HomeMy WebLinkAboutAGENDA REPORT 1996 0619 CC REG ITEM 10C799
D.G.
AGENDA REPt�I _ -_..
TO: The Honorable City Council
FROM: Kenneth C. Gilbert, Director of Public Works /.
DATE: May 21, 1996 (Council Meeting 6 -5 -96)
SUBJECT: Consider Authorization to Proceed with the Preliminary
Design and Preliminary Right -of -Way Acquisition Efforts
Required for the Widening of Los Angeles Avenue West of
South Condor Drive [Los Angeles Avenue - East]
OVERVIEW
This requests that the City Council take the following actions:
1. approve the future alignment of Los Angeles Avenue west of South
Condor Drive;
2. approve the scope of work for the construction of street
improvements along this street segment;
3. approve the scope of the right -of -way acquisition necessary to
proceed with this project; and,
4. direct staff to proceed with engineering and other professional
services required to define the actual right -of -way required and
determine the anticipated cost of said acquisition.
Discussion
A. Alignment Study
The City Engineer has prepared an Alignment Study for the
subject street segment. Copies of that study were distributed
to the City Council in November 1995. A summary of the findings
and recommendations set forth in that study are as follows:
1. Limits: The limits of the study area extend from the
easterly end of the full width street improvements just east
of Chuy's restaurant, easterly to the full width street
improvements at the south end of Condor Drive.
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2. Alternates: The study includes two alternate alignments for
this street segment, summarized as follows:
• Alternate #1: existing centerline unchanged
• Alternate #2: centerline to be moved to the north to
lessen the requirement for the taking of
residential properties on the south side
of the street
3. Alignment: Plans set forth in the study show the proposed
street alignment for Alternate #1 and for Alternate #2.
4. Ultimate Improvements: Each alignment plan shows the
recommended location for full width improvements within an
eighty -eight feet (881) wide right -of -way. The recommended
full -width street improvements are described as follows:
• four 121 wide travel lanes;
• one 14' wide raised / landscaped center median;
• two 8' wide Bike Lanes;
• curb and gutter; and,
• two 5' wide sidewalks.
There are no provisions for parkways.
5. Interim Improvements: Each alignment plan also shows the
recommended location for the construction of interim
improvements within the proposed full width, eighty -eight
feet (881) wide, right -of -way corridor. The recommended
interim improvements are described as follows:
• two 12' wide travel lanes;
• one 14' wide center paved median; and,
• two 8' wide unpaved shoulders.
6. Right -of -Way: The study also includes plan sheets which show
the right -of -way required for Alternate #1 and the right -of-
way required for Alternate #2.
7. Preliminary cost Summary: The study includes estimated costs
for both Alignments, generally summarized as follows:
Alternate
R -O -W ($)
Construction ($)
Total ($)
1 (Interim)
300,000
2,000,000
2,300,000
1 (Ultimate)
2,700,000
3,200,000
5,900,000
2 (Interim)
270,000
2,200,000
2,470,000
2 (Ultimate)
1,800,000
3,500,000
5,300,000
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B. Right -of -Way Acquisition Cost Estimates
It should be noted that the cost estimates for right -of -way
acquisition set forth in this report are only gross estimates.
More accurate cost estimates for these costs can only be
provided after the affected properties have been appraised.
It is the view of staff that the right -of -way acquisition cost
estimates set forth herein are on the high side of a range which
could have a "low end" one -half of the costs identified. And
since the cost of right -of -way is a very large part of the total
costs shown, the total cost of the various option set forth
herein could vary considerably.
C. Recommended Alternate
The alignment for Alternate #2 shifts the centerline of the
street northerly allowing for the construction of the project in
a manner which will not require the acquisition of property from
the residential properties fronting Avenida Colonia, located on
the south side of Los Angeles Avenue. Not only are the right -
of -way acquisition costs less, significant disruption and /or
possible relocation is avoided. For these reasons, staff
recommends that the alignment described in Alternate #2 be
selected.
D. Two Lanes vs. Four Lanes
The City Traffic Engineer performed a cursory analysis of future
traffic needs in this area. Based on the City's traffic model,
which includes the existing General Plan area plus other
possible traffic generators (i. e. Hidden Creek Ranch, etc.), he
concluded that the projected traffic volume on the subject
street segment would result in some relatively minor traffic
congestion during peak hours. When and if a second east -west
arterial street is constructed (e. g. Spring Road north), that
traffic congestion would no longer occur. For this reason, it
is his opinion that the additional cost of four lane
improvements is not warranted at this time.
E. Transportation and Streets Committee Review
The Alignment Study for this project was discussed by the City
Council Transportation and Streets Committee on April 3, 1996.
The Committee decided to not offer a recommendation until this
analysis was developed and provided to the City Council.
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F. Options
It is recommended that the City proceed with a project for the
construction of Interim Improvements along this street segment,
which would be compatible with the roadway alignment defined by
Alternate #2. As stated above, the construction of four lanes
along this segment of street does not appear to be warranted at
this time. However, the need for four lanes may occur at some
point in the future. There are, therefore, two options to
consider in proceeding with the implementation of this project:
a) a project which would easily accommodate the future
widening of the street to four lanes, or
b) a project which would not.
A more detailed description of these two Options is as follows:
Option A:
• Acquire the full right -of -way required for the construction
of ultimate full -width (four lanes) street improvements;
• Construct retaining walls required to accommodate the
possible future construction of full -width (four lane) street
improvements; and,
• Construct interim improvements within that corridor.
Option B:
• Acquire ONLY that amount of right -of -way required for the
construction of interim (two lanes) street improvements;
• Construct retaining walls within that right -of -way designed
to ONLY accommodate the construction of those interim (two
lane) street improvements; and,
• Construct interim improvements within that corridor.
Cost Estimate: A cost estimate comparing these two options is
as follows:
Element Option A Option B
Right -of -way Acquisition 1,800,000 270,000
Retaining Walls 1,000,000 680,000
All other Interim Improvements 1,250,000 1,250,000
Total 4,050,000 2,200,000
G. Future Construction of Four Lanes
As stated above, at some point in the future it may become
necessary to widen the interim two -lane improvements to four
lanes. The following is an estimate of the cost to undertake
this additional street widening given the two Options for
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Interim Improvements described above. Please note that all of
the cost estimates in this report presume current day costs.
None of these figures include any inflation factors.
A comparison of the additional
lane improvements to four -lanes
above, is as follows:
Element
Right -of -way Acquisition
Retaining Walls
Widen to four lanes
Total
cost to widen the initial two -
under the two options described
Option A
0
0
1,300,000
1,300,000
option B
1,600,000
1,100,000
1,300,000
4,000,000
The combined cost undertaking Interim Improvement followed by
the future widening to four lane improvements is summarized as
follows:
Element Option A Option B
Interim Improvements 4,050,000 2,200,000
Ultimate Improvements 1.300.000 4,000,000
Total 5,350,000 6,200,000
H. Funding
This project would be funded by the Los Angeles Avenue AOC.
There are sufficient funds available for the construction of
this project utilizing either option.
I. Summary / Conclusions
1. Alignment: It is recommended that Alignment Alternate #2
(shift centerline northerly) be selected.
2. Interim Improvements: It is recommended that only the two -
lane interim improvements be constructed at this time.
3. Right -of -Way / Retaining Walls: Although initial costs under
Option A are approximately $1,850,000 more than Option B, the
selection of this option will save the City at least $850,000
(current dollars without an inflation factor) when and if it
becomes necessary to later widen this street segment to four
lanes. For this reasons, staff recommends selection of
Option A: the acquisition of right -of -way and construction of
retaining walls necessary to accommodate full -width (four
lane) street improvements.
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4. Preliminary Design: In order to accurately define the right -
of -way required, it is necessary to prepare a preliminary
design for the full width four -lane improvements and related
earthwork and retaining walls. Legal description of the
areas to be acquired will be prepared based upon that
preliminary design.
5. Final Design for Street Improvements: It is recommended that
the preparation of the final improvement plans and
specifications for the interim two -lane street improvements
be deferred until after the right -of -way acquisition effort
has been completed or is near completion.
Staff recommends that the City Council take the following actions:
1. Approve the future roadway alignment for Los Angeles Avenue East
defined as Alternate #2 in the Alignment Study and summarized in
this report (centerline to be shifted northerly) .
2. Approve the right -of -way acquisition efforts and the preliminary
design for the retaining walls described in Option A set forth
above in this report.
3. Direct staff to proceed with the development of a preliminary
design to determine actual right -of -way requirements.
4. Direct staff to proceed with the title work, engineering work
and appraisal work necessary to prepare the final Deeds for all
of the right -of -way required, and to determine estimated cost of
said acquisition.
5. Direct staff to report back to the City Council when these
efforts are completed, to seek authorization to proceed with
right -of -way acquisition.
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