Design RFP advances for Lorraine Road corridor after StructurePoint presentation

Anthony Pizzinelli, a professional engineer with American StructurePoint, told the Environment, Public Works, Planning, Zoning and Development Committee that the Lorraine Road corridor has been the subject of multiple prior studies and that the city has an opportunity to combine those findings into a single implementable design. “The city secured $2,300,000 in urban paving and $1,900,000 in CMAQ,” Pizzinelli said. “With that funding we looked at signal upgrades, resurfacing and pedestrian bump-outs.”

Ben Morgan, a traffic engineer with the firm, said crash data for the corridor showed 281 crashes in a recent five-year window with a 27% injury rate and that angle and rear-end collisions accounted for roughly half of incidents. He explained the study’s feasibility analysis for a three-lane “road diet” (one travel lane each direction with a two-way left-turn lane), and said the design could improve safety and downtown character while allowing additional on-street parking. “Short-term alternative 2, with added turn lanes, met acceptable levels of service in AM and PM peaks,” Morgan said.

Council members pressed the consultants on signal coordination, side-street delay and sight-distance at jagged cross streets in Ward 3 and Ward 4. Megan Otter, who helped coordinate the presentation for the administration, confirmed that some long-term elements such as shared-use paths and gateway landscaping will require extra funding and possible right-of-way work. Pizzinelli said preliminary design would begin after the RFP, with final design through 2028 and construction expected in spring 2029 subject to funding. “Next steps are releasing the RFP, selecting a consultant and pursuing additional funding,” he said.

After questions about sight triangles for angled side streets, parking impacts and whether roundabouts or other intersection treatments were feasible at Worcester Road, the committee voted to move Ordinance 26-26 forward for third reading and final passage. The motion passed unanimously.