Planning & Environmental Linkages Study

Corridor Concept Update Workshop #4

05.21.2019

TODAY’S AGENDA

• PEL Study process and planning context

• PEL Study status – where we are today

• Concept update

• Discussion

- Elevating vs. lowering freeway - Major cost implications

- Right-of-way and road alignment - Utility relocations

- Context-sensitive design - Other issues

• Phase 2 screening criteria

• Next steps

• Staying involved

VISIONGuiding solutions. Reflecting public/agency input.

Improve safety and

mobility for all users

on the Seward

Highway while

enhancing east-west

multi-modal, safety,

connectivity, and

access for Midtown

Anchorage.

PEL STUDIES IDENTIFY CONCEPTS/PROJECTS THAT:

Have Independent Utility

Are Fundable

Can Be Constructed in Logical Sequence

Have Minimized Impacts

FHWA PLANNING FACTORS

1. Support the economic vitality of the area.

2. Increase the safety of the transportation system for motorized and non-motorized users.

3. Increase the security of the transportation system for motorized and non-motorized

users.

4. Increase the accessibility and mobility of people and for freight.

5. Protect and enhance the environment, promote energy conservation, and improve the

quality of life.

6. Enhance the integration and connectivity of the transportation system, across and

between modes, for people and freight.

7. Promote efficient system management and operation.

8. Emphasize the preservation of the existing transportation system.

9. Improve resiliency and reliability of the transportation system and reduce or mitigate

stormwater impacts of surface transportation.

10.Enhance travel and tourism.

Three Open Houses

Interactive Map

Citizen, Business, &

Agency Advisory Groups

One-on-One Meetings

Community Council Updates

PUBLIC/AGENCY INVOLVEMENT

WHAT WE’VE HEARD RECENTLY

• Dismiss the two-way frontage road concepts

• Resolve congestion issues at 36th Ave

• Resolutions from three Community Councils – advance depressed

highway concepts

• Consider greenways/covers over a depressed highway

• Active transportation connections remain important

• Give fair consideration of ROW acquisition from both sides of the

corridor

• Consider Fish Creek restoration

PEL STUDY STATUS

CONCEPT UPDATE

Intermediate Concept H

Concept C1 dismissed

Revised Concepts B and C2

New Concept J

HOW HAS CONCEPT B CHANGED?

• Shifted Tudor Road to the south at Tudor Rd interchange

• Added median u-turns at 36th Ave and connected the northern

u-turn with Old Seward Hwy

• Fireweed Ln ramping variation

• Mainline profile must go under 36th

• Road footprint is defined (eastern and western alignment)

• 50-foot wide utility easement to accommodate high voltage

transmission lines (east or west side)

HOW HAS CONCEPT C2 CHANGED?

• Mainline profile options:

• Over 36th Ave and under Benson Blvd

• Under 36th Ave and over Benson Blvd

• Frontage road extended on west side between Benson Blvd and

36th Ave

• Road footprint is defined (eastern and western alignment)

• 50-foot wide utility easement to accommodate high voltage

transmission lines (east or west side)

HOW HAS CONCEPT H CHANGED?

• Median U-turn -- Concept H-B

• Loop Ramp -- Concepts H-C2 and H-J

• Loop ramp and frontage road elevated over 36th Ave,

removing the southbound frontage road/36th Ave intersection

• Increases spacing between Old Seward Hwy/36th Ave

intersection and northbound frontage road/36th Ave

intersection

LOWERED FREEWAY WITH WATERPROOFING

LOWERED FREEWAY WITH DRAW DOWN

ELEVATED FREEWAY

DEPRESSED FREEWAY PROFILE

POTENTIAL RIGHT OF WAY IMPACTS: CONCEPT B

Concept B - WEST

$33-38 Million

15

27

CIRI, Midtown Mall,

University Mall

Fred Meyer

Concept B - EAST

$24-29 Million

24

28

BP and Fred Meyer

Approximate ROW

costs – excludes additional

major impacts costs to cure (i.e.

parking/site plan analyses) and

relocation costs

Full Acquisitions

Partial Acquisitions

Major commercial

property issues

POTENTIAL RIGHT OF WAY IMPACTS: CONCEPT C2

Concept C2 - WEST

$43-48 Million

15

22

CIRI, Midtown Mall,

University Mall

Fred Meyer

Concept C2 - EAST

$24-29 Million

24

29

BP and Fred Meyer

Approximate ROW

costs – excludes additional

major impacts costs to cure (i.e.

parking/site plan analyses) and

relocation costs

Full Acquisitions

Partial Acquisitions

Major commercial

property issues

POTENTIAL RIGHT OF WAY IMPACTS: CONCEPT J

Concept J - WEST

$36-41 Million

16

20

CIRI, Midtown Mall,

Fred Meyer

Concept J - EAST

$23-28 Million

24

20

BP and Fred Meyer

Approximate ROW

costs – excludes additional

major impacts costs to cure (i.e.

parking/site plan analyses) and

relocation costs

Full Acquisitions

Partial Acquisitions

Major commercial

property issues

UTILITY RELOCATIONS

1. ML&P and CEA high voltage overhead transmission lines

• 115 kV from 36th Ave to Northern Lights Blvd

• 35 kV from 36th Ave to 20th Ave

2. Fiber optics

• East/West crossings: 36th Ave, Northern Lights Blvd, Fireweed

Ln, and 20th Ave

• North/South: 36th Ave to Northern Lights Blvd and Fireweed

Ln to 20th Ave

UTILITY RELOCATIONS

3. AWWU Sewer

• Lift station at 36th Ave

• Crossings at 36th Ave, 20th Ave

4. AWWU Water

• Crossings at Tudor, 36th Ave, Northern Lights Blvd, Fireweed

Ln

• North/South 36th Ave to Northern Lights Blvd

5. Enstar gas

• North/South 36th Ave to 20th Ave

• East/West crossings at 36th Ave, Tudor Rd, Fireweed Ln

UTILITY RELOCATIONS

Low Cost

Estimate

High Cost

Estimate

ACS $900,000 $1,100,000

GCI $4,000,000 $5,000,000

ENSTAR $2,000,000 $3,000,000

ML&P AND CEA $10,200,000 $16,100,000

AWWU SEWER $3,700,000 $4,600,000

AWWU WATER $4,200,000 $5,200,000

TOTAL: $25,000,000 $35,000,000

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS

1. Historic Resources: Inventory and evaluation of structures in

areas of ROW acquisition will be necessary to determine adverse

impacts. No impact on a property on National Register of Historic

Places or known buried archaeological resources

2. ROW Acquisition: Varies depending on concept

3. Noise: Projects forwarded from the preferred concept(s) will

require a noise analysis as part of the NEPA process

4. Air quality: Projects forwarded from preferred concept(s) will

require evaluation in Regional TIP

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS

5. Visual impacts: Dependent on whether preferred concept(s) is

elevated or depressed

6. Section 4(f) and 6(f) resources: All concepts impact Helen

Louise McDowell Sanctuary and Chester Creek Trail System

Degree of impact and mitigation to be determined

7. Environmental Justice populations: How concepts have

developed to avoid impacts on EJ populations

LAND USE CONSIDERATIONS

• Land Use Plan 2040 designations: City Center, Traditional

Neighborhood Design, Main Street Corridor, Greenway-

Supported Development Corridor, Commercial Corridor

• Some parcels have non-conforming rights (parking,

landscaping, drive aisles, etc.)

• Several parcels with parking/access issues, shared parking

with neighboring lots

• Some lots may require full acquisition as code required

minimum lot size cannot be met

• Strategy for resolving issues at each lot will be identified

PHASE 2 SCREENING

Themes:

1. Community Impacts

2. Connectivity and Access

3. Safety

4. Environmental

5. Non-Motorized Connections

6. Traffic Mobility/Operations

7. Implementation

8. Support

NEXT STEPS

STAYING INVOLVED2

01

9

MAY 2019 Agency, Citizens and Business Advisory Group Meeting #4

JULY/ AUGUST

2019

Agency, Citizens and Business Advisory Group Meeting #5 –

Detailed Screening and Preferred Concept(s)

AUGUST/

SEPTEMBER

Public Open House #3 –

Detailed Screening and Preferred Concept(s)

FALL 2019Planning and Environmental Linkages Study Phase Concludes

and Environmental/Design of Project #1 Begins