FMATS Transportation Improvement Program Non-Motorized Project Nomination Form

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1 Project nominations are accepted from the public and are scored based on the adopted Project Scoring Criteria. These criteria assign weight based on the project s impact on the following: 1. Health and Quality of Life 2. Safety Improvements 3. Public Support 4. Road Maintenance and Condition 5. Other Considerations (Economic Development, Security, Utility Conflict Resolution, etc.) The score the project receives will be used to determine the project s eligibility for funding in the Transportation Improvement Program, or TIP. The TIP identifies, prioritizes and allocates anticipated funding for transportation improvements over a 4 year period. NAME: Jonathon Shambare ADDRESS: UAF, 590 University Avenue, Fairbanks, AK PHONE: , (mobile) jtshambare@alaska.edu Name of Proposed Project: Farmers Loop Road/Army Road Crossing Project Scope/ Description: Install a new crosswalk, crossing devices and the necessary sidewalk improvements to the area around Army Road and Iniakuk Ave on Farmers Loop Road. Consider additional lighting. The Army Road/ Iniakuk Ave neighborhood area provides housing for quite a few residents that include a sizable number of University of Alaska Fairbanks (UAF) students and staff. There is also a large rental apartment complex nearby on Madcap Lane. A fair number of these residents live in dry cabins and are within walking/biking distance to UAF or MACS bus service route on Farmers Loop for financial and /or lifestyle reasons. Currently, on Farmers Loop, there is no crosswalk between the Baillaine Road and College Road intersections. Therefore, residents who walk or use bicycles who live in the Army Road subdivision have no choice but to jaywalk on multiple points on Farmers Loop to get to the other side of a 4 lane road. The sidewalk/bike path is only available on the west or north side of the Farmers Loop Road. The section of the Farmers loop between Iniakuk Avenue and Madcap Lane is reported and has been observed as the popular area for jaywalkers during the information gathering for the 2014 UAF Trails and Greenways Plan. This area has a higher frequency for jaywalking because across the road are the pedestrian, bicycle and recreational amenities such as the UAF trailhead, parking for the Ballaine Lake Trailhead and bus stop for the south bound MACS buses. The Ballaine Lake recreational area is used by the Fairbanks community all year road for skiing, biking, walking, jogging, dog walking and fishing. Page 1 of 5

2 Two suggested solutions that may require further discussions with UAF and neighboring residents include one or a combination of the following: 1. Flashing pedestrian crosswalk at the intersection of Army Road and Farmers Loop 2. Construct a sidewalk on the east side of Farmers Loop Road with crosswalks at Army Rood and North Tanana Loop Road, and Improve the crosswalk at Baillaine Road Is there a commitment from a public organization to maintain this project if build? If so please identify that organization below. UAF will maintain those portions of the project that are with the UAF s right of way. Has an organization agreed to pay the non-federal funding match for this project? If so please identify the organization that has committed to pay the non-federal share. No non federal funding matching has been identified at UAF. Does this project support all or some of the four goals of FMATS? The four goals are listed below please explain the relationship between these goals and this project. 1. Coordinate planning efforts to provide an integrated transportation and land use system that embodies smart growth principles and stimulates the economy to grow. 2. Provide a safe, efficient, secure, and interconnected multi-modal transportation system for all users. 3. Protect the environment, improve air quality, promote energy efficiency, and enhance regional quality of life. 4. Optimize the utility and lifespan of the existing transportation system. Goal 1: This project strengthens and directs development towards existing communities. Additionally, it creates a more walkable neighborhood and provides a variety of transportation choices for residents and visitors to the area. It connects a neighborhood with the University of Alaska, Fairbanks recreational trails. This project supports the FMATS and UAF goals as the project is outlined in FMATS 2012 Non motorized Transportation Plan and the 2014 UAF Trails and Greenway Plan. The project will provide a more safe and interconnected multimodal transportation system. Goal 2: This project supports the FMATS goals by connecting this neighborhood to the recreational trail and sidewalk system. It gives users a specific, safe location to cross the roadway. Senior and disabled groups would have an easier time navigating this busy, unsignalized intersection. Additionally, it reduces conflicts between motorists and pedestrians along the corridor and will greatly improve the safety of the crossings in this area. Goal 3: Connecting individuals to the local recreational trails and sidewalk system promotes an enhanced quality of life. The crosswalk will also help in improving air quality and energy efficiency. A Page 2 of 5

3 better and safer crosswalk will encourage alternative non motorized modes of transportation that include but are not limited to skiing, cycling and walking to UAF and beyond. Goal 4: For individuals who choose to walk or bicycle the reduction in vehicle miles traveled will reduce the wear and tear on the exiting transportation system. Additionally, by offering a more complete street, individuals will find more utility in this roadway corridor. 1) Does this project improve community health and/or quality of life? For example: improve air and water quality, enhance intermodal connectedness, reduce congestion, etc. Increased use of non motorized modes of transportation that include skiing, walking and cycling will encourage healthy habits and a healthy community. Additionally, better crosswalks will increase access to UAF trails and other recreational amenities within UAF campus. This crossing can enhance intermodal connectedness, and reduce congestion. Air quality can also be improved by the possible increase in pedestrians and bicyclists along this intersection. 2) Is safety a factor? For example, is there a history of accidents or safety complaints? Safety is the major factor to consider on this project. By observation, and physically, it is apparent it is not safe for pedestrian or bikers to cross a 4 lane road with cars traveling in excess of 50 mph without using a crosswalk or other aid devices to cross the road. Farmers Loop Road is a fairly busy road with a Level of Service C per the FMATS Metropolitan Transportation Plan. Farmer Loop Road is an urban minor arterial road, with 2013 average traffic volume of 10,710 at Ballaine Road and 12,655 at Taku Drive. Both population and vehicular traffic is projected to increase in this area per FMATS Long term Plan. This means the severity of the jaywalking will only increase. East Farmer Loop is projected to increase population by 50 % and Average Daily Traffic Volumes projected to increase to 16,000 by There was one, single vehicle crash at this intersection in ) Would you describe the public support for this project as broad-based, localized, or limited? Please provide a justification for this level of public support. This project has the support of the UAF community through the UAF s Master Planning Committee (MPC). UAF and the MPC commissioned the Trails and Greenways Plan that included a reported safety concerns by students who walk or bike to campus from the Army Road neighborhood. The UAF Trails and Greenway Plan is accessible at the Master Planning Committee website at campus plans/. The following inset is from the UAF Trails and Greenway Plan and item #11 demonstrates that the Farmers Loop crossing is a safety concern for UAF. The full Plan is accessible at campusplans/. Page 3 of 5

4 This project is also included in FMATS MTP and the Non Motorized Transportation Plan. 4) Will this project improve drainage, decrease operating cost, promote efficient system management or improve overall facility condition? Please explain: With the right design, this project can be designed and constructed to improve drainage; however, I am not aware of any drainage issues in that area. 5) Are there other benefits of this project? For example: national security, community development or otherwise economic benefits Consider including lighting in the pedestrian/bicyclist crossing will help illuminate this section of Farmers Loop. Page 4 of 5

5 Please address other issues that have not been addressed concerning this project. (Attach additional pages and/or photos as necessary) The FMATS 2040 MTP spending plan lists $0.1 million for this project. It is suggested that this project be included under the generic Safety and Efficiency Improvement Project or the Intersection Improvement project for economies of scale. This project addresses congestion and safety. For more information, please contact: Donna Gardino MPO Coordinator 800 Cushman Street Fairbanks, AK Phone: (907) Fax: (907) Vacant MPO Transportation Planner 800 Cushman Street Fairbanks, AK Phone: (907) Fax: (907) Margaret Carpenter DOT&PF Fairbanks Area Planner 2301 Peger Road Fairbanks, Alaska Phone: (907) Fax: (907) Vacant FNSB Transportation Planner P.O. Box Fairbanks, Alaska Phone: (907) Fax: (907) Please submit completed form and attachments to the MPO Coordinator via mail, fax or . Page 5 of 5

6 D ARMY RD MADCAP LN ER FARMERS LOOP RD RA NG SR-29 Farmers Loop/Army Road crossing Project Distance (miles):.02 Legend Nominated_Projects Updated by FNSB Community Planning (alp) January 28, 2015 Coordinate system: NAD 1983 State Plane Alaska 3 FIPS Miles 0.08

7 Donna Gardino From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Golden, Pamela K (DOT) <pamela.golden@alaska.gov> Monday, February 09, :07 AM Donna Gardino Carpenter, Margaret (DOT) RE: What do you think of this project? I can t speak to the match or the maintenance, but I offer the following from the engineering side: Per the ATM, we don t mark crosswalks until there are 20 peds crossing in an hour (on a regular basis). I don t know that there s ever been a ped count in the area, but that is the first criteria to meet. If it could be shown that there were 20 pph on a regular basis Because of the speed and number of lanes Table 3B 101, the current ATM states that crosswalks should not be installed at locations such as the one proposed in the nomination. That being said, there is an interim addenda currently in review to address the appropriate types of traffic control strategies for where there are minimum number of peds crossing high volume and/or high speed roadways. As currently drafted, a crossing of Farmers Loop at Army Road would be looking at a ped hybrid beacon (i.e. a HAWK) or a traffic signal (if there was the 20 pph to mark a crosswalk at all). Either of those would require an engineering study to implement. Other things to consider nomination form says The section of the Farmers loop between Iniakuk Avenue and Madcap Lane is reported and has been observed as the popular area for jaywalkers during the information gathering for the 2014 UAF Trails and Greenways Plan. There s a little over ¼ mile between these roads. Even with a crosswalk and some sort of electrical warning device, there would need to be a way to funnel folks to the crosswalk or they will continue to cross at multiple locations. From: Donna Gardino [mailto:donna.gardino@fmats.us] Sent: Saturday, February 7, :20 PM To: Golden, Pamela K (DOT) Cc: Carpenter, Margaret (DOT) Subject: What do you think of this project? It is being nominated for the TIP and I don t know if DOT would buy off on this with the match, maintenance or most importantly, engineering wise. This is a draft! What are your thoughts? 1

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