MEMORANDUM

TO: City Council

FROM: David J. Deutsch, City Manager

SUBJECT: US 301/MD 197 Interchange
Location/Design Public Hearing Recommendation

DATE: 7/30/03

On January 6, 2003 the City Council held a public hearing on the proposed interchange design (see minutes – Attachment #1). At the conclusion of the hearing, the City Council decided to send a position statement to the State Highway Administration (SHA) expressing the City’s concerns with the intensity of the four proposed design solutions (see Attachment #2).

After reviewing the public record and comments made by the City, in June, SHA staff met with several members of the City Council to discuss ways the City’s issues could be addressed. It was realized that much of the reason for the City’s perception of the project as an excessive and potentially harmful construction project was based on the City Council’s understanding that the entire interchange and service road system would be constructed as one massive project. SHA staff clarified that, for practical as well as budgetary reasons, the interchange improvements will occur in much smaller segments over an extended period of time. It was determined that SHA would revisit how the project could be designed and phased to have less of an impact on the community. Based on the positive response from SHA, a new public hearing was scheduled in order to review additional information about the project (to be provided by SHA) regarding the scope, construction phasing and timing of the project. The City was advised that, if a specific alternate is endorsed by the City Council, the State will continue the project planning study to its completion.

The original staff report on this item, including the Economic Study performed by SHA’s consultant, was provided to you in advance of the November 18th hearing. The related noise study was transmitted to you in December. Staff is recommending approval of Alternate 5B, with the modifications noted in the staff report. In addition, staff identifed one supplemental recommendation at the January 6, 2003 hearing regarding the extension of the two-way, west side service road from Harbour Way northward to the service driveway located between the McDonald’s and Bob Evans restaurants.

Recommendation

Staff considered information available subsequent to the November 18, 2002 City Council hearing, including the economic study, noise study and public testimony provided to date. Staff continues to recommend Council conditionally support Alternate #5B for the reasons given in the November 14, 2002 staff report, with the extension of the service road noted above.