#1 Maintenance agreement for bike trail on STH 26 (File Res. #2010-712)Community Development Department Memorandum
Date: May 10, 2010
Janesville City Council
TO:
FROM: Duane Cherek, Manager of Planning Services
SUBJECT: Action on a proposed resolution authorizing the City Manager to execute
an Agreement with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for the
maintenance of a bicycle/pedestrian path along State Highway 26. (File
Resolution No. 2010-712).
_____________________________________________________________________
Summary
For several years, the City of Janesville has advocated that WisDOT include a
bicycle/pedestrian trail in the project plans for expansion of State Highway 26 between
Janesville and Milton. Earlier this year, the City of Milton, City of Janesville and Rock
County staff met with WisDOT officials to explore the possibility of including bike trail
facilities along Highway 26 from Janesville north to County Highway N where the Jefferson
County Glacial River Trail currently terminates. Based on recent cost savings resulting from
low bid estimates for Highway 26 improvements in the Watertown and Jefferson bypass
areas, WisDOT has determined that funding is available to provide an off-road trail along
the expansion corridor. The Janesville segment would include a trail extension,
approximately 1 mile in length, from the planned overpass at N. Wright Road to the new
Town Hall Road interchange (see Map 1). Construction would be funded 100 percent by the
State; however, the project must have a government sponsor to assume maintenance
responsibilities for the trail before the State will implement the right-of-way acquisition
process. The scope of the project for the Janesville segment also includes providing a trail
connection to John Paul Road (CTH Y) from the planned Highway 26 pedestrian overpass.
This connection will ultimately allow the Highway 26 trail to connect to the Rotamer Road
Bike Trail proposed for construction later this fall. That facility will extend behind Sam’s
Club/Wal-Mart and the Pine Tree Shopping Plaza. Maintenance obligations for the Highway
26 trail primarily include mowing of trail shoulders and providing surface repairs if needed in
the future. Staff recommends the Council accept WisDOT’s maintenance agreement to
allow for right-of-way acquisition and construction of this trail segment as proposed.
Department Recommendation
The Community Development Department recommends that the City Council support a
motion to approve Resolution 2010-712 authorizing the City Manager to execute an
Agreement with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for the maintenance of a
bicycle/pedestrian path along State Highway 26.
City Manager Recommendation
The City Manager recommends approval of the proposed agreement with the Wisconsin
Department of Transportation for the maintenance of a bicycle/pedestrian path.
Suggested Motion
I move to approve file resolution 2010-712 authorizing the City Manager to execute an
Agreement with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation for the maintenance of a
bicycle/pedestrian path along State Highway 26.
ANALYSIS
A. The Highway 26 bike trail proposal includes a 10-foot wide off-road trail extending
along the northwest side of Highway 26 from N. Wright Road to the planned
interchange at Town Hall Road. From that point, designated on-street bike lanes will
be constructed along Town Hall Road and Townline Road providing access to the
City of Milton. In order to access the Highway 26 trail from the south, a bicyclist
would have to use John Paul Road as the link between the proposed trail and the
pedestrian overpass near W. Rotamer Road. This trail segment provides the
opportunity to expand the City’s trail system to the north and connects Janesville to
other portions of Rock County including those communities in Jefferson County
situated along the Glacial River Trail adjoining Highway 26. Trail improvements
would be constructed by WisDOT as part of the STH 26 expansion project (2012-
2013).
B. A copy of the draft maintenance agreement prepared by WisDOT is attached. The
agreement requires that the City keep the paved surface in good repair and requires
mowing trail shoulders periodically. Typical maintenance would involve mowing once
a month at an estimated cost of $600 per year for this section. Winter maintenance
in the form of snowplowing is not required but at the discretion of the City. The
maintenance agreement carries a 20-year term and automatically renews under the
same terms and conditions for additional one (1) year timeframes.
C. Construction of a bicycle/pedestrian trail along the Highway 26 corridor has been
identified as a recommended improvement on locally established plans for quite
some time. It is included in the 2005-2030 Long Range Transportation Plan for the
Janesville MPO and is supported in other City plans such as the Park and Open
Space Plan and Comprehensive Plan. If constructed, the project will create a safe
and separated alternative for pedestrians and bicycles traveling between Janesville,
Milton and beyond. The following policies contained in the Comprehensive Plan
support this project:
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Providing safe and efficient connections for pedestrians, bicycles and
automobiles within and in between neighborhoods, throughout the city and
between the City in a broader region.
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Providing quality of life through enhancing and expanding recreational trails to
serve most portions of the City.
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Providing sustainability through encouraging opportunities for alternative
modes of transportation when possible.
D. Staff supports the State’s proposed inclusion of the bike trail facility as part of the
Highway 26 expansion project, and the corresponding maintenance agreement, for a
variety of reasons. The project provides the City with the unique opportunity to
expand the trail system consistent with its long range goals while optimizing the
financial resources of the community. Right-of-way acquisition and construction of
the trail will be 100 percent funded by the State less the minor annual cost to
maintain the facility. Trail construction will link Janesville not only Milton, but also
connect to the Glacier River Trail that extends throughout Jefferson County and will
provide a connection to the cities of Fort Atkinson, Jefferson and Watertown. It is
significant to point out that the opportunity to establish this corridor and construct this
trail is now. It takes years of planning, foresight and coordination to piece together a
city-wide trail system with regional connections, and then secure necessary funding
for construction. When opportunities arise to secure a part of that system they may
not always be in proper sequence, but must be acted upon in order to implement the
long range plan. This is an opportunity to secure right-of-way for the trail and have it
constructed without using local dollars.
cc: Eric Levitt
Jay Winzenz
Brad Cantrell
RESOLUTION NO. 2010-712
Authorization to execute an Agreement between the City of Janesville and the Wisconsin
Department of Transportation for the maintenance of a bicycle/pedestrian path
within the right-of-way of State Highway 26.
WHEREAS, reconstruction of State Highway 26 Expansion Project in Rock County has
offered the opportunity for development of bicycle and pedestrian path along and within the right-of-
way of the new highway; and
WHEREAS, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation has agreed to construct the new
bicycle/pedestrian path along the northwest side of Highway 26 from N. Wright Road to Town Hall
Road for a total of 1.08 miles, and includes a connection to John Paul Road (CTH Y) from the
pedestrian overpass between Tanglewood Drive and W. Rotamer Road; and
WHEREAS, the 2005-2035 Janesville Area Long Range Transportation Plan is intended to
be used as a tool for developing safe, efficient transportation improvements for the Janesville Area
MPO through the year 2035, and includes the State Highway 26 trail as a planned improvement,
and
WHEREAS, the Janesville Area MPO Plan seeks to expand the opportunity for bicycle and
pedestrian traffic within the City of Janesville and provides connections within Rock County, and
WHEREAS, the Highway 26 trail will provide a critical link in connecting the City of
Janesville’s trail system north to Milton and through other communities in Rock and Jefferson
Counties; and
WHEREAS, the Parks and Community Development Departments recommend entering into
a contract with the Wisconsin Department of Transportation which will provide for city maintenance
of the new bicycle/pedestrian path,
WHEREAS, the Common Council finds that entering into this agreement with the Wisconsin
Department of Transportation for maintenance of the bicycle/pedestrian path located within the right-
of-way of State Highway 26 is within the best interest and benefit of the community.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
JANESVILLE that they hereby authorize and direct the City Manager, City Clerk, and his/her designee
to negotiate, enter into, and execute on behalf of the City of Janesville the attached Agreement; and to
negotiate, draft, execute, record, and file such documents, papers and forms as may from time to time,
be necessary and/or desirable to effectuate such agreement and the intent of this resolution as the City
Manager may decide; and
BE IT FUTHER RESOLVED BY THE COMMON COUNCIL that the City Manager and his
designees are hereby authorized to take at any time and from time to time whatever other actions and
make whatever minor changes to this Agreement that the City Manager may find necessary and/or
desirable to effectuate the intent of this resolution.
RESOLUTION 2010-712
PAGE 2
ADOPTED:
Motion by:
Second by:
APPROVED:
Councilmember Aye Nay Pass Absent
Brunner
McDonald
Eric J. Levitt, City Manager
Perrotto
Rashkin
ATTEST:
Steeber
Truman
Voskuil
Jean Ann Wulf, City Clerk-Treasurer
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
City Attorney, Wald Klimczyk
Proposed by: Community Development Department
Prepared by: Community Development Department