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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSHIELDS & ELIZABETH STREETS UNDERPASS - SITE PLAN ADVISORY REVIEW - SPA160002 - REPORTS - CITY STAFFOffice of Facilities Management Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-6030 6030 Campus Delivery September 26, 2016 Jason Holland Current Planning Development Review Center 281 North College Avenue Fort Collins, CO 80524 RE: Shield Street Underpass Dear Jason, The Shields Street Underpass project is being submitted to the City of Fort Collins as a Voluntary SPAR. Colorado State University is submitting this project as Voluntary SPAR because both the City of Fort Collins and Colorado State University see the need for a public approval process for this highly impactful project. This a voluntary submittal, not a regular SPAR submittal because the project is one third contained on University property not subject to the SPAR process, and two thirds within right-of-way to be dedicated to the City of Fort Collins. Existing Site Context: The project is proposed for the south side of Elizabeth Street between the Campus West Shops building that contains Jim’s Wings on the west, and the CSU Woman’s NCAA Softball complex on the west. The east (CSU) side of the project is characterized by an existing parking lot, large sign announcing CSU athletics, and mature spruce trees. The west side of the project is contained within public right of way and the parking lot of Campus West Shops. The site context is dominated by the vehicular, bicycle, and pedestrian traffic navigating the intersection of Shields and Elizabeth streets. Prior Planning Studies and the requirement of the Stadium IGA: A grade separated facility and/or intersection improvements at the Shields and Elizabeth intersection are recommended in a number of City of Fort Collins adopted planning documents, including the West Central Area Plan, Bike Master Plan, and Arterial Intersection Prioritization Study. Likewise, the pertinent planning documents of Colorado State University suggest a grade separated improvement at this intersection. The Stadium IGA requires at grade improvements at Shields and Elizabeth and additional or ongoing study for a grade separated crossing between Bennett Court and Laurel Street. The Proposed Project: The intent of the project is to provide enhanced safety to pedestrians and bicyclists navigating the intersection and to mitigate general traffic safety issues, accessibility, and congestion. The project attempts to accomplish this intent by providing a minimum 12-foot-wide underpass and associated ramps for bicyclists and pedestrians under Shields Street. Public Process to Date: The public process May 25th neighborhood public meeting has been followed by two subsequent neighborhood open houses and two presentations to the Stadium Advisory Group (SAG). The Stadium Advisory Group is a requirement of the Stadium IGA; its members are jointly appointed by the City manager and President of CSU. The open houses and presentations have primarily been joint City of Fort Collins and Colorado State University efforts. The intent of the project is to provide enhanced safety to pedestrians and bicyclists navigating the intersection and to mitigate general traffic safety issues, accessibility, and congestion. The project attempts to accomplish this intent by providing a minimum 12-foot-wide underpass and associated ramps for bicyclists and pedestrians under Shields Street. Design Modifications resulting from public comment: The initial concept design for the project was the result of a Feasibility Study by a consultant to CSU, which addressed the IGA requirement for additional or ongoing study of a grade separated crossing between Bennett Court and Laurel. The Feasibility Study indicated that an underpass at Shields and Elizabeth could be feasibly built in such a way to overcome technical constraints, including groundwater, existing utility infrastructure, and the floodplain in which the project is suggested. The Feasibility Study also suggested a ramp and underpass alignment that addressed parking, and the movements of bicyclists, pedestrians, and vehicles through the intersection. This design had three primary technical design negatives based on feedback: 1. The amount of parking loss from the Campus West Shops. 2. A conflict zone between bicyclists, pedestrians, and vehicles at the primary vehicle access to Campus West from Elizabeth Street. 3. The loss of a full turning movement from Elizabeth Street to the Campus West Shops on the south side of the street. These and other concerns expressed in the public meetings and open houses have been mitigated in the design contained within this Voluntary SPAR submittal. The project addresses the Character, Location and Extent requirements of pertinent State Statute and City of Fort Collins SPAR requirements in the following ways: Character: The project will conform to the landscape, site furnishing, and lighting standards spelled out in the CSU Aesthetic Guidelines. Location: A grade separated facility at this location will provide benefit based on the vehicle traffic volumes and known conflicts between bicycles, vehicles, and pedestrians at this intersection. Extent: A grade separated facility will provide enhanced safety to pedestrians and bicyclists navigating the intersection and will mitigate general traffic safety issues, accessibility, and congestion. Sincerely, Fred Haberecht, Assistant Director, Landscape and Planning Facilities Services Center North Colorado State University Fort Collins, Colorado 80523-6030 970.491.0162 970.491.0105 - fax Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets September 9, 2016 SPAR Submittal for the Proposed Bicycle/Pedestrian Underpass at Shields and Elizabeth Streets Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets 2 Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets  Project Narrative  City Planning / Improvement Efforts To Date  Summary of Current Conditions / Challenges  CSU Planning / Improvement Efforts To Date  Prior Outreach on Preliminary Conceptual Design  Preliminary Concept Design v. Updated Concept Design  Updated Concept Site Plan Contents Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets 3 Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets The Need for a Grade-Separated Crossing  A grade-separated crossing at Shields and Elizabeth streets has been identified by both CSU and the City of Fort Collins as a long-standing community need through years of research, study and assessment.  An underpass would provide enhanced safety to pedestrians and bicyclists, and mitigate general traffic safety issues, accessibility and congestion.  Grade-separated improvements at the intersection would also help mitigate vehicular congestion amid continued and projected population growth and continued residential/business development along the Elizabeth Street corridor. Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets 4 Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets Benefits of Grade Separation  Improved intersection function and operations • Reduced delay  Increased safety  Reduced number of conflict points among modes • Reduction in overall delay reduces rear-end crashes • Eliminated crossing delay for bikes / pedestrians  Increased comfort and safety for active modes of travel  Gateway opportunity for CSU  Aesthetic improvements to area Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets 5 Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets Joint Project between City of Fort Collins and CSU An underpass at Shields Street and Elizabeth Street is proposed jointly by CSU and the City of Fort Collins in resolution to the stadium IGA requirements for: • Lane improvements at Elizabeth Street and Shields Street (5C, p. 8) • Grade-Separated Pedestrian and Bike Crossings or Other Improvements to Address Crossing Issues at Shields between Laurel Street and Bennett Road (5D, p. 9) IGA Dated April 13, 2015, Sections C and D Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets 6 City’s Efforts In the Area Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets 7 Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets City’s Past Efforts  West Central Neighborhoods Plan (1999)  Elizabeth Improvements Constructed (2004)  Transportation Master Plan (2011)  Pedestrian Plan (2011)  Arterial Intersection Prioritization Study (2012)  City’s Student Housing Action Plan (2013)  City of Fort Collins Bicycle Plan (2014)  West Central Area Plan (2015) Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets 8 Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets • Keep through traffic on arterials (minimize cut-through) • Enhance safety • Improve function and operations to minimize congestion, emissions • Need safe and reliable arterials that are easy to cross • Better accommodate crossings of arterials to and from CSU • Support bikes and pedestrians and separate modes where possible • Enhance the intersection to allow better accessibility to the surrounding businesses Recurring Themes for This Area Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets 9 Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets Recent Studies at Shields / Elizabeth  Bicycle Master Plan • Second Ranked Priority Intersection on 2020 Network  Student Housing Action Plan • Recommends grade separation at Shields/Elizabeth  Top Tier Project • Congestion, Safety, Multi Modal Conflicts  West Central Area Plan • Identified as “Short-Mid Term” Intersection Project • Reviewed potential for grade-separation Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets 10 Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets At Shields / West Elizabeth: • Vehicle congestion • Challenging for pedestrians / bikes to cross Shields • Long delays for bikes/pedestrians • More crashes than expected West Elizabeth Enhanced Travel Corridor Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets 11 Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets Study of Crossings along Shields Street Laurel Street Plum Street Elizabeth Street Between University Ave and South Drive Lake Street Between Springfield Dr and Pitkin Street 31 259 310 20-30 45 42 Location Bike/Ped Demand Cost Feasibility/Comments $ $$ $$$ $$ $$ $ Existing crossing accommodates need High demand - Not feasible as removal of structures is required Underpass feasible – Highest existing and future demand – Highest conflict area Low demand Existing crossing accommodates need At grade signalized crossing already funded Entering Vehicles 3,229 2,950 3,846 2,775 2,937 2,775 Peak Hour Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets 12 Current Conditions and Anticipated Challenges Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets 13 Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets • 50,000 vehicles per day enter the intersection (up 20% since 2009) •Generally heavy congestion on Shields •Northbound left turn at Level of Service F in peak hour (creates cut-through traffic in neighborhoods Shields at West Elizabeth - Vehicles Shields looking north Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets 14 Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets •Heaviest vehicular / bike / pedestrian corridor in City of Fort Collins •More than 2,000 bikes per day cross Shields (up 40% increase since 2009) • In a peak hour, 140 bikes and 120 pedestrians cross Shields Shields at West Elizabeth – Bikes / Pedestrians West Elizabeth looking west Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets 15 Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets 2010-2014 (five years) • 154 total crashes - 28 injury crashes (more than expected) • 3 bike crashes • 2 pedestrian crashes 2015 • 30 total crashes – 5 injury crashes • 3 bike crashes Shields at West Elizabeth – Safety Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets 16 Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets • Accessibility for Campus Community:  7,500 – 10,000 students currently live west of campus in this corridor  Improve access between campus and the surrounding businesses and neighborhoods on a daily basis and during events on campus (at Moby Arena, etc.) • Stadium Game Day:  In the peak hour after a game, more than 1,000 bikes/pedestrians will need to cross Shields at West Elizabeth  Concurrently with heavy vehicular volumes along Shields and in Moby parking lot Planning for the Future Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets 17 CSU’s Efforts In the Area Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets 18 Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets CSU Parking and Transportation Master Plan April 2014 At Shields / West Elizabeth: • Heavy bike and pedestrian volumes • Poor Levels of Service for vehicles • Recommends improvements including additional lanes The CSU Parking and Transportation Master Plan is incorporated into the CSU Physical Master Plan, approved by Board of Governors April 2014. Available online: https://www.fm.colostate.edu/files/forms/Parking_Transportation_Master_Plan_Study.pdf Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets 19 Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets Spring 2016 Feasibility Study Addressed:  What problems are we trying to solve?  Overpass vs. underpass  Floodplain  Best location for a grade-separated crossing (including Plum St. vs. Shields St.) Grade-Separated Crossing Feasibility Study Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets 20 Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets CSU is making a series of improvements as a commitment by the University to make campus more accessible and enhance safety, including: • Shields-Elizabeth pedestrian/bike underpass and intersection improvements • Prospect-Center pedestrian/bike underpass • Two enhanced crossings on Laurel St. (Sherwood St. and Washington Ave.) • Two enhanced railroad crossings on campus (Pitkin and Lake Streets) • Enhanced sidewalks on Lake Street and Whitcomb Street • Meridian and Pitkin low-stress bike network • ADA ramps on campus under study CSU’s Efforts to Make Campus More Accessible and Enhance Safety Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets 21 Prior Outreach on Preliminary Conceptual Design Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets 22 Proposed Underpass At Shields and West Elizabeth Streets Prior Outreach on Preliminary Concept Design • May 6: Campus West Shops tenant meeting (CSU staff) • May 25: Neighborhood public meeting (CSU and City staff) • June 13: Stadium Advisory Group presentation (CSU and City staff) • June 16: West Elizabeth Enhanced Corridor Open House (CSU staff attended to provide information on underpass) • August 8 – 15: Campus West Shops tenant meetings (CSU staff) Shields Street Underpass - Voluntary SPAR Submittal Existing Conditions 0’ 15’ 30’ 60’ NORTH 8 7 6 5 4 2 1 1 2 3 3 W. Elizabeth Street Shields Street Moby Arena Parking Lot Qdoba My Best Subway Friend’s Closet BT’s Imprintable’s Green & Gold Shop Waltzing Kangaroo Rocky Mountain Bagel Works FedEx OfÀ ce Aussie Tans Paradise Nails & Spa James Salon Jaws Sushi Rams Bazaar Jim’s Wings Campus West Shops Momo Lolo Coffee House Hot Wok Cafe Spoons Molly’s Salon Buy Back Games September 16, 2016 Shields Street Underpass - Voluntary SPAR Submittal Existing Conditions 4 5 6 7 8 September 16, 2016 Shields Street Underpass - Voluntary SPAR Submittal Design ReÀ nements 0’ 15’ 30’ 60’ NORTH Current Design Feasibility Study: What We Heard How to safely move westbound bikes across Elizabeth St. ConÁ ict zone between bikes/pedestrians at underpass and vehicles at Elizabeth St. driveway Access issues with potential Elizabeth St. median reconÀ gurations Parking impacts during and after construction Separate parking lot entry and underpass entrance to avoid conÁ ict zone between bikes/ pedestrians and vehicles at Elizabeth St. driveway Retain access with turning lanes in Elizabeth St. Provide safe route for westbound bikes across Elizabeth St. Less parking removed A A C C B B D D Feasibility Study Plan Presented: • May 6: Campus West Shops tenant meeting (CSU staff) • May 25: Neighborhood public meeting (CSU and City staff) • June 13: Stadium Advisory Group presentation (CSU and City staff) • June 16: West Elizabeth Enhanced Corridor Open House (CSU staff attended to provide information on underpass September 16, 2016 Shields Street Underpass - Voluntary SPAR Submittal Site Plan 0’ 15’ 30’ 60’ NORTH September 16, 2016 Shields Street Underpass - Voluntary SPAR Submittal Site Plan Diagram 0’ 15’ 30’ 60’ NORTH Enhanced pedestrian/ bike crossing At-grade sidewalk Ramp to underpass Stairs to underpass Underpass Stairs to underpass Ramp to underpass At-grade sidewalk Enhanced pedestrian area Existing crosswalk to remain, pending study of pedestrian behavior after underpass complete. September 16, 2016 Shields Street Underpass - Voluntary SPAR Submittal Site Plan Enlargement - West of Shields Street 0’ 10’ 20’ 40’ NORTH September 16, 2016 Shields Street Underpass - Voluntary SPAR Submittal Site Plan Enlargement - East of Shields Street 0’ 10’ 20’ 40’ NORTH September 16, 2016 Shields Street Underpass - Voluntary SPAR Submittal Site Plan with ROW Adjustments 0’ 15’ 30’ 60’ NORTH Existing Right-Of-Way Proposed Right-Of-Way Existing CSU Property September 16, 2016 Shields Underpass Final Review OVERALL SITE Shields Underpass Final Review CAMPUS WEST - EASTBOUND Planter pots Structural wall w/ color concrete, form liner relief, and scoring Native landscaping Handrail wall mounted where possible 80/20 buff blend column Crash-proof pedestrian railing Street name identifier 80/20 buff blend stone veneer Shields Underpass Final Review CAMPUS WEST - EASTBOUND Native landscaping Structural wall w/ color concrete, form liner relief, and scoring Crash-proof pedestrian railing 80/20 buff blend stone veneer Shields Underpass Final Review CAMPUS WEST - EASTBOUND Native landscaping Structural wall w/ color concrete, form liner relief, and scoring Crash-proof pedestrian railing 80/20 buff blend stone veneer Street name identifier Handrail wall mounted where possible Shields Underpass Final Review CAMPUS WEST - EASTBOUND Structural wall w/ color concrete, form liner relief, and scoring Native landscaping Handrail wall mounted where possible 80/20 buff blend stone veneer Crash-proof pedestrian railing Shields Underpass Final Review CSU CAMPUS - WESTBOUND Native landscaping Structural wall w/ color concrete, form liner relief, and scoring Crash-proof pedestrian railing Planter pots CSU logo detail 80/20 buff blend stone veneer CSU identifier Shields Underpass Final Review CSU CAMPUS - WESTBOUND Native landscaping Structural wall w/ color concrete, form liner relief, and scoring CSU logo detail 80/20 buff blend stone veneer CSU identifier Crash-proof pedestrian railing 80/20 buff blend column Shields Underpass Final Review CSU CAMPUS - WESTBOUND CSU logo detail 80/20 buff blend stone veneer CSU identifier 80/20 buff blend column Structural wall w/ color concrete, form liner relief, and scoring