Agenda - Public Works Committee - 07/21/2009

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CASE # ~ CONSIDER CROSS WALK ACROSS ALPINE DRIVE AT ALPINE PARK By: Steven Jankowski, Assistant City Engineer Background: City Staffrecently received a request from a resident in the AlpineAddition subdivision for providing a cross walk'at one or more locations to provide a safe pedestrian crossing from this subdivision to Alpine Park. The Alpine Acres .subdivision neighborhood includes22 single family units fronting on l53rd Way that accesses Alpine Drive via Zirconium Street, and 16 . single family units fronting on 153 rd Court. The park is presently connected by trail access to neighborhoods to the east and to the southwest as illustrated in Figure 1. Alpine Drive has a 50 mile per hour speed limit and a daily traffic count of2400 vehicles.per day. The end on the park trail which terminates just short of the 153rd Court intersection appears to a be a popular location for accessing the park as there is a well worn area between Alpine Drive and the park trail. Because of the relatively high speeds and traffic volumes on Alpine Drive staff believes that cross walks are warranted to improve pedestrian safety to this neighborhood. At the east side of the 153rd Court intersection there is a satisfactory sight distance to locate a cross walk across Alpine Drive. A pedestrian ramp and 30 feet of trail would connect the crossing to the existing park trail. See Figure 2. In addition the City will soon be constructing a project which will disturb this area which will include the construction of a parking lot and access point to the park. A pedestrian crossing for the eastern portion of the neighborhood is more problematic. The location having an adequate sight distance in both directions is not located at the intersection of Zirconium Street, but approximately 100 feet to the east of the intersection. In addition, if a cross walk were placed at this location, pedestrians would be faced with a steep grade descending 12 feet; crossing the park access road and the parking lot before reaching the park recreational space. An alternative that would achieve compliance with the American Disabilities Act (ADA) is illustrated in Figure 3. Financial Impact: The cost of the western crosswalk is estimated to be $3,000 and would consist of signage, pavement painting, a ped ramp and approximately 30 feet of connecting trail. The cost of the eastern crossing illustrated in Figure 2 is estimated to be $26,500. A second alternate to the eastern crossing would be to construct a trail on the north side of Alpine Drive to the western crossing. The cost of this alternative would be $34,000. Notification: Mr: Gregg Schatz who presented this issue to staff and who resides at 6581 153rd Way was notified that this case would be discussed atthis evenings Public Works Committee meeting. 7