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Home My WebLink About5N and 1B Duluth Ave Report 4646 Dakota Street SE Prior Lake, MN 55372 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA REPORT MEETING DATE: APRIL 24, 2017 AGENDA #: 1B WORK SESSION AND 5N COUNCIL MEETING PREPARED BY: LARRY POPPLER, CITY ENGINEER/INSPECTIONS DIRECTOR PRESENTER: LARRY POPPLER, AGENDA ITEM: CONSIDER APPROVAL OF A RESOLUTION AMENDING THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN TO SHIFT THE DULUTH AVENUE AND HIGHWAY 13 PROJECT TO 2019 AND AUTHORIZING STAFF TO PREPARE AN APPLICATION FOR COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT FUNDING DISCUSSION: Introduction The purpose of this agenda item is to consider a resolution authorizing staff to prepare an application for funding in 2019 for the Duluth Avenue and Highway 13 intersection project. History The City uses the Capital Improvement Program to schedule projects. In this case the intersection of TH 13 and Duluth Avenue has been identified for several years and is now shown in the 2017-2021 Capital Improvement Program for construction in 2020. MNDOT has also been planning for the signal replacement at Highway 13 and Duluth Avenue for several years. Duluth Avenue approaches to the signal could be better configured to improve operation of the signal. This project would reconstruct portions of Duluth Avenue to better align with the signal system. Dedicated lane configurations (raised medians) could be adjusted for better signal efficiency. Access points on Duluth Avenue are in close proximity to the intersection and are affecting operations. In 2012, the City studied local road connections through south downtown. The long term configuration of Duluth Avenue is the same for all options which were reviewed during the study process. On September 8, 2014, the City approved a professional services contract with WSB & Associates for the Duluth Avenue Intersection Project. A portion of the work includes the preparation of a feasibility report. The 2015 Feasibility Report discusses the operation of the Duluth and TH 13 signal. At that time the signal operated at a Level of Service (LOS) C (On a scale of A-F) and has experienced three crashes in the four years prior. LOS C means that the intersection is beginning to feel more restricted and queues develop behind turning movements. The intersection operation is projected to degrade to a LOS F by 2019. Level of Service F means that vehicle demand exceeds the capacity of the intersection. Additionally, Holiday Station Stores has communicated that the store 2 located at Duluth and TH 13 is a top 5 producing store of 500 for their company. At the January 26, 2015, City Council meeting, the City Council approved concept 2 for construction. At the February 9th City Council work session, the City discussed the financing of all City projects for construction in 2015. The costs associated with these projects have an impact on the tax levy. Considering the high costs the City Council directed staff to review the possibility of reducing the scope of the Duluth Avenue project and the impacts of a scope reduction. On February 23rd, the City Council reviewed a report which discussed design modifications to reduce the scope of the project. The outcome of this meeting was to shift the project from construction in summer of 2015 to summer of 2016, however the City continued to complete the design and start the right of way acquisition process. The design for the intersection improvements is complete but the right of way acquisition process was not yet completed. On November 9th, 2015, the City Council directed that this project be delayed 4-5 years into the future. Tax levy pressures and concerns from area businesses on the design were the reasons for the shift in the timing of the project. The 2017-2021 Capital Improvement Plan includes Duluth Avenue for construction in 2020 Current Circumstances Staff has had several meetings with MNDOT regarding timing of improvements along Highway 13. In 2019, MNDOT is planning for a full reclamation project on Highway 13 from CSAH 21 to Highway 282. The Duluth and Highway 13 project is programmed in the City Capital Improvement Plan for 2020. Considering the MNDOT improvements planned on Highway 13 in 2019, it would be prudent to have the Duluth intersection improvements coincide with the MNDOT work. If they do not coincide, the City project will be undoing a portion of the 2019 MNDOT work. MNDOT has also suggested that the Duluth and TH 13 project may be a good candidate for MNDOT Cooperative Agreement funding. This funding could be used to offset City Tax Levy. The application for Cooperative Agreement funding must be submitted within the next month. Conclusion Considering the timing of MNDOT work on Highway 13, staff is recommending that the Duluth and TH 13 project be moved to the year 2019 and that the City apply for Cooperative Agreement Funding. ISSUES: Local businesses south of Highway 13 have concerns that the design would change access negatively and that the project should incorporate additional elements to offset access changes. Staff met with the local businesses to understand their concerns. The main traffic movement of concern is the movement on Duluth into the first access south of Highway 13 and the delay of travelers to Village Lake Drive to access the mall and bank. Options to create another access directly off Highway 13 were 3 rejected by MNDOT. After continued dialogue with these businesses, a design which included a roundabout at Village Lake Drive and Duluth Avenue gained traction with local businesses. To meet the needs of local businesses, the incorporation of the roundabout is shown in the Financial Impact segment of this report. It is encouraging to see MNDOT investing into the Prior Lake area. However, travel along Highway 13 in 2018 and 2019 will be a challenge during the construction seasons. In 2018, the County Highway 42 and Highway 13 intersection will be under construction and MNDOT will be completing a major overlay of Highway 13 from Highway 101 to County Highway 21. In 2019, the County Highway 21 and Highway 13 project will be under construction at the same time a full depth reclamation of Highway 13 from County Highway 21 to Highway 282 is occurring. FINANCIAL IMPACT: The Duluth and TH 13 intersection project is programmed in the Capital Improvement Plan at a cost of $1.28 Million. Adding the roundabout at Village Lake Drive would add $800,000 to the project bringing the project cost to nearly $2.1 Million. Below is a proposed funding table considering success in cooperative agreement funding and the inclusion of the roundabout at Village Lake Drive and Duluth Avenue. FUNDING SOURCE AMOUNT Tax Levy $950,000 Assessments $175,000 State Aid $400,000 MNDOT Signal Funds $205,000 MNDOT Cooperative Agreements $350,000 $2,080,000 MNDOT Cooperative Agreement Funding can be as much as $700,000 for this project, however certain elements of the project may not be eligible. For the purposes of the funding table above, $350,000 was used. By adoption of the attached resolution, the City Council would be seeking to reduce the City’s burden on this project by up to $700,000. ALTERNATIVES: 1. Approve as a part of the Consent Agenda a Resolution Amending the Capital Improvement Plan to Shift the Duluth Avenue and Highway 13 Project to 2019 and Authorizing Staff to Prepare an Application for Cooperative Agreement Funding. 2. Remove this item from Consent Agenda for additional discussion. RECOMMENDED MOTION: Motion and second for approval of alternative #1. 4646 Dakota Street SE Prior Lake, MN 55372 RESOLUTION 17-___ AMENDING THE CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN TO SHIFT THE DULUTH AVENUE AND HIGHWAY 13 PROJECT TO 2019 AND AUTHORIZING STAFF TO PREPARE AN APPLICATION FOR COOPERATIVE AGREEMENT FUNDING Motion By: Second By: WHEREAS, The Feasibity Report for the Duluth Avenue and Highway 13 intersection highlights operational issues at this intersection; and, WHEREAS, MNDOT is planning for a full depth reclamation of Highway 13 from County Highway 21 to Highway 282 in 2019. NOW THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF PRIOR LAKE, MINNESOTA as follows: 1. The recitals set forth above are incorporated herein. 2. The City Council agrees that it is most cost effective and least disruptive to coordinate improvements to Duluth Avenue and Highway 13 at the same time as MNDOT improvements are being completed. 3. The Capital Improvement Plan is hereby amended to adjust the Duluth Avenue / Highway 13 intersection project to the year 2019 with the inclusion of a roundabout at Village Lake Drive for a total estimated cost of $2,080,000. 4. The Capital Improvement Plan is hereby amended to adjust the Fish Point Road (Fawn Meadows to County Highway 21) to the year 2020. 5. Staff are authorized to submit an application to MNDOT for Cooperative Agreement Funding for the Duluth Avenue and Highway 13 intersection project. Passed and adopted by the Prior Lake City Council this 24th day of April, 2017 VOTE Briggs McGuire Thompson Braid Burkart Aye ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Nay ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Abstain ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ Absent ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ☐ ______________________________ Frank Boyles, City Manager