Transportation Archives - Page 6 of 13

APWA Project of the Year: 180th Street Corridor Improvements

Otak is excited to announce that our work on 180th Street SE Improvements for Snohomish County just won Project of the Year at the APWA Washington’s annual Spring conference in the $5 million – $25 million Transportation category!

Read on as we take a deep dive into what this award means, and why we’re so grateful to be recognized among many other deserving winners from across Washington state.

What’s the Project?

The impact of improvements to the 180th Street corridor makes the area safer for pedestrians, bicyclists, drivers, and critical habitats in the surrounding natural environment.

The unincorporated area between the cities of Mill Creek and Bothell is one of the fastest growing in all of Snohomish County. The east/west 180th St SE corridor runs through the heart of the community, and along with the north/south corridors of State Route 527, 35th Ave SE, and Seattle Hill Rd, is one of the main routes for navigating the southwest area of Snohomish County.

With the steadily increasing population and plans for additional transit options coming to the area, improvements to the arterial transportation system are a top priority for Snohomish County.

Otak partnered with Snohomish County Public Works to deliver transportation, structural, and environmental services for the project’s Phase I improvements, and we’re beyond proud of the final result.

What’s the APWA?

The American Public Works Association is an international educational and professional association of public agencies, private sector companies, and individuals dedicated to providing high quality public works goods and services. Originally chartered in 1937, APWA is the largest and oldest organization of its kind in the world, with headquarters in Kansas City, Missouri, an office in Washington, D.C., and 67 chapters throughout North America. APWA provides a forum in which public works professionals can exchange ideas, improve professional competency, increase the performance of their agencies and companies, and bring important public works-related topics to public attention in local, state and federal arenas.

The Washington Chapter’s 1,400 (+/-) members come from the entire state of Washington. The Chapter as a whole meets twice a year at spring (Western Washington) and fall (Eastern Washington) conferences and there are several other formal and informal annual events throughout the year.

We’d like to formally thank APWA Washington for bestowing this award on such a deserving and community-driven project. Stay tuned for more conference and award news as this season gets into full swing. We can’t wait to connect with more of our partners and clients at future events, and maybe win some more awards along the way!

180th Street Corridor Improvements

For one of the fastest-growing areas of Snohomish County, plans for additional transit options and improvements to the arterial transportation system were considered a top priority. As a main route in the county’s southeast, the 180th corridor would be reconstructed with a multimodal design that addresses capacity needs while also enhancing multiple adjacent wetland habitats.

Increased Roadway Capacity, Fully-Mitigated Environmental Impact

In meeting the county’s five-lane urban arterial design stands, improvements to the 180th Street corridor includes the widening of the road with two new lanes to improve capacity and reduce congestion. Sidewalks on both sides of the road and bike lanes are part of multimodal design. With much of the work occurring at the confluence of two fish-bearing streams, significant changes to that system were needed. Realigning a portion of Thompson Creek and the removal of a roadside ditch creates a more natural channel and habitat. A new stormwater conveyance system adds modular wetlands for stormwater treatment, and stormwater detention vaults for flow control. The removal of hydrologic barriers along with wetland enhancements through grading, soil amendments, and planting were part of fully-mitigating all impacts on site. Otak designed two culvert replacements, a restored stream channel, stormwater facilities, retaining walls, and utility relocation to support the County’s roadway improvement goals.

Little Boston Road Pedestrian Trail

Adjacent to Little Boston Road, a 0.75-mile section of trail was designed and constructed as the principal nonmotorized connection to the Tribal Administrative Campus for the Port Gamble S’Klallam Tribe.

A Pedestrian Trail Designed for Tribal Administrative Access

The pedestrian trail consists of a ten-foot-wide paved trail with a number of amenities that also includes three pedestrian bridges, five stream crossings, and 7,600 square-feet of retaining walls. In limiting impact to to the area, the project included environmental mitigation as well as utility relocations, driveway and frontage restoration along 15 homeowner sites. As the prime consultant for design and construction Otak provided civil and structural engineering, landscape design, geotechnical investigation, environmental mitigation design, community engagement, construction document preparation, permitting, and construction management.

McGilchrist Street Arterial Improvements

As a major east/west arterial, McGilchrist Street carries significant traffic volumes for the area surrounding Salem, Oregon. The corridor, which provides a vital connection to downtown access as well as I-5 via Highway 22, would undergo multiple phases across three segments of roadway improvements aimed at traffic, railway, bicyclist, and pedestrian use. In leading the roadway design, Otak prepared a corridor analysis and feasibility study, as well as the engineering design and stream analysis to accommodate multiple creek crossings.

Roadway Design Intersects Stream Analysis for an Improved Corridor and Fish Habitat

The roadway design of McGilchrist Street traverses existing railroad tracks along with crossings at Clark Creek as well as the East and West Forks of Pringle Creek. Widening throughout the corridor with additional turn lanes at major intersections featuring new traffic signals – including the realignment of the 22nd Street intersection to a four-leg intersection – aim to reduce traffic congestion while bike facilities including a 10-foot-wide protected cycle track and pedestrian crossings encourage active transportation. In facilitating multiple creek crossings as well as widening of an at-grade track crossing for a Union Pacific Railroad mainline, stream analysis also identified solutions to alleviate bank over-topping and chronic flooding from the creek channel onto adjacent properties and over the existing roadway. Two culverts – including three-sided culvert with a natural bottom to accommodate the road widening – along with large wood debris add to this approach while also improving fish passage and habitat.

NE 171st Street Urban Parkway

An alternatives analysis process led to a selected concept for three roundabouts along the existing alignment of NE 171^st Street in Woodinville, Washington. The design alleviates congestion created by zoning changes aimed at encouraging economic growth in the city’s downtown area. In leading the analysis, Otak also provided a variety of services including the full design and construction support that followed.

Converting an Arterial to Improve Capacity, Flooding, and Fish Passage

Zoning changes enacted within the downtown master planning area of Woodinville were expected to result in congested intersections at key entrances into the downtown core. Roundabouts at one existing intersection and plans for two others – at locations that would be constructed as the area became more densely developed – provided the basis for the identified best solution. The alignment for each intersecting roadway was determined while incorporating a roadway diet, from five lanes to two, between roundabouts to channelize the traffic safely and efficiently. These improvements came with several other benefits by substantially reducing paved areas, replacing two culverts to fish-passable standards, alleviating flooding, and adding stormwater quality improvements, and a multi-use trail.

Paepcke Transit Hub Improvements

A combination of three popular bus stops, WE-Cycle stations, Car-to-Go, and its central location in town, Paepcke Park is one of the busiest transit hubs in the City of Aspen. With a focus on safety, accessibility, speed, and reliability, a comprehensive analysis and design for transportation improvements would take shape with the help of the community.

Comprehensive Transportation Analysis for an Updated Transit Design

In close collaboration with the City of Aspen and Roaring Fork Transportation Authority (RFTA), a multidisciplinary design team conducted widespread analysis aimed to improve all modes of transit at the Paekpcke Hub. Comprehensive studies covered traffic and parking analysis, bus and pedestrian movement analysis, connectivity analysis, busway and bus stop design, intersection design, as well as roadway and drainage design among others. Informing the design, improvements include dedicated bus lanes, BRT shelters, new lane configurations, improved parking layouts, multiple pedestrian and bicycle safety enhancement features, bicycle parking, additional crosswalks, widened sidewalks, grading and drainage improvements, and numerous green street solutions. A robust public involvement process solicited feedback through a series of surveys to come up with several options for each phase of the project.

Orange Line – Swift Bus Rapid Transit

As part of Washington State’s first bus rapid transit (BRT) line, the 11-mile Orange Line route connects portions of Snohomish County along with the cities of Lynnwood and Mill Creek. Otak led the design and permitting while also providing construction engineering support for this transit-oriented development.

Expanding Bus Rapid Transit Corridors and Facilities for Improved Public Transportation

The design of this corridor connects service to Edmonds College, Lynnwood city center, Alderwood Mall, Mill Creek, including four park-and-rides and three future Sound Transit Link light rail stations. Project elements include a new transit center for the western terminus at the Edmonds College, construction of 17 BRT stations along the new Orange Line corridor and one additional BRT station along the Blue Line Swift Bus route, retrofitting five Green Line stations to also function as Orange Line stations, reconstruction of the existing transit center at the McCollum Park Park-and-Ride, and roadway and signal improvements at approximately 14 intersections to improve transit speed and reliability. Otak team efforts include alternatives analysis, preliminary and final design, environmental permitting, PS&E preparation, and jurisdictional coordination and permitting for the proposed BRT stations and termini including all associated roadway, signal, and pedestrian improvements.

Twin Falls Main Street Reconstruction

After over 100 years at the heart of downtown Twin Falls, Idaho, Main Avenue would undergo a major reconstruction to make a number of physical improvements while maintaining its historic context. The design delivers a full streetscape and urban design that rebuilds seven blocks of downtown, incorporating existing township plans alongside extensive community engagement.

Historic Roadway Reconstruction, Complete Downtown Design

As the first major project of downtown Twin Falls since the early 1970’s the reconstruction of Main Street addressed a long list of needs from accessibility and pedestrian safety, to adding vibrancy through color and better sightlines around businesses with redesigned landscape features. Elements included street pavement and traffic flow, sidewalks, furnishings zone treatments, utility connections, public gathering spaces, parking management, furnishings, wayfinding, and branding. The design focused on community utility also added curbless festival street (shared street) segments for special events, a public plaza and concert stage, restroom and storage building as well as an overarching integration of public art and historic interpretation. The successful master plan and preliminary design by Otak was followed by the team moving through final design and engineering for the signature downtown Twin Falls project.

Niver Creek Open Space Enhancements

Spurred by the restoration of Niver Creek Tributary M, enhancements to its adjacent open space expands the area’s use for the surrounding community. Otak coordinated closely with Stream Landscape Architecture + Planning to integrate water quality features into the reconfigured the open space entrance, upgrading an existing trail, and adding parking and play areas.

Enhancing Access to a Public Space Alongside a Restored Stream

Greater access to an improved public amenity was the primary goal of enhancements to the Niver Creek Open Space. A new trailhead parking lot included a reconfigured entrance from 88th Avenue, incorporating low-impact design drainage improvements, water quality features, and a shade structure. The design improves ADA accessibility while creating new connections to existing transit stops along the frontage. This work took place alongside a realignment and restoration of the creek. Those efforts addressed channel instability to create a safer environment for the public and enhanced local ecology while maintaining the functionality of existing flood control infrastructure.

Tolt Avenue/SR 203 Central Business District Improvements

In revitalizing the central business district of Carnation, Washington, the reconstruction of four blocks was designed to improve a variety of areas from stormwater and utilities to traffic signage and pedestrian wayfinding. As the prime consultant completing these extensive streetscape improvements, Otak led the design, community engagement, and development of a comprehensive construction sequencing plan to minimize disruption to existing downtown businesses.

A Revitalized Streetscape Emphasizing Pedestrian Connectivity and Low Impact Development

This federally-funded project applies a community-character design theme that draws on the area’s history to deliver new streetscape amenities as well as a host of functional streetscape improvements. Unique metal cut-out panels used as banners on street light poles and incorporated into street furniture highlight this theme. The design for core blocks downtown focused on pedestrian connectivity and gathering spaces while underground stormwater quality treatment vaults placed beneath sidewalks function as root-storage, allowing for street trees to be placed within the dense business-district environment. Integrated adjacent to the planter areas are stormwater bioretention facilities creating natural balance with landscape plantings. Use of a depressed-curb intersection design at Bird Street opens the cross-street pedestrian corridor for future festivals and other street events.