Title
Alberta Transportation Bridge Report - Hwy 16 east of Range Road 42
Proposed Motion
That Council approve up to $6,250,000 to be funded from debt for the construction of a pedestrian and wildlife underpass at Highway 16, east of Range Road 42, as presented.
Body
Administration Recommendation
Administration does not support the proposed motion.
The cost of the project was initially estimated to be between $3.5M and $4M. Council provided support to move ahead with the detailed design and cost estimate. The cost has been estimated at $6.25M. Administration does not feel there is enough return on this investment to be supported.
Purpose
RFD 22-201 was presented to Council on July 12, 2022. At the conclusion of this meeting, Council approved $150,000 towards completing the design of a pedestrian and wildlife underpass on Highway 16 east of Range Road 42. Administration was directed to complete design and return to Council with an updated project cost estimate. Administration was also directed to review right-of-way considerations and provide additional information on trail alignment options. Administration has completed these tasks and provides the detail in the report below.
Summary
The detailed design was completed by Alberta Transportation in December 2022 and was shared with Parkland County on January 10, 2023. The proposed design is included as Attachment 1. The proposed design provides a 4.5 metres open clear space for pedestrians and wildlife movements through the corridor and would be completed with an unpaved/granular surface material. The length of the corridor is approximately 80 metres and is recommended to have LED lighting installed to ensure there is visibility through the corridor. The original proposal was to include a sky-light in the centre median of Highway 16 to avoid artificial lighting requirements however this is not supported by Alberta Transportation as it impacts highway operations and long-term maintenance of the highway corridor. Concrete wing walls (retaining walls) are required at both the north and south ends of the corridor as the openings fall within the clear zone of the highway movements. Safety rails and guardrails are required to ensure appropriate measures are in place protecting pedestrians, motorists, and potential wildlife in the area.
Administration has completed a review of the design and has minor comments to offer Alberta Transportation but overall, the design is accepted and would be the preferred design to move forward with.
The construction cost for the design as submitted by Alberta Transportation is approximately $6.25M. Administration believes the cost could realistically be reduced to is around $5M.
In addition to the capital investment, Parkland County will be requested to sign an agreement with Alberta Transportation ensuring all costs for operation, maintenance, rehabilitation, and replacement remain the responsibility of the County. This capital infrastructure will be owned by the County and will be the responsibility of the County to manage throughout its lifecycle, which would be anticipated to be 75 years. A rough estimate of operational costs would be $5,000 to $10,000 annually, subject to actual use and types of corridor activity.
To put the value of this project into perspective, a few recent projects are highlighted below:
1. Trestle Creek Bridge Replacement, Single Span Bridge was fully replaced including roadway approach reconstruction - $2.1M
2. Mink Lake Road Reconstruction; Roadway is scheduled for full depth reclamation and reconstruction for 3 miles (4.8 Km) - $5.5M
3. Helenslea ACP Subdivision Overlay; Full subdivision overlay with base repairs in many areas - $3M
4. Aggregate Chip Seal Program Increase; in 2021, we added 45 Km of chip seal from a one-time Provincial grant (MSP program) - $2.5M
5. Hwy 60 and 92 Ave Intersection; the cost to complete a single intersection reconstruction on Highway 60 as part of the Champion Pet Foods and Amazon developments - $6.2M
With regards to trail alignments north and south of the bridge culvert, there are opportunities to investigate with TransAlta to the south that would connect into a few areas of Wabamun. This is not identified as a significant risk item and there would be a few different opportunities that connections could occur. To the north, land availability continues to be a bit of an uncertainty. The trail could connect straight west along highway right-of-way however there would be a steep vertical embankment to traverse which would not be ideal. Stairs or similar infrastructure would likely be required, adding to upfront capital costs and future maintenance/lifecycle costs. There is good opportunity to negotiate right-of-way across private lands to connect to existing rights-of-way however between the previous report and now, Administration has not able to connect with landowners as the property is within some form of sale or estate agreement. This is identified as a moderate risk to get the ideal solution and low risk to get the less-than-ideal solution.
For the purposes above, specifically the up-front cost of at least $5,000,000, the return on investment is challenging to see at present time and Administration recommends that Council not approve the motion as presented.
Historical Information:
RFD 22-201: Alberta Transportation Bridge Report.
Project was introduced to Council and funding request at that time was $4,350,000. Administration identified $150,000 for design purposes and $4,200,000 for construction purposes. While $4,200,000 was identified for construction, Administration also discussed potential cost savings and represented the project was expected to be completed under the proposed funding allocation. The original motion was amended to the following two motions:
1. That Council approve an amount of up to $150,000 from Municipal Sustainability Initiative (MSI) capital funding for the detailed design of a pedestrian underpass/wildlife corridor under Highway 16 east of Range Road 42.
2. That Administration be directed to present to Council prior to the end of 2022 with an updated construction cost estimate, right of way considerations, and additional information of the trail alignment options for the pedestrian underpass/wildlife corridor under Highway 16 east of Range Road 42.
RFD 22-303: Alberta Transportation Bridge Report Highway 16 East of Range Road 42.
As per the second motion approved in RFD 22-201 on July 12, 2022, Administration was to report back to Council by the end of 2022. At the time that reports were to be drafted, no information had been received. Administration put forward a tabling motion to defer the project update to January 24, 2023, which was approved by Council on December 13, 2022.
Strategic Plan/Policy/Legal/Staff Implications:
Pillar A: Complete Communities: We recognize the diversity of Parkland County's communities, while fostering a united and shared vision for Parkland as a whole.
Goal 1 - To create a sense of belonging and well-being by linking our communities together with roadways, pathways, and utilities
Goal 3 - To ensure that County infrastructure meets the needs of residents, business, and industry
Pillar C: Respected Environment and Agriculture: We respect the natural environment, recognizing Parkland County's biodiversity and unique natural beauty, the land's value for agricultural purposes, and ensuring our commitment to sustainable agricultural and environmental practices.
Goal 2 - To ensure residential development plans incorporate relevant public amenities
Financial Impact:
Cost: $6,250,000
Source of Funding: Debt