Cable Barrier Project Along Muncie Bypass from S
Cable Barrier Project Along Muncie Bypass from S. R. 3 to S. R. 32 in Delaware County Wednesday, March 25, 2020
Cable Barrier Project • Presentation Agenda • • Project Team & Public Involvement Project stakeholders Project development Environmental considerations • Environmental document – Impacts to natural and human environment • • Project description Preliminary design details Maintenance of traffic Anticipated cost and schedule • Submitting written public comments
Project Team & Public Involvement • Indiana Department of Transportation • Greenfield District Office – INDOT Regional Office serving East Central Indiana • • Project Management Public Involvement Design and Environmental Planning, Project Development, Construction and Maintenance • Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) • Indiana Division Office • The public hearing scheduled for March 25 was cancelled • Legal notices announcing the public hearing and the cancellation of public hearing were published in the Muncie Star Press on March 11, March 18, and March 25 • Announcement of the hearing and cancellation was posted to the INDOT website. • A copy of presentation and project documentation are available for review via the INDOT website
Project Stakeholders • Indiana Department of Transportation • Indiana Division Federal Highway Administration • Delaware County • City of Muncie • Elected & Local officials • Residents & Citizens • Commuters • Businesses • Law Enforcement & Emergency services • Schools • Churches • Community Organizations • Trucking Industry
Project Development Project Selection Early Coordination Environmental phase begins Purpose & Need Develop alternatives Preliminary design phase Release environmental document for public review and comment We Are Here March 2020 Additional work to finalize environmental document and project design Project Letting Construction Reach a project decision Communicate project decision Summer 2020
Environmental Analysis Phase National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) • Requires INDOT to analyze and evaluate the impacts of a proposed project to the natural and socio-economic environments • NEPA is a decision-making process • Purpose and Need • Alternatives Screening • Preferred Alternative • Draft environmental document released for public involvement – February 2020 • Available via the INDOT website • Impacts analyzed, evaluated and described in an environmental document • • What are the impacts this project might have on the community? How can impacts be avoided? Can impacts be minimized? Mitigation for impacts?
Environmental Document Evaluates Impact Right-of-Way Streams, Wetlands, and Other Waters Floodplains Endangered Species Farmland Cultural Resources (Historic/Archaeological) • Parks and Recreational Lands (Trails) • Residential Development • • Air Quality • Noise • Community Impacts • Environmental Justice • Hazardous Materials • Permits • Mitigation • Public Involvement • Commercial Development
Project Information Project Webpage https: //www. in. gov/indot/4036. htm INDOT Office of Public Involvement Persons with limited internet access may request project information be mailed to them, please contact Rickie Clark, INDOT Office of Public Involvement at 317232 -6601 rclark@indot. in. gov to request project information Transportation Services Call Center Provides citizen and business customers with a single point-of-contact to request transportation services, obtain information, or provide feedback through multiple channels of communications. 855 -463 -6848 • INDOT 4 U. com • INDOT@indot. in. gov
New Cable Barrier – U. S. 35 from S. R. 3 to S. R. 32 • Purpose and Need • Enhance safety within this segment of the State Road 3/S. R. 67/U. S. 35 (U. S. 35 Muncie Bypass) Corridor • Reduce the number of vehicular collisions occurring at the Meeker Avenue Intersection • Number of accidents resulting in personal injury • High number of median crossing collisions within project area • Number of accidents resulting in vehicles running off the roadway • The project proposes to reduce vehicular collision rates within the corridor • Project length – approximately 4 miles • Estimated cost – $662, 000 • Federal and state funding to be used
Accident Data • US 35 at CR 300 South • 2015 to 2018 • 19 total accidents • • • 5 rear end 1 same direction sideswipe 8 right angle 1 left turn 4 ran off road • Meeker Avenue • 2015 to 2018 • 20 total accidents (one resulting in a fatality) • • 2 rear end 15 right angle 1 ran off road 2 other Source: INDOT Greenfield District Traffic
Alternatives Considered • Do Nothing • Includes routine maintenance activities, but no build or construction • Alternative is used as a baseline for comparison for build alternatives • Does not meet project’s purpose and need to enhance safety by addressing the high vehicular collision rates within the corridor • Preferred Alternative • Install a new high-tension cable barrier system in the grassed median to prevent median crossings along the entire portion of U. S. 35 from S. R. 3 to S. R. 32
Project Location – Muncie Bypass S. R. 3 to S. R. 32
Existing Conditions • U. S. 35 from S. R. 3 to S. R. 32 in Delaware County • Is a divided highway with two 12 -foot wide travel lanes in each direction with 9 -foot, 11 -inch outside shoulders • Variable width inside shoulders and variable width open grass covered median • 55 mph posted speed within project area • Several gravel covered crossovers are located along this section of U. S. 35 • Meeker Avenue Intersection • Is a full access intersection with through access and turning movements
Preferred Alternative – INDOT Proposal • Install High Tension Cable • Utilize grassed median area (state owned right-of-way) to install barrier cable • Cable barrier will prevent median crossings along U. S. 35 from S. R. 3 to S. R. 32 • Cable barrier will extend through all existing gravel covered crossovers; preventing / eliminating U-turn movements • Meeker Avenue Intersection Convert to a right-in, right-out only intersection Existing asphalt crossover will be removed Left turns along U. S. 35 will be removed Cable barrier will extend through the former crossover location to prevent left turns from U. S. 35 to Meeker Avenue • Median through movements will be prohibited • •
High Tension Cable Barrier
Meeker Avenue Intersection
Preferred Alternative • Construct New Crossover • One new asphalt covered crossover will be built approximately 2 miles north of S. R. 3 for emergency vehicles • 200 -foot long deceleration and taper lanes will be constructed on the inside shoulder on both sides of new crossover • Underdrains will be placed under the deceleration lanes to divert ground water away from the new pavement • 15 -inch small culvert will be under the crossover to perpetuate drainage within project area
Maintenance of Traffic (MOT) • Short term lane and shoulder closures will be required • No significant delays are anticipated • Coordination with local school districts and emergency services will occur as part of MOT operations
Project Schedule • • Environmental document released for public involvement – February 2020 Public Involvement Phase – Spring 2020 Finalize environmental document and design – Summer 2020 Proposed construction – Spring 2021 • One construction season
Public Comments • Submit Public Comments: • Via e-mail • Written letters may be sent to INDOT • INDOT respectfully requests comments be submitted by Monday, April 13, 2020 • All comments are reviewed, evaluated and given full consideration during decision-making process
Next Steps • INDOT Review of Public Comments • All comments are given full consideration during the decision-making process • Finalize/approve environmental document, complete project design • Communicate a Decision • INDOT will notify project stakeholders of decision • Work through local media, social media outlets, paid legal notice • Make project documents accessible via repositories • Questions? Contact the Public Involvement Team
Project Information Project Webpage https: //www. in. gov/indot/4036. htm INDOT Office of Public Involvement Persons with limited internet access may request project information be mailed to them, please contact Rickie Clark, INDOT Office of Public Involvement at 317232 -6601 rclark@indot. in. gov to request project information Transportation Services Call Center Provides citizen and business customers with a single point-of-contact to request transportation services, obtain information, or provide feedback through multiple channels of communications. 855 -463 -6848 • INDOT 4 U. com • INDOT@indot. in. gov
Thank You • Please visit the INDOT Greenfield District webpage at http: //www. in. gov/indot/2704. htm to learn more about this project and other projects in East Central Indiana
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