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Home My WebLink AboutMinutes - 1/22/1997 - Public Works Committee �,. SUMMARY PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE MEETING JANUARY 22, 1997 Chairman Bolger called the meeting to order at 7:30 PM with the following in attendance: Alderman Baird, Alderman Bates, Alderman Locke, Alderman Lawson, Mayor Cuda, Fred Batt, Gary Rozwadowski (Smith Engineering) and Ed Wilson (IDOT) to discuss traffic on Route 31. Alderman Bolger advised that he has written to Representative Ann Hughes and Dick Klemm requesting their support. A1 Jordan has also advised he will give us all the support he can. The City has pledged $100,000 towards the proposed Route 31 by-pass. Route 31 goes from a 4 lane highway do�vn to a 2 lane highway. It is dangerous from Route 176 to the hospital. There has been a request from the hotel and the condominiums for a traffic signal. Gary Lang will assist with a left turn lane. Ed Wilson of IDOT advised that south of Bull Valley Road is a SRA which provides for a 4 lane cross section with a median. IDOT is working with the Northeastern Illinois Planning Commission and assessing what will be needed by 2010 or later. Gary Rozwadowski of Smith Engineering explained that a traffic count was taken on Shamrock � Lane for two hours in the morning and two hours in the afternoon. All four of those hours met warrant #2 and then they counted for five more hours. Those hours also met warrants. The intersection of Shamrock and Route 31 does warrant signals based on warrant #2. Warrant #2 is concerned with delays of 2 to 3 minutes. The Smith study found over 10 vehicles wanted to turn left and finally gave up and turned right. Backups on Route 31 begin about 4:00 PM and last until after 5:00. Route 31 at Prime Parkway is wide enough for 3 lanes, but it was only marked for 2 lanes. Ed Wilson of IDOT stated that IDOT is concerned about monitoring traffic throughout northeastern Illinois. During the next 5 year period, after all the improvements have been made that IDOT can afford, they will still be $3.5 billion behind in roadways that are either poor or fair, which represents 35 - 40 percent of roadway network in northeastern Illinois. Mayor Cuda asked if there are any available funds. Mr. Wilson advised there were none available. Shamrock Lane is considered by IDOT to be a private road. When the City issued permits to build the condos Shamrock Lane was already constructed. According to Wilson, if the State had been involved with the project from the beginning, it would probably insisted on some improvements onto Route 31, IDOT's position is that putting a traffic signal at that intersection would constitute a private benefit for the owners of the condominium association, the health club and the hotel. The State is precluded from investing any of the State's resources and the City is precluded from any MFT resources on a traffic signal that serves as a private benefit. IDOT's general feeling is that if there is a left turn lane on Route 31 that might reduce some of the � accidents. The accidents appear to be rear end accidents which are caused by people stopping in traffic. Gary Rozwadowski advised that Shamrock and Route 31 does not meet SRA warrants � but they do nieet regular warrants. The SRA designation is in the process of being removed. If the State v�ere to provide a traffic signal it would be in violation of the access codes. Alderman Botger advised that Shamrock Lane is not a private road. IDOT has identified it as a private road going all the way back to 1992. It only serves a limited function. Bolger advised that the City maintains it. When the hotel was built in 1980, the State did provide a deceleration lane. Mr. Wilson advised that if there is a deceleration lane built, it was built by the hotel. The State did not l�uild it. Bolger asked what is required to get left turn lanes all along the particular strip? Wilson stated that if the City comes to IDOT and requests the installation of left turn lanes at various locations and provides for the means of funding the turn lanes, then IDOT has two approaches which can been taken. One would be through STP urban funding which would be done through the McHenry County Council of Mayors where, if in fact it was not a private benefit, and approved by the Council of Mayors and put on their program, IDOT would enter into a funding arrangement and it would be a shared funding arrangement. Mayor Cuda advised that the Council of Mayor's funds are committed through 1999. Alderman Baird asked Rozwadowski, with regard to Route 31 at the hospital, if we get the OK from IDOT and the self funding to do the stretch of roadway around Shamrock Lane, we could have 3 lanes all the way down to Corporate Center. Alderman Baird asked Mr. Wilson -- if we were able to iund that section between Gary Lang and the hospital, would it be possible if the City came up with funding to get that OK'd. Mr. Wilson stated that this would be determined by the statutes, whether or not this is a private benefit. If the City pays for the left turn lane why `.. would the State care if it was a private benefit or not. Mr. Wilson said that it would be OK'd if the IDOT's Traffic Department would award a permit for it. Alderman Bolger advised Mr. Wilson that this is not a frivolous request. The traffic signal at Shamrock Lane should be taken separately from the left turn lane. There is a tremendous amount of traffic on Route 31. The City needs to present a plan to IDOT's Permit Section - Bureau of Traffic. IDOT's engineers will probably suggest a left turn lane. They will review the plan and provide the City with direction as to how to go about this. However, IDOT will not participate in the funding of the project. Mayor Cuda asked Gary Rozwadowski that assuming that the SRA designation is removed and the intersectio�i does meet warrants for a traffic signal, how long will it take from start to finish. Also, he requested an estimate of the design cost and construction cost. Mr. Rozwadowski indicated the design could be completed in 2 to 3 weeks and about 6 weeks for approval from IDOT. It would be about 3 months for construction and about one month for the signal, taking into account 90 days to order the equipment. It could be done by next Fall. The cost of the signal would be about $80 - $100,000 for the signal and about $150 - $250,000 for the roadway. Batt asked Mr. Wilson if Shamrock Lane went around Irish Prairie and continued through to Bull Valley Road, would it still be considered a private road by IDOT? Wilson, responded, the Bureau of Trai fic would have to address this issue. We have control at annexation. The property was zoned at the same time the condos were built and there was no way that anyone would have � known that IDOT expected the City of McHenry to get money from the developer for a future traffic signal. How can we avoid this situation recurring in the future? If IDOT doesn't pick this \..� up during annexation this situation will occur over and over again. Batt felt this was something that was not �nissed by the City and now the State is asking us to pay the price. Mr. Wilson brought up a letter from Mr. Carlson in 1992 that indicated traffic signals were not warranted. If they were warranted it would have to be at the expense of the developer. Batt pointed out this letter was written 6 years after the property had been annexed and zoned. Mayor Cuda stated that funding does not seem to be forthcoming from the State. If funding were available it would be far down the road and the need is now. Alderman Baird felt that help is not coming fi�om the State. We need immediate help. The City must go ahead with an engineering study on the 3rd lane and installing a traffic signal. We need to find a way to fund this. Mayor C'uda advised that if the City is going to put $50,000 into roadway improvements the place to do it is at Shamrock Lane. He advised there is money available. The December's Treasurer's Report indicates there is a $2.4 million dollar surplus in the General Fund. We must prioritize our projects. We have been saving that money for projects such as this and we should go forward with this. Mayor Cuda is asking the Public Works Committee recommend to the City Council that we put out a request for proposals with Smith Engineering, get an exact dollar amount for the engineering costs and go forward with the project. Alderman Baird agrees that we should start this project on our own. He thinks we should keep on IDOT and let them know that we want need IDOT to continue to make it a 4 lane highway. Alderman Locice feels that something needs to be done, but the State considers this a private access and Motor Fuel Taxes cannot be utilized. The City does maintain the road, it does benefit �- a section of the City. Locke doesn't object to doing something to relieve the congestion on that road. The State designated this area as an SRA. He can't support this without some kind of assessment fro�n the people who are going to benefit the most. Alderman Bates asked if the State is slowing down on the improvements that have already been budgeted? Mr. Wilson, responded "yes". Bates went on to say that even if Shamrock was declared a public road and we got the State to say they'll pay for it, realistically they're just slowing down payment and slowing down projects due to available funds. Bates would be in favor of doing something and spending the money. Even if it means deferring some of the projects in Lakeland Park. Alderman Lawson stated that even if it was approved we wouldn't have the funding for 5 to 7 years. We can't wait that long. It doesn't have to be done all at once, we could stretch it out into a couple of fiscal years. We are going to have to take the responsibility. Some of the cost should be shared by Gary Lang, the hotel and Shamrock, but we can't depend on the State. Motion by Baird, seconded by Bates to authorize Smith Engineering to provide a proposal for the improvements of a left turn and making three lanes and/or install a traffic signal from Prime Parkway to Bull Valley Road. On a voice vote, all ayes. �. Randy Christensen asked if consideration has been given for a temporary light being installed � without a left turn lane. Rozwadowski explained that the State would not approve a light without a left turn lane. Motion to adjourn by Baird, seconded by Bates. The meeting adjourned at 8:50 PM. � � �. PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE AGENDA Wednesday, January 22, 1997 7:30 P.M. Council Chambers 1 . Route 31 Discussion - Future Planned Improvements - SRA Status - Traffic Signal at Shamrock Lane and Route 31 - Impact of West McHenry Bypass and Bull Valley Arterial `- 2. Any and All Business Which May Properly Come Before the Committee Posted and Mailed: January 17, 1997 � `— AGENDA SUPPLEMENT January 22, 1997 PUBLIC WORKS COMMITTEE TO: Mayor and City Council FROM: Fred Batt ��(.,�'�� SUBJECT: Issues Relating to South Route 31 Mr. Ed Wilson, Area Programmer for the Illinois Department of Transportation, will be in attendance Janizary 22, 1997 to discuss future planned improvements on Route 31, impact of West McHenry By-F'ass and Bull Valley Arterial, the flow of traffic on Route 31, the SRA status of `. Route 31 - current and proposed, and the possibility of a left turn lane andlor traffic signal at Shamrock and Route 31. Mr. Gary Roz�vadowski of Smith Engineering will also be present to explain traffic counts his firm has completed at the intersection of Shamrock and Route 31 in an attempt to determine whether warrarrts exist for a traffic signal at that intersection. 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