11-03-2008 WS - Laserfiche WebLink

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October Streets and Utilities Committee Meeting Based on the request of the Committee at their August meeting, Staff prepared a follow up memo specifically on the sidewalk issue for discussion at the October 20, 2008 Streets and Utilities Committee meeting. The memo found that a sidewalk along the east side of Red Oak Drive would be feasible, and it presented information on that option. A copy of that memo is included with this Staff Report, including its Figure 1, showing a 6.5-foot wide sidewalk on the east side of Red Oak Drive, adjacent to the back of curb. Because the pedestrian corridor on Red Oak Drive north of Hillview Road will be on the west side, and the sidewalk on Silver Lake Road is on the east side, pedestrians/bicyclists continuing north or south on Red Oak Drive/Silver Lake Road will need to cross Red Oak Drive somewhere between Hillview Road and County Road 10. The Committee felt it was safer for the pedestrians/bicyclists to cross at Hillview Road, rather than at County Road 10, due to the lower amount of traffic at the Red Oak Drive/Hillview Road intersection. The Committee also felt that the proposed narrowing of the northbound lane on Red Oak Drive between County Road 10 and Hillview Road (14-feet as opposed to the existing 21-foot width) would not provide a sufficient refuge area for pedestrians waiting to board an MTC bus. Constructing a boulevard sidewalk on the east side of Red Oak Drive would address that situation. Streets and Utilities Committee Recommendation Upon completion of their October 20, 2008 discussion, the Committee voted on this issue.The Committee recommends (by a unanimous 5-0 vote) that a 6.5-foot wide concrete sidewalk be constructed on the east side of Red Oak Drive adjacent to the back of curb. (Committee Members Kavanaugh and Glazer were not in attendance.) This recommendation is coming forward to the City Council from the Streets and Utilities Committee for review and discussion. Easements As shown on Figure 1 from the October memo, the City standard 6.5-foot wide sidewalk would fit within the right-of-way of Red Oak Drive. However, approximately 450 square feet of temporary easement for grading and sloping purposes would be needed at the southwest corner of the property on the east side of Red Oak Drive. This is the Western Bank property. The need for an additional temporary construction easement along the south side of the Western Bank property has also been identified as part of the separate project for the construction of Trail Segments 1-5 along County Road 10. Staff has made initial contact with the property owner, and it appears they would be cooperative in granting the needed easements.