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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025-05-20 City of Renton Traffic and Streets Comments_FINAL May 20, 2025 MICHAEL S. SIPPO, Civil Engineer III City of Renton City Hall Development Engineering 1055 S Grady Way Renton, WA 98057 Re: Longacres Master Plan - Preliminary Trip Distribution and Study Intersections Dear Mr. Sippo: Thank you for your recent comments regarding the Longacres Development project trip distribution study and street sections configuration. Please refer to the following responses to your questions which were sent to Amy Wasserman on March 13, 2025. Your complete comments are represented below with the team responses following: Trip Distribution: 1. Study sections should include all shown in addition to the notes on the figure. See split at SW 27th St. · The noted intersections will be added as EIS study intersections. 2. A recent photograph shared from our Transportation department shows that the underpass from the site west onto Longacres Way has been closed to traffic. At this point we are unsure if this is the permanent condition or if Tukwila or owner of the tracks has been contacted. If this is a permanent closure, the distribution may need to be adjusted. · Access through the underpass has been restored. There were some structural members being replaced which looks to now be complete. 3. Volumes in the north direction seem a bit low. Volumes up Monster Rd will need to be verified. · Acknowledged. TENW will review existing peak hour volumes and adjust the anticipated project trip distribution if warranted. TENW will ensure that City approves of final estimated project trip distribution. 4. Signal warrants should occur at the intersections of the southern site entrance/Oakesdale, Oakesdale/SE 34th and Oakesdale/SE 41st. Signal warrant may be needed at Grady/Longacres or analysis of left turn restrictions. · Acknowledged. EIS traffic analysis will include signal warrants at the requested intersections. MICHAEL S. SIPPO, Civil Engineer III May 20, 2025 Page 2 of 5 5. Trip generation numbers do not appear to coincide with the number of Alt. 2 proposed total number units + commercial + office uses and more information will be required. Specifically, the AM trips going out appears quite low considering the number of residential units being proposed. A detailed description of the trip generation procedure will need to be provided. · Acknowledged. The procedure to estimate trip generation and detailed trip generation estimates will be provided to the City for review and approval before proceeding with the EIS traffic analysis. 6. Mitigation for cyclists will need to be considered. · Acknowledged. The EIS traffic analysis will consider mitigation for cyclists. Other notes: 1. Note, new treatments will likely be required on the “Boeing Access Rd” on the north of the site extending along SW 16th and Longacres Dr. SW. · We propose this topic to be part of larger site wide conversation including street Improvement, city projects and use of impact Fees. We would also like to confirm the location of the suggested improvements and get specifics as to what the treatments should be. 2. Bike and Trails Master Plan calls for bike lanes from 16th to 27th and protected bike lane south of 27th to City limits. · In review of the City of Renton Bikes and Trails Master Plan it is understood where bike lanes are requested and how the network is projected to be completed. In review of the necessary improvements, we are Interested in creating a protected bike lane along Oakesdale and would like to look at alternative options to create bike lanes in this section. We understand the implications these have on other modes of transit, for example, it might be possible to use an internal multi-use path as an alternative. 3. Oakesdale and 16th do not have adequate “complete street” facilities and will require upgrades. · Further discussion is requested for clarification to make sure the request is being correctly interpreted. We propose this topic to be part of larger site wide conversation including street Improvement, city projects and use of impact Fees. Sections comments for discussion (this is a work in progress but wanted to get some initial feedback): 1. 4-ft sidewalks will not be acceptable at any locations. Suggest removing planter and having street trees with grates and small planter areas like on Williams and Wells Ave S. in downtown where the sidewalk narrows to 5’ only for small portions. · It is possible to reduce the planter width from 4-feet to 3-feet and use partial tree grates to get an extra 1-foot of width. Goal of this is to give a sense that the development ‘reads green’ and suggests that the central wetland is not the only place where lush verdant landscapes occur. MICHAEL S. SIPPO, Civil Engineer III May 20, 2025 Page 3 of 5 2. Internal Access Road: 2-10’ lanes is likely too narrow and should be 11’. Proposed ROW width seems incompatible with proposed usage of street – if the internal access road is intended for larger vehicles, trucks, service vehicles the 10ft lanes seem incompatible. Site plans showing internal circulation prior to city’s approval of concept will need to be provided. · There is no longer an “Internal Access Road” between parcels 9 and 10. This has been updated in the latest street section package. This is now a Fire Access Road which can be used for building access by future building developments. It is our understanding that (2) 10-foot lanes is adequate for access and reduced speeds for safety. (Updated Drawing Example - M_Street Profiles_250520_v2) 3. Esplanade: Consider requiring FedEx/Amazon dropoffs to use the Internal Access Road instead. The esplanade should have an esplanade/stroll feel free from interruptions from ongoing daily parcel drop-offs · It looks like this question is referring to the “West Access Road” instead. Please find attached an example ground floor plan for Parcel 14 which shows access is possible off the West Access Road. (Updated Drawing Example - P_Parcel_14_Floor_Plans_250520_v1) 4. Esplanade: 42’ ROW seems too narrow for the nature of how the street is being used by vehicles, especially if business’ parcel drop-offs would be allowed. Consider matching ROW width with the Retail Street cross section · Although the proposed street section does not look exactly like a traditional section, it does contain the elements necessary. Since the Esplanade is a single loaded street, the project is utilizing the shared use path around the wetland and pond to provide necessary pedestrian and bike circulation on the east side of the street. This fully integrates that circulation into the common space that makes this such a unique section. 5. Esplanade: If planter strip is required, suggest considering paved strip between tree wells allowing for more sidewalk width in certain areas. Example – see Northgate mall · The current plan and section already integrate both landscape and paving into this area. The project is trying to reduce impervious areas where possible, while maintaining appropriate pedestrian circulation and access. 6. West Access Road North: Sidewalk should be 5ft min and placed on both sides of road since it is continuing from South Access Road; crosswalks should be lit and reflective · It is possible to reduce the planter width from 4-feet to 3-feet and use partial tree grates to get an extra 1-foot of width. This is the section which has tracks adjacent rather than buildings or the train station. Crosswalks will be lit and reflective once further development has been completed. (Updated Drawing Example - M_Street Profiles_250520_v2) 7. West Access Road South: Sidewalk should be 5ft min and placed on both sides of road; crosswalks should be lit and reflective (if sidewalk on east side of road can be widened per above may consider removing sidewalk on west due to proximity to train tracks). MICHAEL S. SIPPO, Civil Engineer III May 20, 2025 Page 4 of 5 · It is possible to reduce the planter width from 4-feet to 3-feet and use partial tree grates to get an extra 1-foot of width. We are proposing having sidewalks both sides in the south section of the West Access Road to provide continuity to the South Access Road and connection to the train station. We would like to widen the sidewalk to 5-feet and remove the sidewalk on the West side of the North portion of the West Access Road because of the proximity of the train tracks. Crosswalks will be lit and reflective once further development has been completed. (Updated Drawing Example - M_Street Profiles_250520_v2) 8. Retail Street: Is there a min spacing between street trees and crosswalks for better visibility? I looked at NACTO, didn’t find what I wanted, also looked here; Consider 8 ft spacing between trees and crosswalks. · We will investigate this and provide a minimum spacing as suggested at 8-feet. This is understood as an acceptable tree spacing will be included as part of further development. 9. Internal Access Road: If planter strip is required, suggest considering paved strip between tree wells like Northgate example to accommodate more sidewalk width · There is no longer an “Internal Access Road” between parcels 9 and 10. This has been updated in the latest street section package. The current plan and section already integrate both landscape and paving into this area. The project is trying to reduce impervious areas where possible. (Updated Drawing Example – M_Street Profiles_250520_v2) 10. Internal Access Road: Some level of lighting should be provided for ped circulation  Adequate levels of lighting will be provided throughout the project site to support safe pedestrian circulation. (Updated Drawing Example – M_Street Profiles_250520_v2) 11. Internal Access Road: Will need to discuss if this is a dedicated or private road. · There is no longer an “Internal Access Road” between parcels 9 and 10. This has been updated in the latest street section package. (Updated Drawing Example – M_Street Profiles_250520_v2) 12. Oakesdale: Separate discussion is needed to coincide with City project and meet complete streets. · As suggested, we will continue the discussion with the City of Renton as required to bring the Oakesdale design and scope of work to resolution. Sincerely, John F. Williamson, AIA LEED BD&C Associate Enclosures MICHAEL S. SIPPO, Civil Engineer III May 20, 2025 Page 5 of 5 M_Street Profiles_250520_v2 P_Parcel_14_Floor_Plans_250520_v1 cc: Julia Reeve – Unico Amy Wasserman – Ten W Jake Woland – Hewitt William Andres – CPL LMN File