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CONSTRUCTING 86TH STREET AND TRAIL

PROJECT TO BE UNDERWAY THIS SUMMER

Councilmembers voted 5-0 on February 28th to accept the recommendations of the city engineer and authorized the final design for improvements to 86th Street. The design calls for a 28-foot wide street with an 8.5-foot bituminous trail and landscaping on the north side of the street. The south side of the road is outside the city limits of Victoria and remains undeveloped at this time.

"We've looked at various widths and many different possible alternatives," said City Engineer Cara Geheren. The motion and unanimous approval was the end result of studies, discussions. and meetings with residents since last summer.

Councilmember Kim Roden thanked the staff and residents for their work, acknowledging all the work done behind the scenes to arrive at a road design acceptable to most of the residents along 86th Street. Councilmember Tom O'Connor recalled that when road reconstruction became a definite possibility last year, the Council Chamber "was a full house."

Engineer Geheren stated that 28 feet is lower than the typical street standard width, but the narrower width helps to control speed on the road, it reduces cost of road construction, and it accomplishes the residents' goal of shifting the road to the south as far as possible.

Cara pointed out that the standard typical road width in Victoria is 32 feet. In that regard, the city received a letter from Victoria Fire Chief Tim Walsh who wrote, "With the anticipated reconstruction of 86th Street approaching, the Victoria Fire Department would recommend that the new street be built at a width of 32 feet. This is a minimal increase since the existing street is approximately 26 feet wide. We feel this is in the best interest of public safety, traffic flow, and future growth of the area."

"The extra width would give emergency responders extra working space in case of an incident on the street or abutting property," he continued. "Pedestrians and bicyclists who also use the road will benefit by having more space between them and the traveling vehicles."

City Administrator Don Uram stated, however, "I spoke with the Chief tonight. They are comfortable with the 28 feet."

Some of the residents along 86th Street, especially along Allegheny Grove Boulevard, have backyards abutting 86th Street and have concerns about the possibility of a vehicle jumping the curb and landing on their property, perhaps causing injuries.

To that end, one of the residents proposed an elevated trail, perhaps four feet high, along the road, and there was also discussion about constructing a retaining wall that would provide more of a buffer, or even a fence.

Cara said the cost of a 4-foot high retaining wall system would be approximately $150,000 and it would need to be picked up by the taxpayers. A big part of the road reconstruction is otherwise being paid with state aid funds. If it's a million dollar project, $600,000 comes from the state and $400,000 comes from the City of Victoria.

Cara said that at meetings with the residents, there was opposition to the fence. She also said that an elevated trail and retaining wall, even if it's only two feet high, would be a two-foot dropoff. Kids could ride on it and fall into traffic.

Don Hules, a resident at 86th, attended the February 28th council meeting to voice his support for the 28-foot road and his opposition to the fence and the wall. "I don't see that a wall has great benefit," he said. "If there's a concern about cars going over the curb, we should theoretically put a retaining wall around every street in the city."

The city engineer also explained that there is not enough space to construct a berm between the residential properties and the road. In that space is a swale that must be maintained because it helps drain surface water. The trail and landscaping occupy the rest of that space, which is a city outlot. Cara said a landscape architect will make recommendations regarding the type of plantings in that area. "We're looking to provide screening with the landscape," said Cara.

"But we're not going to be planting a forest," Mayor Thun emphasized. She added, "And it's an eight and a half foot bituminous trail. It's not a sidewalk. I think we have to be clear about that."

"Is there intention to keep the speed signs on that road?" asked Mayor Thun. Replied Administrator uram, "I think we'll take a wait and see approach.”

"I'd like those speed signs to not be re-deployed elsewhere until we're sure they won't be needed at 86th Street," said the mayor.

With the motion to approve the project comes a proposed project schedule that includes detailed design and final plan preparation (March-April), submittal of plans to State Aid for final review (April 15), advertising for bids (May 23), Council accepting bids and awarding the contract (June 27), the beginning of construction (July), paving and restoration (September). Landscaping improvements are proposed for the spring and summer of 2012.

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