Title
LaGrange Road Corridor Lane Width Reduction - McDonough and Associates
History
During 2010, the Village adopted a Master Plan for the LaGrange Road Corridor that had been developed over an extended period by T.Y. Lin and Associates which identified select enhancements and features that would unite the four communities having frontage on LaGrange Road from generally 131st Street to I-80. The report development effort was led by Orland Park, but was a culmination of work that included input and concurrence from Orland Park, Palos Park, Orland Hills and Tinley Park (Corridor Communities)
Over the summer of 2010 as the LaGrange Road reconstruction project was advanced by IDOT, Staff recognized that the Phase I report that had been prepared for the corridor and adopted by IDOT lacked certain critical elements that needed to be addressed if the Master Plan enhancements were ever to be constructed. Specifically, the Phase I report identified the new lanes north of 143rd Street and south of 159th Street as all being twelve feet wide (12-12-12) with a median width of 30 feet. Sidewalks were specified as typical IDOT design, and did not anticipate the new mobility needs such as bike paths. The lane widths from 143rd Street to 159th Street were set at 11-11-12 and did not need to be addressed. The T.Y. Lin report for the segments north of 143rd Street and south of 159th Street had proposed smaller medians and wider shoulders allowing for better non-motorized mobility. Several meetings were held at the Village’s request with IDOT’s Phase II Design Engineers from McDonough Associates.
Once we both understood each other’s needs and direction, the Village, with full support of the Corridor Communities, requested that IDOT provide uniform lane widths from 131st Street through 179th Street - the limits of the Phase I report. Since that initial letter has been sent (requesting a profile change), Village staff and McDonough have met several more times (at no cost to the Village thus far) with IDOT and FHWA staff to discuss the Village’s request for the consistent lane widths. At the last meeting, both IDOT and FHWA directed that an exhibit be produced that demonstrated the need for the cross section width change. The cost to produce this exhibit, which will depict the new geometrics for intersection movements and a roadway cross section supporting widened shoulders and a bike path, cannot be paid out of funds being paid to McDonough by IDOT for their Phase II engineering effort as these needs were not included in IDOT’s adopted Phase I report.
At the Village’s request, McDonough provided a scope and fee proposal for the effort required to provide exhibits and technical data to support the Village’s lane width modification request. In late December staff received the McDonough proposal, and requested that McDonough review their original fees and provide another proposal. McDonough has provided a second proposal. With the review and concurrence of the Corridor Communities, it is recommended that the second proposal dated January 31, 2011 proposal be accepted. If the Village’s request is approved, the cost to modify the design documents for the lane and median width reduction, as well as all construction costs for many of the enhancements will be paid by IDOT.
Staff is currently engaged in the development of an Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) with the Corridor Communities that will address the cost sharing for this item, as well as others that have been indentified and discussed. It is the desire of the Corridor Communities to develop a single IGA for the corridor and to bring this item forward during the second quarter of 2011.
On February 7, 2011, this item was reviewed and approved by the Public Works and Engineering Committee and referred to the Board for approval.
INFORMATION PREVIOUSLY PROVIDED AS PART OF THE FEBRUARY 7, 2011, PUBLIC WORKS AND ENGINEERING COMMITTEE PACKET.
Financial Impact
A Budget Adjustment will be required for this Item within the approved Fiscal Year 2011 Capital Improvement Fund Budget.
Recommended Action/Motion
I move to approve authorizing the Village Manager to enter into a contract with McDonough and Associates for development of exhibits and other technical data to support the Village’s lane width reduction request for the LaGrange Road corridor reconstruction in the amount not to exceed $18,875 as provided in their January 31, 2011 proposal;
And
Approve authorizing a Budget Adjustment to provide funding for this Item within the 2011 Capital Improvement Fund in an amount not to exceed $18,875;
And
Approve authorizing the Village Manager to include these and other appropriate costs and elements in the Intergovernmental Agreement being developed with the Villages of Orland Park, Palos Park, Orland Hills, and Tinley Park.