Title
Discuss and consider the Capital Improvement Plan Priorities for FY 2011 through FY 2015.
Summary
On May 25, 2010, staff presented to the City Council recommendations of the Planning and Zoning Commission as well as staff regarding capital budget priorities for the next five years. These recommendations were presented at that time in order to comply with City Charter Section 8.08(c)(5) which requires the Planning Commission to annually recommend a five-year plan to the City Council and the City Manager at least 120 days before the beginning of the budget year. The plan must list projects in order of preference with a recommendation for the year of construction for each project. Please refer to the attached memo explanation and methodology for prioritization to forumulate the Staff recommendation provided below.
Deadline for City Council Action
N/A
Fiscal Impact
Proposed expenses would be drawn from previous issuances of Certificates of Obligation.
Staff Recommendation
Staff recommends that the Kelly Lane corridor be addressed consistent with the Planning and Zoning Commission's recommendation earlier this year with some variation. Resources to fund the construction and extenstion of Becker Farm Road to tie into Silent Harbor Drive have already been identified. Further, based on the added value of improved connectivity in this area, improvements previously identified for the widening of Kelly Lane may not provide the full range of desired benefits of improving mobility and safety in this area. Therefore, staff has sought additional input from Alliance Transportation Group (ATG) to help prioritize the best short, medium and long term strategies for sequencing these improvements as summarized below which is a combination of improvements to Kelly and Colorado Sands connectivity improvements:
1. Modify signal timings at SH 130 and Kelly.
2. Improvements (medians) on Kelly Lane between Murchison Ridge Drive and Benning should be done as a group that includes construction of Colorado Sands to the first cross road, and the east leg of the cross road into Murchison Elementary School.
3. The second phase of Colorado Sands, including the FM 685 connection can be constructed at any time after Item 2.
4. Improvements to intersections on Kelly east of Benning are independent of other items, and are projected to result in improved traffic flow whenever constructed.
5. The extension of Colorado Sands south of FM 685 can occur at any time after Item 3, but will not result in any mobility benefit until connections to Falcon Pointe (Lonestar Blvd) or Pflugerville Parkway are constructed.
A full explanation and detailed sequence of these phased improvements is attached as recommended by ATG and supported by staff, but the cost estimates provided are very preliminary and subject to change. Should the Kelly Lane improvements be deferred, it is recommended that it be overlaid as a short term improvement. The preliminary estimate for an overlay is $388,000 for the full extent of the Kelly Lane Phase I project. It should be noted that overlay projects should not be funded by Certificates of Obligation.
Drafter
Felix Benavides, P.E., City Engineer