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HomeMy WebLinkAboutItem 3b: Direction Regarding City Funding Improvements to Colorado Boulevard Railroad Bridge as part of Gold Line Foothill ExtensionSTAFF REPORT Development Services Department DATE: November 16, 2010 TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Jason Kruckeberg, Assistant City Manager /Development Services DirectorP Philip A. Wray, Deputy Director of Development Services /City Engineer9 J SUBJECT: REQUEST FOR DIRECTION REGARDING CITY FUNDING IMPROVEMENTS TO THE COLORADO BOULEVARD RAILROAD BRIDGE AS PART OF THE GOLD LINE FOOTHILL EXTENSION. Recommendation: Provide Direction SUMMARY The Gold Line Foothill Extension through Arcadia was originally planned to reuse the existing Colorado Boulevard Railroad Bridge for one set of tracks and construct a second bridge adjacent to it to accommodate the second set of tracks. During the preliminary engineering, it was determined that the existing bridge and abutments need to be removed and one new bridge be constructed to accommodate both tracks. The Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority (Authority) has prepared a Supplemental Environmental Impact Report to address the bridge replacement and is currently making plans to change the bid documents. The Authority has offered the City the opportunity to request upgrades or improvements to the bridge above the baseline design. Staff recommends that the City Council consider upgrading two items, the widening of the abutments to allow sidewalk under the bridge and the addition of a concrete decorative barrier across the top. BACKGROUND The Gold Line Foothill Extension Construction Authority (Authority) initially planned to protect and reuse the existing Colorado Boulevard Railroad Bridge for the Gold Line Foothill Extension. Because the bridge is only wide enough to hold one set of tracks, a second bridge was proposed adjacent to the existing bridge to hold the second set of tracks. During the preliminary engineering phase, the Authority found that the existing bridge created problems for the alignment of the second set of tracks and that the Staff Report November 16, 2010 Page 2 bridge was in poor condition and in need of repairs. It was determined that the existing bridge and abutments need to be removed and a single new bridge be constructed to accommodate both sets of tracks. The Authority prepared a Supplemental Environmental Impact Report (SEIR) to address among other things the bridge replacement. As a mitigation measure for the bridge removal, the SEIR calls for the existing art deco -style motifs on the abutments to be incorporated into the new abutments. The Draft SEIR was circulated and the comment period and public hearing have passed. Upon completion of the SEIR, the Authority will make the necessary changes to the bid documents and issue an addendum to the pre - qualified contractors. The Authority plans to construct a basic concrete bridge to replace the steel girder bridge and new concrete abutments that will have the art deco - style motifs. Colorado Boulevard has sidewalk on both sides of the street from Santa Anita Avenue to Colorado Place except through the lowered section under the railroad bridge. There is not enough room for sidewalk under the bridge because the existing bridge abutments are Tess than two -feet behind the street curbs. Pedestrians using Colorado Boulevard at the railroad bridge section are forced to walk in the street. The City occasionally receives complaints from residents regarding the lack of sidewalk on Colorado Boulevard particularly with Newcastle Park directly adjacent to this section. DISCUSSION With the Authority's proposal to construct a new Colorado Boulevard Railroad Bridge, the City has the opportunity to consider upgrades to the baseline bridge design. Staff has identified two upgrades worthy of consideration Lengthening the Bridge Lengthening the bridge and moving the abutments further apart would allow for sidewalks between the abutments and the street. The bridge would need to be lengthened by approximately seven (7) feet to allow five -foot wide sidewalks on both sides. If the widening is not pursued now with the bridge construction, it will be cost prohibitive to pursue in the future after the bridge is constructed. Staff does not recommend narrowing the street to accommodate sidewalk as an alternative to widening the bridge because the street is relatively narrow today and any further narrowing will limit the City's ability to utilize the street for vehicle and /or bicycle purposes. If the City is to fund the bridge widening, the Authority will include the sidewalk under the bridge in their work. The cost to lengthen the bridge by seven feet and construct sidewalk is $100,000. It should be noted that the parkways along Colorado Boulevard on either side of the bridge have concrete slopes and substandard sidewalk area similar to under the bridge. Staff Report November 16, 2010 Page 3 If the bridge is lengthened to accommodate sidewalk, the City will pursue a separate project independent of the Gold Line to cut back the slopes and install sidewalks to close the gap. Add Decorative Railroad Barrier The second upgrade is to add a decorative feature to the bridge to give it a more attractive appearance and its own identity. The baseline bridge will replicate the existing art deco -style motif features on the new abutments but the actual bridge will be plain concrete. Staff used the theme of the proposed Santa Anita Avenue Bridge as a basis for upgrade ideas. Because the Colorado Boulevard Bridge will be much shorter than the Santa Anita Avenue Bridge and with no center support, there are fewer elements that can be considered. If the Council wishes to consider aesthetic improvements, staff recommends adding a decorative concrete barrier across the top of the bridge. The estimated cost for the decorative concrete barrier is approximately $200,000. FISCAL IMPACT The two upgrades identified above are a total of $300,000. These upgrades could be paid for out of the savings on the Santa Anita Avenue Grade Separation. Staff is still working with the Authority to determine a final cost for the grade separation; however, the latest estimate from the Authority indicates a total cost to the City of just over $12 million, leaving almost a two million dollar savings. The only other commitment to date on the grade separation savings is the $120,000 authorized by the City Council for upgrades to the Station. These funds may also be needed for improvements or upgrades to the parking structure and transit plaza. At this point, no costs have been discussed for these elements, but they will be presented to the City Council for consideration in the near future. RECOMMENDATION Staff recommends the City Council provide direction regarding the City funding improvements to the Colorado Boulevard Railroad Bridge as part of the Gold Line Foothill Extension. Approved by: JK:PAW:pa Donald Penman, City Manager