2020.02.03 Council Agenda Item 5
Summary
Report from staff regarding the Blackstrap Road project.
A public comment period will not be included with this item.
ACTION: Council action is not anticipated.
Description
Background: This project was last discussed by the Council on September 23, 2019. Minutes of meeting.
The 2017-18 and 2018-19 Council Work Plans (action 52 and 17 respectively) directed staff with priority #1 to start a process to develop a plan for Blackstrap Road improvements. In addition, the 2016 Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan has a medium term recommendation to install a bicycle lane or designate a portion of Blackstrap Road for shared access (action 46).
Blackstrap Road runs for 6.3 miles from the Cumberland Town line to the Portland City line. This predominantly rural road is characterized by narrow shoulders, winding curves, and areas of poor pavement condition. The road is governed by multiple jurisdictions, including the Town, MaineDOT, and Maine Turnpike Authority.
The planning effort for Blackstrap Road was initiated in Fall 2017. TY Lin was hired to assist with this effort. A letter was sent to West Falmouth property owners informing them about plans to improve Blackstrap Road and inviting them to a Public Forum in April 2018. That meeting was attended by approximately 40 residents.
Soil borings were conducted by R.W. Gillespie to assess the extent of road work needed. A conceptual road design and cost estimate were prepared by TY Lin. The concept plan was reviewed by staff and MaineDOT. Staff fine-tuned financial data with its consultant and met again with MaineDOT staff in June 2019 to review a possible partnership approach. A second Public Forum was conducted on September 11, 2019, which was attended by approximately 40 residents.
Expenditures of this phase of the work are $10,000 for engineering and $10,701 for soils work. These expenses have been paid from the OceanView-Natural Gas TIF, which contains a road improvement list that includes Blackstrap Road.
Current Status:
Staff provided an update on the project at the September 23 Council meeting. At this meeting the Council requested that, besides the consultant/staff recommendation of a 28 feet wide road cross section (10.5 feet wide travel lanes and 3.5 feet paved shoulders), cost information be prepared for two additional options: (1) a 22 feet wide road cross section (10.5 feet travel lanes and no paved shoulders, and (2) a 32 feet road cross section (10.5 feet wide travel lanes with 5 feet wide paved shoulders).
Improvements costs for the various options are estimated by TY Lin as follows (see also attached memo):
- Option 1 - 22 feet cross section: 10.5 feet travel lanes, no shoulder = $3,758,832
- Option 2 - 28 feet cross section: 10.5 feet travel lanes, 3.5 feet shoulders = $6,916,118 (staff recommendation)
- Option 3 - 32 feet cross section: 10.5 feet travel lanes, 5 feet shoulders = $7,718,935
Staff is concerned that the cost estimate for option 3 (32 feet cross section) is too low.
Request
Staff requests that the Council determine which of the above improvement options should be pursued in the preliminary engineering phase.
Next Steps
For a future Council meeting (date TBD) and once a Council consensus has been reached on which improvement option should be pursued, staff recommends that a draft Council Resolution be developed. This resolution is proposed to authorize that a Preliminary Engineering Plan for the preferred option be developed (to be financed through the OceanView/Natural Gas TIF) and that design and financing discussions continue with MaineDOT.
Links:
Attachment:
- Cost Comparison of Road Cross Section Options
