Fiscal Note
Funds are available in the Contingent Reserve for this $100,000 appropriation for Sherman Avenue improvements, administered by the Traffic Engineering agency. The current uncommitted balance of the Contingent Reserve is $1,138,660, which would be reduced by an additional $100,000 upon the adoption of this budget amendment.
Title
Accepting the N. Sherman Avenue Transportation Study report, implementing the recommendations in the report and providing the funding to do so by amending the 2013 adopted City operating budget to appropriate $100,000 from the Contingent Reserve.
Body
WHEREAS, N. Sherman Avenue is a standard arterial street serving Madison's Northside and carrying between 15,000 to 17,000 vehicles per average weekday and an estimated 447 bicycles and 321 pedestrians per day; and
WHEREAS, all neighborhoods adjacent to N. Sherman Avenue have expressed concern regarding pedestrian safety in this corridor, and there have been multiple auto/pedestrian crashes, including fatalities; and
WHEREAS, N. Sherman Avenue is a subject of frequent complaints of speeding traffic and motorists failing to yield to both pedestrians and bicyclists desiring to cross the corridor; and
WHEREAS, the Northside is underserved with bicycling facilities, and off-road bicycle path projects, while supported by the City, cannot move forward at this time due to lack of site control; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to improve facilities for pedestrians and bicyclists in this area and to reduce some of the negative impacts of high speed arterial traffic; and
WHEREAS, N. Sherman Avenue is a centrally located transportation corridor ideal for providing access to adjoining neighborhoods and businesses; and
WHEREAS, several neighborhood plans have identified N. Sherman Avenue as a barrier to safe and convenient pedestrian and bicycle travel; and
WHEREAS, the Traffic Engineering and City Engineering Divisions were directed to assist District 12 Alder Rhodes-Conway in conducting a transportation planning study of N. Sherman Avenue to include options to improve the corridor for all users, pedestrians, bicyclists and motorists; and
WHEREAS, a public meeting to inform the report was held October 11, 2012; and
WHEREAS, that report is now complete;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Common Council accepts the report.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor and Common Council direct City Engineering and Traffic Engineering to implement the recommendations of the report, specifically to:
1. Reconfigure the street cross-section between Trailsway and Fordem (pending cooperation from the Village of Maple Bluff) from the existing four lane street to a two lane street with a center left turn lane and bike lanes, and
2. Install pedestrian refuge islands at five high pedestrian crossing locations along the project corridor.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that the Mayor and Common Council invite and encourage the elected officials of the Village of Maple Bluff to join them in supporting this project.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that Eighteen months after the reconfiguration is completed, Traffic Engineering must report to the Council a study showing any effects of the change on (1) congestion and delays, (2) diversion of traffic to other streets, and (3) increase or decrease in traffic crashes, including pedestrian, bicycle or motor vehicle crashes.
BE IT FINALLY RESOLVED that the 2013 adopted City operating budget is amended by appropriating $100,000 from the Contingent Reserve for this project and increasing the authorized expenditures for the Traffic Engineering agency, as follows:
$65,000 Purchased Services, Paint Marking Contractor GN01-54985-574000
$20,000 Purchased Services, Contractor for Traffic Islands GN01-54901-572203
$4,500 Supplies (for Signage) GN01-55510-572000
$8,750 Sign Installation Labor (Overtime Expense) GN01-51200-572000
$1,250 Benefit Expense GN01-52000-572000
$100,000 Total Expense