SAFETEA Transportation Framework

Source: Mike Monte, Director, CEDO

Downtown-Waterfront-Marketplace Transportation Improvement Project (DWM-TIP)

Draft - September 2005 

INTRODUCTION

The recent passage of the Federal Transportation bill provided two earmarks for the Marketplace, Downtown and the Waterfront. In addition to this appropriation, there are several other transportation projects underway. The proposed framework provides a rational approach to the planning and utilization of these funds. 

FRAMEWORK

In order to engage in a comprehensive program, the following is proposed: 

Technical Advisory Committee. Comprised of several departments of the City, this existing group will conduct all planning and implementation activities. Departments include: DPW, Parks, Planning, CEDO and Arts. For the purposes of this exercise, the Committee will be expanded to include the Marketplace, and to BED, as necessary.  

Stakeholders Group. This will be a new group and will include City Department Heads of the departments above and other stakeholders including a representative of the BBA, ECHO, Local Motion, CCTA, the Church Street Marketplace Commission and others to be identified. This group is advisory. It is assumed that the Commissions will be actively engaged and will provide guidance to their respective Department Heads. 

Policy and Final Approval. The Mayor and the City Council, through their budget authority, and acting through the Finance Board and the Council’s Transportation Committee, will have the final word on the overall plan for implementation. 

Management. CEDO is responsible for overall planning and coordination and for central administrative functions. CEDO, in collaboration with DPW, is responsible for compliance with all relative State and Federal regulatory requirements. DPW and Parks will be responsible for general construction management of all activities. The Church Street Marketplace will be responsible for the management and completion of the final phases of the Marketplace improvements (Phase 3). Individual Departments will be tasked with leading and implementing specific activities, as determined by the TAC. Departments receiving “services” from other departments will engage in Scope of Work Service Agreements that spell out the specific responsibilities of each. Department Heads will be responsible for reporting to their respective Commissions. 

PRINCIPLES

The improvements that will be made will be guided by the following principles:

1.      Burlington’s Marketplace, Downtown and Waterfront will be economically strengthened through continued public improvements and private investments;

2.      The infrastructure improvements provided on the Waterfront will ensure safer pedestrian and vehicular access;

3.      The amenities of the Marketplace will be extended to other parts of the downtown and the waterfront;

4.      Consideration will be given to improvements that can be well maintained and managed. 

BUDGET

This preliminary budget  has been developed in order to illustrate the Sources and Uses for this activity. 

TRANSPORTATION BUDGET
	Original	Source	Federal	Match	Total
Waterfront
Pedestrian Enhancements (Escarpements)	1,500,000	SAFETEA	500,000	100,000	600,000
Pedestrian and bicycle improvements  (Depot Street)	1,500,000	SAFETEA	500,000	100,000	600,000
Lower College Street (Lake Street to Circle)	350,000	SAFETEA	750,000	150,000	900,000
“Moran Square” Infrastructure	2,500,000	SAFETEA	1,250,000	250,000	1,500,000
Undergrounding of Utilities	400,000	SAFETEA	250,000	50,000	300,000
Bike Path Improvements		SAFETEA	250,000	50,000	300,000
Total Waterfront			3,500,000	700,000	4,200,000
Marketplace
PHASE III A
Electrical
Electrical repair of boxes, cables	15,000	SAFETEA	15,000	3,000	18,000
Light pole and base replacement	130,000	SAFETEA	130,000	26,000	156,000
Electrical conduit and vault replacement	500,000	SAFETEA	500,000	100,000	600,000
Intersection & Side Street Enhancements
Cables and banners	50,000	SAFETEA	50,000	10,000	60,000
Information Directory
Info Kiosk, including ATM	125,000	SAFETEA	125,000	25,000	150,000
Intersection & Side Street Enhancements
Cherry Street intersection bricking	80,000	SAFETEA	80,000	16,000	96,000
Arts Alley
Arts alley paving	50,000	SAFETEA	50,000	10,000	60,000
Arts alley improvements	100,000	SAFETEA	100,000	20,000	120,000
Public Art	50,000	SAFETEA	50,000	10,000	60,000
Addition to storage/shop area	25,000	SAFETEA	25,000	5,000	30,000
City Hall fountain	150,000	SAFETEA	150,000	30,000	180,000
PHASE III B
Fountains
Top Block fountain	150,000	SAFETEA	150,000	30,000	180,000
Information Directory
Info Kiosk, including ATM	125,000	SAFETEA	125,000	25,000	150,000
Brick Replacement
Replace damaged brick Mall Block	242,000	SAFETEA	242,000	48,400	290,400
Replace damaged brick Second Block	295,000	SAFETEA	295,000	59,000	354,000
Replace damaged brick Top Block	75,000	SAFETEA	75,000	15,000	90,000
Intersection & Side Street Enhancements
Pearl Street gateway	100,000	SAFETEA	90,000	18,000	108,000
Main Street gateway	100,000	SAFETEA	90,000	18,000	108,000
Cherry, Bank & College Street gateways	200,000	SAFETEA	185,000	37,000	222,000
Amenities replacement
Replacement benches	20,000	SAFETEA	20,000	4,000	24,000
Replacement trees	60,000	SAFETEA	42,000	8,400	50,400
PHASE III C
Market-Based Study			50,000	10,000	60,000
Total Marketplace			2,589,000	517,800	3,106,800
Downtown
College Street enhancement	1,000,000	SAFETEA	1,000,000	200,000	1,200,000
Cherry Street enhancement	1,000,000	SAFETEA	1,000,000	200,000	1,200,000
Bank Street enhancement	1,000,000	SAFETEA	1,000,000	200,000	1,200,000
Total Downtown			3,000,000	600,000	3,600,000
Planning, Administration, Management		SAFETEA	411,000	82,200	493,200
Transit Center	2,500,000	FTA	3,240,000	760,000	4,000,000
Battery Park Extension	260,000	ICETEA	180,000	70,000	250,000
TOTAL			12,920,000	2,730,000	15,650,000

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City of Burlington

Summary of Major Transportation Initiatives as of November 2005 

Source: Mike Monte, Director, CEDO

A.      Major Roads: North Street completed, Riverside Avenue underway and the Southern Connector scheduled to start construction next year. The Route 2 corridor from South Willard Street to Williston Village will undergo extensive analysis and planning. Implementation of major projects will be supported by funds earmarked for improvements to the interchange at I89.

 

B.     Downtown Public Transit Improvements: Funds have been secured for the redevelopment of the Downtown Transit Center.

 

C.     Auto Capture and Park and Ride facilities: Planning has begun for expansion of the South End Transit Center, an auto capture multi modal facility in the South End. Similar facilities are planned adjacent to Exits 14 and 16.

 

D.     Pedestrian Improvements: $9.5 million has been secured ($6M for Church Street and Downtown Improvements and $3.5M for the Waterfront). Planning for improvements to Battery Street Extension is underway.

 

E.     Parking: Renovations completed at Church Street Marketplace Garage. The Wyndham Garage is next. The Lakeview Garage has been expanded. The City’s Parking Study calls for additional public parking at the corner of Winooski and Main Street. Scoping has begun.

 

F.      Rail: The state has secured funds for improvements to be prioritized by the legislature. Relocation of the Burlington rail yard is one of the eligible projects.

 

G.     Transportation Plan: We have secured funds to develop a comprehensive transportation capital plan. We will solicit consultant proposals shortly.

 

H.     CCTA Improvements: CCTA has streamlined service in the Pine Street corridor and is developing plans for increased service between Downtown Winooski and the Waterfront.

 

I.         Pedestrian Summit: Comments solicited at special events and on line at the City’s web site will comprise a list of recommendations and suggestions for improvement to the City’s pedestrian system.

 

J.       Alternative Fuels: Construction begins on a hydrogen fueling station at DPW on 11/9. Bids on a compressed natural gas (CNG) facility are due 11/28. Bio diesel remains under consideration.

 

K.     Bicycle improvements: A south bound bike lane has been added along South Winooski Avenue. A north bound lane may be established next spring.  With the completion of the Downtown Winooski project interest in establishing connections across the river have been rekindled.

 

L.      Intervale Road: Scoping is near complete on improvements from Riverside Avenue to the Intervale.

 

M.     North Winooski Avenue: Enhancement grant funded Streetscape improvements from Riverside Avenue to Archibald Street to begin next spring.

 

N.     Route 127 North Avenue: Scoping completed with City Council and DPW Commission preferred alternative of a modified slip ramp seeking funding through the MPO and local sources.

 

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Downtown Waterfront in Burlington's Ten Year Transportation Action Plan

Source: Dan Bradley, Special Projects Director, Department of Public Works, November 2005

PROJECT UNDERSTANDING AND APPROACH

The purpose of this project is to develop a multi-modal transportation improvement plan that accounts for the changes anticipated within the Burlington Downtown and Waterfront and addresses specific deficiencies. The outcome will be a comprehensive and coordinated list of roadway, transit, bicycle and pedestrian facility, streetscape and land use recommendations for implementation that satisfy an overall Downtown Waterfront vision. 

The Downtown Waterfront element of the Ten Year Transportation Action Plan will be developed in the context of a growing metropolitan region. As the region’s core city, the region depends on the City of Burlington as its economic engine. At the same time, the City depends on the region for its commuter base and broad retail customer base. Strong transit and roadway connections between the City and the region and sustainable pedestrian level linkages and amenities within the Downtown Waterfront area which are appropriate for the vision and goals of the city are critical to maintaining an economically healthy city and an economically healthy region and state. 

The scope of work should address the relationship between the Downtown and Waterfront’s transportation system and land use, the need to incorporate multiple stakeholders, and the desire to create a practical plan with recommendations that can be implemented. The scope will provide: 

• State-of-the-Art transportation planning and engineering tools and techniques;

• A market-based approach to assessing, planning for, and recommending land use policies;

• Development of specific goals;

• A multi-disciplinary approach that includes transportation planning, traffic engineering, roadway design, land use planning, landscape architecture, and project implementation;

• A public outreach plan that gathers input at multiple levels including regular Steering

Committee meetings, Downtown Waterfront wide public meetings, and meetings with stakeholders

• Development of a realistic implementation plan; and

• Development of a realistic and sustainable operations and maintenance plan. 

SCOPE OF WORK

This scope of work will be designed with the following four major phases:

• Phase I-Analysis of Existing and Future Issues and Development of Downtown Waterfront Vision/Goals;

• Phase II-Evaluation of Strategies;

• Phase III-Development of Implementation Plan; and

• Phase IV-Development of an Operations and Maintenance plan. 

Each phase has multiple deliverables and meetings to allow for project tracking and continuous feedback from the Steering Committee. The first two phases will produce Phase I and Phase II reports that can be stand-alone documents. In the event that the City decides not to continue with the plan beyond the first two phases, the Phase I and Phase II reports would have sufficient “shelf life” such that the City could resume the project after a few years without needing to start from the beginning. The final plan will be produced at the end of Phase IV. 

STUDY LEVEL OF DETAIL

Traffic volume projections, capacity analyses, access management assessment, and bicycle and pedestrian facility assessment will be conducted and roadway, intersection, streetscape, pedestrian and bicycle facility design concepts will be prepared for the study area.

 

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Updated December 13, 2005