SUBJECT: CONSENT AGENDA
A Resolution authorizing the Director of Public Works to execute a Cooperative Agreement with Boulder County for the State Highway 287 and Isabelle Road (AKA Erie Parkway) Intersection Improvements
Title
Body
DEPARTMENT: Public Works
PRESENTER: Russell Pennington, Deputy Public Works Director
Wendi Palmer, Civil Engineer
FISCAL INFORMATION:
Cost as Recommended: $0
Balance Available: $0
Budget Line Item Number: N/A
New Appropriation Required: No
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Approving the Resolution to authorize the Director of Public Works to execute a Cooperative Agreement with Boulder County for the State Highway 278 and Isabell Road Intersection Improvements.
Recommendation
End
SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND OF SUBJECT MATTER:
As reported to the Board of Trustees in December, 2016, the intersection of State Highway 287 (SH 287) and Isabelle Rd (AKA Erie Parkway) is within the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT) Region 4. CDOT completed an Intersection Priority Study for Region 4 in September 2016. This intersection ranked number 4 for needing improvements to address safety and operational concerns.
This study included a recommendation to widen the east and west approaches of Isabelle to provide a full let-turn lane, a through lane, a through/right-turn lane, and bikeable shoulders. The cost estimate for this improvement was $3,890,000. In the event funding is not available for the desired improvements, the study also included a secondary, lower cost, recommendation that included minimal widening to accommodate left and right turn storage. The cost estimate for this improvement was $460,000.
The Town of Erie is currently conducting a Corridor Study for Erie Parkway from SH 287 to the I-25 interchange. Feldberg Holt, Ullevig (FHU) the Town’s consultant performing this study was asked to look at the SH 287 intersection and the CDOT recommendations. The recommendations from FHU were to include the recommendations from CDOT and to include double left turns to the west bound and south bound traffic.
On September 28, 2016, CDOT sent out a notice soliciting applications for Federal Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) project funds for fiscal years (FY) 2018-2021. Applications were due November 30, 2016.
Town Staff has shared information from the Erie Parkway Study and met with both Boulder County and CDOT regarding this intersection. This intersection is within Boulder County jurisdiction and Boulder County has submitted an application for funding to improve this intersection.
The configuration that Boulder County has proposed includes improved right turn and left turns from Isabelle onto SH 287, and bikeable shoulders. Although this improves the safety of the intersection and moderately improved the operation, it does not include the full improvements recommended by CDOT or FHU.
Since our last report on this topic in December, Staff has worked with Boulder County. Boulder County has agreed to add the additional westbound left turn lane into the construction plans if the Town of Erie will pledge money towards the increase in construction cost. This lane addition will match the recommendation from FHU. Boulder County has memorialized this agreement in the attached Cooperative Agreement. If CDOT funds improvements at this intersection, this agreement states that the Town of Erie and Boulder County will work towards executing an IGA towards the improvements. The Town will pledge up to $300,000 for the construction of the additional left turn lane and additional signal costs. This money will not be spent until approximately 2019 so it can be budgeted for in a future year’s budget.
Town Staff is recommending that the Board of Trustees approve a resolution to authorize the Director of Public Works to execute and enter into the Cooperative Agreement with Boulder County.
ATTACHMENTS:
a. Boulder County Cooperative Agreement