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HomeMy WebLinkAbout20100419 - VIII-A-1 MEMO To: Honorable Mayor and City Council From: Nick Egger – City Engineer Date: April 13, 2010 Re: Design Change Recommendation – Narrow Westview Drive between North Frontage Road and Pleasant Drive th The Council held a public hearing for the 2010 Infrastructure Improvements project on April 5 and subsequently approved a resolution to order the improvements as proposed, with the exception of new th sidewalk segments on Lyn Way and on Westview Drive south of 12 Street. The project scope essentially results in a complete reconstruction of Westview Drive to the north of North Frontage Road. It was proposed in the project scope that this section of Westview Drive would be reconstructed to match its existing width of 36 feet. A revelation that staff has had since that meeting is that it would not be necessary to reconstruct this street segment at the 36 foot width, and that there are several benefits to reconstructing it at a narrower width. My recommendation is that the Council amends the adopted plan to narrow Westview Drive to 28 feet for the majority of the distance between North Frontage Road and Pleasant Drive (there would be tapering of the street on the two ends to match into the existing widths). The rationales for this recommendation are as follows: Signage prohibiting parking through this area of Westview Drive has been in place for some time, and  at the last Council meeting, a resolution was adopted to making this existing parking prohibition official. The combination of parking prohibition and 36 foot wide road surface results in a significant portion of that surface being unutilized. A narrower street will result in a less expensive initial capital investment (less pavement and road base  materials). To narrow this section to 28 feet would result in a cost savings estimated to be $56,000. This segment of Westview Drive is a State Aid street; State Aid rules indicate that the street can be as  narrow as 26 feet when there is no parking on either side. A 28 foot wide street would be commensurate with other situations where a higher volume street has been narrowed, namely th Westview Drive between 15 Street and Southview Drive. A narrower street will cost less to maintain (lower seal coating and crack sealing costs)  The pavement will cost less to replace in the future  A narrower street will result in less snow to be plowed from the surface, saving operations time and  fuel. A narrower street reduces the amount of impervious surface, and thus less stormwater runoff is  generated A narrower street can have a traffic calming effect  A narrower street will allow for less encroachment into the boulevards from the sidewalk segments  that will be constructed in this area CAR OUNCIL CTION EQUESTED Council is requested to approve the proposed amendment to the design of Westview Drive, setting the reconstructed width at 28 feet between North Frontage Road and Pleasant Drive.