DATE: January 29, 2016
TO: Board of Mayor and Aldermen
FROM: Eric Stuckey, City Administrator
Paul Holzen, Director of Engineering
Jonathan Marston, Staff Engineer III
SUBJECT:
title
Discussion concerning the SR96 East Sidewalk Project (Pinkerton Park to Mack Hatcher Parkway Project)
body
Purpose
The purpose of this memorandum is to provide information to the Franklin Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BOMA) concerning the SR96 East Sidewalk Project, from Pinkerton Park to Mack Hatcher Parkway.
Background
As part of Resolution 2014-13, A Resolution to Adopt the Funding Plan for the FYI 2014-2018 CIP (Capital Investment Program), the BOMA approved $550,300 for a sidewalk project along Murfreesboro Road (SR-96), from Pinkerton Park to Mack Hatcher Parkway (SR-397). On February 19, 2015 and March 4, 2015, public hearings were held to obtain feedback from the local residents and the general public. The project was well supported by the residents with the majority of people in favor of the project. The main takeaways from those meetings were:
1) Request to provide accommodation for bicycles.
2) Request to add streetscape elements to the project.
After discussing these issues with the BOMA, it was determined to revise the project from a five (5) foot sidewalk to a ten (10) foot multi-use trail. Design of the project with curb and gutter versus an open ditch was also discussed. Ultimately, due to the required relocation of multiple overhead utilities with a curb and gutter section, the BOMA decided to proceed with an open ditch design. These changes increased the project cost to approximately $1,360,000. Staff was not directed to add bike lanes and streetscape elements to the project.
On January 27, 2016 a third public meeting was held to present and to obtain additional feedback on the revised final design. This meeting was well attended, with many questions from the public. The response from the public was split between a five (5) foot sidewalk and the ten (10) foot multi-use trail. Property owners, who would be directly impacted by project construction, generally favored the five (5) foot sidewalk. There were also requests for a limited streetscape elements (e.g. decorative lighting) with the project. City staff is seeking BOMA direction on this project. Any major changes to the design could result in a six (6) month delay to the project. Below is a project schedule, assuming the BOMA approves the current project, a ten (10) foot multi-use trail with open ditch drainage.
Project Schedule
April 2016 Start Right-of-Way (ROW) Acquisition
August 2016 Finalize ROW Acquisition
September 2016 Advertise Bids
November 2016 BOMA to award Bids
Spring 2017 Start Construction (Estimated at 4 Months)
Recommendation
The purpose of this item is to follow-up on the recent public meeting regarding the 96 East Sidewalk/Multi-use Trail project. Staff seeks direction from the Board regarding any modification to the earlier decision to construct a 10-foot multi-use path along 96 East from Pinkerton Park to Mack Hatcher Parkway.