City of Oak Creek

Common Council Report

 

Meeting Date: February 20, 2012

 

Item No.:        

 

Recommendation:  That the Common Council considers a motion to enter into an agreement with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation (WDOT) to initiate the construction of a new access road to the lakefront redevelopment sites. (4th Aldermanic District)

 

Background:  The lakefront redevelopment sites situated along the east side of 5th Avenue currently have access via 5th Avenue, Puetz Road and Ryan Road, which are all two-lane rural roads primarily lined with residential properties.  The lakefront development will require improved access that will accommodate vehicular, bicycle and pedestrian traffic.  A road extension from the intersection of STH 100/STH 32 across the vacant land at 9648 S. Chicago Road to an intersection of 5th Avenue/Ryan Road has long been the plan.  There is a future road pattern on the Official Map.

 

While redevelopment of the lakefront will take place over several years, it is recommended that this road extension be constructed along with the initial project phases to facilitate construction of later phases and provide a proper gateway to the site and to Bender Park.  The goal is construction in 2014.

 

WDOT has designated the proposed road extension a relocation/reconstruction of 5th Avenue.  This designation will allow the project to be eligible for various state and federal funding sources, such as STP-Urban funding, which is 80% (state)-20% (local.)

 

To maintain eligibility for funding opportunities, the City must work under a State/Municipal agreement to assure design in accordance with NEPA requirements (development of an environmental document.)  To that end, WDOT’s municipal consultant must be involved with all aspects of the design process and this agreement provides that the City will pay the associated costs, which is estimated at $70,000 per the agreement.

 

Engineering has already begun work on preliminary design and coordination with WDOT and the property owner.  Once the WDOT agreement is in place, Engineering will select a design firm to continue on with the design process, including right-of-way acquisition, coordination with WDOT and the railroad, and funding applications.

 

Under this agreement, project design, WDOT review, right-of-way acquisition and railroad crossing costs are to be locally funded.  This will preserve Oak Creek’s STP funding allocation for use during the construction phase and allow the design process to proceed as soon as possible.

 

Fiscal Impact:  There is $175,000 budgeted in 2012 for design of the road.  This will allow for the City to proceed with the design.  The remaining funds for completion of the design and right-of-way will have to be budgeted for in 2013.

 

Prepared by:

 

 

 

Michael C. Simmons, P.E.

City Engineer

Respectfully submitted:

 

 

 

Gerald Peterson, ICMA-CM

City Administrator

 

Fiscal review by:

 

 

 

Mark D. Wyss

Finance Director