HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 08/17/2004 - ITEMS RELATING TO US287/SOUTH COLLEGE AVENUE BICYC ITEM NUMBER: 14 A-B
AGENDA ITEM SUMMARY DATE: August 17, 2004
FORT COLLINS CITY COUNCIL STAFF: Kathleen Reavis
SUBJECT
Items Relating to US287/South College Avenue Bicycle Lane Project.
RECOMMENDATION
Staff recommends adoption of the Resolution and of the Ordinance on First Reading.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
The total budget for this project is $750,000. This figure consists of $600,000 in Federal
Enhancement grant funds from the Colorado Department of Transportation as well as $150,000 in
local matching funds from the City's Transportation Services Fund. The Enhancement grant
funding for this project has been provided in two phases,the first in October 2003 for$285,000 and
then this grant contract for the remaining $465,000, equaling the total project budget of$750,000.
The project budget is intended to cover planning, design/engineering, and construction costs.
Phase 2
Federal funds (82.79%) $372 000
City's Local Match (17.21%) $ 93,000
Total project: $465,000
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
A. Resolution 2004-096 Authorizing the Mayor to Execute an Agreement Between the City
and the Colorado Department of Transportation for the Funding of the Design and
Construction of On-Street Bike Lanes on South College Avenue Between Harmony Road
and Carpenter Road.
B. First Reading of Ordinance No. 131, 2004,Appropriating Unanticipated Revenue and Prior
Year Reserves in the Transportation Services Fund to be used to Construct On-Street Bike
Lanes on South College Avenue Between Harmony Road and Carpenter Road.
The City of Fort Collins Transportation Planning Department received a grant from CDOT
Enhancement Funds for FY 2003-05 to construct on-street bicycle lanes on South College
Avenue/US 287 from Harmony Road/SH68 southward to Carpenter Road/CR32.
August 17, 2004 -2- Item No. 14 A-B
This new commuter bikelane facility will greatly improve safety and connectivity for local as well
as regional commuter cyclists. This primary route between Fort Collins and Loveland has been
identified through the public planning process by the City of Fort Collins as well as the North Front
Range Metropolitan Planning Organization as a critical link in the local and regional bicycle lane
system. Both the City of Fort Collins Bicycle Program Plan and the North Front Range Bicycle and
Pedestrian Plan indicate the need for this project.
BACKGROUND
South College Avenue/US 287 is currently a four-lane arterial roadway through this corridor,carries
approximately 35,000 vehicles per day, has a posted speed limit of 45-55 mph and serves many
commuter cyclists. Without the proposed improvements, this portion of US287 provides a very
hazardous cycling corridor. The traffic projections for this corridor are 45,000 vehicles per day in
2025. By improving this corridor with the addition of formal(striped&signed)bikelanes,the City
of Fort Collins and the CDOT will be able to improve the cycling conditions and safety for this
important commuter cycling route which will increase the viability and attractiveness for non-
motorized trips. In addition to great safety benefits,this project will lead to fewer automobile trips,
less traffic congestion, and improved air quality for our community and the region.
The bikelane project will connect into a growing system of bikeways along the adjacent City
roadways and State Highways. It will provide a continuous bikelane link to the existing bikelanes
on Harmony Road/SH68 as well as link to the local street bikeways(existing and planned)on Fossil
Creek Parkway, Skyway Drive,Trilby Road,Carpenter Road, and to the Fossil Creek regional off-
road trail system that will intersect with South College Avenue near Fossil Creek Parkway.
These new bikelanes will also provide access for cyclists to the existing FoxTrot transit service on
South College from Loveland to Fort Collins. Cyclists may ride along South College to access the
transit stops and then the buses are equipped with bike racks for their use.
In addition, South College Avenue provides the only point of access to the future South Transit
Center/trailhead parking area for the Mason Transportation Corridor("MTC")where cyclists will
connect with the MTC bicycle/pedestrian path northward into the South College
commercial/employment corridor, Colorado State University, and the heart of downtown Fort
Collins.
Through these existing and future bikeway connections, the bikelanes on South College will serve
one of the busiest residential,commercial,educational,and employment corridors in our community
as well as serve cyclists traveling to/from Fort Collins and Loveland. The design of the South
College bikelanes will serve all levels of cyclists from recreational riders through advanced
commuter cyclists and provide the critical missing link in the bikeway system for south Fort Collins.
The design of these new bicycle lanes on South College/US 287 is proposed to be consistent with
the design of the existing bicycle lanes on Harmony Road/SH 68. This special design allows for
using the existing 10-12' shoulder area to provide for 8' bicycle lanes with a 2' shoulders for the
portions of the corridor without curb and gutter.Along the sections with curb and gutter,the bicycle
lanes will be 8' wide. The signage will include the wording "right lane for bikes and emergency
parking only" which is the same signage as was required by CDOT for the Harmony Road bicycle
August 17, 2004 -3- Item No. 14 A-B
lanes. This design is consistent with, and in some cases exceeds, the minimum American
Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials bicycle requirements. These bicycle
lanes are not part of any larger roadway improvement project; they are proposed as a stand-alone
bicycle facility project.
This project will be constructed primarily using the existing shoulder area along South College
Avenue/US 287 and will remain in the public right of way. There are not any known sensitive
environmental issues associated with constructing this project however the City of Fort Collins is
committed to designing and building all of our transportation projects to be environmentally
sensitive and in compliance with all local, state, and federal requirements. This proposed bicycle
lane project can be constructed primarily within existing public right-of-way and will consist of
bikelanes,signing,and striping work. There may be some signalized intersections where additional
pavement width is necessary to accommodate both the bicycle lane and the right turn lane,but again,
this work can likely be done within the existing public right of way. As with the Harmony Road
bicycle lane project, the City of Fort Collins would have to agree to maintain the bicycle lanes and
they would not be the responsibility of the Colorado Department of Transportation.
This project will provide critical safety improvements and help achieve the City of Fort Collins and
regional goals of increased use of alternative modes, reduced traffic congestion, and improved air
quality. These projects are consistent with the City's adopted Master Transportation Plan,Bicycle
Plan, Pedestrian Plan, Master Street Plan, Transit Strategic Plan, Mason Transportation Corridor
Master Plan, the South College Access Plan, and the goals of the Land Use, Transportation, &Air
Quality Committee.
ATTACHMENTS
Photos of existing conditions along US 287
Map of project area
August 17, 2004 -4- Item No. 14 A-B
August 17, 2004 -5- Item No. 14 A-B
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RESOLUTION 2004-096
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO EXECUTE AN AGREEMENT
BETWEEN THE CITY AND THE COLORADO DEPARTMENT
OF TRANSPORTATION FOR THE FUNDING OF THE DESIGN
AND CONSTRUCTION OF ON-STREET BIKE LANES ON
SOUTH COLLEGE AVENUE BETWEEN HARMONY ROAD
AND CARPENTER ROAD
WHEREAS,South College Avenue is currently a four-lane arterial roadway which,through
the Bicycle Lane Project Corridor,carries approximately 35,000 vehicles per day and it is anticipated
that by 2025, this corridor will carry 45,000 vehicles per day and many commuter cyclists; and
WHEREAS,without the improvements proposed in the South College Avenue Bicycle Lane
Project ("the Project"), this corridor is very hazardous for cycling, and by improving the corridor
with the addition of striped and signed bike lanes, the City, the Colorado Department of
Transportation (CDOT) and the North Front Range MPO will be able to improve the cycling
conditions and safety for this important commuter cycling route; and
WHEREAS,the Project will provide critical safety improvements and help achieve City and
regional goals of increased usage of alternative modes,reduced traffic congestion and improved air
quality; and
WHEREAS, the Project is consistent with the City's Master Transportation Plan, Bicycle
Plan, Pedestrian Plan, Master Street Plan, Transit Strategic Plan, Mason Transportation Corridor
Master Plan, South College Access Plan and the goals of the Land Use, Transportation and Air
Quality Committee; and
WHEREAS, the City has received a grant from CDOT Enhancement Funds for fiscal year
2003-2005 to construct on-street bicycle lanes on South College Avenue from Harmony Road
southward to Carpenter Road, which grant is in the sum of $465,000 consisting of $372,000 in
Federal funds and $93,000 in City local matching funds; and
WHEREAS, the Council has determined that it is in the best interest of the City that the
Mayor be authorized to enter into an agreement with CDOT for the purpose of obtaining the
aforesaid grant for the design and construction of on-street bicycle lanes on College Avenue between
Harmony Road and Carpenter Road.
NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS that the Mayor is hereby authorized to enter into a grant agreement with the Colorado
Department of Transportation for the purpose of designing and constructing on-street bike lanes on
South College Avenue between Harmony Road and Carpenter Road, which grant is in the sum of
$465,OOO,of which total sum$372,000 consists of Federal Funds and$93,000 consists of City local
matching funds.
Passed and adopted at a regular meeting of the City Council held this 17th day of August,
A.D. 2004.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
ORDINANCE NO. 131, 2004
OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT COLLINS
APPROPRIATING UNANTICIPATED REVENUE AND PRIOR YEAR RESERVES IN THE
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES FUND TO BE USED TO CONSTRUCT ON-STREET
BIKE LANES ON SOUTH COLLEGE AVENUE BETWEEN HARMONY ROAD
AND CARPENTER ROAD
WHEREAS,the US Highway 287/South College Avenue corridor is a heavily traveled four-
lane arterial roadway and represents one of the fastest growing residential,commercial,educational,
and employment corridors in the community; and
WHEREAS, this primary route, connecting Fort Collins and Loveland, has been identified
through public planning processes of the City as well as the North Front Range Transportation&Air
Quality Planning Council as a critical link in the local and regional bicycle lane system; and
WHEREAS, adequate bicycle facilities along the US Highway 287/South College Avenue
corridor do not exist, creating dangerous cycling conditions; and
WHEREAS, the Colorado Department of Transportation ("CDOT")has made available to
the City of Fort Collins,Federal Enhancement Funds for FY 2004-2005 in the amount of$372,000
to be used to construct the final phase of on-street bicycle lanes on the US Highway 287/South
College Avenue, from Harmony Road southward to Carpenter Road ("Project"); and
WHEREAS, the scope of the Project improvements will include using the existing 10-12'
road shoulder area to provide of 8'bicycle lanes with 2' shoulders for those sections of the roadway
without curb and gutter; an 8' wide bicycle lane for sections with curb and gutter; and signage; and
WHEREAS,local matching funds needed to cover the cost of the Phase H improvements and
administrative costs associated with the Project, totaling $93,000, have been identified and are
available in the form of prior year reserves in the Transportation Services Fund; and
WHEREAS, the total contract with CDOT for constructing bicycle improvements on US
Highway 287/South College Avenue, from Harmony Road south to Carpenter Road, is $750,000;
and
WHEREAS,the City Council adopted Resolution 2004-096,on August 17,2004,authorizing
the Mayor to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the CDOT for the receipt of Federal
Enhancement Funds to be used to design and construct on-street bicycle lanes on US Highway
287/South College Avenue, from Harmony Road southward to Carpenter Road; and
WHEREAS,Article V, Section 9,of the Charter of the City of Fort Collins permits the City
Council to make supplemental appropriations by ordinance at any time during the fiscal year,
provided that the total amount of such supplemental appropriations,in combination with all previous
appropriations for that fiscal year, does not exceed the current estimate of actual and anticipated
revenues to be received during the fiscal year; and
WHEREAS, Article V, Section 10, of the Charter permits the City Council to appropriate
by ordinance at any time during the fiscal year such funds for expenditure as may be available from
reserves accumulated in prior years, notwithstanding that such reserves were not previously
appropriated; and
WHEREAS, City staff has determined that the appropriation of the Federal Enhancement
Funds from CDOT as described herein will not cause the total amount appropriated in the
Transportation Services Fund budget to exceed the current estimate of actual and anticipated
revenues to be received during any fiscal year; and
WHEREAS, it is the desire of the Council to appropriate the sum of$372,000 in Federal
Enhancement Funds from CDOT and$93,000 in prior year reserves in the Transportation Services
Fund for the purpose of designing and constructing on-street bicycle lanes on US Highway
287/South College Avenue, from Harmony Road southward to Carpenter Road.
NOW,THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF FORT
COLLINS as follows:
Section 1. That there is hereby appropriated for expenditure from unanticipated revenue in
the Transportation Services Fund-US Highway 287/South College Avenue Bicycle Improvements
project, the sum of THREE HUNDRED SEVENTY-TWO THOUSAND DOLLARS ($372,000)
from Colorado Department of Transportation Federal Enhancement Funds, for the purpose of
designing and constructing on-street bicycle lanes on US Highway 287/South College Avenue,from
Harmony Road southward to Carpenter Road.
Section 2. That there is hereby appropriated from prior year reserves in the Transportation
Services Fund, the sum of NINETY-THREE THOUSAND DOLLARS ($93,000) for the purpose
of designing and constructing on-street bicycle lanes on US Highway 287/South College Avenue,
from Harmony Road southward to Carpenter Road.
Introduced and considered favorably on first reading and ordered published this 17th day of August,
A.D. 2004, and to be presented for final passage on the 7th day of September, A.D. 2004.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk
Passed and adopted on final reading this 7th day of September, A.D. 2004.
Mayor
ATTEST:
City Clerk