To: Honorable Mayor and Members of Town Council
From: Frank N. Main, Project Manager
Title
Discussion/Direction: Plum Creek Parkway Widening and Plum Creek Parkway/Gilbert Street Roundabout Project Design Enhancements
Body
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Executive Summary
The purpose of this memo is to present to Town Council project design enhancements to the Plum Creek Parkway Widening and Plum Creek Parkway/Gilbert Street Roundabout Project.
The Plum Creek Parkway and Gilbert Street intersection was identified in the 2017 updated Transportation Master Plan to be converted into a roundabout. It was also previously planned as a future roundabout during the first decade of the new millennium. A temporary span wire style signal was installed to assist with intersection operations and safety until such time that funding could be budgeted for a roundabout.
The Public Works Commission, on April 2, 2018, recommended the approval of a Town of Castle Rock Services Agreement (Plum Creek Parkway Widening/Roundabout Project Design) with Kimley-Horn.
Town Council, on April 3, 2018, approved the Service Agreement between the Town and Kimley-Horn.
On May 29, 2018, the first public meeting was held to discuss the entire project scope with the public and receive feedback. See Plum Creek Widening/Gilbert Roundabout Combined Feedback Summary 5/29/2018 (Attachment A).
On August 16, 2018, the second public meeting was held to discuss the Plum Creek Parkway Widening from Gilbert Street to Ridge Road Project Enhancements. See Public Comment Matrix - August 16, 2018 (Attachment B).
The Public Works Commission is scheduled to review this item on September 10, 2018. They will provide a formal recommendation to Town Council, which staff will provide during the presentation at the Town Council meeting.
By listening to the public concerns through the public meeting process, the Town has selected two safety enhancements (Guardrail and Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB) at certain pedestrian crossings) to be incorporated into the original design. These enhancements are located on Plum Creek Parkway between Gilbert Street and Eaton Street and have a combined estimated construction cost of $55,000. The remaining concerns received from the public at the Open House on May 29, 2018 were reviewed by staff and the consultant. After review, the Town directed the consultant to come up with options that could address the concerns of quality of life, property safety and damage, speed control and pedestrian safety. The consultant submitted the following as additional enhancements that could help address these concerns:
1. Public Concerns: (Speeding / difficulty turning at Eaton Street and Live Oak Road / pedestrian school crossing safety / vehicle safety / traffic noise).
Optional Improvement: Roundabout at Eaton Street and Plum Creek Parkway
o Objectives
§ Addresses multiple public comments received
§ Provides traffic calming and encourages lower travel speed as traffic must yield before entering the roundabout
§ Provides speed control for vehicles approaching from the east, prior to reaching residential neighborhoods
§ Improves operations and access for Eaton Street
§ Roundabouts have improved vehicle and pedestrian safety
§ Likely to reduce traffic noise levels by controlling travel speeds
§ Provides a transition signifying change of character from rural to residential
o Considerations
§ Not required for intersection operations but provides enhancement to operations and safety
§ Requires reconstruction of Eaton Street/Live Oak Road intersection
§ Requires additional right-of-way
§ Additional cost for right-of-way $100,000
§ Additional cost for design and acquisition services = $94,580
§ Additional construction cost is approximately $450,000
2. Public Concerns: (Runoff-road accidents between Valley Drive and Oak Crest Circle)
Optional Improvement: Realignment of Plum Creek Parkway between Valley Drive and Oak Crest Circle
o Objectives
§ Reduce potential for vehicles to leave road by improving road curve geometry to allow drivers more time to negotiate curves
§ Provide larger radius to allow for driver correction
o Considerations
§ Requires additional right-of-way and impacts land
§ May encourage higher travel speeds along the corridor
§ Can be combined with additional delineation and curve warning signage
§ Additional cost for design is $40,000
§ Realignment construction cost is approximately $70,000
3. Public Concerns: (Traffic noise)
Optional Improvement: Sound fence from Gilbert Street to Eaton Street)
o Objectives
§ Reduce noise with sound fences, which reduce sound by absorbing, reflecting, and forcing sound waves above the fence
o Considerations
§ Replaces existing private fences (on property line) with 8-foot wood sound fence
§ Requires construction easements from private properties and access to backyards during construction
§ Requires temporary fence on private property during construction
§ Fence maintenance becomes responsibility of property owners
§ Sound fence does not completely block noise
§ Sound fence may limit views and block sunlight
§ Additional cost for design is $25,455
§ Sound fence construction cost is approximately $550,000
o Upgrade Options for Sound Fence
§ 10-foot wood sound fence
• Additional cost for design is $25,455
• Construction costs is approximately $675,000
§ 8-foot concrete sound fence
• Additional cost for design is $45,600
• Construction costs is approximately $1,600,000
§ 10-foot concrete sound fence
• Additional cost for design is $45,600
• Construction cost is approximately $2,000,000
On August 16, 2018, the Town had the second open house meeting with the public to share the possible design enhancements. Staff, after analyzing the Public Comments from the August 16, 2018 open house with the optional safety and quality of life enhancements listed above, recommends the approval of the following:
1) Roundabout at Eaton Street and Plum Creek Parkway
§ Additional cost for right-of-way $100,000
§ Additional cost for design and acquisition services = $94,580
§ Additional construction cost is approximately $450,000
2) 8-Foot Sound Fence from Gilbert Street to Eaton Street
§ Additional cost for design is $25,455
§ Sound fence construction cost is approximately $550,000
The approval of these enhancements increases the design scope of work to incorporate the following staff recommended enhancements into the design:
• Guardrail
• RRFB’s
• Eaton Street roundabout
• 8-foot wood sound fence
It also increases the time for design completion to January 11, 2019.
Budget Impact
Additional funding to accommodate the proposed changes will need to be included in future budget amendments. Funds will be included in a future amendment to the 2018 Budget for additional design services with Kimley Horn in the amount of $94,580 for a roundabout at Plum Creek Parkway and Eaton Street, $25,455 for design of an 8-foot wood sound fence, and $100,000 for additional right-of-way acquisition costs, for a total of $220,035 in added 2018 funds. Current available appropriation which is intended to be utilized at a later date for other projects is available in the transportation Capital Funds to cover an amendment to the contract with Kimley Horn, until the 2018 budget amendment can be completed. Funding for additional construction of these enhancements, in the total amount of $1,055,000, will be included in a future budget amendment to the 2019 proposed budget. The incorporation al all of these enhancements will force the project to widen Hwy 86 between Ridge Road and Enderud Blvd. to slip out of the current 5-year fiscally constrained CIP by plan by one year.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends the Town Council approve:
• Guardrail
• RRFB’s
• Eaton Street roundabout
• 8-foot wood sound fence
Attachments
Attachment A: Plum Creek Widening/Gilbert Street Roundabout Combine Feedback Summary
Attachment B: Plum Comment Matrix - August 16, 2018
Attachment C: Enhancements Location Map