HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo - Mail Packet - 10/01/2024 - Memorandum from Cortney Geary re Wabash St./Benthaven St. Safe Routes to School ImprovementsFC Moves
200 W. Mountain Ave., Suite A
PO Box 580, Fort Collins, CO 80522
970-221-6705
fcmoves@fcgov.com
CC: Kari Craven, Civil Engineer II; Spencer Smith, Civil Engineering Manager; Brad Buckman, City Engineer; Doug
Groves, Stormwater Maintenance Division Manager; Nancy Nichols, Safe Routes to School Program Manager; Aaron
Iverson, FC Moves Senior Manager; Tyler Stamey, City Traffic Engineer; Mallory Gallegos, Streets Director; Drew
Brooks, PDT Deputy Director
MEMORANDUM
Date: September 17, 2024
To: Mayor and City Councilmembers
Through: Kelly DiMartino, City Manager
Caryn Champine, Planning, Development & Transportation (PDT) Director
Tyler Marr, Deputy City Manager
From: Cortney Geary, Active Modes Manager
Subject: Wabash St./Benthaven St. Safe Routes to School Improvements
BOTTOM LINE
This memo is to inform Council about a project to add concrete curb extensions at the
intersection of Wabash St. and Benthaven St. next to Lopez Elementary School. This project
was recommended in the School Transportation Safety Assessment for Lopez Elementary
School and the Active Modes Plan. Construction will be coordinated with stormwater utilities
improvements and is scheduled to begin Oct. 9, 2024. We intend to provide courtesy notification
about the project to the neighborhood beginning on Oct. 4, 2024.
Curb extensions, also known as bulb-outs, extend the sidewalk out into the parking lane. Curb
extensions reduce pedestrian crossing distances, reduce the speed of turning vehicles, and
improve safety. See attachment A for photos of recently completed curb extensions at the Oak
St./Whedbee St. intersection.
Councilmembers may hear about this project from the community, as there was some
opposition to an earlier proposed asphalt art project at this location. The project also has very
strong support from the school and most surrounding neighbors. This memo provides the
background leading to the upcoming project and the process moving forward. Please let us
Docusign Envelope ID: F24EFA14-D069-4B16-BE33-8153EB4478F2
know if you have any questions, and we would be happy to meet with you and go on a site visit
if that is helpful.
BACKGROUND
In 2019 a 6-year-old Lopez Elementary School student was hit by a motorist and killed while
crossing the street at the intersection of Wabash St. and Benthaven St. This tragedy was one of
the key factors that led the City and Poudre School District to select Lopez Elementary for the
first School Transportation Safety Assessment. Both the assessment and the City’s Active
Modes Plan recommend improvements to the Wabash St./Benthaven St. intersection.
In 2023 the City proposed an asphalt art project at Wabash St./Benthaven St. Despite
significant support for the project from residents and the school community, it became clear
through the petitioning process (which required 100% approval from adjacent neighbors and
80% within 400 feet of the intersection), that the project would not achieve the required level of
support. The City informed the community that we would not move forward with the asphalt art
project. To address resident feedback and fulfill the recommendations of the School
Transportation Safety Assessment, the City has pivoted to constructing concrete curb
extensions at the intersection instead.
CONSTRUCTION DETAILS
The concrete curb extensions at Wabash St./Benthaven St. will be funded with School
Transportation Safety Assessments and Strategic Infrastructure for Youth funding, a continuing
enhancement offer funded in the 2023 – 2024 budget, and Pedestrian Community Capital
Improvement Program funding.
Utilities will complete stormwater drainage improvements in advance of the curb extension
construction. Utilities work is tentatively scheduled for Oct. 9-13. Benthaven St. will be closed to
through traffic north of Wabash St. during this time. No construction activity is anticipated from
Oct. 14-16, and the intersection will be fully open to traffic. Construction of the concrete curb
extensions is tentatively scheduled from Oct. 17-19. Parking near the intersection and
Docusign Envelope ID: F24EFA14-D069-4B16-BE33-8153EB4478F2
pedestrian traffic will be temporarily impacted during construction. Residents will be advised to
avoid the intersection and seek alternate routes if possible.
PUBLIC ENGAGEMENT
Staff will provide courtesy notification of the project to the community using the following
methods starting on Oct. 4:
• postcards mailed to all residents and property owners within ¼ mile,
• email to residents who expressed interest in the previous project proposed in 2023,
• emails to surrounding neighborhood associations,
• Lopez Elementary email to school community,
• “FC Moves in your neighborhood” sign board with project fact sheets near the
intersection, and
• FC Moves Current Projects website.
NEXT STEPS
Staff are happy to answer questions about the project, meet with Council, and go on site visits
to Wabash St./Benthaven St. Staff will provide updates to Council at the following points:
• in advance of construction to confirm timeline, and
• following construction to confirm implementation.
Docusign Envelope ID: F24EFA14-D069-4B16-BE33-8153EB4478F2
ATTACHMENT A
aerial image of concrete curb extensions at Oak St./Whedbee St.
pedestrians waiting to cross the street in a curb extension Oak St./Whedbee St.
Docusign Envelope ID: F24EFA14-D069-4B16-BE33-8153EB4478F2