ITD Comments 4/18/13Machelle Hill
From: Bill Parsons
Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2013 9:33 AM
To: Jaycee Holman; Jacy Jones; Machelle Hill
Cc: Caleb Hood; Bill Nary
Subject: FW: ITD Letter - City Council's Concern with Retaining the Added Deceleration Lane - NWC
Chinden and Linder
Attachments: Meridian VAR 13-001 NWC of Linser and Chinden - Right Turn Letter.pdf
Good Morning Jacy,
Will you make sure this letter from ITD (Knightsky Estates variance application) is including in the City Council's packet
for the April 23d meeting.
Thanks,
Bill Parsons, AICP
Associate City Planner
Community Development Department
33 E. Broadway Avenue
Meridian, Idaho 83642
PHONE: (208) 884-5533
FAX: (208) 888-6854
bparsons@meridiancity.org
From: Dave Szplett [mailto:Dave.Szplett@itd.idaho.gov]
Sent: Thursday, April 18, 2013 9:20 AM
To: Don E. Knickrehm
Cc: Bill Parsons
Subject: ITD Letter - City Council's Concern with Retaining the Added Deceleration Lane - NWC Chinden and Linder
Gentlemen:
I talked the issue over with the designers and can report:
"ITD has not yet assigned funding to widen US 20-26 from two -lanes to four lanes, but there is sufficient right-of-way
width to widen the roadway to four lanes, to add bicycle lanes, and add sidewalks while still retaining the right turn
deceleration lanes for each travel direction. We have not designed this roadway expansion project so I cannot
guarantee the specific design and construction. I can only report that we need the deceleration lane for mitigation
and have every incentive and sufficient right-of-way width to maintain that specific mitigation."
I hope this helps your process.
Dave
Dave Szprett
Development Services Manager — ITD District 111
Email: dave.szplett@itd.idaho.gov
208.334.8377 office or 208.949.5683 cell
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April 18, 2013
IDAHO TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT
P.O. Box 8028
Boise, ID 83707-2028
Don Knickrehm ESQ
Givens Pursley LLP
601 West Bannock
P.O. Box 2720
Boise, ID 83702
VIA EMAIL
(208) 334-8300
itd.idaho.gov
Re: Right Turn Deceleration Lane - Northwest Corner of Linder Road and Chinden
Boulevard (US 20-26)
This letter responds to your email asking the following:
The council's concern was that if this right-in/right-out variance was approved, the
deceleration lane was a factor in terms of safety and granting the approval. How will ITD
make sure the deceleration lane does not disappear when/if Chinden is further widened?
The simple answer is that ITD made the requirement for the right turn deceleration lane as
safety mitigation. We have every incentive to retain the deceleration lane as traffic volumes
increase and the safety implications become more important. ITD has 140 -ft of right-of-way
abutting that parcel. This width is sufficient for a six -lane roadway or a four lane divided
roadway plus added turn lanes in each direction. Once widening occurs, the added cost of
constructing the deceleration lane is minor. The key issue is the right-of-way.
A possible cross section from the US 20-26 Corridor Plan looks like this:
Figure 9. East Segment, Ultimate Build -Out Cross Section (Meridian Road to Eagle Road)
140' Right -of -Way
701
Westbound US 20/26
70'
Eastbound US 20/26
ITD has not yet assigned funding to widen US 20-26 from two -lanes to four lanes, but there is
sufficient right-of-way width to widen the roadway to four lanes, to add bicycle lanes, and add
sidewalks while still retaining the right turn deceleration lanes for each travel direction.
We have not designed this roadway expansion project so I cannot guarantee the specific design
and construction. I can only report that we need the deceleration lane for mitigation and have
every incentive and sufficient right-of-way width to maintain that specific mitigation.
If you have any questions, you may contact me directly at 334-8377.
Sincerely,
Dave Szplett
Development Services Manager
dave.szplett@itd.idaho.gov