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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/24/1997 Work Session (2) . . . , MINUTES OF THE WORK SESSION MEETING OF THE SPRINGFIELD CITY COUNCIL HELD MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 1997 The city of Springfield council met in work session in the Jesse Maine Room, 225 Fifth Street, Springfield, Oregon, on Monday, November 24, 1997, at 7:40 p.m., with Mayor Morrisette presiding. ATTENDANCE Present were Mayor Morrisette, Councilors, Beyer, Dahlquist, Maine and Shaver. Councilors Ballew and Burge were absent. Also present were City Manager Michael Kelly, Assistant City Manager Gino Grimaldi, City Attorney Tim Harold, City Recorder Julie Wilson and members of the staff. 1. Jasper Road Extension (JRE) Project Update. Traffic Engineer Brian Barnett and Management Analyst Eileen Stein presented the staff report on this issue. On September 2, 1997, the Council was last updated on this project. During that meeting, staff sought Council's direction on preferred design elements for the corridor inside the city limits. The Council concluded that the corridor should be four lanes (two travel lanes in each direction) with some kind of a landscaped median. The Council did not reach consensus on. other urban design features including curbs, gutters, street lights, sidewalks, bike lanes and street trees, because some councilors needed additional information before deciding on these features. Mr. Barnett provided history on the JRE project and how it has changed over time and in various metropolitan transportation plans from a state highway to a two to three lane arterial. He stated in order to provide input into the stakeholders committee, Council concurrence is needed on the specific improvements to be made. To expedite this process, staff has developed a recommended roadway cross section for Council consideration that assumes the roadway will be an arterial. Council direction is also needed on a proposal to realign connecting city streets. Council should also be aware the stakeholders committee is narrowing its focus on alignment . _ options for the entire corridor from four to two, and beginning to discuss project phasing and funding. Costs of the two options being considered by the stakeholder's committee is $4.6 million and $4.5 million respectively and would be built over two years, 1999 and 2000. The dedicated funding is $3.6 million of which $2.4 million is county funds and $1.2 million is state funds. Ms. Stein reviewed photographs of Mohawk and Pioneer Parkway. These provided a visual of what could be created. Jasper Road extension issues included the road design, local street alignment and corridor alignment phasing and funding. Minutes of the Work Session of November 24, 1997 Page 2 . Mr. Barnett discussed road sections. The cross section includes four lanes (two each travel direction, with an wider outside lane), median, curbs, gutters, sidewalks (for bicycle and pedestrian use), street trees and street lights. The recommended cross section envisions a corridor similar to Pioneer Parkway, between Centennial and Harlow Road (except pedestrian and bicycle facilities would be on the roadside, not in the median.) Both facilities would be expected to carry similar average daily traffic volumes. He said the 27 ft. of pavement between the curbs was adequate. He discussed the advantages of the staff recommended cross section, including less pavement used, roadway used exclusively by motor vehicles, lower cost of materials, lower speeds and it meets all city design standards. Ms. Stein said staff was see~ing council direction at this time. She reviewed comments and concerns raised by area residents and said comments were summarized in the staff report. She provided an additional letter from Debra Smejkal, a property owner in the Urban Growth Boundary area. Mr. Barnett discussed the options for realigning local city streets in detail and answered questions from council. He explained that Weyerhaeuser did have a need to continue access and use of their haul road. Mr. Barnett discussed traffic signal issues related to serving the haul road. Council discussed both options and concurred with the proposed Option A. Public Works Director Dan Brown discussed the state and federal guidelines established related to pedestrian and bicycle requirements. . Council asked questions about traffic volumes, projections, truck destinations and use of the new route. Councilor Shaver expressed concern that the gap between the project design and funding was growing. He questioned whether the roadway should be four lanes inside the city if there was a shortfall in the budget. Ms. Stein reviewed estimated project costs, revenues and phasing options discussed in the staff report. The cost for proposed current revenue to the project is $3.6 million, alignment alternative C is $4.660 million and alternative D is $4.550 million. Council discussed development of a two lane versus four lane road. Council discussed whether there were trigger mechanisms required on this project. Mr. Barnett clarified there were none related to this project. Mr. Barnett discussed the cost differential of a two lane versus four lane roadway. Mr. Brown provided additional information regarding pedestrian and bicycle facility requirements. He also explained that this project would eventually be a city street and should be designed according to the city's standards which is required of private developers. It was currently included in the Trans Plan at this time as a two to three arterial. Councilor Shaver clarified that his concern about number of travel lanes was related to cost versus design. . Councilor Beyer felt the council should stick with a design they feel will suit the city's needs over the long term. It would be more cost effective to build four lanes now. Minutes of the Work Session of November 24, 1997 Page 3 . Councilor Maine was interested in the project going through. She was willing to be flexible to insure this and acknowledged the need to work in partnership with other jurisdictions. Councilor Beyer suggested staff be directed to go ahead with what is proposed and see if the funding gap can be narrowed in other ways. Council stated a preference for a four lane project as incorporated through the staff recommended road design, but stated there were areas to be flexible. Staff was directed to, continue to keep Council updated on this project. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m. Minutes Recorder - Julie Wilson Attest: . ~W~ Jul Wilson City Recorder .