Salem Parkway/Kroc Center Access Feasibility Study

Introduction The purpose of this feasibility study is to identify and evaluate alternative routes, alignments and capital projects (multi-use paths and/or bicycle/pedestrian bridges) that would improve pedestrian/bicycle access and safety across Salem Parkway and to the Salvation Army Kroc Center, as well as tie into the larger existing and future planned bicycle and pedestrian system in Salem and Keizer. The study's objective is to recommend a project -- or a project that can be constructed in phases -- that can be included into the city of Salems and/or city of Keizers Transportation System Plan (TSPs), and the SKATS Regional Transportation System Plan, which will make it eligible for federal or state funding in the future. The Project will be a joint effort between the City of Salem Public Works Department (Project Lead) and the City of Keizer. ODOT is the contract administrator for the project. The SalemKeizer Area Transportation Study (SKATS) is providing the federal funding for the study. The project's consultant team is lead by CH2M HILL, with OBEC Consulting Engineers providing its expertise in bridge design. Project Background The Salvation Army Kroc Center was constructed in 2009. The Kroc Center is located in an industrial area southeast of the Burlington Northern rail line and Salem Parkway. The site is on 10 acres of former city-owned land within the Bill Frey Drive loop which connects Portland Road to Salem Industrial Drive. To the east of the Kroc Center is the Claggett Creek Wetlands area, which was created in 2005 and over time will evolve into another community asset, although like the Kroc Center it is not easily accessible by walking or biking. Cherriots (Salem-Keizer Transit) began providing bus service to the Kroc Center (route 14) in 2009. Daily ridership averages 191. Transit service is provided Monday through Friday (6:15 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.). The Salem Parkway is an ODOT-designated Regional highway with daily traffic of 25,000 and a posted speed limit of 55 mph. A multi-use bike path runs parallel to Salem Parkway on its north side. Access to the Kroc Center is only available from Portland Road via Bill Frey Drive or from Salem Industrial Drive. From Portland Road, Bill Frey Drive is grade separated above the Union Pacific rail line and has bike lanes and sidewalks. Salem Industrial Drive serves industrial businesses and truck traffic, has open ditches on both sides and is currently an undesirable road for walking and bicycling. There is no direct access to the Kroc Center from the north or west (i.e. Keizer and north Salem), therefore residents in those areas are more likely to drive to the Kroc Center, or take March 1, 2012

transit (when available). From the south Keizer neighborhoods -- around Pleasant View Drive or Brooks Avenue -- travel distances via Hyacinth St. to Portland Rd. and Bill Frey Drive or via Cherry Avenue and Salem Industrial Drive is approximately 2 miles. A bridge over Salem Parkway or similar facility could cut that distance to less than 1/2 mile.

Study Overview This feasibility study will initially examine six transportation concepts, and screen those to four alternatives to be examined in greater detail. Alternatives to be considered initially will include both at-grade and grade separated concepts. Review and discussion by the project team (PMT), Salem and ODOT technical staff on a technical advisory group (TAG), a Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC), and a public workshop(s) will help identify the recommended alternative. The study is estimated to take between 12 and 18 months.

Task 1 - Administration and Project Management Project Management Team (PMT) Task 2 - Advisory Groups and Public Involvement Technical Advisory Group (TAG) Stakeholder Advisory Committee (SAC) Public Participation Workshop(s) Task 3 - Prepare Environmental Opportunities and Constraints Technical Report Task 4 - Develop and Evaluate Transportation Facility Concepts and Alternatives 4.1 - Establish Evaluation Criteria 4.2.1 - Create Six Initial Concepts 4.2.2 - Develop Four Facility Alternatives 4.3 - Evaluate Alternatives and select a Recommended Alternative Task 5 - Refine Engineering and Costs of Recommended Alternative 5.1 10% level design including estimated cost

March 1, 2012