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22 - Safety Grant Project TxDOT Proposal for Lamar Avenue CrossoversItem No. 22 RD =#�M � , MM TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Grayson Path, City Manager SUBJECT: TXDOT Proposal — Safety Grant Project Lamar Avenue Crossovers DATE: December 14, 2020 BACKGROUND: TXDOT has available funding for Safety-related Capital Improvement Projects throughout the State. It is a competitive program and our local TXDOT Office has submitted several proposed projects for the TXDOT Review Team's consideration. With this said though, given these projects would take place in the City of Paris, our regional office would like our support before proceeding. Having met with City Staff, we agreed that it would be most appropriate that TXDOT propose these projects first to the Traffic Commission and then to the City Council. If both are approving, TXDOT will proceed with their grant application. If however the City Council, either by their own decision or by the recommendation of the Traffic Commission, decides against supporting these projects, TXDOT would consider pulling our application. The Traffic Commission met on December 1, 2020 to hear the proposed projects. After a presentation with questions and answers, they voted, unanimously, to recommend all of the proposed TXDOT Safety projects to the City Council. STATUS OF ISSUE: The City Manager, Interim Chief of Police, and Public Works Director met with Daniel Taylor, Ellen Perry, and Darius Samuels to discuss the attached proposals. Said proposals were presented to the Traffic Commission. The first project is a raised median from 33rd Street to 42"d Street on Lamar Avenue. A narrative prepared by TXDOT and conceptual drawing is attached. In short, a raised median in combination with improved U -Turn maneuvers at the intersections would be created to prevent congested left turns throughout Lamar Avenue. The remaining projects consist of closing four existing crossovers along Loop 286. These crossovers are at the Home Depot, 29th Street, Spur 139, and Clement Road. The crossover at the Home Depot/Jack in the Box/Tiger Mart/Ashley Furniture Store/Dairy Queen/etc. would involve changes to the Collegiate intersection to allow extended left/U-turn ability for traffic heading west on the Loop, or traffic could access these businesses via the service road immediately south of the First Federal Community Bank. Those cars wishing to access Dairy Queen or La Quinta Inn & Suites (via Dairy Queen) would need to utilize the existing U -Turn ability at Pine Mill Road. The crossover at 29th Street is approximately 250-350 feet away from the Collegiate Drive intersection. Vehicles wishing to access the homes on 29th Street could do so via Kessler Drive and Collegiate Drive. Those wishing to access the Valero and Animal Hospital could do so by this same route or via a U- turn at 195. The crossover at Spur 139, if closed, would require traffic wishing to access Spur 139 to do so either by 195, from which they could get back on Loop 286 or they could access Spur 139 further north on 195. Those wishing to access Paris Ford and Federal Credit Union would need to utilize Stillhouse Road and U-turn back on to Loop 286. The crossover at Clement Road is very similar to Spur 139. City Staff have reviewed the information provided by TXDOT and believe these are worthy projects to support. The Traffic Commission voted unanimously to recommend the TXDOT Safety Projects to the City Council for approval. BUDGET: The Safety Grant is 100% TXDOT funded without any City (local) match. The estimated costs per project are: 1. Raised Median — Lamar Avenue $2,046,230.46 2. Crossover at Home Depot $502,500.90 3. Crossover at 29th Street $464,095.50 4. Crossover at Spur 139 $290,327.40 5. Crossover at Clement Road $290,750.90 6. Total $3,593,905.16 OPTIONS: 1. Support the TXDOT Safety Projects as presented. TXDOT would then consider for them funding. 2. Request more information or edits to the TXDOT Proposals. 3. Do not support the TXDOT Safety Projects — TXDOT has indicated that they would withdraw these projects from consideration if the City does not support them. RECOMMENDATION: 1. Support the TXDOT Safety Projects as presented. O v t� � � � '~ � 'd H '� 4� y •..y �t/� W N 00 Q4 }' � � � � � c j � � � � �+ M O ,� w Lamar Avenue (US 82) Raised Median Narrative The proposed safety enhancement at this location consists of constructing a raised median from 33rd Street to 42nd Street and resurface. Some road widening would also need to be performed at the intersections of 33rd Street, Wal-Mart Entrance, and 42nd Street to better accommodate U- turn maneuvers at these intersections. The estimated cost for this work is $2,046,230.46. The Safety Improvement Index (cost benefit ratio) of this project is 4.55. This corridor has an ADT of 21,817 vehicles per day and an access density (23 south & 17 north) of 55 accesses per mile. Per TxDOT's "Roadway Design Manual", where ADT exceeds 20,000 vehicles per day or where development is occurring, and volumes are increasing and are anticipated to reach this level, and the demand for mid -block turns is high, a raised median design should be considered. For these conditions, a raised median may improve safety by separating traffic flows and controlling left -turn and crossing maneuvers. Some potential benefits of this enhancement include: restricting left -turn and crossing maneuvers to specific locations or certain movements, improve traffic safety, increasing through capacity and reducing delays, and providing pedestrian refuge areas. From 2017 through 2019, 8 accidents have occurred resulting in 1 serious injury and 7 non -incapacitating injuries due to left turn maneuvers. The previously noted accidents are directly related to vehicles utilizing the center two-way left turn lane. Other accidents involving vehicles turning left from an access across the roadway, rear end collisions resulting from vehicles trying to merge into the left turn lane, and many other related accidents are not included in the previously noted accident data. Because of this, it is reasonable to assume that many additional accidents could have likely been prevented had the raised median been installed. Economic Effects of Access Mana ement Access Control & Non -Traversable Median' A safe and efficient transportation system is an important element of a vibrant economy. The quality of the transportation system affects the economy in a variety of ways: it determines how quickly goods get to market, whether an area is attractive to investors, and the size of the market area for a particular business. Individual business owners are sometimes concerned about the potential impact of access management requirements on business activity. Studies conducted of businesses within areas where access management has been implemented show that improved driveway spacing and design, alternative access, and installation of non -traversable medians have virtually no adverse impact on business activity. For example, a study of the economic impacts of left -turn restrictions in College Station, Houston, McKinney, Longview, Wichita Falls, Odessa, Port Arthur, and Amarillo was conducted for the Texas Department of Transportation in the mid 1990's. Key findings relative to access management include the following: Business owners reported no change in pass -by traffic after median installation. Most business types (including specialty retail, fast-food restaurants, and sit-down restaurants) reported increases in numbers of customers per day and gross sales. When asked what factors were important to attracting customers, business owners generally ranked "accessibility to store" lower than customer service, product quality, and product price, and ahead of store hours and distance to travel. A study of the effects of access management on business vitality was conducted in 1996. Before and after data were collected on a series of corridor case studies. Results indicated that: • Corridors with completed access management projects performed better in terms of retail sales than the surrounding communities. Business failure rates along access managed corridors were at or below the statewide average. • Close to 80 percent of businesses reported no customer complaints about access to their businesses after project completion. • Over 90 percent of motorists surveyed had a favorable opinion of improvements made to road -ways that involve access management. The vast majority of motorists thought that the improved roadways were safer and that traffic flow had improved. The results of these and other studies indicate that access management has little or no adverse impact on business activity. Before and after studies indicate that business owner perceptions of the potential for adverse impacts of access changes tend to be much worse than actual impacts. In addition, levels of business activity often correlate more closely with factors such as competition, the regional economy, quality of management, and other issues unrelated to property access. Loop 286 at Home Depot Crossover Removal Narrative The proposed safety enhancement at this location consists of removing the existing crossover and extending the left turn lane for westbound traffic at Collegiate. This corridor has an ADT of 27,202 vehicles per day. The estimated cost for this work is $502,500.90. The Safety Improvement Index (cost benefit ratio) of this project is 23.92. Some potential benefits of this enhancement include: improving traffic safety, increasing through capacity and reducing delays. From 2017 through 2019, 32 accidents have occurred resulting in 1 serious injury and 3 non -incapacitating injuries due to utilization of this crossover. The previously noted accidents are directly related to vehicles utilizing the crossover. Other accidents such rear end collisions caused by vehicles slowing down to utilize the crossover and other related accidents are not included in the previously noted data. Because of this, it is reasonable to assume that many additional accidents could have likely been prevented had the crossover been removed. Removal of the crossover would require vehicles to utilize the following crossovers to cross Loop 286. Northeast bound traffic would utilize the Collegiate intersection as a crossover, which would result in an increased round trip travel distance of 0.72 miles. The left turn lane at the Collegiate intersection would be extended to better accommodate the additional left turn maneuvers. Southwest bound traffic would utilize the Pine Mill Road underpass as a crossover, which would result in an increased round trip travel distance of 2.66 miles. Loop 286 at 29t' Street Crossover Removal Narrative The proposed safety enhancement at this location consists of removing the existing crossover and extending the left turn lane for eastbound traffic at Collegiate. This corridor has an ADT of 27,202 vehicles per day. The estimated cost for this work is $464,095.50. The Safety Improvement Index (cost benefit ratio) of this project is 118.15. Some potential benefits of this enhancement include: improving traffic safety, increasing through capacity and reducing delays. From 2017 through 2019, 35 accidents have occurred resulting in 1 fatality, 4 serious injuries, and 6 non -incapacitating injuries due to utilization of this crossover. Other accidents such rear end collisions caused by vehicles slowing down to utilize the crossover and other related accidents are not included in the previously noted data. Because of this, it is reasonable to assume that many additional accidents could have likely been prevented had the crossover been removed. Removal of the crossover would require vehicles to utilize the following crossovers to cross Loop 286. Northeast bound traffic would utilize the FM 195 underpass as a crossover, which would result in an increased round trip travel distance of 1.44 miles. Southwest bound traffic would utilize the Collegiate intersection as a crossover, which would result in an increased round trip travel distance of 0.26 miles. The left turn lane at the Collegiate intersection would be extended to better accommodate the additional left turn maneuvers. Loop 286 at Spur 139 Crossover Removal Narrative The proposed safety enhancement at this location consists of removing the existing crossover.. This corridor has an ADT of 27,202 vehicles per day. The estimated cost for this work is $29Q,327.40. The Safety Improvement Index (cost benefit ratio) of this project is 13.63. Some potential benefits of this enhancement include: improving traffic safety, increasing through capacity and reducing delays. From 2017 through 2019, 3 accidents have occurred resulting in 3 non -incapacitating injuries due to utilization of this crossover. Other accidents such rear end collisions caused by vehicles slowing down to utilize the crossover and other related accidents are not included in the previously noted data. Because of this, it is reasonable to assume that many additional accidents could have likely been prevented had the crossover been removed. Removal of the crossover would require vehicles to utilize the following crossovers to cross Loop 286. Northeast bound traffic would utilize the Stillhouse Road underpass as a crossover, which would result in an increased round trip travel distance of 2.88 miles. Southwest bound traffic would utilize the FM 195 underpass as a crossover, which would result in an increased round trip travel distance of 1.66 miles. Loop 286 at Clement Road Crossover Removal Narrative The proposed safety enhancement at this location consists of removing the existing crossover. This corridor has an ADT of 27,202 vehicles per day. The estimated cost for this work is $290,750.90. The Safety Improvement Index (cost benefit ratio) of this project is 22.68. Some potential benefits of this enhancement include: improving traffic safety, increasing through capacity and reducing delays. From 2017 through 2019, 5 accidents have occurred resulting in 5 non -incapacitating injuries due to utilization of this crossover. Other accidents such rear end collisions caused by vehicles slowing down to utilize the crossover and other related accidents are not included in the previously noted data. Because of this, it is reasonable to assume that many additional accidents could have likely been prevented had the crossover been removed. Removal of the crossover would require vehicles to utilize the following crossovers to cross Loop 286. Northeast bound traffic would utilize the Stillhouse Road underpass as a crossover, which would result in an increased round trip travel distance of 2.28 miles. Southwest bound traffic would utilize the FM 195 underpass as a crossover, which would result in an increased round trip travel distance of 2.28 miles.