City of Alexandria, Virginia
________________
MEMORANDUM
DATE: MAY 23, 2013
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: RASHAD M. YOUNG, CITY MANAGER /s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration of A Resolution to Proceed with the Eisenhower Avenue Widening and Roadway Improvements Project. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
BODY
_________________________________________________________________
ISSUE: Consideration of a resolution to proceed with the first phase of the Eisenhower Avenue Widening Roadway Improvements Project.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council consider the attached resolution (Attachment 1) approving the major design features for the first phase of the Eisenhower Avenue Widening and Roadway Improvements Project.
DISCUSSION: The proposed at-grade improvements along Eisenhower Avenue between Mill Road and Holland Lane are the first phase of the ultimate vision for the roadway. The project will create a multi-modal environment and promote safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, and motorists by adding an additional left turn lane on westbound Eisenhower Avenue at Mill Road, widening the receiving lanes on Mill Road, constructing streetscape improvements, and replacing the traffic circle at Holland Lane with a signalized "T" intersection.
The Goals of the Eisenhower Avenue Project are:
1) Create a safe environment for all modes of transportation;
2) Provide wide sidewalks;
3) Upgrade pedestrian crossings;
4) Improve bicycle facilities;
5) Replace the traffic circle at Holland Lane with a "T" intersection;
6) Improve Street Lighting;
7) Construct a landscape buffer (between travel lane and sidewalk);
8) Reduce traffic delays in the corridor.
The full build out plan will accommodate all modes of transportation with six travel lanes, three in each direction, bike facilities, and wide sidewalks.
City staff met with the affected property owners on February 12, 2013, to discuss the process for acquiring the necessary easements and right of way required to construct the improvements. A public meeting was held on April 4, 2013 at the Lee Center (Attachment 2) and presented the project plan to the community. The City received comments from property owners, citizens, several organizations, and the bike community in response to the public meeting. These comments along with staff responses are attached (Attachment 3).
The main concerns raised by the public were a lack of bicycle facilities, the use of brick to build the sidewalks, the removal of the traffic circle and widening the roadway to increase traffic capacity. These concerns are addressed below.
The project will be constructed in phases. Future phases will include developer-constructed improvements along the south side of Eisenhower Avenue. These improvements will be constructed as the redevelopment occurs.
Bicycle Facilities
Staff received several comments regarding the lack of continuous dedicated bike lanes throughout the corridor. Right of way constraints prohibit the construction of these lanes. This plan does provide bike sharrow markings and shared bike lanes.
Transportation and Environmental Services (T&ES) staff is working in collaboration with other City departments to ensure that in the future bicycle facilities are part of the redevelopment plans in this area. The City's Complete Streets Initiative provides for the construction of bike improvements in the Eisenhower corridor. This program includes the implementations of shared and dedicated lanes, markings and off-street facilities.
Brick Sidewalks
Staff received several comments from citizens concerned that brick sidewalks decrease mobility and are expensive to maintain. At this time staff is recommending to continue with the installation of brick on this project in order to comply with the Eisenhower East Small Area Plan (EESAP) which calls for brick sidewalks, as discussed in a recent memo to City Council (Attachment 4). In addition, several of the adjacent developments already have brick sidewalks, including the Patent Trade Office (PTO) and Post Carlyle II. T&ES staff, together with Planning & Zoning, is currently evaluating the City's practice of requiring brick sidewalks. Staff is investigating the use of various alternative types of sidewalk paving materials. Staff will bring a summary of this evaluation, including alternative sidewalk materials to Council for future consideration. If Council makes a decision to change the sidewalk material before construction of this project begins, the sidewalk material can be changed.
Holland Lane Traffic Circle
Staff received comments from citizens concerned about removing the traffic circle; these concerns raised the issues of reducing the efficiency of the intersection, restricting fire access to the Carlyle Post Building, ability of delivery trucks to access loading docks and removing a unique feature of the community. The proposed project includes the replacement of the existing traffic circle at Holland Lane and Eisenhower Avenue with a signalized "T" intersection. These roadway improvements were approved in the EESAP. The removal of the circle promotes safety for pedestrians and bicyclists. Alternate routes for delivery trucks have been identified. T&ES Staff is working with Code Administration to ensure fire access is maintained. The land remaining after the traffic circle is modified will be converted into two parks.
The Planning Commission and City Council have approved adjacent developments based on the "T" intersection including the conversion of part of the existing roadway into parkland. If the traffic circle is retained, significant amendments would be required to the approved Carlyle Plaza development site plan, which has incorporated the circle area in its plaza area.
Traffic Capacity
Staff received comments questioning the necessity for additional travel lanes in this location. The need for additional lanes along Eisenhower and an additional turn lane on Mill Road is identified in the EESAP and supporting traffic studies. The Phase I plan will construct the additional left turn lane on Mill Road and this will reduce the delays at the Mill Road intersection for traffic entering the beltway. The traffic within this corridor is projected to increase each year. By 2022, the traffic capacity will double and will meet or exceed the current project's capacity improvements. The traffic studies have considered a 55% multi-modal split and the future roadway improvements are designed with this in consideration. In order to maintain the vehicular capacity throughout the corridor, the City will continue to encourage and promote the use of alternative means of transportation. By constructing these improvements, the impacts of the future increases in traffic volumes will be lessened and will allow the corridor to operate efficiently during non-peak periods.
Upon receipt of this VDOT required resolution, VDOT will review, approve, and obtain federal authorization to proceed with the project. Staff will bring a separate resolution to City Council in June, requesting authorization to proceed with right-of-way acquisition.
The project is currently at the 60% design phase. The proposed configuration is shown in Attachment 5. Project construction is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2014. The construction duration is anticipated to be eighteen months.
FISCAL IMPACT: This project is funded by prior year VDOT Urban Funds in the amount of $7.5 million. The City has $534,000 budgeted to cover the City's required match, and VDOT has the necessary Urban Funds set aside and available for this project.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution
2. Memo to Council dated March 22, 2013
3. Response to Comments from the April 4, 2013 Meeting
4. Memo to Council dated May 15, 2013
5. Design Exhibit
STAFF:
Mark Jinks, Deputy City Manager
Jerome Fletcher, Special Assistant to the City Manager
Richard J. Baier, Director, T&ES
Emily A. Baker, Deputy Director of Engineering, T&ES
Joel Marcuson, Deputy Director of Transportation, T&ES
Maurice F. Daly, Division Chief - Engineering & Design, T&ES
Malik Williams, Fiscal Operations Manager, T&ES
|1013|