The Lindon City Council held a special Work Session on Tuesday, July 8, 2003 at 6:00 p.m. in the Lindon City Center Conference Room located at 100 North State Street, Lindon, Utah.

Conducting: Larry A. Ellertson, Mayor

PRESENT

Larry A. Ellertson, Mayor
Jeff Acerson, Councilmember
H. Toby Bath, Councilmember
Lindsey Bayless, Councilmember
Jerald I. Hatch, Councilmember
Don Peterson, Public Works Director
Craig Friant, JUB
Mark Christensen, City Engineer (JUB)
Venla Gubler, Administrative Clerk

ABSENT

James A. Dain, Councilmember
Ott H. Dameron, City Administrator

The meeting began at 6:05 p.m.

1. Review - Design Profile for 700 North Street between State Street and Geneva Road.

Mr. Craig Friant, design engineer for this project with JUB Engineers, presented the altered design profile for 700 North. Mayor Ellertson explained the reason for the amended design as an effort to control access on this street. Mr. Friant pointed out the landscape median on the west side of the alignment. He noted that there is no median east of the Walker's west driveway. This area will be a double yellow line. There is a full intersection at Geneva Road. The accesses to the City of Fun and Neils Fugal Sons will not be full intersections but will allow right in, right out turns. Mr. Mark Christensen asked Mr. Friant to describe the median on the west end of this street. Mr. Friant commented that the median is twelve feet wide from curb face to curb face and will allow 10 feet of landscaping within it.

Mrs. Barbara Walker, a Lindon resident, appeared at the meeting and asked if this meeting tonight concerned plans for residential housing on the west side. She was assured that this discussion concerned only access management on 700 North.

Mr. Friant showed the Council that the plan requires moving the sidewalk from within the right-of-way to private property. This will allow an eight foot planter strip on the sides of the road that will narrow for deceleration and right turn lanes. Mayor Ellertson asked if there would be a shoulder area. Mr. Friant replied yes, that the road would be striped on the sides to delineate the shoulder area.

Councilmember Bath asked if the width of the planter would be similar to those on 1300 South in Orem. Mr. Friant replied yes. Mr. Christensen pointed out the intersection for 820 West and noted that there is no left turn lane there. He asked Mr. Friant to explain the spacing of intersections. Mr. Friant commented that the ASHTO manual separates turning lanes in "taper length," "deceleration lane," and "storage length (stacking space)." He informed the Council that the design speed for 700 North is 45 miles per hour (mph), but the road will be posted for 35 mph. Right turns need less storage space than left turns. He has allowed one car length for the right turns and about 100 feet of storage for left turns. He noted that more left turn space is needed for State Street and Geneva Road. He has figured that a vehicle will require 285 feet to stop from 35 mph. This is the length of the taper and the deceleration lane. A vehicle must stop before reaching the storage space. Mr. Christensen commented that it is easier to understand why intersections must be spaced a minimum of 400 feet apart when you add the 285 feet of taper and deceleration lane to the minimum 100 feet of storage length.

Councilmember Hatch asked how much right-of-way had been acquired from the Fugals. He was informed that the street width is 102 feet and 66 feet was obtained from Fugals. Mayor Ellertson commented that access had been committed to the Fugals in two places–one on their present yard and one nearer to Walkers. Mr. Christensen commented that these accesses had been placed near potential lot lines for development purposes. He noted that although the lot lines may change depending on development plans, the City is planning to send this project out for bid by next week. The median location needs to be decided for construction.

Councilmember Acerson asked about funding for this project. Mayor Ellertson replied that the funds were available. He pointed out that the intersections near Walmart were different than the intersections near Geneva Road. Mr. Christensen asked Mr. Friant to describe the State Street intersection. Mr. Friant replied that the street design accommodates right and left hand turn lanes and two through lanes in each direction. Walmart has designed their site plan to allow enough right-of-way for the additional lanes. They have agreed to landscape the right-of-way for now until the lanes are needed.

Mayor Ellertson commented that the reason this Work Session was called for today was to allow the Council to review the design before the landowners acting as the access management committee meet on Thursday. The bids for the project will be opened on August 1, 2003. Councilmember Bath asked the construction timetable. Mr. Christensen replied four to six weeks or about the end of September.

Mayor Ellertson asked if the street will be made ready for signalizing at the State Street and Geneva Road intersections. Mr. Christensen replied yes. Councilmember Acerson commented that he thought the signals were installed by UDOT. Mr. Christensen replied that they will if the city is willing to wait for UDOT's schedule. He was asked if UDOT would reimburse the City. He replied that they will if the reimbursement is approved in advance. There was a discussion of UDOT's plans for State Street, the anticipated amounts of traffic that may use this street instead of State Street and the timetable for construction of 820 West.

Mr. Friant pointed out possible areas of traffic conflict with left turns onto State Street and left turns into the Walmart. Mr. Christensen pointed out possible conflict for right turns into and out of accesses and ways that the design minimized those conflicts. Councilmember Acerson asked if these measures would make the traffic congestive. Mr. Christensen replied no, that there would be less congestion when motorists are more aware of what other motorists are planning. Mayor Ellertson verified that the landscaping of the median is not included in this contract. Mr. Don Peterson, Public Works Director, replied that the bids will not include the landscaping, but the irrigation system is included. He added that everything but the plants will be installed.

Mayor Ellertson asked if the asphalt was laid and the retaining walls for the median were put on top. He asked if the asphalt was punched out for the placement of trees in the median. Mr. Christensen explained that the asphalt does not go under the median, just under the walls. Councilmember Hatch asked about plans for street lighting. Mr. Christensen acknowledged that this has not been considered. There was discussion of Walmart's plans for lighting and how it would set the standard for both State Street and 700 North. Councilmember Bayless suggested that the City needs a street lighting policy. The Council agreed. There was discussion of making street lighting part of the requirement for development.

Mr. Christensen asked the Council for approval of the street design. Councilmember Acerson asked the price tag of adding the median planter. Mr. Christensen estimated $100,000 to $125,000 additional funds. The total project would increase from about $465,000 to $600,000. Councilmember Bath expressed the opinion that the median should be done now. Councilmembers Hatch and Bayless agreed. Councilmember Acerson commented that Lindon residents are sensitive to the fact that money should be spent wisely. Mr. Christensen observed that there are benefits to the median other than beautification. He informed the Council that a median reduces traffic conflicts and preserves access management. He suggested that the inclusion of the median in the contract is a safety issue. It will make the road function better into the future as additional traffic and development occur. He also pointed out that if the median is installed now, development along the street will understand in advance that there will be no left turns allowed at certain points along the street. Mayor Ellertson noted that left turn access would be from side roads and the access in many areas of 700 North will only be right-in and right-out. The Council approved the plan profile and alignment by consensus.

The Council discussed the meeting on Thursday evening with the Access Management Committee. The meeting was adjourned at 7:00 p.m.

APPROVED - August 5, 2003

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