Memorandum 15-193 Homer Accelerated Roads and Trails Program (HART)

Memorandum ID: 
15-193
Memorandum Status: 
Information Only

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Memorandum 15-193

TO:                       Katie Koester - City Manager

FROM:                 Carey Meyer - Public Works Director

DATE:                  November 18, 2015

SUBJECT:         Homer Accelerated Roads and Trails Program (HART)

                             

 

 

HART - Is Sidewalk Construction Eligible?

 

Background: The Homer Accelerated Roads Program (HARP) was created by the community in 1987 and formally established by Council per Resolution 87-61(S). The original purpose of the program was to upgrade approximately 39.5 miles of city streets at an estimated cost of $24.8M; reconstruct local substandard city roads, improve access, reduce maintenance costs, increase property values, and improve the quality of life. A schedule of proposed street improvements was developed by Public Works which consisted of Groups I-IV as shown on charts and maps approved by the City Council.

 

The following qualifying criteria were established for eligible road upgrade/reconstruction projects:

 

Life, safety, and traffic flow;
Correct deficiencies of the existing systems;
System wide basis versus local needs;
Complete traffic circulation patterns;
Encourage economic development;
Correct drainage problems;
Reduce maintenance costs;
Built to City standards prior to acceptance;
First come, first serve;
Reconstruction is a higher priority than new construction;
Property owner contribution through LID process (originally $20 per front foot for gravel and $11 per front foot for paving of a residential standard street; changed in 1995 to $30 and $17), and City pays all costs for additional improvements deemed necessary;
City share can apply to related utilities, sidewalks, street lighting, drainage, paving, and/or reconstruction of roads identified in Groups I-IV;
City share of road money is prorated proportionally between Groups I-IV;
Other factors deemed appropriate by the City Council.

 

In 2007, the voters approved continuing to provide a funding source for street reconstruction improvements and related utilities (see Resolution 07-33), authorized the program to fund trails projects, and changed the name of the program to Homer Accelerated Roads and Trails program (HART).

 

What have HART funds been used for?  HART funds have generally been used to:

 

Upgrade/reconstruction existing streets through an LID process,
Repave streets originally paved through an LID process,
Construct trails and improve trailheads.

 

The HART program allows for sidewalks (and other road improvements such as drainage, street lighting, minor utility extensions, utility relocations, etc.) to be constructed as part of a road improvement project. There has been one situation where HARP funds have been used to pay for a stand-alone sidewalk construction project, approximately 250 LF of sidewalk was constructed from the Sterling Highway to the Homer West Elementary school (along Soundview Avenue).

 

What have HART funds not been used for?  No HART funds have been used to support the maintenance of the existing road system or purchase maintenance equipment.

 

What are some of the anticipated future demands on the HART fund? 

 

Continued funding of residential neighborhood SAD road paving projects,
Continued funding of street repaving projects,
Funds for storm drainage/water quality improvements associated with roads,
Matching funds for road improvement projects shown in the Capital Improvement Plan,
Funding of trail improvements shown in the Non-Motorized Trails Plan,

 

What is the difference between a sidewalk and trail?  The policy has been that a pedestrian improvement that is constructed within street right-of-way and generally runs parallel to a street is a sidewalk; a trail leaves street right-of-way and is generally constructed in easements across private property.

 

Have sidewalks been constructed using HART funds?  All HART street improvement projects must include pedestrian amenities per Council direction. In most cases, these pedestrian improvements have consisted of widened shoulders/pavement.  Generally, sidewalks (including curb and gutters) have been constructed using HART funds, but only as part of a street LID/SAD improvement project (where drainage issues and right-of-way constraints existed.

 

How much would it cost to construct sidewalks along all streets in Homer?  Approximately 20 miles of paved roads exist in Homer. Another 25 miles of gravel roads exists. Assuming that a sidewalk requires a curb and gutter, catch basins and storm drains, and water quality mitigation improvements (such as detention basins or oil/water separator vaults); the cost ranges between $30 and $60 per linear foot. Therefore, the cost to construct sidewalks along one side of the existing paved roads (using the median cost) would be $4.8M; both sides $9.6M. When the gravel roads are paved, the cost to provide sidewalks along one side of these additional roads would be approximately $6M; both sides $12M.

 

How is sidewalk construction funded in other communities?  Nationwide, the cost of constructing, maintaining and replacing sidewalks is normally borne by the adjacent property owner. Cities generally provide for sidewalk assessment districts to help property owners finance the costs associated with sidewalk construction.