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Staff outlines constraints for Railroad Avenue rebuild; state aid width likely to preserve one-sided parking
Summary
An engineering review presented to the council found limited right-of-way, utility conflicts and state-aid width constraints on Railroad Avenue; staff said state aid allows about a 28-foot curb-to-curb width and that the project—planned for next year—will likely retain parking on one side while design work begins this fall.
Jason Cook, a city staff member, told the council that limited right-of-way, poles, hydrants and proximity of buildings constrain how Railroad Avenue can be rebuilt and that moving curbs or widening would add significant cost and require easements.
Cook said the engineering report shows state-aid standards require roughly a 28–29 foot face-to-face width and that the recommended design could meet state aid while allowing parking on one side. “State aid only requires it to be 28 feet and still allow parking on 1 side now,” Cook said, and he added that tightening the curb face about a half-foot could bring the street to 29 feet and preserve one-sided parking.
Staff warned that widening to the east would require work on about seven parcels, reconstruction of driveway aprons and possibly retaining walls, and estimated such curb/driveway work could add roughly $140,000 to the project. Cook also noted conflicts with existing signs and utilities and that some poles already sit near or on the right-of-way, meaning easements or parcel adjustments may be necessary to gain additional width.
Council members discussed interim options, including installing delineators to create a separated walkway, but staff noted those devices reduce usable width, can be struck by vehicles and present maintenance and plow-management issues. Cook said the delineators would need to sit west of the white stripe to preserve minimum ADA width and cautioned that they might not achieve the long-term goals the council had discussed.
Cook told the council the project is slated for next year and that staff would bring a fee proposal to start design work in November–December; council members asked staff to return with the engineering report and photos of the conflicts to guide final design and business-impact discussions.
Next steps: staff will provide the engineering report and photos to council, return with a proposed fee for design, and begin design work according to the council’s direction.
