HomeMy WebLinkAboutI-405-SR167 Direct Connector Project - Street Modification (New Code) - LUA16-000457-2016-08-15DEPARTMENT OF COMMUNITY
AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
ADMINISTRATIVE STREET MODIFICATION
APPROVAL DENIAL
EVALUATION FORM & DECISION
PROJECT NAME: I-405/SR 167 Direct Connector Project
PROJECT NUMBER: LUA16-000457
PROJECT MANAGER: Vicki Grover
City of Renton Public Works
Transportation Planning & Programming Manager
APPLICANT: Ross Fenton
Washington State Department of Transportation
600 108th Avenue NE, Suite 405
Bellevue, WA 98004
ZONING CLASSIFICATION: R6-Residential (6 DU/AC) and R8-Residential (8 DU/AC)
PROJECT LOCATION: South 14th Street between Lake Avenue South and Smithers
Avenue South
SUMMARY OF REQUEST:
Pursuant to RMC 4-9-250D the applicant is requesting an Administrative Modification from
RMC 4-6-060 Street Standards for South 14th Street, a residential street, as part of the
Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) I-405/SR 167 Direct Connector
(405/167 DC) Project. The modification request is described below:
· Maintenance access between Lake Avenue South and Davis Avenue South (Private);
· Hammerhead cul-de-sac at the north end of Davis Avenue South (Private);
· Alley Street between Davis Avenue South (Private) and Shattuck Avenue South;
· Alley Street between Shattuck Avenue South and Whitworth Avenue South;
· Alley Street between Whitworth Avenue South and Morris Avenue South; and
· Maintenance access between Morris Avenue South and Smithers Avenue South.
BACKGROUND (provided by Applicant):
The 405/167 DC Project is the next step towards completing WSDOT’s Tukwila to Renton
Improvement Project in the Renton area. The purpose for the 405/167 DC Project is to project
is to provide a high occupancy vehicle (HOV) direct connection that helps to relieve increasing
congestion and deteriorating mobility through the corridor.
The 405/167 DC project will construct a new direct connector ramp for the HOV/express toll
lane (ETL) traffic travelling in each direction between the interchange’s SR 167 south leg HOT
City of Renton Department of Community and Economic Development Admin. Modification Request Report & Decision
I-405/SR 167 Direct Connector Project – STREET MODIFICATION LUA16-000457
Report of August 12, 2016 Page 2 of 5
lanes and the I-405 north leg HOV lanes. In addition to the direct connector ramp, key project
elements include reconstructing sections of I-405 and SR 167 to open up the medians of these
two roadways and create room for the direct connector ramp, widening or replacing the I-405
and SR 167 to open up the medians of these two roadways and create room for the direct
connector ramp, widening or replacing the I-405 Bridge over SR 515, and reconstructing
sections of South 14th Street that are impacted by the I-405/SR 167 DC Project.
Existing South 14th Street Conditions at Location of Proposed Modified Street Standard
Through the project area, South 14th Street runs continuously for approximately 1,800 feet
from the intersection with South 15th Street and Lake Avenue South on the west and the
intersection with Smithers Avenue South on the east. In addition to the above identified
intersection, South 14th Street also has “tee” intersections from west to east with Shattuck,
Whitworth, Morris Avenue South, respectively. For this section of South 14th Street, the existing
right of way width varies between 47-feet and 64-feet, but is a constant 60-foot width between
Whitworth and Smithers Avenues.
South 14th Street is a Residential Access and currently consists of a 2-directional roadway that
varies in width between 22-feet and 26-feet. There is no sidewalk or provisions for parking on
either side of the existing South 14th Street roadway. Along the north edge of South 14th Street
there is a precast cement concrete barrier that fronts the existing I-405 noise wall. An open
storm water drainage ditch runs along most of the south side of South 14th Street with
occasional breaks for property access.
South 14th Street South Improvements at Location of Proposed Modified Street Standard
The majority of the existing South 14th Street right of way between Lake Avenue and Smithers
Avenue SE will be impacted by the Project and the adjacent property will be acquired. Property
north of South 14th Street is within I-405 limited access, is owned by WSDOT and does not have
access off of South 14th Street.
At least the first row of adjacent residential properties south of South 14th Street, are being
acquired to accommodate the Project. The acquisition area includes all parcels that have
access off of the impacted portion of the South 14th Street right of way. The existing access to
and from City streets for properties not being acquired for the Project will remain as currently
configured. Access to and from these properties is, and will continue to be, from the existing
cross City streets (Shattuck, Whitworth, Morris, Smithers and Davis streets).
In order to minimize both the amount of properties and number of Talbot Hill neighborhood
residents, WSDOT is proposing to replace the portions of South 14th Street impacted by the
Project by constructing the following along the south side of the revised I-405 right of way:
· Maintenance access between Lake Avenue South and Davis Avenue South (Private);
· Hammerhead cul-de-sac at the north end of Davis Avenue South (Private);
· [Alley] Street between Davis Avenue South (Private) and Shattuck Avenue South;
· [Alley] Street between Shattuck Avenue South and Whitworth Avenue South;
City of Renton Department of Community and Economic Development Admin. Modification Request Report & Decision
I-405/SR 167 Direct Connector Project – STREET MODIFICATION LUA16-000457
Report of August 12, 2016 Page 3 of 5
· [Alley] Street between Whitworth Avenue South and Morris Avenue South; and
· Maintenance access between Morris Avenue South and Smithers Avenue South.
Because no properties will have direct access onto the relocated South 14th Street, WSDOT is
proposing to rebuild South 14th Street using the Alley requirements in the Renton City Code.
The proposed roadway would allow for access to Davis (private), Shattuck, Whitworth and
Morris Avenue South for residents and emergency vehicles. Outside of these four avenues, a
maintenance access will be provided for access to underground utilities.
The proposed design for South 14th Street would be 18-feet wide. This proposal is wider than
the 16-foot minimum width for a commercial alley as required in the City Code. The additional
width will allow for safe vehicle passing along the length available to general traffic. A noise
wall will be constructed along the north edge of the relocated South 14th Street, with a roadside
barrier between the noise wall and traveled way. The revised City of Renton right-of-way will be
a minimum of 43-feet wide between Shattuck and Morris Avenues.
Along the maintenance access, the paved surface will be 12-feet wide, and the overall right-of-
way width will vary with a minimum of 20-feet. In these areas, the primary use will be to
provide access to underground utilities, relocated from the impacted existing south 14th Street,
and non-motorized connectivity along the north side of the Talbot Hill neighborhood. All
ingress/egress from the public street to the maintenance from the public street to the
maintenance access will be protected by bollards to prevent access by unauthorized motorized
vehicles and will include removable bollards with locking base assembly (Bollard Type 1) to
allow for maintenance and service vehicles when authorized by the City.
EXHIBITS:
Exhibit A:
Exhibits B1 & B2:
Site Plan
Roadway Cross Sections
ANALYSIS OF REQUEST:
The Section 4-6-060Q.1 allows the Administrator to grant modifications provided the
modifications meet the following criteria (pursuant to RMC 4-9-250D.2):
Compliance Street Modification Criteria and Analysis
a. Substantially implements the policy direction of the policies and objectives of the
Comprehensive Plan Land Use Element and the Community Design Element and the
proposed modification is the minimum adjustment necessary to implement these
policies and objectives.
Staff Comment:
The Comprehensive Plan Land Use Element has applicable policies listed under a
separate section labeled Promoting a Safe, Healthy, and Attractive Community. These
City of Renton Department of Community and Economic Development Admin. Modification Request Report & Decision
I-405/SR 167 Direct Connector Project – STREET MODIFICATION LUA16-000457
Report of August 12, 2016 Page 4 of 5
policies address walkable neighborhoods, safety and shared uses. One specific policy
supports the approval of the modification request. This policy is Policy L-58 which states
that the goal is to provide “complete street”. The requested street modification is
consistent with the intended use of the street as defined by the complete street
standards.
b. Will meet the objectives and safety, function, appearance, environmental
protection and maintainability intended by the Code requirements, based upon
sound engineering judgment.
Staff Comment:
The City’s Public Works Transportation section and Community and Economic
Development section reviewed the proposed South 14th Street and the surrounding area
and have determined that an alley section and a utility access section is suitable for this
location. This determination was based on the close proximity of I-405 and the
additional properties that were purchased to ensure that remaining properties would
not maintain frontage from the proposed alley section.
c. Will not be injurious to other property(ies) in the vicinity.
Staff Comment:
There are no identified adverse impacts to other properties from the requested
modification given that WSDOT has purchased the properties surrounding the proposed
South 14th Street.
d. Conforms to the intent and purpose of the Code.
Staff Comment:
See comments under criterions ‘a’ and ‘b’.
e. Can be shown to be justified and required for the use and situation intended; and
Staff Comment:
The revised street standards provide a safe design for vehicles and pedestrians.
f. Will not create adverse impacts to other property(ies) in the vicinity.
Staff Comment:
See comments under criterion ‘c’.
City of Renton Department of Community and Economic Development Admin. Modification Request Report & Decision
I-405/SR 167 Direct Connector Project – STREET MODIFICATION LUA16-000457
Report of August 12, 2016 Page 5 of 5
DECISION
The proposal satisfies 6 of the 6 criteria listed in RMC 4-9-250D.2 for the requested
modification. Therefore, the street modifications for the I-405/SR 167 Direct Connector Project
located at South 14th Street between Lake Avenue South and Smithers Avenue South, Project
Number LUA16-000457 is approved as proposed.
_______________
Brianne Bannwarth, Development Engineering Manager Date
The decision to approve the modification will become final if not appealed in writing together
with the required fee to: Hearing Examiner, City of Renton, 1055 South Grady Way, Renton,
WA 98057 on or before 5:00 pm, on August 26, 2016. Additional information regarding the
appeal process may be obtained from the Renton City Clerk’s office, Renton City Hall – 7th Floor,
425.430.6510.
If you have any further questions regarding this decision, feel free to contact City of Renton
Public Works Transportation Planning & Programming Manager, Vicki Grover, at 425.430.7393
or vgrover@rentonwa.gov.
08/12/2016