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School, New Middle, Traffic lig D~~~E ~~~ MEMORANDUM June 2, 2004 TO: > - ... ~ è;) The Honorable Mayor and City Council Members FROM: Michael C. Van Milligen, City Manager SUBJECT: New Middle School I met with Dubuque Community School District Board President Doug Horstmann, Dubuque Community School District Superintendent John Burgart and Executive Director of Finance and Business Services Ron Holm, to discuss their May 12, 2004 letter about the construction of the new Middle School. I advised them that I would be willing to recommend that the City make a similar arrangement as occurred when the traffic lights were installed in front of Hempstead High School. The City would do the design and inspections and the School District would pay for the lights and the related contractor work. This would save the School District up to $12,000, but would cost the City only a few thousand dollars. The City Engineering Department is still analyzing the traffic data submitted by IIW Engineers on behalf of the School District. Should the traffic lights be warranted, I respectfully request Mayor and City Council approval to do the design and inspection work in partnership with the School District. (~JA~ ~ Mfchael C. Van Milligen " MCVM/jh Attachment cc: Barry Lindahl, Corporation Counsel Cindy Steinhauser, Assistant City Manager Gus Psihoyos, Acting Public Works Director/City Engineer '? § c.,~ ? '?? en DO CC .' /}c:/~ ~~¿? ~¥~. Dubuque Community Schools . 01, ¡ ì A;W: 2 Ron Holm, CPA (Inactive) Executive Director of Finance and Business Services !A Phon~ 563D8~5110 Fax: 563/588-8377 C;,,:.:: ;'S DEice Learning. Leading-Living 2300 Chaney Road Dubuque, Iowa 52001-3095 . rholm@dubuque.k12.ia.us May 12, 2004 Honorable Mayor Ten-ence M. Duggan and Members of the City Council City of Dubuque City Hall 50 West 13th Street Dubuque, Iowa 52001-4845 Dear Mayor Duggan and Members of the City Council: RE: Street Improvements at New Middle School Site on Radford Road Construction has started on Dubuque's new middle schooL Ground is being moved, concrete is being laid and soon walls and steel girders will appear. This is an exciting time for students because this is the first totally new school building constructed in Dubuque in the last 31 years. The building will house approximately 1,100 students and its 800-seat auditorium and athletic fields will host both school and non-school eventa. The school will be located at 2001 Radford Road with its main entrance just west of Radford Court. For now, the main entrance will service only the new middle school, but in the future, the site may also include a 400-student elementary schooL Clearly this educational complex will increase vehicle and pedestrian traffic, and possibly business activity, on Radford Road. Careful and thoughtful improvement planning at the Radford Road/Radford Court intersection is critical for safe and efficient movement of students and citizens. A traffic signal may need to be installed and it is clear that additional turning lanes will be required. Failure to install these improvements will result in citizen complaints, traffic delays and possibly more accidents. These conditions will result in the need for additional policing and other costs associated with traffic congestion. It is clear that both the District and the City have an interest in providing street improvements that facilitate a safe and efficient traffic and pedestrian flow. The District will be spending approximately $30 million to build and equip the new middle schooL This amount is exclusive of costs needed to improve the Radford Court/Radford Road intersection. Total costs of those improvements are estimated to be approximately $150,000, of which one-half is attributable to a new traffic signal. Both the signal and street improvements will be located on City property. May 12, 2004 Page 2 The District believes it is in our common interest to maintain and improve public safety on Radford Road. That considered, we also believe that a cost sharing of those improvements is appropriate. We ask that the City share in the cost of the intersection improvements on a 50-50 basis. This is in the best interest of both Dubuque citizens and students. We look forward to discussing this with you. Sincerely, ~J~ Douglas J. Horstmann Board President ~ f-~~- John L. Burgart Superintendent of Schools jrns c: Michael VanMilligan, City Manager 1- 29. """ Mr. Ron Holm Dubuque Community School District 2300 Chaney Road Dubuque, IA 52001-3095 Re: Dubuque Middle School, Radford Road Access Proposal for Entrance and Traffic Signal Design Engineering Services IIW Project No. 03138-11 Dear Mr. Holm, IIW Engineers & Surveyors, P.c. appreciates the opportunity to submit this proposal for a design of the site access to Radford Road and design of the traffic signals at the proposed intersection. We are still waiting for a response ITom the City of Dubuque to the site impact traffic study submitted February 16, 2004. You also requested a preliminary cost estimate for the construction of the site access and the traffic signals. It should be noted that construction cost estimates are no more than estimates reflecting the Engineer's best judgment of construction costs at the time the estimate is made and that actual construction costs based upon the bids received will vary. The Owner should be aware that the construction costs are subject to factors such as supply and demand, inflation and availability oflabor, which are beyond the control ofthe Engineer. The Engineer cannot, therefore, guarantee the accuracy of estimates of construction costs. The total construction cost of the intersection, traffic signals, and site access is estimated to be $145,000. The traffic signal installation component is $73,000 of that cost. These costs do not including any engineering services during design or construction. IIW Engineers & Surveyors, P.C. has had discussions with the City of Dubuque to determine what components would be required as a part of the signal installation since the signal will be installed on a city street. In our opinion, one of the requirements, a battery back-up, would not be critical at this location. The battery back-up allows the signal to continue to function even if power is interrupted and has a cost of $2850. Scope of Professional Services The professional services listed below will be provided by, or under the direct personal supervision of, a Professional Engineer licensed to practice in the State ofIowa. Intersection Design and Bidding 1. Perform geometric design of the intersection. Existing survey data ITom previous projects will be utilized for this design. 2. Perform traffic signal design including layout in conformance with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices and conformance with City of Dubuque Specifications. 3. Prepare detailed final plans and specifications for construction of the project. These items would include title sheet, quantities, typical sections, details, storm sewer modifications, pavement grades, sidewalk design, traffic signal design, pavement marking I I W Engineers & Surveyors. P.C. Hazel Geeen, WI Dubuque. IA . INTEGRITY. EXPERTISE. SOLUTIONS. ~ Denni, F. Waugh. PEISE Chad" A. Cate. PE G"'Y D. Sejkom. PE Michael A. Jan>en. PEISE Ronald A. Balm". PEISE' John M. Teanme'- pes TIm",hy J. T"nel, PE John F. W~d,nid". PE Julie P. Neebel. PE Jam" P. Kaune. PE Thorn", J. 0"", pes Wear A. Child",. pes Geoffry T. Blandin, PE 'L","~dA"hi'~' IL. WI. "N. so Ci,iI Engin",ing Stru"mal Engineering Envimnmemal Engineering Municipal Engine"ing Tean,ponation Engineering Acehite"u,,1 Engineering Lood Sueveying Quality Cumeo; Te"ing Geotechni,,1 Engineering 4155 Penn'ylvaniaAvenue Dubuque, Iowa 52002-2628 563.556.2464 563.556.7811 fax www.iiwen",.oom Mr. Ron Holm Dubuque Community Middle School Radford Road Access and Traffic Signal Design Proposal April 29, 2004 Page 2 of5 and signing details and technical provisions necessary to illustrate and define the scope of work to be performed by the Contractor on the project. 4. Coordination with the City to verify the installation is acceptable. 5. Prepare the specifications including the bidding and contract documents for bidding to include as a minimum: Bid opening date Number of days Bid must be held Bid, Performance and Payment Bond/Security Requirements . Contractor Insurance Requirements . Completion date ifliquidated damages occur for late completion . Terms of Payment to Contractor Contract Compliance Requirements Schedule of quantities/materiallist and Unit Costs . Material specifications 6. Meet with the Owner's representative to review detailed drawings, specifications, and contract and bidding documents. 7. Notify interested and qualified contractors and bulletins of the time and date of the receipt of bids and the general nature of the project. 8. Provide copies of drawings, specifications, and contract and bidding documents to interested and qualified contractors, equipment and material suppliers and other interested parties. The Engineer may charge those requesting documents a reasonable cost therefore. 9. Answering questions ITom contractors and suppliers as necessary; evaluating and determining acceptability of materials as may be proposed by contractors and suppliers. 10. Issue addenda as necessary. 11. Attend bid opening. 12. Assist the Owner in evaluating the bids by: . Reviewing bids for completeness and accuracy . Tabulating bids received Investigating qualifications of contractors Make recommendation for award Meet with the Owner's representative to review detailed drawings, specifications, and contract and bidding documents. 13. Provide detailed plans for the use of the Owner. Services Dnring Construction 14. Prepare contract documents on behalf of the School District with the selected bidder. 15. Attend and conduct preconstruction conference (ifneeded). 16. Provide construction staking for use by contractor 17. Review all shop drawings of traffic signal elements contained in the project 18. Periodically visit the project site and answer questions during construction. The Engineer shall visit the site at intervals appropriate to the stage of construction to become generally familiar with the progress and quality of the Mr. Ron Holm Dubuque Community Middle School Radford Road Access and Traffic Signal Design Proposal April 29, 2004 Page 3 of5 work completed and to determine in general if the work is being performed in a manner indicating that the work when completed will be in accordance with the Contract Documents 19. The Engineer shall review the Contractor's applications for payment and supporting data, determine the amount owed to the Contractor(s) and approve, in writing, payment in such amounts. By approving an application for payment, the Engineer shall not be deemed to have represented that he has made any examination to determine how or for what purposes any contractor has used the moneys paid on account of the Contract Price. 21. Conduct an inspection to determine if the project is substantially complete and a fmal inspection to determine if the project has been completed in accordance with the Contract Documents and if the Contractor has fulfilled all of their obligations thereunder so that the Engineer may approve, in writing, final payment to the Contractor. 22. The Engineer will provide interpretation of the drawings and specifications but the Engineer will not be responsible for the acts or omissions of any contractor, any subcontractor, or any of the Contractor(s)' or subcontractor(s)' agents or employees or any other person performing any of the work under the construction contract. Compensation for Professional Services Compensation for the scope of professional s~as Intersection Design and Bidding: items I - 13 above will be completed for a lump sum fee ~ Compensation for the scope of professional services listed as Services Construction items 14- 22 above will he billed at hourly rates with an estimated Not-to-Exceed fee $4,500.0 This fee is an estimated Not-to- Exceed because at the meeting with the City of Dubuque on Fe 11 , the City indicated they might be able to provide inspection services during construction since they will be taking over operations of the traffic signal. Due to this the level of effort required for Service during Construction is not known at this time and only actual hours spent on the project will be charged. This proposal is valid for 30 days ITom the date it was issued. If the services and fees defined in this proposal are acceptable, please review the attached General Terms and Conditions, and return one signed copy to our office. If you have any questions, or require further assistance, please feel ITee to contact our office. Thank you for allowing IIW Engineers and Surveyors, P.C. to submit this proposal for engineering services. Sincerely, nw Engineers and Surveyors, P.C. ~~ Vice President Director of Structural Engineering r~ Julie Neebel, P.E. Project Manager Transportation Engineer II ~II ; !I !!I, ~ g ~ II t Ii II' ¡ =, o¡ i Ii III ~ I~ £:] « 0 a:: £:] a:: 0 I.L a « a:: ~I'" I .~ NORTH GRAPHIC SCALE . 0 40 80 I I ! . I" = 40' DRAWING MAY HAVE BEEN REDUCED +- - RADFORD COURT r' PROPOSED LANE CONFtGUATION RADFORD ROAD/RADFORD COURT INTERSECTION II'IJII IIW I1NGlNIWRS & liiio8 SURVßYORS. P.C. <> .. "- .. '" "- .. <> <> .. .... <> .. <> ~ œ;¡ <> <> .. "- g .. I May 18,2004 Mr. Bill Schlickman Engineering Department City of Dubuque 50 W 13th Street Dubuque, IA 52003 (C~r{1 Re: Dubuque Community Middle Scbool Traffic Study Comments IIW Project No: 03138 Dear Bill: This letter is in response to some of the concerns you raised in an e-mail on 5-6-04 about the traffic impact study. Although based on your analysis I have modified some of the traffic projection numbers, the ultimate result of the study indicating a traffic signal warrant is met, remains the same. The School District has a concern about the safety of the children crossing Radford Road. The School District believes having a traffic/pedestrian activated traffic signal installed at the intersection would allow for the safer crossing of students, as well as safer ingress and egress of vehicles to and ITom the site. In order to allow you to more easily review this response, I have tried to categorize your concems. Justification for using the Four-Honr Vehicnlar Volnme Warrant I think all of us agree that it would be best to use the Peak-Hour Volume, Pedestrian Volume, or School Crossing Warrant. For the Peak-Hour Volume warrant, the traffic volume standpoint these warrants are met, especially if the hour used for the warrant included all the traffic generated by the school which I have split between two hours to meet the Four-Hour Vehicular Volume Warrant. As I recall, in our phone conversation you concurred the volume portion of the Peak-Hour Volume was met. However, for all the warrants which are typically applied in this situation, delay information is required and will not be available until the intersection is built and traffic/pedestrians begin to use it. The MUTCD acknowledges "at a location that is under development or construction and where it is not possible to obtain a traffic count that would represent future traffic conditions, hourly volumes should be estimated as part of an engineering study for comparison with traffic signal warrants". Without being able to use any of the typical warrants, I looked to the next warrant, the Four-Hour Vehicular Volume Warrant. In the MUTCD, support for the use of the four hour warrant says: "The Four-Hour Vehicular Volume signal warrant conditions are intended to be applied where the volume of intersecting traffic is the principal reason to consider installing a traffic control signal". At this location the volume of intersection traffic (those going to and ITom the site using the intersection) is one of the principal reasons to consider the signal. Note in the MUTCD the term traffic is defmed as pedestrians, bicyclist and vehicles. Also section 4C.Ol on page 4C-2 of the 2000 MUTCD says Engineering Study data may include the following: "B. Vehicular volumes for each traffic movement ITom each approach, classified by vehicle type during each 15 minute period of the 2 hours in the morning and 2 hours in the afternoon during which total traffic entering the intersection is the greatest." The MUTCD does not say these hours need to be at even "O'clocks" and we choose to assume that the distribution of entering and departing traffic from the school site was split over the two hours (the last 15 minutes of the first hour, and the first 15 minutes of the IlW Engineers & Surveyors. P.C. Dubuqu<. IA H"d G'een. WI . ¡"iTECRITY. EXPERTISE. SOLUTIO'S 11m Denni, F. W"gh. PEiSE Ch,,", A. C",. PE G", D. S<jkom. PE Mi,h,d .^. Jon;en. PEiSE Ronald A. Balm". PEiSE' John \t. Tmnm". PLS Timothy J. Tmno!. PE John F. Wand,nid". PE Julie P Neebel. PE Jam" P. Kaune. PE Thorn", J. O"e,. PLS W"yA.ChiJde<S.PLS Geoff" T. BI,ndin. PE 'Ü""OÙ.^""'""ILWI."'.'D Civil Engin",ing Strootu,,1 Engineering Envimomèn,,1 Engineering Munidp'! Engineering T"""pocurion Engineering ""chitwu,,,! Engin",ing Lond Sumying Quality Comm! Tè"ing Geo"chnical Engin",ing "155 Peon., Iv,ni, A,eo", Duhuq". !O'." 5'(JO'-'6" 563.556.'"6-> 563.556.7811 ta.' "',w.tiweog,.com Mr. Bill SchUckman Middle School Site Impact Traffic Study May 18, 2004 Page 2 of3 second hour in each the morning and the evening). I have not found anything in the MUTCD that suggests the traffic needs to be evenly distributed for the entire two hours. Proposed Traffic Count Volumes You are correct that the volumes presented in the report should be adjusted when I divide them over a two hour time period for the four hour warrant. The revised volumes in the following table reflect revisions based on your comments. The revised volumes are plotted on the attached Figure 4C-2. As you can see the plotted points still fall above the one lane, one lane approach line, thereby meeting the traffic signal warrant. PROPOSED TRAFFIC COUNT (After OpeninQ of Middle School) NB NB NB SB SB SB EB EB WB WB í TIME THROUGH RIGHT LEFT THROUGH RIGHT LEFT RIGHf LEFT RIGHT LEFT 6:45 A.M.TO 7:45 A.M. 61 10 69 228 131 3 31 94 1 4 ' 7:45 AM.TO 8:45 AM. 76 9 69 194 131 4 31 94 0 6 I 1:45 P.M. TO 2:45 P.M. 119 14 31 136 94 9 70 132 18 17 2:45 P.M. TO 3:45 P.M. 166 11 31 110 94 5 68 131 10 12 PROJECTED TOTAL VOLUMES (After Opening of Middle School) RADFORD ROAD MIDDLE RADFORD SCHOOL COURT TIME (Major Street) (Minor (Minor Street) Street) 6:45 AM.TO 7:45 AM. 502 125 5 7:45 AM.TO 8:45 AM. 483 125 6 1:45 P.M. TO 2:45 P.M. 403 202 35 2:45 P.M. TO 3:45 P.M. 417 199 22 Please keep in mind, the traffic volumes I used are conservative since they did not include consideration for increased development along Radford Road, or surrounding subdivisions that would use Radford Road for general, non-school, related travel. Also, the intersection will be opening fall of 2005 and volumes were not inflated for general increase in volumes. As you are aware, some roads around Dubuque, especially on the west end, are experiencing rapid growth rates. Use of one lane one lane approach. In your e-mail you questioned the use of one lane approach. I recall that we discussed it at the meeting and I thought we came to the decision that we would treat the intersection as a one lane approach (especially since there is not a 1.5 lane category) in Figure 4C-2. According to page 4C-2 of the MUTCD: "The approach should be considered two lanes if approximately half the traffic on the approach turns left and the left-turn lane is of sufficient length to accommodate all left-turn vehicles." The northbound through movement is a heavier movement than the left turns. Your suggestion of discounting some of the right turning traffic because it is ITee flow, is in general agreement with the MUTCD, however in this case with signals installed, the left turning traffic into the site will have the right-of-way over the right turning traffic, causing the right turn traffic to yield and not be ITee flow. Therefore, right turning traffic was not subtracted ITom the total volume since during peak times the right turning traffic may need to stop. You may not have been aware the geometric configuration of the access road has only one inbound Mr. Bill Schlickman Middle School Site Impact Traffic Stndy May 18, 2004 Page 3 00 lane. The access roadway was designed with only one inbound lane because we did not want to cause a weave traffic pattern between the Radford Road intersection and where traffic turns off the access road for the school parking lot. Inclusion of the crash analysis in the study The traffic accidents are included because according to the guidelines for the Site Impact Analysis submittals to the City of Dubuque, it requests that crash analysis be included. You suggest removing the crashes on 9/26/0 1 and 3/3/03 since they are not intersection related. I do not recall that at the meeting it was stated these crashes needed to be removed from the report, instead my notes indicate I was to change the wording ITom "It appears the primary confusion with the roadway is driver confusion about the number of lanes since crashes are occurring when vehicles turn right ITom next to the centerline while other vehicles pass on the right" and modifY this statement to say "It appears the primary confusion with this roadway is driver error." The crash data was not used to justify the signals, however if you want me to remove those two crashes ITom the tabulation I will. Next Action Steps As it states in the MUTCD on page 4B-2: "When properly used, traffic control signals are valuable devices for the control of vehicular and pedestrian traffic." The MUTCD also encourages the appropriate design, location, and maintenance of traffic signals. By allowing the signals to be installed prior to the opening of the Middle School, the access/intersection can utilize optimum channelization and positioning of the signals. Waiting to install the signals may require revisions to intersection geometry in the future or compromising either the design of the signals or intersection geometry acting as sometimes occurs in a retrofit situation. It seems the next actions needed are: Determination of which elements you want to see in the Study to allow us to submit a final study and take it out of draft form. For example, do you want to see discussion of the Peak Hour and other warrants that cannot be used because the data is not avai1able? Previously it was requested we add the Peak Hour warrant discussion to the report. . Determination if the school district is allowed to install a signal at Radford Court and the Middle School Access road. . Review requirements for the intersection and (if allowed) signal design. Please let us know how you would like to proceed. Sincerely, IIW ENGINEERS & SURVEYORS, P.c. ~~ Julie Neebel, P.E. Transportation Engineer Copy: Ron Holm Attach: email ITom B. Schlickman Figure 4C-2 Figure 4C-2. Warrant 2, Four-Hour Vehicular Volume (70% Factor) (COMMUNITY LESS THAN 10,000 POPULATION OR ABOVE 70 km/h (40 mph) ON MAJOR STREET) I 400 0.. > I I 1-0 300 W« wO a: a: 1-0.. 000.. a:« 200 OW z:2: -:::J :2:-1 0 > I ~ I 100 "80 "60 200 300 400 500 600 700 800 900 1000 MAJOR STREET-TOTAL OF BOTH APPROACHES- VEHICLES PER HOUR (VPH) *Note: 80 vph applies as the lower threshold volume for a minor-street approach with two or more lanes and 60 vph applies as the lower threshold volume for a minor-street approach with one lane. 5/1/°4 -_.)/';\/