City Council Minutes 2011 09 06 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

City Council Meeting Minutes September 6, 2011 • Page 9 of 12 Planning Director Russ explained the staff requests City Council direction on three options for improving the pedestrian crossing between Davidson Mesa Open Space and Harper Lake at the intersection of McCaslin Boulevard and Washington Avenue. Staff asked whether Council desires further refinements or additional information on the options prior to selecting a preferred alternative at their October 4, 2011 City Council meeting. Funding for that alternative will be included in the City's 2012-2016 Capital Improvement Program. Staff evaluated five alternatives to determine the most appropriate solution. Three of the five alternatives appear practical. Staff believes the HAWK Signal and the roundabout are not viable options for further consideration. The remaining three alternatives are the Offset Left, Underpass, and Signalized Intersection. At the public workshop the public requested/ranked the preferred alternatives that 1) Better Serve Potential Users and 2) Improve Site Lines. The 3rd criteria was realignment of the physical design of the highway to slow traffic down and create a context in which the driver expects to see pedestrians and can easily stop for them. For example, making the width of the crossing narrower so pedestrians can make it across in less time. Alternatively, an underpass would completely remove pedestrians from the crossing. For various reasons not all pedestrians will use an underpass. Also constructing an underpass at this location would have impacts on the Harper Lake parking lot and the Davidson Mesa parking lot and dog park. • PUBLIC COMMENT Bill Cummings, 977 Arapahoe Circle, Louisville, CO, supported a traffic light at the intersection and felt it would address both the traffic and the pedestrian crossing. Julia M. Knearl, 946 W. Alder Street, Louisville, CO supported a signal but also voiced support for a tunnel and appropriate signage. Kim Poletti, 913 W. Alder Street, Louisville, CO voiced her support for a tunnel. Russell Moore, 1013 Arapahoe Circle, Louisville, CO felt a traffic light should be the lowest priority as there would be a potential for noise and accidents. He preferred the tunnel or the offset left. Steve Costello, 902 Grove Drive, Louisville, felt the traffic light provides pedestrians the greatest confidence of crossing safely. He supported an underpass at the intersection and encouraged Council to direct staff to look at an underpass alternative. Suzanne Smith, 902 Grove Drive, Louisville, CO encouraged Council to consider the underpass alternative. She appreciated the newly installed signs, but encouraged more enforcement, flashing lights and whatever Council can do to make this intersection safe. •