Public Meeting Open House

November 2, 2006

Meeting Goals

Provide project background

Why is the city doing this project on Spenard Road?

Provide project update

What is the project status?

What have we learned from analysis to date?

What we learned from our Citizens Advisory Group

What is the engineer’s recommended solution?

Receive input

Public suggestions on recommended solution

Site specific concerns and ideas

Project Background

Where did project originate?

What does project encompass?

Will the project include landscaping and amenities for transit riders, pedestrians and bicyclists?

Why Spenard Road?

Public Safety Issues

For motorists

392 reported crashes (1996 to 1998) 130 per year

839 reported crashes (1999 to 2005) 120 per year

Spenard Road Crash Rate 12.45

crashes per million vehicle miles

Arctic Blvd. 5.21 (4-lane)

Fireweed Lane 7.03 (4-lane)

Tudor Road 3.86 (5-lane with center turn lane)

Lane Reductions Improve Safety

15th Avenue BEFORE and AFTER

Using 3 years of data

Street Crash Rate per million vehicle-miles

15th Avenue 5.64 (before changes)

15th Avenue 3.07 (after changes)

For comparison: the Spenard Road crash rate is 12.45 crashes per million vehicle-miles

North American Experience

Number of Lanes

Current engineering guidance from American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials

Recommends:

2 lane roadways J

3 lane roadways (example Lower Spenard) J

5 lane roadways J (example Tudor, Muldoon)

No longer recommends:

4 lane roadways without a median L -- due to safety concerns

Bottom line -- new roads will have 3-lane, 4-lane divided, or 5-lane configurations

Why Spenard Road?

Public Safety Issues

City wide Anchorage experiences 220 bike/ped crashes per year

Spenard Road experiences 8.6 bike/ped crashes per year

43 bike/pedestrian collisions (1998 to 2002)

The city would be remiss if it did not consider this a problem to be solved.

Slide 10

Slide 11

Other Spenard Road Goals/Needs

Accommodate existing and future traffic

Rehabilitation of pavement

Upgrade utilities where needed

Utilities undergrounding to be requested where appropriate

Upgrade to ADA Standards

Conform to Existing Plans (Areawide Trails Plan, Anchorage 2020)

Current & Future Vehicle Traffic

The problem…

No facilities for bicyclists throughout corridor

Spenard @ Chugach Way

Slide 17

Left turn collisions at this driveway

Pedestrian use throughout corridor

Offset intersections throughout corridor

Sloping driveways throughout project corridor

Inadequate sidewalks and transit stops throughout the corridor

From Hillcrest Drive North

The opportunities…

Gateways and Entrances

Identify entrances

Begin to define character

Build on landmarks

Lighting

Unify area and define character

Safety and security

Color and seasons

Improved Transit Stops

The challenges…

Working with a concerned business community on:

Parking issues

Customer access

Construction access

Minimizing impacts during construction

The neighborhood continues to change

Finding solutions to social problems

The solution…

Reduce the number of lanes

Reallocate space so the road is safer for all modes -- including pedestrians and bicyclists

Alternatives Considered

The benefits…

A safer road

Calms traffic

Accommodates most vulnerable citizens -- pedestrians and bicyclists

Provides opportunities for beautification

Minnesota Drive/Spenard Road Couplet

Solves transportation network problem

If we do nothing -- level of service “F”

If we create the couplet -- level of service “D”

The amount of time over 1 year a daily commuter driving through Minnesota/Spenard, would spend waiting at the intersection

In 2028 without the improvement -- 25.6 hours/year

In 2028 with the improvement -- 6.7 hours/year

What do we need from you?

Your thoughtful review of the drawings

Your comments about design specifics

Specific locations

Specific concerns -- for bicyclists, pedestrians, motorists

Your suggestions for a theme for landscaping and amenities

Questions?

Time for questions is limited.

If we don’t get to your question, please ask a team member during the open house or write them on a comment sheet and provide contact information so we may respond.


	Provide project background
		Why is the city doing this project on Spenard Road?
	Provide project update
		What is the project status?
		What have we learned from analysis to date?
		What we learned from our Citizens Advisory Group
		What is the engineer’s recommended solution?
	Receive input
		Public suggestions on recommended solution
		Site specific concerns and ideas


	Where did project originate?
	What does project encompass?
	Will the project include landscaping and amenities for transit riders, pedestrians and bicyclists?


	Public Safety Issues
	For motorists
		392 reported crashes (1996 to 1998) 130 per year
		839 reported crashes (1999 to 2005) 120 per year
		Spenard Road Crash Rate 12.45
		crashes per million vehicle miles

		Arctic Blvd. 5.21 (4-lane)
		Fireweed Lane 7.03 (4-lane)
		Tudor Road 3.86 (5-lane with center turn lane)


	15th Avenue BEFORE and AFTER
		Using 3 years of data
		Street Crash Rate per million vehicle-miles
		15th Avenue 5.64 (before changes)
		15th Avenue 3.07 (after changes)

		For comparison: the Spenard Road crash rate is 12.45 crashes per million vehicle-miles


Current engineering guidance from American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials
	Recommends:
		2 lane roadways J
		3 lane roadways (example Lower Spenard) J
		5 lane roadways J (example Tudor, Muldoon)
	No longer recommends:
		4 lane roadways without a median L -- due to safety concerns
	Bottom line -- new roads will have 3-lane, 4-lane divided, or 5-lane configurations


	Public Safety Issues
	City wide Anchorage experiences 220 bike/ped crashes per year
	Spenard Road experiences 8.6 bike/ped crashes per year
		43 bike/pedestrian collisions (1998 to 2002)

		The city would be remiss if it did not consider this a problem to be solved.


	Accommodate existing and future traffic
	Rehabilitation of pavement
	Upgrade utilities where needed
		Utilities undergrounding to be requested where appropriate
	Upgrade to ADA Standards
	Conform to Existing Plans (Areawide Trails Plan, Anchorage 2020)


	Identify entrances
	Begin to define character
	Build on landmarks


	Unify area and define character

	Safety and security

	Color and seasons


	Working with a concerned business community on:
		Parking issues
		Customer access
		Construction access
	Minimizing impacts during construction
	The neighborhood continues to change
	Finding solutions to social problems


	Reduce the number of lanes
	Reallocate space so the road is safer for all modes -- including pedestrians and bicyclists


	A safer road
	Calms traffic
	Accommodates most vulnerable citizens -- pedestrians and bicyclists
	Provides opportunities for beautification


Solves transportation network problem
	If we do nothing -- level of service “F”
	If we create the couplet -- level of service “D”
	The amount of time over 1 year a daily commuter driving through Minnesota/Spenard, would spend waiting at the intersection
		In 2028 without the improvement -- 25.6 hours/year
		In 2028 with the improvement -- 6.7 hours/year


	Your thoughtful review of the drawings
	Your comments about design specifics
		Specific locations
		Specific concerns -- for bicyclists, pedestrians, motorists
	Your suggestions for a theme for landscaping and amenities


	Time for questions is limited.
	If we don’t get to your question, please ask a team member during the open house or write them on a comment sheet and provide contact information so we may respond.