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HomeMy WebLinkAboutworking staff reporta � yv MSP18-01 4 3Mi4K@ Ncv+010 jrOA-%3001 �k it MSP18-01 Master Street Amendment request is from DODA Construction LLC to remove the portion of proposed "western loop" on master street plan, extending south across Baseline road and connecting to Alexander Road at the intersection with Stagecoach Road. It is apparently the very southern leg of Western Loop in our MSP. DODA Construction wants to amend MSP and remove the lateral. They are trying give 3 reasons why they want to remove it from the Master Street Plan which are mostly reflected as they would be a financial burden to City of Little Rock. But they haven't listed a reason of removing this lateral from that proposed corridor which is the best alternative corridor to 1-430 to connect south and north. One is: The construction of Crystal Valley along this route would require crossing Fourche Cree which may be huge financial burden to the City. 0 Sec nd is: They also mention the vote requires Crystal Valley Road to cross into the northwest corner of Saline Count which eliminates the ability for Little Rock to require developer funding of this section. Third is: The route runs along the east side of Forest Hills Cemetery, and will create additional problems with right of way acquisition due to the location of existing raves. But from the whole functionality and connectivity of Regional Arterial Network and Master Street Plan there are more important reasons to keep it and they have never mentioned it: Regarding to our research and communications with Metroplan it has been detected that Western loop is part of the Regional Arterial Network and City of Little Rock's Master Street Plan for the last 40 years; and Metroplan stresses it has previously been identified for its regional benefit It's the best op ortun' d a Ion -distance parallel alternative route to 1- 430 and also Universa t is not redundant at all as Stagecoach serves east -west ra is an tis new acili ou sery north -south traffic It also s�rya growing ar�eaohe city MSP is a full development plan as soon as the areas developur ars pian proposed on these urban developed areas will be built there. If the rest of the corridor is completed (eventually will be completed) without the section from Baseline to 1-30, we would be missing out on a major opportunity to provide greater connectivity. We do not have a very good principal arterial functioning between south -north as 1-430 and University. This is the only alternative serving in western Little Rock between south and north, and without that segment the functionality of the rest of the corridor is greatly reduced. Those are all reason to keep it. For the segment in Saline County I have contacted with City of Bryant's city planner but still waiting for their response. I have asked what is their future plans for this segment or if they have any intentions to show it on their Master Street Plan because currently they do not show it in their MSP. A principal arterial functions different than a Collector. It serves through traffic and connects major traffic generators or activity centers within urbanized areas. • If we lose the last leg of this principal arterial we will lose functionality of the rest of the corridor. • The bridge can be built by public sector or private sector it can be pricey. It is going to be on the floodway. ce (QA (Q_Q � �KiS lYinu� Q�ld^�e U � HISTORIC DISTRICTS: There are no historic districts that would be effected by this amendment. CITY RECOGNIZED NEIGHBORHOOD ACTION PLAN: There aren't any neighborhood plan in the area. Ofj cn-V wusk(V k)z� A f- Co ANALYSIS: T10A, We do not have a very good principal arterial functioning between south -north as 1-430 and University. This is the only alternative serving in western Little Rock between south and north. A principal arterial functions different than a Collector. It serves through traffic and connects major traffic generators or activity centers within urbanized areas. If we loose the last leg of this principal a erial qowepain. 0zlerr _93 1 ac The western loop is part of'the Regional Arterial Network; therefore, it has previously r been identified for its regional benefits. It's been awhile since the corridor was modeled, ire but it performed well. ft's the best opportunity to build a long-distance parallel alternative � �L route to 1-430. 1 would not consider it redundant as Stagecoach serves east -west traffic V �Land this new facility would serve north -south traffic. It also serves a growing area of the t tcity. If the rest of the corridor is completed without the section from Baseline to I-30, you would be missing out on a major opportunity to provide greater connectivity. Without fn that segment the functionality of the rest of the corridor is greatly reduced. Those are all CAJn Qr reason to keep it. �AqSL� In regards to the segment in Saline County, you should coordinate with the City of G_�'vj . Bryant. They currently do not show this route on their MSI', but it and the extension of `� Baseline has been discussed previously (it may have been removed when the extraterritorial boundaries were reduced). You can contact Bryant Planner Truett Smith - \i� tsmith ci ofbr ant.com to start a dialogue about the corridor. Whatever is decided, both Little Rock and Bryant should reflect it on their plans., While it has been part of Metroplan's regional vision plan, it has never been on the - Financially Constrained Plan (the list of projects to be funded). It has not been part of at Q funded plan because of its cost, difficulty in building, and it serving an area that is largely low density. The segment from Kanis to Lawson maybe the most difficult. 1 F it is 4-o_ cq retained, it should be recognized as a very long-term project. -T'1.0W �% /)a Please let me know if you want to discuss this further. Casey R. Covington, PE, AICP Metroplan This amendment is on the southwest edge of Little Rock adjacent to Town of Alexander. 4th Street (Alexander) continues south of Alexander Road which is shown as Minor Arterial. The 4th Street (Alexander) is 750 LF 3 blocks in length Wit and wholly within the Little Rock city limits. 4th Street (Alexander) is lined with single family houses on the north side of the street and with currently vacant undeveloped land to the south of the street, in City of Little Rock. Currently there is no constructed road or any connection between 4th Street (Alexander) and State Highway 111 in Saline County, a length of one city block. The parcels of Original City Alexander on that block have no access to a public Street. There is no street or right-of-way. The portion of 4th Street (Alexander) which has been built is 19 feet wide in a 50 foot right-of-way. This is substandard for any Street Standard in the Master Street Plan. 4th Street (Alexander) is a Minor Arterial on the Master Street Plan (MSP). Minor Arterial should be 90 foot of minimum right-of-way and 59 foot for the minimum pavement width. The intend of the Master Street Plan with this designation is to provide a traffic by-pass around Alexander connection Alexander Road north of Alexander to State Highway 111 south of Alexander. The Master Street Plan proposes a similar traffic by-pass south of Mabelvale. City staff met with Metroplan staff and discussed the future transportation projects and plans for the area. CARTS (Central Arkansas Regional Transportation Study) has developed the Regional Arterial Network (RAN) as a network of major roads (Arterials) to connect and serve the regional transportation needs of Central Arkansas. On this plan Alexander Road from 1-30 passes around the town of Alexander to the east connecting to Highway 111 south of Alexander. This in part is to allow a grade separation at the Union Pacific rail line near Alexander. The CARTS functional Class Network shows the Arterial function along State Highway 111 from south of Alexander through Alexander on 3rd Street (Alexander) to Alexander Road east to 1-30. This is the current state highway designed route. Saline County Master Street Plan also shows the arterial designation along 3rd Street (Alexander). Little Rock's MSP proposes to relocate the arterial to the east (4th Street, Alexander) to allow the traffic to bypass Alexander and move directly from Alexander Road south to State Highway 111 in Saline County. Based on current traffic counts most of the traffic appears to move from Alexander Road in Little Rock to the freeway through Alexander or from State Highway 111 in Saline County through Alexander to the freeway. The RAN improves this connection with a grade separation for the Saline County traffic and keeps it from entering Little Rock. Since CARTS controls the federal funding, the RAN option is the most likely future change to the current traffic pattern. 4th Street (Alexander) is one block short of connecting Alexander Road in Little Rock to Highway 111 south of Alexander. There are plotted lots with no access in that `one block' making the desire for this connection greater. With the connection between State Highway 111 to Alexander Road via 4th Street (Alexander), 4th Street (Alexander) becomes a convenient connection and more than a local street.