Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Public Works advances $49,420 drainage study; corridor study recommends options for State Street–Lincoln Ave.
Summary
Public Works authorized forwarding a $49,420 contract for an Elizabeth Drive drainage study and presented a State Street–Lincoln Avenue corridor study that models a 31% traffic increase over 20 years and recommends considering signalization while weighing parking and pedestrian tradeoffs.
The Public Works committee voted to forward a resolution authorizing an agreement with Gonzales Companies LLC for an Elizabeth Drive drainage study at a cost of $49,420, intended to evaluate localized flooding south of Fairwood Hills and identify improvements to protect roadway and adjacent properties.
Public Works then presented a corridor study of State Street and Lincoln Avenue that used November 2024 traffic counts and modeled 20‑year growth (1.35% annual). The study identified three daily peak periods (AM commuter, school dismissal, PM commuter) and projected an approximate 31% increase in traffic over 20 years. Staff told the committee the study did not show a single persistent crash hotspot across five years of crash data, but it did flag pedestrian and bicycle injuries at scattered locations.
The study evaluated alternatives for downtown 'core' intersections (State & Lincoln, State & Oak, and 3rd & Lincoln). Options included retaining existing all‑way stops (with increasing queue lengths), installing signalized intersections with limited left‑turn lanes (the study suggested adding left‑turn lanes only on north and south legs to preserve on‑street parking), or constructing a roundabout (staff said a roundabout at State & Lincoln would likely require property acquisition and would be difficult given truck traffic from a nearby dairy).
Councilmembers raised pedestrian‑safety measures — curb bump‑outs to shorten crossing distances and rapid rectangular flashing beacons — and asked staff to design streetscape improvements with the potential future addition of traffic signals in mind, to avoid duplicative reconstruction. Staff said federal funding is available for a streetscape overlay and that the planning/design step should precede any large construction investment estimated at $5–$10 million.
The drainage study agreement and the corridor study findings will be incorporated into future design work and return to council or committee as needed for project approvals and funding decisions.
