Streetscape – Congress St. (W. University Ave. to W. Grant St.)

Public Works Project Number: 1853

Project Length (miles): 0.8

Parish District: 5

Construction Estimate: $4,500,000.00

Project Cost: $5,000,000.00

Project Type: Community Development & Planning

Designer: CSRS, LLC

PROJECT OVERVIEW

The Streetscape - Congress St. (W. University Avenue to W. Grant St.) project aims to enhance the safety, aesthetics, and functionality of the existing roadway. This project includes several features such as sidewalk buffers, ADA compliant sidewalks, shared-use path, pedestrian lighting, brick stamped concrete crosswalks, installation of a median providing access management, tree planting in the median and sidewalk buffers, parking lanes, bus shelters, pedestrian bulb-outs, bike lanes, and ADA improvements at the intersections. The project will also include the redesign of the five-leg intersection which involves the realignment of Voorhies St. and the removal of Third St. between W. Second St. and Buchanan St. Overall, the Streetscape - Congress St. project will provide accessibility for people with disabilities, improve safety for pedestrians and motorists, calm traffic, and improve the beauty and feel of the corridor.

TYPICAL SECTION

The graphic below provides a conceptual view of the proposed improvements that will be considered for the project.

DRAINAGE AND GREEN INFRASTRUCTURE CONSIDERATIONS

Fill mitigation, which serves to maintain overall floodplain storage, will occur on this project. Stormwater detention areas tying to the drainage system are being developed in conjunction with each new LCG road project.

The corridor will consist of a grass median and grass buffers on both sides of the roadway which will consist of new plants and trees. These new plants and trees will provide numerous benefits such as reducing air pollution, providing shade, and improving the overall appearance of the corridor. These new vegetated buffers and median can also help to mitigate stormwater runoff by allowing rainwater to be absorbed into the soil and plants rather than simply flowing into storm drains or other drainage systems. This can help to reduce the amount of water that needs to be managed by these systems and can also help to prevent flooding and erosion. In addition to their drainage benefits, vegetated buffers and medians can also serve as important components of green infrastructure.

The following are the drainage considerations for this specific project:

• A portion or all of this project is located within a Special Flood Hazard Area (SFHA).

ENVIRONMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS

Upon research, there have not been any significant considerations identified that must be reviewed and potentially addressed.

*Note that this is not exhaustive of possible future environmental considerations.

UTILITY CONSIDERATIONS

A preliminary assessment of the project area is provided for the utilities listed below. Potential utility relocation costs will be included in the project budget if the infrastructure is located within the utility’s own servitude.

RIGHT OF WAY CONSIDERATIONS

The project entails the acquisition of minimal right-of-way to create a shared-use path and ADA compliant sidewalks to facilitate safe and efficient travel for cyclists and pedestrians. The shared-use path will provide a dedicated space for non-motorized transportation, allowing for smooth and uninterrupted travel. These upgrades will also involve the reconstruction of driveways along Congress St. to accommodate the new shared-use path and sidewalks which may lead to potential construction servitudes.