Amended Agenda Item 8ASTAFF REPORT
City of Atlantic Beach
Commission Meeting
AMENDED ITEM SA
JUNE 27, 2016
AGENDA ITEM: Safe Routes to Schools Route Selection
DATE: June 8, 2016
SUBMITTED BY: Donald D. Jacobovitz, P.E., Public Works Director
BACKGROUND: In late 2012, the City Commission asked Staff to investigate whether the
FOOT Safe Routes to Schools (SRTS) Grant Program would be a viable means to get
funding for improving bicycle access to Atlantic Beach Elementary School (ABE) by
connecting and upgrading the current Multi-Purpose (bicycle & pedestrian) Path I
sidewalk network on Seminole Road and Sherry Drive.
Staff applied for the SRTS grant, which was approved in late 2013. Under this grant,
FOOT was responsible for engineering design and construction of the Multi-Purpose
Path (MPP), with no requirement for matching funds from the City.
The proposed project, which will construct an eight foot multi-purpose path on Sherry
Drive from Ahern Street to Plaza Drive, and on Seminole Road from Plaza Drive to 1 yth
Street, was presented at public meetings in March 2013 and May 2016 and received
enthusiastic support from attendees, including the Friends of Atlantic Beach Elementary
(FABE), ABE SAC and PTA.
Two options for the path are under consideration and are to be presented to the
Commission at a Workshop before the June 23rd Commission meeting. The first option
is the original proposed route constructing the entire path along the eastern side of
Sherry Drive and Seminole Road. The second option is to use the existing MPP on the
west side of Seminole Road from Plaza Drive to Selva Marina Drive ( -1300 LF) and
continue on the west side to the existing crosswalk near 151h St I Country Club Lane.
Staff has evaluated the options and lists some Pros & Cons of each alternative in
Attachment 1. A third option is for the Commission to decide the project is not in the
best interests of the City and to terminate design and surrender the grant. Under Federal
Law, the city will be obligated for the funds already expended to bring design to the
current point ($50,000 as of April 8, 2016).
The Commission proposed alternative for routing a portion of the path through Howell
park was not considered based on community comments at the May yth Town Hall
meeting regarding safety concerns and also because the longer route through the park
would further reduce the length of path to the north.
Preliminary design for the project began in 2014. After changes in project funding source
and engineering consultant, final design was begun by Element Engineering in October
2015. Design is being held at the Conceptual (30%) stage pending City selection of the
route to follow for the SRTS path. Construction is anticipated to begin after July 1, 2017.
AMENDED ITEM SA
JUNE 27, 2016
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) has agreed to serve as the Local
Agency Project (LAP) Administrator for the FOOT on this project.
BUDG ET: The negotiated public involvement support fee ($6, 136.57) is being paid from the
Public Works Professional Services account (001-5002-541-3100) with no additional
funding required .
The City will be obligated for design fees (-$50,000) if the project is canceled, funding
source to be determined , if needed.
FOOT has budgeted $687,000 for design , construction and construction support efforts .
RECOMMENDATIONS: Staff recommends the Commission approve the original route keeping
the entire multi-purpose path on the eastern side of Sherry Drive and Seminole Road.
ATTACHMENTS: 1. SRTS Path Alternatives -Pros & Cons
2 . Powerpoint presentation
REVIEWED BY CITY MANAGER: --P1._ t/~ ~
Safe Routes to Schools Route Options
1) Original Route-East Side Sherry and Seminole-Ahern to 17th St.
• Pros:
AGENDA ITEM SA
JUNE 27, 2016
o Minimizes main route crossings of high traffic volume streets (crosses Plaza
Drive at a five way Stop controlled intersection).
o Route already field verified as having no significant obstacles and requiring
minimal tree removal.
o Design already at 30% level, no additional survey required.
• Cons:
o Funding limitations dictate construction stops at 1 yth St. (instead of tying into
existing MPP at Garden Lane as requested in initial grant application).
o Constructs new concrete walkway where there is no existing path (east side of
Seminole, Plaza to 151h St), while there is an existing MPP and sidewalk on the
west side of Seminole.
2) Alternate Route -West Side Seminole -Plaza to 15th St.
• Pros:
o Uses existing MPP from Plaza to Selva Marina Dr. and replaces existing
sidewalk from Selva Marina Dr. to 15th St.
o Use of existing path may allow extending path north to 18th St.
o Reduces number of driveway crossings because one block is along south edge
of Johansen Park.
• Cons:
o Requires two additional main route crossings of high traffic volume streets
(Seminole at 15th and at Plaza Dr.). 15th St crossing is not Stop controlled.
Because of heavy traffic volume, Seminole at Plaza may require a Crossing
Guard.
o Crossing at 15th St is on a curve in Seminole Road.
o Additional survey required, est. cost $5,250 from Plaza to 15 1h St. (also additional
survey if path is extended to 18th St., -$8,000). Probably at City expense.
Safe Routes To Schools
• FHWA I FOOT Sponsored Program
-To improve the bicycle and pedestrian safety of
Kindergarten through eighth grade school children,
-To enable and encourage children, including those with
disabilities, to walk and bicycle to school,
-To make bicycling and walking to school a safer and more
appealing transportation alternative, thereby encouraging
a healthy and active lifestyle from an early age, and
-To facilitate the planning, development, and
implementation of projects and activities that will improve
safety and reduce traffic, fuel consumption, and air
pollution in the vicinity of schools. l> .... s: em zZ
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Desired outcomes of the Safe
Routes to School Program include:
• Increased bicycle,
pedestrian, and traffic
safety
• Encouragement of healthy
and active lifestyles
• Improved air quality
• More children walking • Improved community
and bicycling to and from safety
schools
• Decreased traffic
congestion
• Improved childhood
health
• Reduced childhood
obesity
• Reduced fuel
consumption
• Increased community
security
• Enhanced community
accessibility
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Desired outcomes of the Safe
Routes to School Program include:
{Continued)
• Increased community involvement
• Improvements to the physical environment
that increase the ability to walk and bicycle to
and from schools
• Increased interest in bicycle and pedestrian
accommodations throughout a community
• Improved partnerships among schools, local
municipalities, parents, and other community
groups, including non-profit organizations
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The Five E's of Safe Routes to School:
The Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) recommends that SRTS efforts incorporate
-directly or indirectly-five components, often referred to as the "5 E's". They are:
• Engineering-Creating operational and physical improvements to the infrastructure
surrounding schools that reduce speeds and potential conflicts with motor vehicle
traffic, and establish safer and fully accessible crossings, walkways, trails and bikeways.
• Education-Teaching children about the broad range of transportation choices,
instructing them in important lifelong bicycling and walking safety skills, and launching
driver safety campaigns in the vicinity of schools.
• Encouragement-Using events and activities to promote walking and bicycling.
• Enforcement-Partnering with local law enforcement to ensure traffic laws are
obeyed in the vicinity of schools (this includes enforcement of speeds, yielding to
pedestrians in crossings, and proper walking and bicycling behaviors), and initiating
community enforcement such as crossing guard programs.
• Evaluation-Monitoring and documenting outcomes and trends through the
collection of data, including the collection of data before and after the intervention (s).
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Timeline
• Grant Application approved-2013
-Funds 100% of Design and Construction Costs
• Survey & Engineering Design-In Progress
• Town Hall meeting held May 7th, 2016
• City Approved MOA with JTA to move forward
with the project on May 23rd, 2016
• Workshop held June 27th, 2016 to discuss the
selection of a path for the SRTS
• Construction -FY 2017 -2018 )> .... s:
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