City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: JUNE 5, 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 Acquisition of Right of Way to Construct the Eisenhower Avenue Widening and Roadway Improvements Project. [ROLL-CALL VOTE]
BODY
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ISSUE: Consideration of a resolution to proceed with the acquisition of right of way to construct the Eisenhower Avenue Widening and Roadway Improvements Project.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council adopt the attached resolution (Attachment 1) approving the acquisition of right of way required to construct the Eisenhower Avenue Widening and Roadway Improvements Project. This project was presented at a public meeting on April 4, 2013 by City staff and the design was approved by City Council on May 28, 2013.
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 proposed widening of Eisenhower Avenue between Holland Lane and Stovall Street is identified in the Eisenhower East Small Area Plan (EESAP). 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, bicycle facilities, and replacing the traffic circle at Holland Lane with a signalized T intersection.
The Goals of the Eisenhower Avenue Project as derived from the EESAP are:
- Create a safe environment for all modes of transportation;
- Provide wide sidewalks;
- Upgrade pedestrian crossings;
- Improve bicycle facilities;
- Replace the traffic circle at Holland Lane with a T intersection;
- Improve Street Lighting;
- Construct a landscape buffer (between travel lane and sidewalk);
- Reduce traffic delays in the corridor.
City staff met with the affected property owners on February 12, 2013, to discuss the process for acquiring the necessary construction easements and rights of way required to construct the improvements. A design public meeting was held on April 4, 2013 at the Lee Center to present the project plan and the approved environmental document to the community as required by the Virginia Department of Transportation (VDOT). The City received comments from property owners, citizens, several organizations, and the bike community in response to the public meeting. The main concerns raised by the public were a lack of continuous bicycle facilities, the use of brick to build the sidewalks, the removal of the traffic circle and widening the roadway to increase traffic capacity.
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.
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 in this project in compliance with the requirement made in the Eisenhower East Small Area Plan (EESAP) for brick sidewalks. Transportation & Environmental Services (T&ES) staff, together with Planning & Zoning, is currently evaluating the City's practice of requiring brick sidewalks.
Staff received comments from citizens concerned about removing the traffic circle; these concerns raised the issues of removing a unique feature of the community, reducing the efficiency of the intersection, restricting fire access to the Carlyle Post Building, and the ability of delivery trucks to access loading docks. Staff responded to these concerns and states that the removal of the circle promotes safety for pedestrians, bicyclists, alternate routes for delivery trucks have been identified, and T&ES staff will work with Code Administration to ensure fire access is maintained. The land remaining after the traffic circle is modified will be converted into two parks.
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.
Future phases of the project will include developer constructed improvements along the south side of Eisenhower Avenue. These improvements will be constructed as the redevelopment occurs. The project is currently at the 60% design phase. Project construction is scheduled to begin in the spring of 2014. The construction duration is anticipated to be eighteen months.
On June 4, 2013, the Planning Commission approved a City Charter 9.06 case. The 9.06 case requested consideration of a proposal to acquire right of way for the Eisenhower Avenue Widening and Roadway Improvements Project for use as a public street according to the provisions of Section 9.06 of the City Charter. Funds for the acquisition will come from VDOT Urban funds. This acquisition will follow state and federal requirements.
FISCAL IMPACT: This project is funded by prior year VDOT Urban Funds, consisting of state and federal funds in the amount of $7.5 million. The City has an unallocated prior year balance of $534,000 to cover the City's required match.
The funding required for right of way acquisition is $1.4 million. Therefore, T&ES will request an allocation at the June 25, 2013, City Council meeting for use in the acquisition of the properties required for the construction of the project.
ATTACHMENTS:
1. Resolution
2. Right of Way Exhibit
3. Right of Way Exhibit
4. Approved Resolution, May 28, 2013
5. PowerPoint Presentation
STAFF:
Mark Jinks, Deputy City Manager
Jerome Fletcher, Special Assistant to the City Manger
Richard J. Baier, Director, Transportation & Environmental Services
Emily A. Baker, City Engineer, Transportation & Environmental Services
Joel Marcuson, Deputy Director of Transportation and Transit, Transportation & Environmental Services
Maurice Daly, Division Chief, Engineering & Design, Transportation &Environmental Services
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