HomeMy WebLinkAbout14-051 Roundabout AlternativesCITY OF ^
LADE LSIf10KE
DREAM EXTREME.
REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL
TO: HONORABLE MAYOR
AND MEMBERS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
FROM: GRANT M. YATES
CITY MANAGER
DATE: MARCH 25, 214
SUBJECT: ROUNDABOUT ALTERNATIVE ANALYSIS AS PART OF
PROJECT APPROVAL/ENVIRONMENTAL DOCUMENT (PA/ED)
OF 1 -15/ RAILROAD CANYON ROAD INTERCHANGE
Recommendation
1. Authorize RCTC and Caltrans District 8 to evaluate the Roundabout configuration
as part of the PA/ED stage of 1 -15 /Railroad Canyon Road Interchange
improvement project.
2. Request additional Regional & Zone TUMF Funding appropriation from the
Riverside County Transportation Commission (RCTC) and Western Riverside
Council of Government (WRCOG) for a comprehensive detail analysis of this
alternative and required Public Outreach.
Background
The Railroad Canyon Road interchange improvement PA/ED stage which includes the
re- alignment of the Railroad Canyon Road interchange, signal relocation and an
additional interchange at Franklin Street, was reauthorized to begin on January 2014.
The two alternatives that are currently being analyzed are traditional Interchange
configurations, and due to lack of undeveloped properties, the Right -of -Way cost of
these two alternatives alone ranges from $15 million to $22 million, and a total project
cost of $64 million to $71 million. The proposed roundabout concept that is being
recommended for further consideration has recently been adopted by Caltrans as a
viable alternative to improve highway congestion and safety.
On February 20, 2014, the Public Works Department held a meeting with
representatives from Caltrans, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Intersection
ROUNDABOUT ALTERNATIVE ANALYSIS AS PART OF PA &ED
MARCH 25, 2014
PAGE 2
Control Evaluation (ICE) Committee and RCTC to discuss the feasibility of roundabout
construction at Railroad Canyon Road On /Off Ramps, as well as the intersection of
Lakeshore Drive /Railroad Canyon Road, Auto Center Drive /Railroad Canyon Road, and
Summerhill Drive /Railroad Canyon Road. Based on the existing and projected traffic
volumes, and considering the Right -of -Way availability, they found the roundabout to be
a feasible lower cost alternative that can be further analyzed as part of the PA /ED
stage.
Currently, there are no roundabout similar to this magnitude in California, and FHWA
and Caltrans ICE representative were very excited to assist the City in any Public
Education, Funding, review of the design and any other element of the project.
As shown on the attached exhibit, the proposed roundabouts will replace the closely -
spaced signalized intersections at Railroad Canyon Road with Lakeshore Drive, Casino
Drive, Summerhill Road, as well as 1 -15 on /off ramps.
The proposed alternative would have to be fully analyzed in detail at this stage. The
scope of technical analysis would include Geometric layout, directional traffic flow
modeling, lane configuration, advance signage, truck turn movement, and bicyclist and
pedestrian movements.
The required technical analysis will demand a roundabout expert to join the current
professional consultant team. There are currently seven roundabout experts in the
country that have worked with FHWA and local agencies on various high profile
roundabout projects. All seven roundabout experts have been contacted by the project
team and they all have shown great interest on this project. The City Council action as
requested here will enable RCTC to appropriate additional funds to perform all required
technical studies, and bring on board a roundabout expert to conduct required technical
studies and assist with public workshops. If the roundabout alternative is found to be
technically justifiable and preferred by the community, it could be constructed within the
next 4 -years at one -third of the cost of traditional improvements at the Railroad Canyon
Road interchange area.
Fiscal Impact
The additional fund will be allocated from the Transportation Uniform Mitigation Fee
(TUMF) Regional Fund, supported by RCTC Board. No additional matching fund is
required to complete the PA /ED.
Prepared by: Ati Eskandari 4_ --°_—
Interim Director of Public Works
Approved by: Grant M. Yates
City Manager
ROUNDABOUT ALTERNATIVE ANALYSIS AS PART OF PA &ED
MARCH 25, 2014
PAGE 2
Attachments: Exhibits — Project Alternatives