AGENDA DATE: 6/1/2016
TITLE:
Title
Hydraulic Road and Barracks Road Sidewalk Project.
BODY
SUBJECT/PROPOSAL/REQUEST: Request to reduce the Hydraulic Road and Barracks Road Sidewalk Project scope
ITEM TYPE: Consent Action Item
STAFF CONTACT(S): Foley, Letteri, Kamptner, Abplanalp and Pohl
PRESENTER (S): N/A
LEGAL REVIEW: Yes
REVIEWED BY: Thomas C. Foley
BACKGROUND: The Hydraulic Road and Barracks Road Sidewalk Project originally included the construction of 1,700 linear feet of sidewalk on the north side of Hydraulic Road and three segments of sidewalk (Areas 1, 2, and 3) along the north side of Barracks Road totaling 1,650 linear feet. The acquisition of public rights-of-way and/or easements across 25 parcels is necessary to construct this project. Discussions and negotiations with the property owners have been in progress since February 2016.
STRATEGIC PLAN: Goal 2. Critical Infrastructure. Prioritize, plan and invest in critical infrastructure that responds to past and future changes and improves the capacity to serve community needs.
DISCUSSION: The purpose of this executive summary is to recommend eliminating the section of sidewalk on Barracks Road identified as Area 3 from the project scope. Area 3 is illustrated on the third page of the enclosed Project Maps (Attachment A). The scope to be removed consists of approximately 350 linear feet of new sidewalk from S. Bennington Road (SR 1407) eastward to the Barracks Road-250/29 Bypass west-bound ramp and a new crosswalk at the signalized Barracks Road-250/29 Bypass intersection. This area of sidewalk crosses the fronts of three parcels belonging to two owners (TMPs 060A0-00-0A-00200, 060D0-00-0A-00300, 060D0-00-0A-00400).
Staff provides the following justification for eliminating Area 3 from the project:
1) The construction of a sidewalk in this location would require significant utility relocations resulting in the removal of mature evergreen trees along the frontage of these properties that provide visual screening from the road. The Owners object to the proposed sidewalk because of these buffer impacts and have stated they do not support the project.
2) Area 2 includes the construction of a sidewalk along Barracks Road (SR 654) from the Canterbury Hills neighborhood’s Westminster Road to the signal, crosswalk and sidewalk improvements at the Georgetown Road/Barracks Road intersection; thereby providing pedestrian connections to the Out of Bounds development and across Barracks Road.
3) S. Bennington Drive was recently extended to the Out of Bounds development and provided a second connection to the Canterbury Hills neighborhood and access to the signal and crosswalk at Georgetown Road (SR 656).
4) In discussions with VDOT staff, County staff learned that there is a potential future project to construct a turn lane to accommodate right-hand turns from Barracks Road onto the 250/29 Bypass west-bound ramp. If a future turn lane is constructed, the sidewalk proposed with this project would need to be demolished.
However, a sidewalk could be included with that project. Furthermore, staff and the Jack Jouett District Supervisor discussed these issues and agreed that Area 3 is not a critical connection for this project. VDOT reviewed and approved this change to the project scope with the condition that the Board approve the change.
BUDGET IMPACT: The funds for this project have been approved and appropriated. Approval of a reduction to the project scope would reduce the current estimated cost of this project; however the amount of savings will not be known until the design and right-of-way/easement acquisitions have been completed and the construction contract has been awarded.
RECOMMENDATION:
Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Board authorize staff to reduce the project scope by eliminating the Area 3 improvements along Barracks Road (SR 654) from S. Bennington Drive (SR 1407) eastward to the Barracks Road-250/29 Bypass intersection.
ATTACHMENTS:
A - Project Maps