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Consideration of construction of an off road multi-use path along 116th Street connecting Watertown Plank Road to Center Street
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Submitted by:
David Simpson
Department
Public Works
A. Issue
A request has been made by Alderpersons Brannin, Fuerst, and Morgan for consideration of construction of an off road multi-use path along 116th Street connecting Watertown Plank Road to Center Street.
B. Background/Options
The attached memorandum from Alderpersons Brannin, Fuerst, and Morgan includes details related to their request for potential construction of an off-road multiuse pathway along 116th Street connecting Watertown Plank Road to Center Street.
The proposed off-road facility is currently not contemplated in the City’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) so this project would need to be added through the development and approval process of the next five-year CIP. I believe that this project would provide a significant improvement in options for bicyclists and pedestrians to traverse this area of the City so inclusion of the project into the next five-year CIP should be considered.
Currently, it is intended that Watertown Plank Road will be reconstructed from 113th Street to 124th Street in 2025 and the project will include off-road bike and pedestrian facilities along Watertown Plank as well as 115th Street south to the Oak Leaf Trail (at Underwood Parkway). Also planned for 2025 is the opening of a new City park located at 116th and Gilbert which includes pathway construction along 116th Street adjacent to the park. Given that all of this work is planned for 2025 I believe that there would be a benefit to exploring expediting construction of a portion of this proposed 116th Street pathway.
The section of 116th Street from Watertown Plan Road to Walnut Road includes relatively flat terrain with fewer design challenges than the area north of Gilbert. Given the fact that Watertown Plank Road will be under construction in 2025 I think it would ideal if the section of pathway from Watertown Plank Road to Walnut Road be constructed in 2025. In order to accomplish this Engineering staff would need to reallocate staff and monetary resources. We currently have a trail project that is moving much slower than anticipated due to the need to work through County and State approvals so I am proposing that we delay the 112th Street Greenway connection to the Hand Aaron State Trail and instead utilize resources from that project to move ahead with design on a Phase one of this newly proposed project.
The remaining portion of the proposed trail from Gilbert Avenue to Center Street would then be inserted into the CIP planning process for potential design and construction in a future year as resources are evaluated. This stretch of pathway will be more challenging to design and build and may need to include movement of existing curb lines so cost may be a challenge as well.
C. Strategic Plan (Area of Focus)
Priority Area Two: Public Safety; Proactively address pedestrian, bicycle, and vehicular safety.
D. Fiscal Impact
For Phase One (Watertown Plank to Walnut), design funds will be reallocated from the 112th Street Greenway connection to the Hand Aaron State Trail project so design can begin now with the intent to have the project constructed in 2025. Funds utilized from this project would then need to be budgeted again in a future year for the 112th Street Greenway connection project. Construction is not budgeted and would have to be considered through the annual CIP budgeting process along with the remainder of the trail’s design and construction.
E. Recommendation
Proceed with design of an off-road multi-use pathway on 116th Street from Watertown Plank Road to Walnut Road with the intention of construction in 2025. Through the standard CIP process consider placement of construction funds in 2025 for this section and consider design and construction funds be placed in a future year for the remainder of the proposed pathway from Gilbert Avenue to Center Street.