Discuss Trail Construction in Conjunction with an Overlay to Alpine Drive near Alpine Park

In the fall of 2009 staff brought a case forward to the Public Works Committee to discuss options for the installation of a crosswalk near Alpine Park.  The request was advanced from a property owner living along 153rd Court who wanted more convenient access to the park from the neighborhoods to the north.  The feeling was that maybe something could be done as part of the skate park installation and/or the watermain loop and parking lot construction.  The consensus of the Committee at that time was to install a crosswalk at the location of the new parking lot to the skate park, and to look for opportunities to construct a trail or sidewalk with any subsequent projects in the area.

 

Staff is preparing a project for the bituminous overlay of Alpine Drive, from Ramsey Boulevard to Sunfish Lake Boulevard, for construction this year. The plans have yet to be developed, as we are coordinating the project scope with Anoka County due to their signalization project at Sunfish Lake Boulevard and Alpine Drive.  Staff also wants to evaluate the pavement condition of this stretch of road when the spring thaw is complete, so we can effectively formulate a plan to adequately address the maintenance needs.

 

Since we intend to implement a project this year we wanted feedback from the Council on whether a trail and/or sidewalk should be included in the overall project scope before we get too far along in the design and MSA review process.

The cost to construct a 5' wide concrete sidewalk or 10' wide bituminous trail are approximately the same; about $20 per foot.  To build a trail on the south side of Alpine Drive, from Ramsey Boulevard to the new parking lot at the skate park location, it is approximately 4225' long thereby resulting in an estimate of $85,000.  This segment would also have some wetland impacts in the vicinity of Ramsey Boulevard (creating additional costs for mitigation), and restoration and property impacts would also have to be considered making the total project cost in excess of $100,000.  To build a smaller segment on the south side of Alpine Drive, from Hematite Street to the new parking lot at the skate park location, it is approximately 1425' long thereby resulting in an estimate of $29,000.  This segment would also have to account for some restoration and property impacts as well, making the total project cost in excess of $35,000.  To build a trail on the north side of Alpine Drive, from 153rd Court to Zirconium Street, it is approximately 1350' long thereby resulting in an estimate of $27,000.  This segment would also have to account for some restoration and property impacts as well, making the total project cost in excess of $32,000.

In reviewing the City's MSA account, considering all past and currently planned projects for 2011, it is anticipated that at the end of this year the balance will be approximately ($300,000).  Without implementing any MSA projects in 2012, and taking into account current maintenance and bonding allotments, the balance at the end of 2012 will be approximately $75,000.  The current balance on the trail fund is approximately $100,000, but there are many projects contained within the Capital Improvement Program (CIP) over the next 5 years that intend to utilize those funds.

 

Based upon the above information, it appears that funding constraints would not allow for the inclusion of a trail/sidewalk component with the pending overlay project.  This issue could be reviewed again in the future as additional projects are being scoped, on-street trails could be considered, or Council could identify an alternative funding source for consideration.

Based upon discussion.