HomeMy WebLinkAboutIR 10080 INFORMAL REPORT TO CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS No. 10080
To the Mayor and Members of the City Council December 12, 2017
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SUBJECT: WEST 7T" URBAN VILLAGE CORE PEDESTRIAN SAFETY
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This Informal Report describes a staff proposal to use remaining 2014 Urban Village Bond Program funds
in the West Seventh Urban Village core to improve pedestrian safety.
City staff has been working closely with the West Seventh Stakeholder Group, an informal group of 29
property owners, business owners, and neighborhood leaders, to identify opportunities to improve
pedestrian safety in the district and to address parking and other concerns. Stakeholders identified
sidewalk gaps and other pedestrian safety issues in the very active pedestrian area between West
Seventh Street and Lancaster Avenue, west of Carroll Street and east of University Drive.
The 2014 Bond Program includes $6 million for pedestrian street enhancements in urban villages. The
intent of the bond funds is to leverage private investment in mixed-use development. Based on over $40
million in private development in the Six Points Urban Village, the City Council appropriated $4.05 million
in 2014 Urban Village Bond Program funds to implement complete streets improvements along Race
Street and Sylvania Avenue within the Six Points Urban Village. Due to an increase in construction costs,
the lowest bid received for the first phase of the Six Points Urban Village improvements was approximately
$284,000 over the engineer's estimate. An M&C for the Phase 1 construction contract will be submitted
for City Council approval in early 2018. Phase 2 of the Six Points improvements project is expected to be
advertised for bids in February 2018. Once the Phase 2 bids are received and tabulated, staff will be able
to determine how much of the 2014 Urban Village Bond Program funds will be available for the proposed
West Seventh core project.
Based on the need for pedestrian safety improvements in the core area of the West Seventh Urban
Village, staff proposes to expend the remaining 2014 Urban Village Bond Program funds on the design
and construction of sidewalks, crosswalks, ADA curb ramps, lighting, and other pedestrian safety
improvements between West Seventh Street and Lancaster Avenue, west of Carroll Street and east of
University Drive. TPW is preparing preliminary cost estimates for these improvements to share with the
West Seventh Stakeholder Group at a planned meeting on December 19, 2017. Staff will work with the
stakeholders group to refine the scope of work for the proposed pedestrian safety improvements.
Over $367 million in building permits have been issued in the West Seventh Urban Village since 2010,
with over $56 million issued in 2017 alone. Currently active permits exceed $40 million, demonstrating
that development activity continues to be strong within the urban village. Pedestrian safety improvements
proposed for the core area will support the continued success of the West Seventh Urban Village.
Staff anticipates that the remaining 2014 Bond Program funds for urban villages will fall between $1.0
million and $1.5 million, depending upon the bids received for the Six Points Phase 2 project and total staff
and easement acquisition costs. Once the amount of funds remaining has been determined following
receipt of bids for Six Points Phase 2, staff will prepare an M&C to appropriate the remaining 2014 Urban
Village Bond Program funds for pedestrian safety improvements in the West Seventh core.
Should you have questions, contact Randle Harwood, Planning and Development Director, 817-392-6101.
David Cooke
City Manager
ISSUED BY THE CITY MANAGER FORT WORTH, TEXAS