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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/20/1993 Special Meeting 3:34 City of Yakima, Washington July 20, 1993 SPECIAL MEETING The City Council met on this date at 7:00 a.m. in Room A at the Yakima Convention Center, Yakima, Washington to consider a status report on I -82 /Yakima Avenue /Fair Avenue Interchange. Council Members present were Clarence Barnett (absent after 8:35 a.m.), Lynn Buchanan, Henry Beauchamp, William Brado, Skip Semon, and Bernard Sims. Mayor Pat Berndt was absent and excused. Staff members present were City Manager Zais, Dennis Covell, Director of Engineering and Utilities, and Deputy City Clerk Skovald. Others in attendance were Yakima County Commissioners Charles Klarich, Chairman; Bettie Ingham, and Jim Lewis; Dan Hesse, Yakima County Public Works; Vern Redifer, Yakima County Public Works; Leonard Pittman, Washington State DOT; Greg Stewart, Central Washington State Fair; Joseph Morrier, Yakima Mall; Al Royal, JEM Development; Chuck Carter, Cavanaughs; Collie Martin, CH2M Hill; H.E. Jerry Maggard, Advanced Services; Gary Lukehart, Developer; Steve Thomas, Boise Cascade; Nick Temple, WA Central Railroad; Rand Elliott, Holiday Inn; Bill Huibregtse; John Klingele; Kathy Coffey, Executive. Director of the Yakima Center and John Benson, Yakima Chamber of Commerce. Council Member Sims opened the meeting and requested those who have concerns about the design of this project to express them. This is going to be a rather expensive project in which there are many partners. Dennis Covell, Project Manager of the Gateway Project, introduced Collie Martin, with CH2M Hill. Mr. Martin provided a brief history of the Yakima Avenue /I -82 interchange project. Using colored illustrations, he emphasized the importance of the total configuration and reviewed its major features. The total project would involve the widening of Yakima Avenue to six lanes, two each direction with two left turn lane pockets. Fair Avenue would be extended underneath Yakima Avenue (East Terrace Heights Way) and connect with the couplet. There would be a new ramp pair that would bring primarily truck traffic on and off from the north onto the couplet, and there would be a new flyover ramp, similar to the northbound off ramp now that drops down from a higher elevation, only this one would split off and take traffic over to the couplet. There would be some minor revisions in ramping here. J Ramp would connect the extension of Fair Avenue up to Yakima Avenue. Describing Stage 1, again with the aid of illustrations, Mr. Martin explained that Ramp B (one of the two ramp pairs) would not be included in the estimate. He listed the major elements to be constructed for $13.4 million. The list included an extension of the couplet to connect to Fair Avenue which would provide access to the proposed retail area. Ramp J would connect Fair Avenue with the widened Yakima Avenue, and there would be some minor ramp improvements. Pointing to the illustration, Mr. Martin showed where the six traffic signals will be added. Mr. Martin stated 335 JULY 20, 1993 'SPECIAL MEETING that the objectives presented,at the beginning of the project will be met because there will be another access to and from the Fairgrounds area by coming up Fair Avenue, connecting on the J Ramp and getting on the interchange or continuing on around to the couplet. There will be improved traffic flow from City Center to I/ Terrace Heights and back. Currently, there is one lane each way. Stage 1 would provide two lanes each way with two separate left turn lanes. There will be access to the retail area. There will be a bicycle pathway, 10 feet wide with separating barrier, adjacent to the widened Yakima Avenue. Truck traffic would be reduced on Yakima Avenue by diverting the trucks as quickly as possible to the couplet. Mr. Martin further commented that there is a real possibility, with additional funding, to stretch Stage 1 to include temporary Ramp B which would bring southbound truck traffic off directly onto the couplet; the estimated cost, about $2 million. A signal at Pacific Street would cost about $120,000, and some additional landscaping would cost about $200,000. There is $13.4 million available, we think Stage 1 can be stretched to add the signal at Pacific and Ramp B, but there are other concerns that need to be taken into consideration. Those include: Fair Avenue would be improved during Stage 1 to include five lanes with a left turn lane at an estimated cost of about $1 million. Mr. Martin further described how the dedicated lane for the Flyover Ramp would loop around down to the City. It would continue from the east so that when the Flyover Ramp terminates, it will merge. There will not be a dedicated lane. There has been a request to include a long taper down to 8th Street; the estimated cost, another $600,000. There is some interest on the part of DOT to buy the right -of -way now for Ramps A and I to be constructed in later stages of the project; the estimated cost is $164,000. There is some interest in a traffic signal at 9th Street and Yakima Avenue intersection as well. These additional elements that have been requested would cost approximately $2 million. Mr. Martin explained that once approval to proceed has been granted, design will begin. Work up to this point has included environmental assessments and concepts reports. The next major milestone will be access hearings in September of 1993. Bids toward the construction project will be advertised in June of 1994. Access to the retail area would be available via 8th Street by July of 1995, and via Ramp J by November of 1995. Total construction (cleanup) would be March 1996. I/ Mr. Martin stated there have been some concerns expressed about the number of traffic signals. The alternative to signals is more J Ramps. It is a compromise. The ramps, along with the right -of -way factor, are very expensive. The traffic signals will be synchronized based on how the traffic will be dispersed to the other improvements. In order to address some other concerns, -Mr. Martin explained how lanes, including the bike path and a retaining wall, will be added underneath the existing bridge of the flyover. Council Member Buchanan commented that he could see a potential problem with small vehicles and large trucks as well as 2 336 JULY 20, 1993 SPECIAL MEETING bicyclists in this area. There was discussion concerning bicyclists having to cross Yakima Avenue and the need to provide shoulders or a separated pathway for bicyclists to travel on. Council Member Barnett determined that the free right hand turn would remain when heading east on Yakima Avenue and then south on I -82. Mr. Martin explained that Stage 1 is really just an interim step, and the traffic signal will not be needed after the I/ construction period, which Leonard Pittman, DOT, stated he would estimate to be six months. Commissioner Klarich questioned putting in another light or just using a flagperson during the construction period. Joe Morrier determined that there would be a traffic signal before you take a right (south) to get on the freeway when leaving Yakima. Council Member Buchanan commented about the problems that can happen when utilizing flagpeople. Addressing a concern about the J Ramp, Mr. Martin explained that everything that is being proposed meets state and federal highway standards as far as turning radius, speed limits and so forth. He explained what a transverse slope is and estimated the J Ramp's to be no more than what is standard. Rand Elliott asked what the grade was on the J Ramp, and Mr. Martin said he would find out. Mr. Martin explained that because this project is still in the conceptual stage, there are a lot of details that have not been determined. Commissioner Lewis referred to access to J Ramp, the different flows of traffic on Yakima Avenue,- as well as the bike path and asked if all this meets current DOT standards. Mr. Martin then explained levels of service and traffic signalization. There was discussion among Al Royal, Chuck Carter and Mr. Martin regarding how Stage 1 of this project would relieve truck traffic, particularly at 8th Street and 9th Street. Council Member Beauchamp commented that there will always be lots of traffic on Yakima Avenue. We will not be able to solve that problem completely. If we are going to spend this much money on the interchange project, we need to look at how the Yakima Avenue flow of traffic will be improved and how the entry- into -the City flow of traffic will be improved. The design should accomplish those things. Commissioner Klarich commented that this project should include good access to the Fairgrounds from Downtown. We're not getting what we really wanted. Fair Avenue is not included at all, and that is what the County's $600,000 was for, to improve Fair Avenue down to the Fairgrounds. Regarding access into the current downtown area, Al Royal expressed concern that not having the priority of the flyover ramp as it is today would be detrimental to the downtown area. The free lane clear to 8th Street and beyond would be turned into a merge lane, and a light will be added to the free right turn heading south out of downtown, both of which would make it difficult to access or exit the current downtown area. There was discussion and comuents among Dennis Covell, Al Royal and Joe Morrier regarding the flyover ramp as it is today and the proposed changes as they relate to future access to the downtown area, and the additional right -of -way and construction costs of $600,000 that would be added to the project. Mr. Covell commented about the request by the Chamber and others in the area to provide a signal at 9th Street which would act as a relief valve for getting people out of this area during heavy 3 337 JULY 20, 1993 SPECIAL MEETING - traffic hours. There is a,.variety,of- .opinions regarding the merits of the signal at Yakima Avenue and 9th Street. He further commented about the priority of the flyover ramp in relationship with traffic flow improvement. Using a chart to illustrate the extra improvements requested to be included in Stage 1 of the I/ project, Mr. Covell commented about the increased funding ($15.4 million) needed for those extra improvements. He explained that a new agreement regarding funding participation would have to be made. He mentioned, in particular, a separate two -way bicycle lane with an estimated cost of $2.2 million -- too expensive for Stage 1 -- and until that can be funded, there will be a separate bike access lane. Mr. Covell explained the criteria to be met for TIB grant funding. He explained that the Master Plan will meet everyone's needs, but that much money is not available. There is enough for a first stage and we will continue to look for other funds. It may take more stages to the entire project. If the decision is made to make more changes before going into the design stage, the environmental review will have to be redone. Gary Lukehart explained how the J Ramp would provide access. Bob Hall commented about the importance of the signalization requested. Steve Thomas described the project as a good one and was confident that the disagreements can be worked out. He suggested that the project move forward. Gary Lukehart commented that this is the best alternative and the project should go forward. Commissioner Lewis expressed concern about the potential for conflicting flows of traffic which would create a bottleneck and the possibility of accidents. Commissioner Klarich commented that the J Ramp would be good access for those coming from Terrace Heights and going to the new business park. Joe Morrier expressed concern about the J Ramp which would make egress and ingress into the downtown area difficult. There was discussion regarding improving the appearance of the City including comments from Gary Lukehart and Bob Hall. Greg Stewart expressed concern about access to the Fairgrounds. City Manager Zais suggested that the two bodies meet with the engineering staff and decide what direction to go. After further discussion regarding the the Flyover ramp, Council Member Sims adjourned the meeting at 8:55 a.m. READ AND CERTIFIED ACCURATE BY: . /1 OUN L ME :ER DATE JOO I/ T: - ASSISTANT MLYOR /DATE ATTEST: CITY CLERK COUNCIL MEMBER MINUTES PREPARED BY DEPUTY CITY CLERK SKOVALD. 4