Narrative Response/Attachment 1 (WisDOT TAP- Second Round Application ID-SWBP22)

Transcription

1 Narrative Response/Attachment 1 (WisDOT TAP- Second Round Application ID-SWBP22) 2. For Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects: Clearly indicate the location, length, width, surface materials, and any connections to existing or planned facilities. The proposed VIP Trail Expansion project is located on the south end of the Gundersen Health System La Crosse Campus,starting east of 7th St. South and continuing East along Swift Creek before heading North, ending on South Ave. adjacent to the Gund Brewery Lofts. The easternmost section of the trail will branch off and connect to Maple Street and a large expanse of the southern part of the City to this trail netowrk. The trail will be approximately 0.80 miles in length, paved in asphalt, and widened from 8 to 10 in width with a 2ft wide gravel shoulder and a 5 screenings running so that is meets (AASHTO) standard. This trail connects to the existing Isle La Plume multi-modal trail. It willl also connect to existing & proposed dedicated on-street bike lanes which connect to a large retail center. How many new or replacement trips are expected and from which modes i.e. biking or walking? Much of the Powell-Poage Neighborhood (2,500+ residents) to the north has expressed their desire for a connection to the VIP Trail in order to access the waterfront and the off-street trail network to parks and La Crosse s Historic Commercial Downtown. Also, the residential neighborhoods to the east & south (8,000+ residents) will have safe access to the trail network, which they have not had before, and it is anticipated that a large percent of this neighborhood will utilize this new facility. There are also approximately 170 residents living in the Gund Brewery Lofts and 100+ residents and staff in the new senior living facility that will soon have direct access to the trail network. It is estimated that biking trips will be greater than 100 per day and walking trips will be greater than 50 per day. How much of the new or replacement use is for work or other utilitarian trips? In a recent survey, Gundersen Health System employees cited a lack of a connection to the VIP Trail and traffic on Hwy 16/41 impacted their ability to commute on a regular basis in a multi-modal manner. Also, this project will connect thousands of residents to many of the employment centers and retail establishments in La Crosse. How many auto trips will be eliminated? It is anticipated that hundreds of auto trips will be eliminated on a weekly basis.

2 What is the average trip distance of auto trips that will be eliminated? An average distance is difficult to determine. An expected average range is anywhere from 1-5 miles. 3. For all projects, to the extent not already addressed in answers to the questions above, describe project benefits by answering the following questions: Timeline How will the project sponsor ensure that the project is implemented on time, in accordance with the Project Costs and Dates section of the pre-scoping application? If awarded, the design of this project would be included in the City Engineering Department s 2015 work plan as stated in the pre-scoping application. The project sponsor would begin developing maintenance and access easements with Gundersen Health System and Gorman and Company, Inc., and ensure that funding is allocated in the Capital Improvement Budget and a State Municipal Agreement is executed so construction can commence in What obstacles or problems must be overcome to implement this project? No obstacles or problems are anticipated. Gundersen Health System has stated to the City that they are ready to begin developing the necessary easements to complete this project and the Common Council is expected to pass the required Resolution of Support in mid-april In light of project obstacles, describe how the project sponsor will comply with state law and policy requiring project commencement within four years, and project completion within approximately six years. All state laws and policies will be complied with and the project will be completed within the required timeframe. Connectivity How, if at all, does the proposed project add connectivity to the state s multi-modal transportation network, including bicycle, pedestrian and transit facilities? This project will connect a 144 unit Senior Living Facility, an 85 unit mixed income apartment building, three residential neighborhoods, and a health care facility with 4,000+ employees to a trail network that connects to the Great River State Trail System via off-street trails and dedicated on-street bicycle and pedestrian facilities. Transit stops are located within a ¼ mile of the trail and all buses are equipped with bike racks. Describe whether the proposed project is within ½ mile of any of the listed facilities; and describe how,

3 if at all, the proposed project would connect to these existing land uses: public park, school, library, public transit, employment and/or retail centers, residential areas, other. This project is within a ½ mile of Gundersen Health System, the largest employer in La Crosse County. It is also within a ½ mile of public waterfront, parks and the Green Island Park & Ice Area and connects large residential areas in south La Crosse to the off-street trail network. This project also connects to other bicycle and pedestrian facilities that are within ½ mile of more parks, schools, and retail centers. Safety Describe how the proposed project makes transportation facilities safer and less intimidating for nonmotorists. With the connection to Maple Street and the residential neighborhood to the southeast, this project will allow those residents to access the off-street trail system safely without having to travel along a 6 sidewalk section of U.S. Highways 14/61 that has an ADT count of 18,500 and along streets that bring 4,000+ employees and 2,000 visitors a day to the Gundersen Health System La Crosse Campus. If the proposed project location has undergone a walk or bike audit, provide any pertinent information regarding safety concerns revealed in that audit. Surveys that were conducted in this area indicated that residents did not feel safe riding on this section of U.S. Highways 14/61 or through Gundersen s La Crosse Campus and desired a safer connection to the trail system. Miscellaneous What will make this project a success, especially as compared to other proposed projects of the same or similar type? This project will be successful due to the strong partnership between the City of La Crosse, Gundersen Health System, the Powell-Poage-Hamilton Neighborhood, major residential developments, and the bicycle and pedestrian community. This project was identified in the City Of La Crosse s Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan that was adopted in 2012 and in the Joint Neighborhood Campus Plan developed between Gundersen, the City the Powell-Poage-Hamilton Neighborhood in 2013 and is a critical component to completing our trail network. In addition, Gundersen intends to use this trail as part of their annual Steppin Out in Pink event, a benefit walk for breast cancer research, which annually attracts more than 5,000 participants..

4 REDFIELD ST 10TH ST S 9TH ST S City of La Crosse Gundersen Health System Campus GREEN BAY ST HIGH ST _ ^ Gund Brewery Lofts SO SIMS PL WOLLAN PL AV E WESTON ST 7TH ST S COOK ST UT H MAPLE ST BENORA LEE CT Isle La Plume Trail Future Bethany Lutheran Senior Housing City of La Crosse WisDOT TAP Application VIP Trail Expansion/Extension Location Map Existing VIP Trail to be reconstructed by Bethany Lutheran Senior Housing Development to a 20' wide reinforced path to serve bicycles and pedestrians and as an emergency fire lane Existing VIP Trail will be widened from 8' to 10' with a 2' wide gravel shoulder and 5' adjacent running path Extensions of VIP Trail that will be 10' wide with a 2' wide gravel shoulder and 5' adjacent running path Feet Date: 12/10/2013

5 CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION Project Costs and Dates NOTE: do not include pages A 7 and A 8 in the Concept Definition Report (CDR) for approved TAP projects. Project Costs Complete the table below for the appropriate fiscal years of the application/project cycle ( ). If a sponsor proposes to construct a project in phases throughout multiple years, schedule the project costs as appropriate and provide further details in the project description. You must attach a detailed breakdown of project costs (line item expenses; expenses per year, etc.) as part of responding to this Project Costs & Dates section. Project Dates In addition to providing fiscal year in the table below, within the attached breakdown of project costs please provide estimated month and year the project will begin for each project phase. Design work is typically completed in six months unless environmental impacts exist, real estate transactions and railroad crossing approvals take at least a year to complete, and projects should be built within one construction season unless the project is very large. Submit a separate application and budget for each project or stand alone project segment for which you are willing to accept funding, or for a bike trail section that could function as a separate facility. Project requests are not considered for partial funding. Applicants should reference the WisDOT 2012 Cost Estimate Table prior to completing this section of the application: NOTES: Requesting design and construction projects in the same fiscal year is not allowed. Please refer to the corresponding WisDOT TAP Guidelines for a chart that clarifies the timeframe included in each state fiscal year. Tied Projects? Please indicate which projects will be tied (if applicable): (See instructions, I 5) TOTAL PROPOSED PROJECT COST $665, Total Proposed Project Costs include the federal AND local share of all project phases. Please provide additional project cost detail utilizing the fields below. Construction: Basis for Construction Estimate: Itemized Per Square Foot Past Projects WisDOT 2012 Cost Estimate Table (see hyperlink above) 10/31/2013 A 7 Other, please specify: Project Prioritization If a sponsor is submitting more than one project in an urbanized area within an MPO, the sponsor must rank each project in priority order, e.g., 1 (highest priority) to 5 (lowest), for the local priority among five projects. MPO staff will use the local ranking as a guide during application review and prioritization. Local sponsor prioritization for projects outside of MPO areas is also required.

6 Project Priority: 2 Construction (minimum infrastructure project cost (including design and construction) is $300,000): Federal Share of the Participating Construction Cost (80%) $440, Local Share of the Participating Construction Cost (20%) $110, Non Participating Construction Cost (100% Local) $0 A. Subtotal Construction Costs $550, CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION (continued) Project Costs and Dates NOTE: do not include pages A 7 and A 8 in the Concept Definition Report (CDR) for approved TAP projects. B. State Review for Construction (see instructions, page I 7, Table 1) Percentage: 9 % $49, Construction with State Review Cost Estimate (sum lines A and B) $599, Design: 100% Locally Funded (state review is required to be included as 100% locally funded) OR 80% Federally Funded ( state review only projects are not allowed) Project Priority: 2 A. Plan Development (see instructions page I 7, Table 1) Percentage: 10 % $55, B. State Review for Design (see instructions, page I 7, Table 1) Percentage: 2 % $11, Design with State Review Cost Estimate (sum lines A and B) $66, Real Estate: (Recommend funding with local funds.) Project Priority: Total Real Estate Cost (minimum $100,000) $ Non Infrastructure/Other: (Planning, Administration, non infrastructure SRTS projects): Project Priority: Total Non Infrastructure Cost (minimum $50,000): $ Utility: (Compensable utility costs must be $50,000 minimum per utility. Recommend funding with local funds.) Project Priority: Total Utility Cost (round to next $1,000) $ 10/31/2013 A 8