HomeMy WebLinkAboutTIS 2023-08-21 Item 2A - Update - 42nd Avenue South / Allentown Roadside BarrierCity of Tukwila
Allan Ekberg, Mayor
Public Works Department - Hari Ponnekanti, Director/City Engineer
TO: Transportation and Infrastructure Services Committee
FROM: Hari Ponnekanti, Public Works Director
BY: Joshua Hartley, Deputy Director of Transportation
CC: Mayor Ekberg
DATE: August 4, 2023
SUBJECT: 42nd Ave S/Allentown Roadside Barrier
ISSUE
This memo provides a comprehensive update on the history and funding status of the 42nd Ave
S/Allentown Roadside Barrier Project.
BACKGROUND
In 2013, the Transportation Committee initiated a study to assess guardrail and/or barrier requirements
along 42nd Avenue S and S 115th Street, from Interurban Avenue S to East Marginal Way S. The study
aimed to identify design and safety standards, barrier needs, and any upgrades or modifications
necessary for the existing guardrails and concrete barriers. The draft study recommended improvements
estimated at $366,480, requiring funding for the next year's Small Roadway and Safety Improvements
Capital Improvement Program (CIP). However, the 2013 CIP did not allocate any funding for the project.
The 2014 CIP provided $110,000 for barrier design but only $70,000 for construction in 2015, with the
majority of the funding labeled as "Beyond." Despite a federal safety grant application for construction, it
was ultimately unsuccessful.
During the Transportation Committee meetings on November 25, 2014, and June 15, 2015, alternative
barrier options were discussed to soften the visual impacts along the river environment. The least expensive
option was to use the typical steel W -beam style, estimated at approximately $345,000 in 2015. However,
several Allentown residents expressed concerns over the aesthetics of the barriers. The neighborhood -
preferred option was the timber -style guardrail, which required an estimated installation cost of around
$540,000 due to the need for water line relocation, telecom relocation, and embankment stabilization along
the Duwamish River. The Council agreed to proceed with Phase 1 work using available funding,
acknowledging that any future installations would necessitate additional funding from the Small Roadway
and Safety Improvements Program.
DISCUSSION
Phase 1: The existing concrete barriers along S 115th Street required some minor upgrades and a new
guardrail was deemed necessary along 42nd Avenue S from S 115th Street southward to about the 11800
block, midway between S 116th Street and the S 119th Street Pedestrian Bridge. The concrete barriers on
S 115th Street remained in place due to funding constraints, but along 42nd Avenue S, the preferred timber
guard rail was installed. In January of 2016, the City contracted with Dirt and Aggregate Interchange to
complete Phase 1 of the guardrail installation for just over $71,000. However, due to funding constraints,
no further design or construction has occurred beyond Phase 1.
FINANCIAL IMPACT
Historically, the roadside barriers in Allentown were not given a unique dedicated project page within the
CIP. Instead, they were part of the broader "Small Roadway and Safety Improvements" CIP Project for
2015-2020, which allocated $148,000 for design and construction in 2015. A proposed grant of $350,000
for additional construction was included in 2016, but the application was unsuccessful. The available
budget was fully utilized to complete Phase 1 in early 2016. In the subsequent 2017-2022 CIP, no funding
was allocated in 2017. A proposed grant of $175,000 with matching City revenue of $175,000 was shown
in 2018.
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INFORMATIONAL MEMO
Page 2
In the 2019-2024 budget, the Small Roadway and Safety Improvement project was combined with two other
103 fund projects: Neighborhood Traffic Calming and Residential Street Improvements. The current
program is now titled "Traffic Calming/Residential Safety Improvements." Funding for this program has
fluctuated but currently shows funding throughout the entire 6 -year window, utilizing ARPA funds, proposed
grants, and general city operating funds.
RECOMMENDATION
Information Only
ATTACHMENTS
• Exhibit A — Accident History
• 7/23/13 Transportation Committee Memo:
http://records.tukwilawa.qov/WebLink/ElectronicFile.aspx?docid=72080&dbid=1
• 11/24/14 Transportation Committee Memo:
http://records.tukwilawa.gov/WebLink/ElectronicFile.aspx?docid=249703&dbid=1
• 4/6/15 Transportation Committee Memo:
http://records.tukwilawa.qov/WebLink/ElectronicFile.aspx?docid=257617&dbid=l
• 6/15/15 Transportation Committee Memo:
http://records.tukwilawa.gov/WebLink/ElectronicFile.aspx?docid=258680&dbid=1
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Exhibit A
Accident Data, 2017-2023
Intersecting
Road
2017
2018
2019
2020
2021
2022
2023
Total by
Location
S 115th St
1
1
S 116th St
1A**
1 **
2
S 122nd St
1
1
S 124th St
1
1
1
3
Interurban Ave
2*
1
1
4
Total by Year
3
0
2
3
2
0
1
11
*DUI, ** Speed, ^Serious Injury
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16 17 " 18 19 ' 20 21 22 24
""5; -
CONCRETE BARRIER PROPOSED DUE TO:
• STEEP SLOPE & NARROW SHOULDER
• UNDERGROUND TELEPHONE LOCATED UNDER 1HE
RECOMMENDED BARRIER (STA 2+50 TO STA 11+25)
• 5 STORM CULVERT CROSSING CONFlJCTS
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I -
CONCRETE BARRIER PROPOSED DUE TO:
406.140- • STEEP SLOPE & NARROW SHOULDER
• WATER UNE LOCATED UNDER THE RECOMMENDED
BARRIER (STA 26+75 TO STA 28+00)
• 1 STORM CULVERT CROSSING CONFUCT
ix
42nd Ave S Roadside Barrier Analysis
30% Design Summary
LEGEND
PROPOSED CONCRETE BARRIER
PROPOSED GUARDRAIL
EXISTING CONCRETE BARRIER TO REMAIN
753 9th Ave N 2502 Jefferson Ave
Seattle, WA 98109 Tacoma, WA 98402
(208) 286-1640 (253) 627-0720
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