Fiscal Note
The Resolution provides for the appropriation of $41,700 from the City's Contingent Reserve to the Traffic Engineering budget for its share of expenses for a transportation study in partnership with the Village of Shorewood Hills and the University of Madison, at a total estimated cost of $125,000. Following adoption of this resolution and another pending Resolution appropriating $20,000 for a Metro Transit project, the available Contingent Reserve balance is expected to total $1,117,088. There is no impact on the tax levy or State Expenditure Restraint Program eligibility limits. The Traffic Engineering operating budget will be amended as follows:
GN01-54950-577102 $41,700 (Increase expense for Consulting Services)
Title
Amending Traffic Engineering's 2012 Operating Budget; appropriating $41,700 from the Contingency Reserve; authorizing the City to enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the Village of Shorewood Hills and University of Madison (UW) to contract for a sub-area traffic and transportation study of the University Avenue area adjacent to the UW, Shorewood Hills, and greater Regent Neighborhood; and authorizing the City of Madison to issue Requests for Proposals (RFPs); and providing that the Mayor and City Clerk may enter into a contract.
Body
Whereas, University Ave is an important primary arterial street serving both Madison, UW-Madison and the Village of Shorewood Hills; and
Whereas, this arterial serves in excess of 50,000 vehicles per average weekday, resulting in severe congestion, crashes and delay to motorists, pedestrians and bicyclists. Consequently vehicles tend to use nearby residential streets in both Madison and Shorewood Hills to avoid traffic delays and congestion related problems; and
Whereas, the residential streets serving this cut through traffic are not intended for this use, and this traffic can have a negative impact on quality of life and increasing concerns for pedestrian and bicyclist safety; and
Whereas, the City, UW-Madison and Village of Shorewood Hills continue to grow and generate additional traffic, and have active major redevelopment projects pending which require community and intergovernmental review and input; and
Whereas, the City of Madison, UW-Madison, and Village of Shorewood Hills have agreed to partner and conduct a sub-area traffic and transportation study to address these concerns; and
Whereas, the study shall consist of standard transportation planning and engineering efforts intended to be involved with the identification and vetting of short and long-term street recommendations and potential physical roadway modifications necessary to maintain University Ave as a functional arterial street; and
Whereas, the study will develop and incorporate recommendations to reduce the incidence of vehicles using neighborhood streets to avoid University Avenue traffic congestion and thus, the associated traffic safety problems; and
Whereas, the study, to be completed in 2012 and 2013, will be funded in accordance with past policies of cost sharing on similar projects, requiring each party to participate in one-third of the cost with the City of Madison, which will be administering the contract;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Mayor enter into an intergovernmental agreement with the Village of Shorewood and the University of Wisconsin-Madison to conduct a traffic and transportation study.