Agenda - Public Works Committee - 03/16/2020

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Public Works Committee 6. 1. Meeting Date: 03/16/2020 By: Bruce Westby, Engineering/Public Works Title: Staff Updates on Variolite Street Reconstruction, Improvement Project No. 20-01 Purpose/Background: Purpose: The purpose of this case is update the Public Works Committee on the current status of design options for Variolite Street in preparation of requesting City Council approval of the Feasibility Report on April 14, 2020. Background: On September 10, 2019, the City Council authorized Staff to execute proposals from Hakanson Anderson and Associates for topographic survey of the Variolite Street corridor from Alpine Drive to 173rd Avenue in the amount of $12,800, and from Northern Technologies Inc. for geotechnical work along the same corridor in the amount of $29,750. Hakanson Anderson and Associates has since completed their topographic survey in accordance with their proposal, and Northern Technologies Inc. has since completed their geotechnical work in accordance with their proposal. On December 10, 2019, a Feasibility Report was ordered for the purpose of documenting existing conditions and exploring whether the proposed improvements are feasible, necessary and cost-effective, whether they should be completed alone or in conjunction with other improvements, and to explore design options for reducing speeds and improving pedestrian accommodations along the corridor as directed by the Public Works Committee. Estimated project costs and funding sources are also explored in more detail than was done to develop the Capital Improvement Program (CIP), and a preliminary project schedule is also developed as part of preparing the Feasibility Report. Variolite Street is a State Aid route and as such it is anticipated that numerous design elements will need to meet MnDOT State Aid standards. And while preparation of a Feasibility Report is not specifically required for this project since special assessments are not proposed to fund any portion of the project, Staff recommended preparing a Feasibility Report for the purpose of documenting existing conditions, design options, funding sources, estimated costs, and staff recommendations. On March 11, 2020, Staff met with MnDOT State Aid Staff to review preliminary design options for pedestrian crosswalk improvement at 161 st Avenue, as well as Staff's proposed plan to reduce the posted speed south of 163 rd Avenue to 40 mph, which would allow a pedestrian activated crosswalk signal system (rectangular rapid flash beacon's, or RRFB's, are typically used in these situations) to be installed at 161 st Avenue. If the posted speed of 50 mph is not reduced to 40 mph, a crosswalk signal cannot be installed so standard signs would be required. Below is a list of bullet points summarizing MnDOT's comments related to the preliminary design options discussed on March 11, 2020. • In general, MnDOT supports City Staff's preliminary design findings and options. • Other options suggested for consideration by MnDOT included; • A minimum shoulder width of 6 feet is required but consider reducing paved shoulder width to 2-feet and use aggregate shouldering for remaining 4-feet. This might make the road feel narrower to drivers, especially where the off-street bituminous trail exists. • Leave paved shoulders at 8-feet but install dual white striping 2-feet apart to buffer motorists from