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TEMPORARY EASEMENT NO. E-1415-3: A TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT IN THE AMOUNT OF $2,100 FROM THE HUNTINGTON INVESTMENT CORPORATION FOR THE ALAMEDA STREET AND FINDLAY AVENUE TRAFFIC SIGNAL PROJECT AND BUDGET APPROPRIATION FROM THE CAPITAL FUND BALANCE.
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BACKGROUND: The 2012 - Moving Ahead for Progress in the 21st Century (MAP-21) federal transportation funding bill allocates approximately $21 Million in Federal funds per year for the implementation of eligible transportation improvements in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. New traffic signals along federal functionally classified roads are eligible for 100% federal funding.
On November 22, 2011, City Council adopted Resolution No. R-1112-71 requesting federal funds for the construction of the new traffic signal and its interconnection to signals along Alameda Street between Porter Avenue/Classen Boulevard and 12th Avenue East. The project was submitted to the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG) with a request to include it in the Regional Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP). This request was approved in June of 2013 by both the Intermodal Technical and Policy Committees of ACOG. Transportation federal safety funds ($265,200) to pay for 100% of the construction costs have been secured in Federal Fiscal Year 2014.
Alameda Street, from Porter Avenue/Classen Boulevard to 12th Avenue East, was widened to five lanes in 1996, with the continuous middle lane provided for left turn maneuvers. Due to ever increasing traffic volumes and the resulting increase of accidents, the intersection of Alameda Street and Findlay Avenue has recently become eligible for a traffic signal in accordance with the City’s traffic ordinance. The intersection has public streets on the west, north and east sides, and three commercial driveways not aligned with the intersection on the south side. An aerial photo of this area is included in Attachment No. 1.
On February 6, 2013, City Council approved Contract No. K-1213-164 with Cardinal Engineering of Norman, Oklahoma, for the design of the project and agreed to pay $36,000 for this service.
On June 24, 2014, City Council approved the Right-of-Way, Public Utility and Encroachment Agreement with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation for the Alameda Street and Findlay Avenue Traffic Signal project (Contract K-1314-145), which addresses the responsibilities of both the City and ODOT in matters related to the acquisition of the three temporary right-of-way easements needed for the construction of the project, the relocation of public utilities and the removal of encroachments.
Installation of the new traffic signal is anticipated to begin in the spring of 2015 and be completed by the end of July of 2015. The new traffic signal and associated pedestrian controls and facilities (e.g., pedestrian push buttons, sidewalks, wheel chair ramps and crosswalks) will be fully accessible to disabled users.
DISCUSSION: The City must acquire three temporary construction easements for the relocation of driveways. Staff requested donations prior to making any offers of fair market value. The attached table provides the details of each easement. Also a location map is provided depicting the location of each easement.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends acceptance of Easement No. E-1415-3 by City Council. It is further recommended that staff be authorized to issue payment to the property owner if applicable, and direct the filing of the easement.
Staff also recommends that Council authorize an appropriation from the Capital Fund Balance (050-0000-253.20-00) in the amount of $2,100 to Alameda and Findlay Avenue Traffic Signal, Right-of-Way (account 050-9076-431.60-01; project TR0079) to compensate the property owner for the temporary construction right-of-way.