TO: Urban Renewal Agency Board
THROUGH: Steve Powers, Executive Director
FROM: Kristin Retherford, Urban Development Department Director
SUBJECT:
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Over-Crossing of Wallace Road NW at 2nd Street NW
Ward(s): Ward 1
Board Member(s): Board Member Kaser
Neighborhood(s): WSNA
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ISSUE:
Shall the Agency authorize the use of $30,000 in currently unallocated FY 16-17 West Salem Urban Renewal funding to evaluate the engineering feasibility of an over-crossing of Wallace Road NW at 2nd Street NW?
RECOMMENDATION:
recommendation
Authorize the use of $30,000 in currently unallocated FY 16-17 West Salem Urban Renewal funding to evaluate the engineering feasibility of an over-crossing of Wallace Road NW at 2nd Street NW.
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SUMMARY AND BACKGROUND:
The West Salem Business District Action Plan (Action Plan) occurred from January 2014 to December 2015 to revisit West Salem Urban Renewal Area funding priorities. The purpose of the Action Plan was to identify and understand the challenges to overcoming area blight and the factors limiting property value increases and redevelopment opportunities. The findings indicate that a key challenge is the lack of local transportation connections to support new development and uses without increasing the traffic burden on Wallace Road NW. Among the recommendations to improve local transportation and connect east and west Salem is an extension of 2nd Street NW under Wallace Road NW (Attachment 1).
In December 2015, the Urban Renewal Agency (Agency) advanced the West Salem Business District Transportation Feasibility Study (Feasibility Study) to understand the vertical and horizontal road alignment of an extension of 2nd Street, the engineering requirements of an under-crossing, connection to other local streets, access to properties east and west of Wallace Road NW, and associated costs. The public was thoroughly engaged in the development of the Action Plan and the review of the Feasibility Study findings. Comments were generally supportive of additional transportation routes and infrastructure improvements in the area. Concerns centered on the impact to Wallace Marine Park, safe multimodal connections, the cost of the under-crossing, and the need to evaluate the feasibility of an over-crossing.
The Feasibility Study concluded in November 2016 and determined that the extension of 2nd Street NW under Wallace Road NW and its associated local street connections are feasible. The estimated costs for the improvements range between $30 million to $35 million, with the majority of the project complexity and cost tied to the under-crossing structure estimated at $20 million.
A grade separated crossing of Wallace Road NW at 2nd Street NW is critical to the redevelopment of underutilized, vacant, and blighted industrial properties west of Wallace Road NW. Prior to advancing to preliminary engineering design, the West Salem Neighborhood Association (WSNA) and the West Salem Redevelopment Advisory Board (WSRAB) have recommended a feasibility study of an over-crossing structure. Completing the analysis of cost and engineering feasibility will ensure that staff, the WSRAB, and the Agency have the same information for both an under-crossing and an over-crossing, when considering the final design type. This information will also be helpful with the community outreach process.
FACTS AND FINDINGS:
The evaluation of an over-crossing structure is supported by the West Salem Urban Renewal Plan section 713. If approved, it will be completed by the engineering consultant that performed the Feasibility Study.
The cost to complete the feasibility study will not exceed $30,000. Project scope for the over-crossing evaluation will include the horizontal and vertical alignment of the roadway, cost estimate, perspective renderings to illustrate what an over-crossing may look like, and public outreach.
City of Salem Public Works Department and Urban Development Department staff will be working with the consultant and will keep the Agency apprised of the status of the effort. When the study is complete and if it is determined that the over-crossing structure is feasible and meets the accessibility requirements to facilitate redevelopment, the Agency will need to determine whether to progress with engineering preliminary design on the under-crossing or over-crossing. The study findings will also inform the City of Salem Transportation System Plan amendments needed, prior to proceeding with design and construction.
Tory Banford
Project Manager
Attachments:
1. Map of the crossing location
4/20/2017