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City of Missoula, Montana Item to be Referred to City Council Committee Committee: Public Works Committee Informational Item: MRA Sidewalk Projects – URD II & URD III Date: December 29, 2009 Prepared by: Tod Gass Initiated by: Tod Gass, MRA Action Required: No Council action required Recommended Motion: No motion required Timeline: Referral to committee: December 29, 2009 Committee discussion: January 6, 2010 Background and Alternatives Explored: The MRA Sidewalk Projects were first mentioned to the Council last year during the CIP process. The public has been notified of the sidewalk projects and public meetings have been held for each project. The Sidewalk Projects will be advertised for bids starting next week. The first Project is located in URD II and involves the installation of curb & sidewalk along Catlin St between S 3rd St W and Wyoming St and the installation of curb & sidewalk along Wyoming St between Garfield St and Russell St. A crossing for the future Milwaukee Trail will be constructed across Catlin St near the Missoula Housing Authority Project on the old Intermountain Lumber site. Several undesirable street trees that obstruct curb & sidewalk construction will be removed from the right-of-way. The last phase of this project will involve grass seeding the boulevards and the installing desirable street trees. The second project, Phase 1 Brooks St Commercial Corridor Curb & Sidewalk Project, is located in URD III. The Brooks St sidewalks were constructed around 10 years ago where adequate right-of-way existed. Under this project, MRA will attempt to fill-in missing sidewalk segments along Brooks St by negotiating sidewalk easements from private property owners in exchange for an MRA funded sidewalk. Sidewalks within a block east or west of Brooks St will be constructed where adequate right-of-way exists or where a sidewalk easement is obtained. Phase 2 of the Brooks St Project (2010) will involve constructing sidewalk where additional time is needed to negotiate a sidewalk easement from private property owners. Phase 3 of the Brooks St Project (2011) will involve the installation of landscaping and street trees where appropriate. The third project is also located in URD III in the residential area west of Southgate mall. Curb and sidewalk will be installed in this area over three or four years in three or four phases. Phase 1 URD III Residential Curb & Sidewalk Project will be constructed in Spring 2010 and will involve portions of Schilling St, Eaton St, Dearborn Ave, Fairview Ave, and Benton Ave. Access to the Bitterroot Commuter trail will be improved. Many encroachments into the public right-of-way exist in this area including fences, mail boxes, and private parking. Public right-of-way will be reclaimed by relocating mail boxes, designing on street parking, and removing and stacking fencing within the owner's property to allow for the construction of the improvements. Phases 2 – 4 of the URD III Residential Project will be constructed over the next three or four years. Financial Implications: Sidewalks funded with MRA Tax Increment Funds. Attachments: None.