Feasibility Report and order final plans and specifications.  Since much of the preliminary and final design work was completed while preparing the Feasibility Report, Staff anticipates requesting Council approval of plans and specifications and authorization to advertise for bids on April 28 or May 12, 2020.
 
Staff plans to conduct a public open house to allow property owners in the immediate area, and other interested parties, to review plans and specifications and ask questions of Staff involved with designing the project.  This meeting will be scheduled as soon as plans are prepared in enough detail to adequately communicate project specifics to the public. 

Staff anticipates it will take approximately 15 minutes to present this case and respond to questions.

N/A

The current CIP lists the estimated project costs at $2,643,600, with $2,328,270 coming from Municipal State Aid (MSA) Funds, which has a current balance in excess of $2,500,000, and $315,330 coming from Stormwater Funds. Estimated costs will be refined within the Feasibility Report, and will be further refined during final design.

Staff is preparing the Feasibility Report in-house, and will also prepare plans and specifications in-house.

N/A

No action is required for this case.  The purpose of this case is to provide an update to the Committee.