PLANNING COMMISSION AGENDA
THE CITY AND BOROUGH OF JUNEAU, ALASKA

CSP2017 0013: A consistency review for reconstruction of Egan Drive between Tenth St. & Main St.

AGENDA ITEM:

Case No.: CSP2017 0013

Applicant: State of Alaska

Location: Egan Drive between Tenth St. & Main St.

Proposal: A consistency review for reconstruction of Egan Drive between Tenth St. & Main St.

RECOMMENDATION:

Staff recommends that the Planning Commission adopt the above analysis and findings, and APPROVE the reconstruction of Egan Drive between Tenth Street and Seward Street subject to the following conditions:

Bike improvements

1. DOT&PF shall continue to allow the option to cycle on sidewalk on the seaward side of the Egan Drive remain. This is identified as a shared use path in the Juneau Non-motorized Transportation Plan.
2. DOT&PF shall stripe non-buffered bike lanes sections with a 6 inch line as per the Juneau Non-motorized Transportation Plan.
3. DOT&PF shall provide a cycle only turn lane for bicyclists turning from Egan Drive onto the bridge be provided in accordance with MUTCD standards if ROW width allows. This will provide a safer design for cyclists at this intersection as identified in the Comprehensive Plan, and the signage and pavement markings required in the Juneau Non-motorized Transportation Plan.
4. DOT&PF shall provide a bicycle lane be added on the Casey-Shattuck leg of W. Tenth Street. This will provide a safer design for cyclists at this intersection as identified in the Comprehensive Plan, and the signage and pavement markings required in the Juneau Non-motorized Transportation Plan.
5. DOT&PF shall provide dashed bike lane striping with a bicycle symbol across the Willoughby Avenue and Whittier Street intersections in accordance with the NACTO guidance for intersection treatment for bicyclists. Provision of a bike lane running the length of Egan Drive between Tenth Street and Main Street is a requirement of the Juneau Non-motorized Transportation Plan.
6. DOT&PF shall place appropriate cycle route directional signage in the project area for the Cross-Juneau Bikeway described in the 2009 Juneau Non-motorized Transportation Plan. They should work with CBJ to determine the placement.
7. DOT&PF shall provide ‘sharrows’ markings on the seaward traffic lane at the end of the project. Use of sharrows where bikes and motor vehicles share the road is a requirement of the Juneau Non-motorized Transportation Plan

Pedestrian improvements

1. DOT&PF shall use continental/ladder style striping at all intersections where allowed under current design standards, particularly those crossing side streets. Where current adopted design standards do not allow this, but future standards do, future striping should be changed to meet this recommendation. Continental/ladder style crosswalks was required as part of the Juneau Non-motorized Transportation Plan.
2. DOT&PF shall provide crosswalk markings using continental/ladder style striping across Willoughby Avenue. Crosswalk markings at this intersection are listed as priorities in the Juneau Non-motorized Transportation Plan.
3. DOT&PF shall retain the existing crosswalk at Seward Street. This would meet the Waterfront Masterplan recommendation that pedestrian pathways to downtown be provided.
4. DOT&PF shall add conduit for an additional pedestrian crossing on the Bridge side of Egan Drive at Whittier Street. This crossing is identified in the Willoughby Plan and will provide for increased pedestrian use of this intersection as the subport area is sold and developed.

Vegetative treatment of median

1. DOT&PF shall provide a vegetated median that is planted and maintained with grass. This includes all areas currently covered with grass including either side of Gold Creek bridge. DOT&PF shall work with CBJ to provide a suitable planting environment if it is determined the trees can survive in this location. This will provide vegetation in the median as shown in both the Willoughby District Plan and the Waterfront Master Plan.
2. DOT&PF shall provide alternative pavement colors and/or textures other than traditional asphalt or concrete where the central median cannot be vegetated. This treatment is recommended in the Waterfront Plan.
3. It is recommended as a condition of approval that DOT&PF work with CBJ to develop and implement a plan for more attractive treatment of the raised median islands at the Willoughby intersection including at the new crossing.

Right-of-Way acquisition plats

1. DOT&PF submit the necessary ROW acquisition plat following conclusion of negotiations regarding all easements and land sales along the project length.

Recommendations for consideration by DOT&PF

While not explicitly supported by any of the adopted plans reviewed, the following recommendations have been made for DOT&PF to consider incorporating into their proposal.

Lighting

1. It is recommended the DOT&PF lighting plan prevents light trespass and follow lighting recommendation of the AMA.
2. It is recommended the DOT&PF lighting plan provide lighting should be immediately adjacent to all pedestrian crossings.

Operation of buses at the Downtown Transportation Center

1. It is recommended that DOT&PF continue to observe the operation of the DTC exit and develop an appropriate plan to ensure that exiting buses are not adversely delayed by the reconfigured Right of Way. If the changes negatively impact bus service some form of Transit priority should be explored.

Bike improvements

1. It is recommended that DOT&PF stripe the buffered bike lane according to the standards of the NACTO Urban Bikeway Design Guide.
2. It is recommended that DOT&PF implement bike boxes at all signalized intersections as part of their striping plan to better facilitate left turns by cyclists and to reduce the chance of right turn collisions.
3. It is recommended that DOT&PF provide ramped access onto the outbound cycle lane from shared use path connecting to Egan Drive adjacent to the Prospector Hotel.

Pedestrian improvements

1. It is recommended that a new pedestrian crossing should be added by DOT&PF when the next phase of the Seawalk is completed (anticipated after 2020) where the shared use path connects to Egan Drive between The Prospector Hotel and Foodland. DOT&PF may wish to plan for any necessary conduit under the ROW at this location for the future pedestrian crosswalk.
2. It is recommended that DOT&PF post a 30 mph speed limit prior to the Glacier Avenue intersection for inbound traffic.
3. It is recommended that DOT&PF should retain the raised medians as shown in the plans at Glacier Avenue and Willoughby intersections.  Striped refuges should not be used.

8.      It is recommended that DOT&PF work with CBJ to construct the CBJ preferred design of the Seward Street intersection. To understand the impacts on the Main Street intersection immediate traffic/pedestrian counts should occur at the intersection for use in modelling peak season traffic, and a temporary closure the left turn could be considered.

1. It is recommended that the pedestrian crossing at Whittier be a 2 stage crossing with a pedestrian refuge median.

Traffic control during construction

1. It is recommended that DOT&PF provide the Juneau School District an opportunity to review and comment on temporary traffic controls proposed to mitigate the increased traffic volume during construction within the school zones. DOT&PF should formally provide notice to the impacted neighborhoods of the increased traffic volumes during the construction project.
2. It is recommended that DOT&PF and their contractor should work with CBJ Capital Transit to ensure bus operations are not adversely impacted during the reconstruction.

RECOMMENDATION – PROVISION OF EASEMENT ON CBJ PROPERTY

Staff recommends that the Planning Commission forward the proposed easements and/or land purchase to the Assembly with a recommendation of approval with the following recommended conditions applied:

1. DOT&PF shall work with CBJ on the design of any reconstruction of this in the area of the JACC and Centennial Hall and coordinate the timing of work in this area with planned events at both venues including temporary access arrangements if needed.
2. It is recommended that the easement or sale of the CBJ parcel across Egan Drive from Centennial Hall to DOT&PF allows for its use to provide a CBJ parking information sign.