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CONSIDERATION OF ACCEPTANCE OF TEMPORARY EASEMENT NO. E-1314-44, A TEMPORARY CONSTRUCTION EASEMENT FROM FAIRWAY OUTDOOR ADVERTISING, L.L.C., IN THE AMOUNT OF $8,265, FOR THE WEST LINDSEY STREET WIDENING PROJECT FROM 24TH AVENUE S.W. TO BERRY ROAD.
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BACKGROUND: On November 22, 2011, the Norman City Council approved Programming Resolution R-1112-63 requesting federal funds for the West Lindsey Street Improvements. This resolution states the City’s commitment to adhere to the terms and conditions of a federally funded project. Through the Association of Central Oklahoma Governments (ACOG,) the Oklahoma Department of Transportation (ODOT) agrees to provide 80% of the cost, up to $9.7 million, and administer the construction contract. In order to receive the federal funding, the City of Norman is required to enter into an agreement with ODOT to complete the design, acquire all necessary rights-of-way and relocate utilities and encroachments at 100% the City’s cost and pay the remaining 20% of construction costs.
On August 28, 2012, the citizens of Norman voted in favor of a Bond Election to finance the local share of eight transportation/storm water improvement projects. One of the eight projects was the West Lindsey Street Improvement Project.
The roadway portion of the project includes transportation and aesthetic improvements to West Lindsey Street. The West Lindsey Street corridor between Interstate 35 (I-35) and Berry Road is the most congested corridor in the Oklahoma City metropolitan area. This section of West Lindsey Street has a traffic accident rate three (3) times the national average for similar urban arterial streets.
Proposed improvements for the roadway project include:
1. Widening West Lindsey Street from 3 lanes to 4 lanes with additional lanes at intersections
2. New bridge over Imhoff Creek
3. Continuous sidewalks on both sides of the street
4. Access management to adjacent properties
5. Multi-modal improvements including on-street bicycle lanes
6. Aesthetic enhancements including decorative pavement, landscaping and roadway lighting
7. Underground utilities
8. Improved accessibility for disabled individuals
9. Storm water improvements
The storm water portion of the project addresses the flooding problems along West Lindsey Street, most notably at the Lindsey Street and McGee Drive intersection. The design will include conveying storm water from a 3.4 square mile watershed to an underground pipeline which will discharge directly to the Canadian River.
DISCUSSION: The City must acquire nine (9) easements along the I-35 Corridor between Lindsey Street and State Highway No. 9 for the drainage portion of the West Lindsey Street Improvement Project. Currently, staff has secured all nine (9) easements. Staff requested donations prior to making any offers of fair market value. The attached table provides the details of each easement. Also a map is attached providing the location of each easement necessary for the project. Funds are available in Lindsey Widening: 24th-Berry, Right-of-Way (Account 050-9552-431.60-01, Project BP0189). Council previously accepted Easement Nos. 3, 5, 6, 9 and 10. All easements must be acquired by July 1, 2014 in order to fulfill the current ODOT project schedule.
Parcel No. 7 is being acquired as a temporary construction easement for the purpose of constructing the drainage box from Lindsey Street to the Canadian River.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends Easement E-1314-44 be accepted and payment be authorized and where appropriate, the filing be directed thereof.