TAMRMS#: B06
7.1
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St. Anne Street Back Lane Improvement
Presented by: Dean Schick, Transportation Manager, Engineering
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RECOMMENDED MOTION(S)
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That ENGS-086, St Anne Street Back Lane Improvements be approved in the amount of $1,540,000, to be funded accordingly:
• $540,000 from approved operating carry forward project Back Lanes Program
• $505,000 from approved capital project 422411 Back Lane Program
• $495,000 from the Capital Reserve.
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PURPOSE OF REPORT
To provide Council with background and a status update and request funding to complete necessary improvements to the St Anne Street back lane.
BACKGROUND AND DISCUSSION
1. Development and Back Lane Redesign Requirements
In 2020, an application was received for a development permit associated with building an eight-storey mixed-used commercial residential building at the site of 32 St Anne Street (southwest corner of St Anne Street at St Albert Trail). Amongst a variety of conditions associated with the development agreement, an area of offsite improvement involved the burial of existing overhead power lines in the laneway from Perron Street to the site. The requirement to bury the existing overhead lines is associated with:
- The laneway shall act as the development site’s only vehicular access and exit, and requires safe and effective two-directional travel. In addition, moderate to long-term needs of access and increased use of the laneway are anticipated with further downtown densification.
- The laneway operates currently with overhead Fortis power lines, and pole infrastructure located on the north side of the lane. These poles restrict the clearance for vehicles in the lane and reduce the actual possible travel width of asphalt to less then 3.0 m.
o Minimum Transportation Association of Canada lane widths for vehicles is 3.2 m for two-directional traffic.
- Removal of the overhead lines and existing poles could resolve the existing issue of the lane not meeting minimum travel widths.
The Developer was mandated/conditioned to remove and bury power infrastructure in direct vicinity of the development site (removal of three poles); whereas, the removal of remaining poles (approximately seven poles) within the back lane and associated necessary infrastructure such as transformer cabinets and action to bury the main power lines and associated service lines to businesses would be front-ended by the City. The decision for the City to complete this project was based upon the alignment of work to support DARP, recognition that the work was outside the scope associated with the single Niche Development application, and benefit to the surrounding businesses and downtown area.
In 2020, Administration engaged with Fortis Alberta to receive a price quote to perform the work on the alleyway for Niche and the estimated value of work from Fortis was identified as $330,000. This value was estimated to fund all necessary Fortis work (removal of existing poles and burying of existing power lines); however, it did not account for additional scope such as power service to the downtown businesses (connecting the main line to the buildings) and laneway reconstruction.
This project represents a combination of RMR and “growth” related scope. For the general purposes of completing this work, Administration has sought to address funding applying applicable RMR sources and requesting new applicable funding to address updated needs of the laneway standard.
- The power burial is anticipated to be fully funded via the funding received from the Transfer of Infrastructure (streetlights) when the City sold streetlight infrastructure on Ray Gibbon Drive, Rodeo Drive, and other areas to Fortis in 2023.
- The existing structure of the back lane is in need of repair, and has been delayed for completion to coordinate with this work. RMR funding from the back lane projects are anticipated to address design and standard “like for like” replacement.
- The additional required funding addresses the component of the need to improve the back lane pavement structure and improve upon storm management systems; reflecting a “growth” component of scope to address the increased needs and anticipated increased loading on the back lane structure.
2. ENGS-086 2024 Project Charter Summary
The developed project charter was informed by cost estimates shared by Fortis Alberta for the main line power burial and secondary servicing infrastructure estimates, Transportation Infrastructure for the reconstruction of the back lane, and Utilities for the applicable storm management work. Note - the Utility work is directly associated with the laneway asset and is typical of delivery within roadway projects; funding of other utility work (sanitary) is planned and slated through separate 2025 Utility RMR capital projects and will be coordinated with the delivery of this project.
The value of work is currently estimated as the following, to deliver the laneway as a fully functioning two-directional access:
- Fortis Mainline work = $330,000
- Secondary (business) servicing = $175,000
- Laneway Design = $40,000
- Laneway Reconstruction = $350,000
- Storm System = $300,000
- Sub-Total = $1,195,000
- Contingency = $230,000
- Construction Management = $115,000
- Total Estimated Costs = $1,540,000
3. Project Funding Sources
Planned 2024 work is recommended to be funded through existing approved funds.
Planned work associated with 2025 scope is applying a portion of existing funds, with a request for additional funding ($495,000) for the project’s completion. Supplemental work associated with Utility RMR (sanitary line repairs) will be funded separately and is in the Utility work plan for 2025 which enables coordination with this project.
a) 2024 Program Scope and Funding Sources:
- Scope is proposed to have the overhead power buried and service to businesses connected, along with design of laneway improvements.
- Estimated value of work is $695,000
o $540,000 funded from the approved 2023 operating carry forward project Back Lanes Program. The funds relate to revenue generated from the transfer of streetlights to Fortis Alberta.
o $155,000 funded from approved capital project 422411 Back Lane Program.
b) 2025 Program Scope and Funding Sources:
- Scope is proposed to have the reconstruction of the laneway with applicable utility (storm, sanitary and water) repairs.
- Estimated value of the work is $845,000
o $350,000 funded from approved capital project 422411 Back Lane Program.
o $495,000 funded from the capital reserve.
STAKEHOLDER COMMUNICATIONS OR ENGAGEMENT
Direct communication and collaboration have occurred and will continue between Administration and Fortis Alberta and the Developer (Niche) of the 32 St Anne Street site.
During the week of July 8, 2024, a notification letter to inform on planned work was mailed to businesses in direct vicinity of the laneway and who will be impacted with construction and power service changes. This communication involved a general notice of plans and intended schedule; further communication and ongoing project communication will occur subject to the project being approved and advancing.
IMPACTS OF RECOMMENDATION(S)
Financial:
If approved, $495,000 would be funded from the Capital Reserve. There are sufficient funds in the reserve to cover this amount.
Compliance & Legal:
This project is necessary and beneficial to supporting development impacts and changes to the downtown, for access and service to adjacent commercial or office sites along the St Anne Street lane. A portion of improvements have been completed by the Developer of the 32 St Anne Street site; the City has committed to completing the further back lane improvements for the power burial.
Program or Service:
Within the urban environment the infrastructure associated with power and utilities are typically buried. This project delivers on performing this existing overhead power burial.
Where applicable and within the scope of RMR delivery, funding is being applied from the appropriate RMR projects; sources include the Back Lane RMR program and Utility funding.
Organizational:
None at this time.
Risks
Schedule has not been finalized with Fortis, which may result in delay of the first phase of the project for burying the power lines. To mitigate impacts, no work or closures or impactful site actions will occur until all scope and schedules are finalized, with the key objective to minimize impact and disruption to businesses.
ALIGNMENT TO PRIORITIES IN COUNCIL’S STRATEGIC PLAN
N/A
ALIGNMENT TO LEVELS OF SERVICE DELIVERY
N/A
ALIGNMENT TO COUNCIL DIRECTION OR MANDATORY STATUTORY PROVISION
N/A
IMPACTS OF ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED
If Council does not wish to support the recommendation, the following alternatives could be considered:
Alternative 1. Do not approve funding. The result would be no anticipated project delivery beyond necessary utility RMR work.
Financial:
None at this time.
Compliance & Legal:
The City committed to performing this work. Therefore, it is anticipated that not approving the project would delay the work versus cancel it.
Program or Service:
If not approved, the existing RMR funding would be applied to next level priorities within the applicable projects, for example, different back lane sites would be addressed through the RMR program.
Organizational:
If this project does not advance, Administration resources would be focused on delivery of other capital improvements or services.
Risks
There is Risk and Liability associated with the lane vehicle travel width not meeting typical Canadian standards for two-directional vehicle travel.
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Report Date: July 16, 2024
Author(s): Dean Schick, Transportation Manager
Department: Engineering
Department Director: Dawny George
Managing Director: Adryan Slaght
Chief Administrative Officer: Bill Fletcher