VIADUCT LOCATION STUDY October 19, 2009
Background Information Traffic Study Alternative Evaluation Public Involvement Preferred Concept Next Steps
Evaluate alternatives for the location of a viaduct to serve central and eastern Waverly spanning U.S. Highway 6 and the BNSF Railway
N. 148 th St. N. 162nd St. N. 141st St. Waverly Rd. Oldfield St. Legend Bluff Road Study Area Waverly High School Waverly Middle School Waverly Intermediate School Waverly (Hamlow) Elem. School Amberly Road
North
Conduct Grade Separation Study A minimum exposure factor of 50,000 for a single crossing shall be required for identification as a potential location. (Exposure factor = # trains/day x # cars/day) A new grade separation project will require closing a minimum of two public at-grade crossings.
Train Data Vehicle Data Accident History Nearby Development Adjacent RR crossings Sight Distance School Locations/Bus Routes Hospital Locations Fire Station Locations Project Location Cost-Benefit Analysis Pedestrian Traffic Right-of-Way/Relocation Impact on Community Local Support & Funding Railroad Support & Funding
Existing Traffic Pedestrians Operations Safety Train Volumes Exposure Factors Alternatives / Impacts Future Growth Scenarios Development Impacts Schools & Bus Routes Emergency Vehicles
Data Collection Counts Field Review Analysis Operations Crash History Exposure Factors Trains vs. Vehicles Traffic Modeling Current Land Use Travel Patterns
Crossing Location Crash Data 141st Street and BNSF Crossing 2 Train / Vehicle Crashes: PDO 148th Street and BNSF Crossing 1 Train / Vehicle Crash: PDO 162nd Street and BNSF Crossing 3 Train / Vehicle Crashes: 1 PDO, 1 injury, 1 fatality Intersection Crash Data Intersection Angle Rear-End Same Sideswipe Opposite Other Total US 6 & Amberly Rd 12 1 2 0 3 18 US 6 & N 141st St 5 2 1 1 1 10 US 6 & N 148th St 3 2 2 0 5 12 US 6 & N 140th St 5 4 1 0 0 10
120 Yearly train counts through Waverly, NE (2009-2034 growth, using 2008 as base and increasing 2.43% per year) 110 100 90 80 70 60 50 40 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 Average day 2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 Peak day 2026 2027 2028 2029 2030 2031 2032 2033 2034
Exposure Factor Calculations Exposure Factor Calculations - Exposure Factor of 50,000 Warrants a Viaduct - Existing Factor is More Than 5 Times Greater
Average Train Delay at Crossings = 2:45
Ability to eliminate crossing hazard and improve safety Cost Connectivity to existing/future roadway network Impact to private property, including access Public support Ability to accommodate truck and farm machinery traffic Environmental impacts Utility impacts Benefits (how much traffic is served)
N. 162nd St. N. 141st St. Jamestown St. Heywood St.
Concept #1: Viaduct at 148 th Street (Alternate 1) Estimated construction cost: $ 8.2 Million Grade-separated pedestrian crossing at 141 st Street: $2.3 Million Projected traffic: 4,400 vehicles per day Reasons for Consideration Relative close proximity to downtown Reduces area required for right-of-way acquisition Accommodates largest volume of traffic, including truck traffic Sidewalk/trail along this alignment would best accommodate future residential development and present school locations Continuity to existing road network Disadvantages Impacts to Millard Lumber employee parking Impacts to agricultural property Lengthy access/frontage roads required
Concept #2: Viaduct at 148 th Street (Alternate 2) Estimated construction cost: $8.4 Million Grade-separated pedestrian crossing at 141st Street: $2.3 Million Projected traffic: 4,400 vehicles per day Reasons for Consideration Relative close proximity to downtown Reduces area required for right-of-way acquisition Accommodates largest volume of traffic, including truck traffic Sidewalk/trail along this alignment would best accommodate future residential development and present school locations Continuity to existing road network More direct connection to US-6 Disadvantages Impacts to future development west of 148th Street Impacts to agricultural property Impacts to commercial property
Concept #3A: Viaduct at 148 th Street (Alternate 3A) Estimated construction cost: $7.7 Million Grade-separated pedestrian crossing at 141 st Street: $2.3 Million Projected traffic: 4,300 vehicles per day Reasons for Consideration Relative close proximity to downtown Reduces area required for right-of-way acquisition Accommodates largest volume of traffic, including truck traffic Sidewalk/trail along this alignment would best accommodate future residential development and present school locations Existing 148 th Street is maintained as the primary alignment including connection to Highway 6 Continuity to existing road network Disadvantages Impacts to future development west of 148 th Street Impacts to agricultural property
Concept #3B: Viaduct at 148 th Street (Alternate 3B) Estimated construction cost: $10.0 Million Grade-separated pedestrian crossing at 141 st Street: $2.3 Million Projected traffic: 4,300 vehicles per day Reasons for Consideration Relative close proximity to downtown Access to downtown Reduces area required for right-of-way acquisition Accommodates largest volume of traffic, including truck traffic Sidewalk/trail along this alignment would best accommodate future residential development and present school locations Existing 148 th Street is maintained as the primary alignment including connection to Highway 6 Continuity to existing road network Disadvantages Impacts to future commercial development Impacts to commercial property Impacts to agricultural property
Concept #4: Viaduct at 152nd Street (Eliminated) Estimated construction cost: $7.4 Million Grade-separated pedestrian crossing at 141 st Street: $2.3 Million Projected traffic: 2,900 vehicles per day Reasons for Elimination Distance from central Waverly: Increased vehicle travel distance/times Too remote to provide pedestrian access across BNSF Railway and U.S. Highway 6 Increased emergency response times Lower traffic utilization No direct access to downtown Property impacts Reasons for Initial Consideration Provided an alternate viaduct location to 148th Street Viaduct constructed near eastern edge of future land use plan
Concept #5: Viaduct at 162 nd Street (Eliminated) Estimated construction cost: $5.0 Million Grade-separated pedestrian crossing at 141 st Street: $2.3 Million Projected traffic: 300 vehicles per day Reasons for Elimination Distance from central Waverly: Increased vehicle travel distance/times Too remote to provide pedestrian access across BNSF Railway and U.S. Highway 6 Increased emergency response times Lowest traffic utilization No direct access to downtown Reasons for Initial Consideration Lower construction cost Fewer property impacts Better accommodate future growth in far eastern reaches of future city limits
Concept #6: Viaduct at 141 st Street (Eliminated) Estimated construction cost: $7.0 Million Grade-separated pedestrian crossing at 148th Street: $2.3 Million Projected traffic: 5,800 vehicles per day Reasons for Elimination Property impacts: Home relocations Residential and commercial driveway and access closures/reconfiguration Retaining wall in close proximity to homes Intersecting street closures necessary Increased traffic volumes on residential streets Difficult turning movements for viaduct truck traffic Does not accommodate farm machinery Reasons for Initial Consideration Provides direct access to north and south of U.S. Highway 6 near center of Waverly Along same alignment as existing 141st Street
Concept #7: Underpass at 141 st Street (Eliminated) Estimated construction cost: Not Calculated For This Concept Grade-separated pedestrian crossing at 148th Street: $2.3 M Projected traffic: 5,800 vehicles per day Reasons for Elimination Property impacts: Residential and commercial driveway and access closures/reconfiguration Retaining wall in close proximity to homes Increased traffic volumes on residential streets Difficult turning movements for viaduct truck traffic Does not meet Nebraska Minimum Design Standards- steep grades Does not accommodate farm machinery Long term maintenance and operational costs Reasons for Initial Consideration Provides direct access to north and south of U.S. Highway 6 near center of Waverly Along same alignment as existing 141st Street
Public Meetings (2) June 24, 2008 September 9, 2008 One-on-one / stakeholder meetings (9)
Public Meeting #1 36 comments received 20 residents 13 business owners 3 unknown 7 support 19 oppose 4 support & oppose 6 undecided
Reasons for supporting the project Safety concerns with existing crossings Existing vehicle delays at crossings Existing train horn noise Reasons for opposing the project Concern for closing 141 st Street crossing Division of town Loss of business Increased travel times/distances
Public Meeting #2 Comments Received Concern for closing 141 st Street crossing Increased travel times Impacts to businesses Any new structure must accommodate farm machinery Any new structure must accommodate pedestrians Provide direct access to U.S. Hwy 6 Provide direct access to downtown Waverly Noise
Hybrid of Concepts 2 & 4 Most direct connection to Hwy 6 Most direct connection to downtown Decreased travel times Best responds to public comments
ITEM Viaduct/Roadway Construction COST 148 th Street Viaduct 141 st Pedestrian Overpass $9,150,000 $2,300,000 Utilities $200,600 $0 Right-of-Way $266,000 $50,000 Design Engineering & Environmental Review $1,153,990 $282,000 Construction Engineering $961,660 $235,000 TOTAL PROJECT COST $11,732,250 $2,867,000 Combined: $14,599,250 Federal 80% Railroad 5% State (TMT) 10% Local 5%
Public Comment Council vote on approving report recommendations If/when moved to design/construction NDOR Study Review/Approval Preliminary Design Environmental Documentation and Federal Approval Funding Approval Right-of-Way Acquisitions Final Design Construction