Revitalization Commission Agenda and Packet 2009 05 11

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Short Street Corridor & BNSF Underpass Design Study The City of Louisville is seeking statements of qualifications from qualified consultants to prepare design alternatives for the Short Street corridor in downtown Louisville. This will include a pedestrian underpass at the Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) tracks and connection across Highway 42 via underpass, overpass, or at-grade solution. The consultant will be responsible for preparing design alternatives (schematic design level) and order of magnitude cost estimates for evaluation purposes. The City of Louisville Highway 42 Revitalization Urban Renewal Plan (Plan) was adopted after a series of public workshops and hearings conducted over the course of a period of time from 2000 to 2003. The Plan recommends that the area redevelop over time as a mixed use (residential and commercial) district centered on a planned Regional Transportation District (RTD) FasTracks commuter rail station. The area is intended to become an extension of the existing downtown core as well as an extension of and enhancement to the two existing established residential neighborhoods on the north and south ends of the Plan area. In accordance with the adopted Plan, the primary focus of this area is to have a direct connectivity between the Revitalization Area and existing Downtown Louisville. In September 2007, City Council adopted the Mixed Use Development and Design Standards Guidelines (Mixed Use Guidelines). Implementation of the Mixed Use Guidelines allows the City to proactively establish the character and design of the Revitalization Area. The Mixed Use Guidelines further implemented the goals and policies of the Highway 42 Revitalization Framework Plan. As adopted in 2003, and again in 2005 by reference, the Framework Plan did directly evaluate neighborhood protection criteria and potential impacts on existing neighborhoods based upon a review of six potential locations of the commuter rail platform. The preferred location of the commuter rail platform was based upon the following factors: 1.Potential benefit to historic downtown Louisville. 2.Access and parking potential for the station. 3.Potential for complementary development. 4.Impacts on adjacent residential neighborhoods. RTD is currently in the process of drafting an Environmental Evaluation (EE) of the 41 mile Northwest Corridor. City Council has approved a parking design alternative that provides parking on both sides of Highway 42, with close in parking adjacent to the proposed rail station. The City, along with RTD, has determined that the bulk of the parking will be needed on the east side of Highway 42 at the Louisville Sports Complex (please see attached map). Due to the parking lot being on the east side of Highway 42, the City needs to create a safe pedestrian crossing option for the riders. In addition, there will be an underpass element for access between north and southbound station platforms. Task 1: Short Street Connectivity Study The purpose of this task is to identify and evaluate alternatives for the Short Street corridor from Main Street to Highway 42. The connectivity study should focus on pedestrian, bicycle and other alternative transit circulation from the Westside of downtown Louisville to the Louisville Sports Complex. A brief description of this task’s criteria, goals and objectives are as follows: