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CONTRACT NO. K-1415-77: AN AGREEMENT BY AND BETWEEN THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA; THE CITY OF MOORE, OKLAHOMA, AND THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION WITH EACH CITY'S SHARE BEING $75.000 FOR THE INTERSTATE 35 CORRIDOR TRAFFIC STUDY FROM 4TH STREET IN MOORE TO TECUMSEH ROAD IN NORMAN.
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BACKGROUND: The Interstate 35 and Indian Hills Road interchange in north central Norman was constructed in the 1960s by the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT). It is configured as a rural interchange designed to carry low volumes of traffic. It is functionally obsolete and deficient for the current and projected traffic volumes, and for the anticipated land uses in the general vicinity. It is also the only original interchange in the Oklahoma City area that has not been redesigned or replaced.
The City of Norman is currently experiencing significant development pressure in the general vicinity. During the last 36 months, Council approved nine preliminary plats for development in the area. Combined, these plats will bring 1,591 residential lots, 708 apartment units, 655,800 square feet of gross floor commercial space, 123,500 square feet of gross floor office space, a 600-student elementary school, an 800-seat church sanctuary and a 200-bed assisted living center. These developments are capable of generating an additional 51,231 trips per day, with a significant portion using the Indian Hills Road interchange. It is reasonable to expect the current traffic volume using the Indian Hills Road bridge to quadruple over the next decade, which will require a four-lane bridge with sidewalks and the signalization of the Interstate 35 off ramp intersections with Indian Hills Road. The attached map provides a summary of the recent development activity.
DISCUSSION: In 2012/2013, ODOT collaborated with the City of Norman to repair the bridge deck on Indian Hills Road over I-35. According to State Statutes, the local jurisdiction (City of Norman) is responsible for maintenance of the local street (Indian Hills Road) and the associated bridge deck while ODOT is responsible for maintenance of the bridge sub-structure and the interstate highway. The total cost of the bridge repairs was $587,907.23 while the City's share was $211,220.90. The useful life of the bridge was extended by 8-10 years by virtue of this project. To address the ultimate replacement of the Indian Hills Road Bridge over I-35, the ODOT 8-Year Construction Program includes an allocation of $9,663,500 in Federal Fiscal Year 2017-2020 to replace the bridge.
In 2014, in order to accommodate the future traffic anticipated in the area, City staff began to meet with ODOT officials to explore the potential redesign and replacement of the interchange. Representatives from the City of Moore joined in the dialog motivated by the severe recurring congestion problem that their city is currently experiencing at the SE 19th Street interchange. Those discussions resulted in ODOT's commitment to conduct a comprehensive corridor study of I-35, between Tecumseh Road in Norman and SE 4th Street in Moore, to identify corridor deficiencies and recommend improvements. The study will evaluate the requirements for a rebuilt interchange on I-35 at Indian Hills Road. The City of Moore is interested in other improvements on I-35 as well. A map is attached depicting the boundaries of the study area.
The cost of the study will not exceed $300,000 and State officials have committed to fund 50% of the cost. ODOT officials are asking that the Cities of Moore and Norman participate by funding the remaining 50%, or $75,000 each. To formalize this funding arrangement, ODOT has prepared Contract No. K-1415-77 between their agency and the two cities. The contract has been reviewed and approved by the City Attorney. The Moore City Council will consider execution of the contract after the contract is executed by the Norman City Council.
The City's cost share for the study is included in the current Capital Improvement Budget ($75,000 in Account 050-9079-431.61-01 - I-35 and Indian Hills Road Interchange Study).
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends approval of Contract No. K-1415-77 between the City of Norman, the City of Moore and the Oklahoma Department of Transportation, for the I-35 Corridor Traffic Study, between Tecumseh Road and SE 4th Street in Moore.