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Home My WebLink AboutSelect Alt - Proposed Cook St. Cooridor Imprvmnts (601-05)CITY OF PALM DESERT PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT STAFF REPORT REQUEST: Select an Alternative for the Proposed Cook Street Corridor Improvements (Project No. 601-05) SUBMITTED BY: Mark Greenwood, P.E., Director of Public Works DATE: March 12, 2009 CONTENTS: Exhibit A- Alternative 1 Schematic Plan Exhibit B- Alternative 2 Schematic Plan Exhibit C- Alternative Assessment Matrix Recommendation: By Minute Motion: 1. Select an alternative for the proposed Cook Street Corridor Improvements to expand the roadway from four to six lanes; and 2. If Alternative 1(Roadway Reconfiguration without Bike Lanes) or Alternative 2(Roadway Reconfiguration with Class I Bike Path) is selected, direct staff to proceed with the preparation of the appropriate California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) documentation; or 3. If Alternative 3, (No Project) is selected, direct staff not to proceed further with the proposed Cook Street Corridor Improvements. Executive Summary: An Assessment of Alternatives has been prepared to assist in the evaluation of potential environmental effects associated with three alternatives for the proposed Cook Street Corridor Improvements. Two of the three alternatives would allow Cook Street to be expanded from four to six lanes. Staff requests that City Council select one of the three alternatives: Alternative 1- Roadway Reconfiguration without Bike Lanes; Alternative 2- Roadway Reconfiguration with Class I Bike Path; or Alternative 3- No Project. If City Council selects either Alternative 1 or 2, staff will proceed with the preparation of CEQA documentation. If Alternative 3 is selected, no further action on the Cook Street Corridor Improvements will occur. Background Cook Street between Fred Waring Drive and Frank Sinatra Drive is a 4-lane, divided roadway with a 6-foot Class II bike/golf cart lane in each direction. In the City of Palm Desert General Plan, Cook Street is designated as a 6-lane "Arterial" and is planned to be expanded from four to six lanes to accommodate current and future traffic volumes. Cook Street consists of six lanes between Frank Sinatra Drive and Interstate 10. Staff Report Selection of Alternative for Cook Street Corridor Improvements Page 2 of 5 March 12, 2009 Cook Street currently operates at Levels of Service that range from B to D and are projected to be at Level of Service F by 2020. The Cook Street Corridor Improvements project to expand Cook Street from four to six lanes is identified in the Public Works 5-year Capital Improvement Program. A consuttant team, led by Harris & Associates, was hired by the City to prepare the environmental documentation, plans, specifications, and estimates to expand Cook Street from four to six lanes. The project is primarily funded with CVAG Measure A bond funds. Improvements to Cook Street are being developed in two phases. The first phase is for drainage and intersection improvements at Cook Street/Country Club Drive and Cook Street/Hovley Lane East. This project will eliminate the cross-gutter dips and improve the drainage at these intersections. The improvements will also improve the safety and traffic flow through these intersections. On February 12, 2009, City Council authorized staff to acquire six sliver properties to so that improvements can accommodate ultimate intersection conditions. This $6.5 million project, funded by Measure A and Drainage Funds, is scheduled to be under construction in summer 2010. The second phase, called the Cook Street Corridor Improvements Project, proposes to expand Cook Street from four to six lanes. Discussion: On January 22, 2009, City Council participated in a study session on bike lanes that included a case study regarding the proposed Cook Street Corridor Improvements Project between Fred Waring Drive and Frank Sinatra Drive. The project, as originally conceived, eliminated the Class II bike lanes to accommodate the expansion of the roadway from four to six travel lanes. The system of bike lanes is a key recreational and transportation element as identified in the General Plan, and the bike lanes on Cook Street are a key north/south element of the bike/golf cart lane system. There are three types of bike lanes in the City: • Class I Path — Completely separated from roadway (one exists in the City). • Class II Lane — Striped lanes in roadway used exclusively for bikes and golf carts. • Class III Route — Street shared with motorists. To address the bike lane issue, the Alternatives Assessment was expanded to study additional alternatives to mitigate the loss of the existing bike lanes. The Alternatives Assessment evaluated the following alternatives: • Alternative 1— Roadway Reconfiguration without Bike Lanes. • Alternative 2— Roadway Reconfiguration with Class I Bike Path. • Alternative 3 — No Project. The Assessment of Alternatives presents the three alternatives and evaluates the environmental issues, impacts, and proposed mitigation measures. Alternatives 1 and 2 would require the preparation of CEQA documentation. The following is a brief synopsis of the alternatives: Staff Report Selection of Alternative for Cook Street Corridor Improvements Page 3 of 5 March 12, 2009 Alternative 1: Roadwav Reconfiquration without Bike Lanes Alternative 1 expands the roadway from four to six lanes primarily by restriping between curbs and eliminating the Class II bike lanes as shown on the attached schematic plan (Exhibit A). Some minor roadway widening and easements are required at the southwest corner at Sheryl Avenue and at the Whitewater Channel. Raised medians would be reconstructed or modified to accommodate left turns and landscaping. The roadway pavement would be rehabilitated in this Alternative and in Alternative 2. Traffic noise can be mitigated for this alternative as well as for Alternative 2. The noise study recommends the construction of a 5-foot high, 100-foot long wall to close off a wrought iron fence opening in the property wall adjacent to the Desert Falls Community. The study also recommends a 6-inch increase in height of the 283 feet of the existing property wall adjacent to the Waring Place community. With regard to land use and planning, the elimination of the bike lanes is identified as a potentially significant impact and is inconsistent with the General Plan. Therefore, the General Plan would have to be amended to eliminate the bike lanes described in the Circulation and Parks and Recreation Elements. There is no viable alternative to the Cook Street bike lanes on other north/south streets. Portola Avenue, for example, is viable but cost would be just as high to accommodate bike lanes. If selected, Alternative I will require the completion of an Environmental Impact Report, and City Council would have to address the loss of the bike lanes by consideration of adopting a Statement of Overriding Considerations. This alternative is the most economical ($5.3 million) and the project cost is currently funded by Measure A funds. Also, this alternative provides the capacity to meet current and future traffic volumes. Alternative 2: Roadwav Reconfiauration with Class I Bike Path Alternative 2 is the same as Alternative I, except that it also provides a two-way, 12-foot wide Class I Bike Path in the west parkway along Cook Street as shown on the attached schematic plan (Exhibit B). This alternative is consistent with General Plan requirements for bike paths and the promotion of alternative modes of transportation. However, it requires reconstruction of the entire west parkway and the acquisition of more rights-of-way resulting in a considerably higher cost ($12.3 million). This bike path would not address the needs of the bicyclists who prefer to ride in the street, and who still could legally do so with the implementation of this alternative. This alternative will require the completion of a Mitigated Negative Declaration for environmental clearance. This alternative will also provide the capacity to meet current and future projected traffic volumes. However, the $7 million increase in project cost is not currently budgeted. Alternative 3: No Proiect Alternative 3 would not modify the existing roadway alignment at this time, but would not preclude improvements to Cook Street at a future date. However, this alternative does not provide the capacity to meet projected traffic demands. Cook Street is currently Staff Report Selection of Alternative for Cook Street Corridor Improvements Page 4 of 5 March 12, 2009 operating at Levels of Service B to D, and even though traffic volumes have decreased during the last three years, the Level of Service is projected to worsen to F by 2020 or beyond. Also, Alternatives 1 and 2 include pavement rehabilitation that would be funded by Measure A if done with the project. With Alternative 3, the pavement rehabilitation would then have to be done with General Funds, or another source of funds would need to be identified. The pavement needs rehabilitation now, but would be delayed until funds are budgeted. Also, the Measure A Funds (approximately $2.5 million) currently programmed and budgeted for the Cook Street Corridor Improvements could possibly be lost. If In the event that a project to increase vehicular capacity on Cook Street was considered in the future, an environmental study would be required at that time. Additional Alternative The assessment of alternatives also initially considered, but eliminated from further study, the alternative to widen the roadway in both directions and replicate the Class II Bike Lanes. This alternative not only required roadway widening, but also additional right-of-way acquisition and the reconstruction and reduction of both parkways. This alternative was dropped from further consideration due to the above factors and its high cost ($22.2 million). Summary: Staff requests that City Council select an alternative as described herein and shown in the attached Alternatives Assessment Matrix (Exhibit C), and if Alternative 1 or 2 is selected to direct staff to proceed with the preparation of the appropriate CEQA documentation for consideration. Also, if Alternative 2 is selected, future City Council actions would be required to increase the project budget, amend the consultant contract, and acquire more rights-of-way. City Council may also select the No Project Alternative and direct staff not to proceed further with the Cook Street Corridor Improvements. Approximately $2.5 million Measure A Funds could be lost with selection of the No Project Alternative. Fiscal Impact: If Alternative I is selected, no increase in budget would be required. If Alternative 2 is selected, an additional $7 million would have to be budgeted for the additional design, construction, and right of way acquisition costs. If Alternative 3 is selected and the Cook Street is delayed, approximately $2.5 million of Measure A Bond Funds could be lost. Staff Report Selection of Alternative for Cook Street Corridor Improvements Page5of5 March 12, 2009 Prepared By: G�I.L�•. �. John . Garcia, P.E. Engineering Manager �,'`��,---� ""_"";:— .. _ . � ��' Lauri Aylaian Director of Planning Appr I: � % Fiomer Croy ACM for De I pment Services / IJI/ Joh c�hfmuth Ci anager Departme t ead: Mark Greeriwood, P.E. Director of Public Works Paul S. Gibson Finance Director ABSENT: Sd)'1 ABSTAIN: , VERIFiED BY: Original on File with City CtTY COIfiTCiGAf�'TiON APPROVED , DENIED RE��IVEI�� f�D�LCt� , UTHER�C��.� �/ MEET G DATT� � �� ' U`� � , AYES: �P,�c�,. ��,_�Tl___,,.. 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O � N N � � � � U C O N � O � -p O � L � @ � � N 3 :� V � .O ^L 1.� 0 Z M Project Plans - Alternative 1 Exhibit ACook Street Corridor ImprovementsR:/Projects/harris/J004/Graphics/AppA_PPAlt1_pg1_021809.pdfD:/Projects/harris/J004/graphics/ex_PPAlt1_page1_021809.aiSource: Harris Associates Project Plans - Alternative 1 Exhibit A Cook Street Corridor ImprovementsR:/Projects/harris/J004/Graphics/AppA_PPAlt1_pg2_021809.pdfD:/Projects/harris/J004/graphics/ex_PPAlt1_page2_021809.aiSource: Harris Associates Project Plans - Alternative 1 Exhibit ACook Street Corridor ImprovementsR:/Projects/harris/J004/Graphics/AppA_PPAlt1_pg3_021809.pdfD:/Projects/harris/J004/graphics/ex_PPAlt1_page3_021809.aiSource: Harris Associates Project Plans - Alternative 1 Exhibit ACook Street Corridor ImprovementsR:/Projects/harris/J004/Graphics/AppA_PPAlt1_pg4_021809.pdfD:/Projects/harris/J004/graphics/ex_PPAlt1_page4_021809.aiSource: Harris Associates Project Plans - Alternative 1 Exhibit ACook Street Corridor ImprovementsR:/Projects/harris/J004/Graphics/AppA_PPAlt1_pg5_021809.pdfD:/Projects/harris/J004/graphics/ex_PPAlt1_page5_021809.aiSource: Harris Associates Project Plans - Alternative 2 Exhibit BCook Street Corridor ImprovementsR:\Projects\Harris\J004\Roadway Project-Active\Environ Assessment\Graphics/AppA_PPAlt2_021809.pdfD:/Projects/harris/J004/graphics/ex_PPAlt2_pg1_021809.aiSource: Harris Associates Project Plans - Alternative 2 Exhibit BCook Street Corridor ImprovementsR:/Projects/harris/J004/Graphics/AppA2_PPAlt2_021809.pdfD:/Projects/harris/J004/graphics/ex_PPAlt2_pg2_021809.aiSource: Harris Associates Project Plans - Alternative 2 Exhibit BCook Street Corridor ImprovementsR:/Projects/harris/J004/Graphics/AppA3_PPAlt2_021809.pdfD:/Projects/harris/J004/graphics/ex_PPAlt2_pg3_021809.aiSource: Harris Associates Project Plans - Alternative 2 Exhibit BCook Street Corridor ImprovementsR:/Projects/harris/J004/Graphics/AppA4_PPAlt2_021809.pdfD:/Projects/harris/J004/graphics/ex_PPAlt2_pg4_021809.aiSource: Harris Associates Project Plans - Alternative 2 Exhibit BCook Street Corridor ImprovementsR:/Projects/harris/J004/Graphics/AppA5_PPAlt2_021809.pdfD:/Projects/harris/J004/graphics/ex_PPAlt2_pg5_021809.aiSource: Harris Associates