Title
Approval of Interlocal Agreement with the Evergreen State College Center for Sustainable Infrastructure for Fones Road Corridor Value Planning Exercise
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve and authorize the Mayor to sign the Interlocal Agreement with the Evergreen State College Center for Sustainable Infrastructure for the Fones Road Corridor Value Planning Exercise
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve the Interlocal Agreement with the Evergreen State College Center for Sustainable Infrastructure.
Staff Contact:
Rich Hoey, P.E., Public Works Director, 360.753.8495
Mark Russell, P.E., Director of Transportation, Public Works Department, 360.753.8762
Presenter(s):
None - Consent Calendar Item
Background and Analysis:
The Fones Road corridor in east Olympia (between Pacific Avenue and 18th Avenue) is failing to meet levels of service for traffic flow established in the City’s Comprehensive Plan. Under the Growth Management Act, the City is required to make needed improvements to the roadway to meet levels of service. In response, the City’s Capital Facilities Plan includes a project to expand Fones Road to 5 lanes and to install a new roundabout at the southern driveway to Home Depot. Early estimates suggest the cost of these improvements to be over $14 million.
During the Capital Facilities Plan discussions last year, staff shared concerns with Council about the affordability of the project and whether the project scope may be out of step with the City’s vision of vibrant, multi-modal corridors. Since that time, staff has requested help from the Evergreen State College Center for Sustainable Infrastructure on development of a “value planning exercise” for this corridor. In this context, the purpose of a value planning exercise is to identify alternative approaches that affordably meet the needs for multi-modal transportation, in ways that better serve the City’s economic, environmental and livability goals. In short, staff hopes the process will lead to a project that costs less and is a better fit with our community vision.
Once complete, this value planning exercise will set the stage for more detailed transportation analysis and design of improvements. Staff intends to share any recommendations coming out of the process with Council during the upcoming 2018-2023 Capital Facilities Plan process.
As outlined in the Interlocal Agreement, the cost of the value planning exercise is $48,235, with an additional reserve of $25,000 if staff determines that additional assistance from the college would be beneficial. Working with key staff and community partners, the Evergreen State College Center for Sustainable Infrastructure will be partnering with sustainability, transportation, community design and economic experts to complete the exercise.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
Future improvements to the Fones Road corridor will be of high interest to residents and to businesses and property owners along this corridor.
Options:
1. Approve and authorize the Mayor to sign the Interlocal Agreement with the Evergreen State College Center for Sustainable Infrastructure for the Fones Road Corridor Value Planning Exercise.
The City and Evergreen State College will move forward with the value planning exercise for the Fones Road corridor, helping to meet our community’s vision.
2. Amend the Interlocal Agreement to address Council concerns.
Staff will amend the Interlocal Agreement as requested and move forward with the value planning exercise.
3. Do not approve the Interlocal Agreement.
The Fones Road corridor project will not benefit from a value planning exercise.
Financial Impact:
The cost of the Fones Road value planning exercise is expected to be $48,235. The Interlocal Agreement also includes a reserve of $25,000 if staff needs additional analysis by the Center for Sustainable Infrastructure. The funds are available in the Transportation Capital Program under the Fones Road Improvement Project.
Attachments:
Interlocal Agreement