From: Andy Peters

Sent: Thu Sep 02 14:43:59 2021

To: Mac Corthell; Dan Huff; Sam Miller; Dan Zinder; Gerald Fisher

Subject: RE: Projects

Importance: Normal

 

Mac, thanks for including me on the meeting with ODOT this afternoon. I’ve had a chance to skim through the series of TIAs this afternoon and this is becoming a bit clearer. Here are some facts and a suggestion to get us out of this.

  1. 1. There is no right hand turn lane Northbound Leroy turning East at HWY 211.
  2. 2. According to the original TIA for Cascade Center, p. 26, the intersection meets the criteria for installing one.
  3. 3. The reason it wasn’t installed is because when a future signal went in, that right turn lane would no longer be needed, and the pedestrian crossing distance would be artificially longer than it otherwise would have needed to be.
  4. 4. So with the delay in the signal, the right hand turn out of Grocery Outlet is likely to back up both right turning and 211 crossing traffic until the signal is installed. The intersection is KNOWINGLY under capacity, and that’s at least 3 years away.
  5. 5. I&E is willing and ready to build the signal, they want to do the right thing, and they want to be a partner, and they are doing a great job.
  6. 6. The Colima Apartment TIA looked at the intersection and noted 53 of the 95 trips needed to warrant a signal, but that an Odot Rule (which it does not cite) was preventing them from including the trips in that northbound turn lane under discussion. Okay, fine.
  7. 7. The next TIA by Kittleson for a mini-storage only claimed 1 trip would be added, bringing us to 54. Okay, fine.
  8. 8. Odot says they are happy to start the process of the signal, they just need an engineer, any engineer, to get them a TIA showing Warrants are met.
  9. 9. Mac is about to make that happen. Right Mac? If not, we have options, we can talk.
  10. 10. But even still, we are in a bind because we KNOW we are under capacity even now because of that right turn lane. Nothing can fix this until the signal goes in, and as soon as traffic starts backing up and the community gets pissed we will be unable to explain it or piotn the finger at I&E (who is doing well per fact 5 above) or ODOT (who is doing well per fact 8 above).
  11. 11. So now therefore, can we do this?:

 

Have I&E enter an agreement with the City such that…

  1. A. because they developed the Leroy Intersection knowing it would cause a backup due to underbuilding at the Right Turn Lane during the time the intersection waited for a signal, and
  2. B. because both the City and I&E assumed the signal would meet warrants by now and already be in ODOT que but it isn’t thus putting us over 3 years out,
  3. C. that now therefore the developer must enter an agreement with the City such that I&E may be required by the City to knock out that small section of curb and put in that right turn lane if it becomes a problem for traffic as determined by the City at any time between now and the signal goes in, and to remove it again when the signal goes in if required to reduce the pedestrian crossing.

 

I’m pretty sure we are absolutely allowed to make them do this by code and by state law. Despite this bad engineering advice up front, they can’t screw up the town. And honestly won’t cost them very much. I bet they would agree without further thought if it was presented nicely.

Andy

From: Mac Corthell <mcorthell@cityofmolalla.com>

Sent: Thursday, September 2, 2021 1:36 PM

To: Andy Peters <apeters@cityofmolalla.com>

Subject: Projects

Hi Andy,

Is there a PW Projects file somewhere? I’m looking for the one for 211/Molalla Ave Signal…

Macahan “Mac” Corthell, J.D. | Planning Director

City of Molalla

117 N Molalla Ave. | PO Box 248 |Molalla, OR 97038

Phone - 503.829.6855

Fax – 503.829.3676

Email – mcorthell@cityofmolalla.com

Website – http://www.cityofmolalla.com

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