Community Stakeholders Meeting - Sixth Avenue Bridge

Community Stakeholders MeetingNorth Jersey Transportation Planning Authority/Passaic CountyLocal Concept Development StudySixth Avenue Bridge over the Passaic RiverCity of Paterson, Borough of Prospect Park and Borough of Hawthorne

February 13, 2017

WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

Project Team• New Jersey Transportation Planning Authority (NJTPA)• Passaic County• New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT)• Michael Baker International and Subconsultants

Local OfficialsStakeholders+

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Project Location

PROJECT OVERVIEW

Local Capital Project Delivery Program

Sixth Avenue Bridge Needs:• Community Input• Existing Conditions• Project Purpose & Need

PROJECT DELIVERY PROCESS

PHASES

MAJORTASKS

Current Phase: Local Concept Development

NJTPA LOCAL CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT PHASE

2. Document Existing Conditions and Develop Purpose & Need Statement – Winter 2017

1. Data Collection – Fall 2016

3. Develop Alternatives – Summer 2017

4. Analyze Alternatives – Fall 2017

• Conduct Data Collection• Initial Right of Way• Community Outreach• Design Communication Report• Identify Stakeholders• Develop Public Action Plan

5. Select PPA, Develop Plans, Documentation – Winter 2018







• Evaluate Deficiencies• Utilities• Geotechnical• Stormwater Management• Traffic• Structural• Identify Substandard Design Elements

• Identify Resources• Environmental Screenings• Constraints Mapping

• Existing Conditions Documentation• Purpose and Need Statement• Inter-Agency Review



3. Develop Alternatives – Summer 2017 • Development of Alternatives






4. Analyze Alternatives – Fall 2017 • Alternatives Analysis Development• Alternatives Analysis Documentation• Stakeholder Coordination• Public Information Center• Constructability Review• Local Officials Briefing• Inter-Agency Review Committee Meeting







• Select Preliminary Preferred Alternative• Cost Estimate Preliminary Preferred Alternative• Finalize Concept Development Plans• Preliminary Engineering Scope Statement• Obtain Resolutions of Support• NEPA Classification• Concept Development Report




EXISTING CONDITIONS REVIEW

Traffic Data

Structural

Roadway

Environmental Screening

Utilities, ITS, Roadway Lighting

• Originally constructed circa 1900.

• Temporary Acrow panel trusses constructed in 1987 (29 years old)

• Critical piece of Passaic County infrastructure

• Important east-west arterial and truck route

• Close in proximity to heavy industry

• July 2013 Passaic County Re-evaluation Report Identified a Number of Safety Concerns

• The bridge is in fair condition due to the superstructure and substructure condition, and the bridge is functionally obsolete.


SUPERSTRUCTUREFAIR (Inventory Rating = 5)

• Minor corrosion with no section losses throughout the upper and lower chords of the trusses and floor beams

• Moderate to severe localized rust on the connection nuts and bolts

• Approximately 1% of connection nuts and bolts missing or loose

• Shifted pins and missing retainer rings on the north and south trusses in all spans


SUBSTRUCTUREFAIR (Inventory Rating = 5)

• Deteriorated mortar throughout the substructures

• Missing masonry stones at the West Abutment, Pier 1, and the Southwest Wingwall

• Underwater components of structure in fair condition

• Missing mortar, wide cracks, and areas in broken stones

• Footings exposed with heavy scaling and missing aggregate at piers

• No undermining noted


Deck and RoadwayGOOD (Inventory Rating = 7)

• Guiderail exhibits areas of moderate to heavy collision damage on south side

• Northwest corner missing end treatment

• Pedestrian railing has light rust

• Loose bolts at the base of the railing

• Deck joints are in poor condition with edge spalls and deteriorated elastomeric joints.


Traffic Data

Structural

Roadway



Automated Traffic Recorders installed at three locations:• Sixth Avenue, west of Shady Street = 7,999 vehicles/day• River Street, south of Franklin Street = 12,781 vehicles/day• East Main Street, south of North 6th Street = 20,241

vehicles/day

Turning Movement Counts conducted at five intersections:• North 6th Street (CR 652) and East Main Street (CR 504)• Sixth Avenue (CR 652) and Shady Street• Sixth Avenue and East 5th Street• CR 650 and River Street• East Main Street and North Straight Street

Minimal Pedestrian and Bicycle Activity at Study Intersections


Traffic Data

Structural

Roadway



Approximately 24’ wide roadway on the bridge:• One lane each direction• 4’11” sidewalk on westbound side

Sidewalk located on both sides of Sixth Avenue

34 substandard features identified in study area

Signal improvements needed at North 6th Street and E Main Street intersection

ADA improvements required at North 6th Street and E Main Street, and Sixth Avenue and Shady Street intersections


Traffic Data

Structural

Roadway



Inventory of Regulated Resources:

Natural Environmento Wetlands, Surface Waters, Floodplains,

Protected Habitat and Species

Human Environment o Cultural Resources, Parkland, Air Quality and

Noise, Socioeconomics, Zoning and Land Use, Hazardous Waste

Identified Regulated Resources :o Cultural resourceso Floodplainso Surface waterso Protected habitat and specieso Environmental justice communities

Purpose of the Environmental Screening:

Identify fatal flaws that would prevent the project from advancing to construction

Identify resources for which impacts should be considered as part of the alternatives analysis


Traffic Data

Structural

Roadway



Utilities with facilities within the project limits:• PSE&G Gas• PSE&G Electric• Transcontinental Gas Pipeline Co.• Verizon

Two street lights at the North 6th Street and East Main Street

No Intelligent Transportation (ITS) facilities observed within study limits

CCTV camera is mounted at Sixth Avenue and Shady Street intersection

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

The Public Outreach Approach is ITERATIVE

Present initial concepts

Stakeholder feedback

Concept refinement

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT

Local Officials Briefing – October 19, 2016LCD Study Process and Team IntroductionsPresent LCD Study and discuss community interests

Community Stakeholders Meeting – February 13, 2017Present LCD Study, provide information exchange and obtain community input Anyone interested in attending Community Stakeholders Meeting can contact the County or Project Team

Public Information Centers (PIC) – February 23, 2017Open house format meetings with the general publicIncludes brief presentation and opportunity to view project information and speak with County and Project Team members

PURPOSE AND NEED

“The LCD Phase involves drafting a well-defined and well-justified Purpose & Need Statement focusing on the primary transportation need to be addressed.”

The Purpose & Need Statement will be used to develop and evaluate potential bridge alternatives

Community Outreach

Data Collection

ConceptualAlternative Selection

Environmental Resources

Purpose &Need

COMMUNITY INPUT SURVEY

• 281 copies of survey mailed to nearby properties, local organizations, groups and businesses.

• 23 responses received as of January 11, 2017

• Starting point to gain foundational understanding of travelbehavior, opinions and concerns

• Identify local residents, officials, and business owners who wouldlike to participate as community stakeholders

The Community Input Survey will remain available until March 30, 2017. Please visit http://sixthavenuebridge.com/survey


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How Often Do You Use the Sixth Avenue Bridge?

Everyday A Lot Often Seldom Never

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Do You Use Public Transportation In This Area?

Everyday A Lot Often Seldom Never


How is This Study Important To You?

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Resident or Commuter

Type of Mobility (walking, biking, transit)

Economic Interest

Social Service Provider

Historic Features of Interest

Emergency Services


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What Are The Key Issues Near the Sixth Avenue Bridge?

Access Safety Traffic Mobility Aesthetics Marine Activity

Comments:• No lights on bridge, very slippery, frequent truck accidents• Traffic and Traffic Congestions• Access for Bunker Hill workers and other – During flooding, this bridge stays

open the longest. It is the most accessible and path between the north side and downtown.


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Is the Bridge Wide Enough For Transportation Needs?

Yes No Blank

Comments:• As is• Yes, 1 lane each• 3 lanes in total• Bridge is wide enough• Needs 2 lanes each way• Trucks crossing bridge result in 1 lane• Needs 3 lanes each way• No. It should be two lanes plus two bicycle lanes and matching sidewalks each way.• 1 lane each way, access on the Prospect Park side could be wider to accommodate 18 wheelers• It works but could be wider• No – trucks often have accidents turning• Yes, 4 seems fine, trucks have a hard time turning• Vehicles, pedestrian• Wider lanes (truck traffic)• One Lane each way sufficient but needs widening for truck traffic (turn radius)


Should the Study Team Be Aware of Any Traffic Changes or Detours Near the Sixth Avenue Bridge?

• Be aware of past and present traffic changes or detours• 5th Avenue detours for over 1 year• Because of lane closure on 5th Avenue (for about 1 year already) I don’t use the

bridge as much as previously• I would like to see the river cleaned up. I’d help with that.• Heavily used bridge• Truck traffic• Flooding on 5th Avenue• Traffic• Lots of traffic will be impacted• Very difficult for area when it is closed• Heavy Truck Traffic


Questions/Comments/Suggestions

• Ensure Fire Department is aware of bridge closures• Please make sure you use a contractor that can build the bridge on time (3 months) penalty if not, bonus if

sooner. Express from Goffle Road must be larger than it is now.• If they bridge is closed it will create a financial hardship for all business in Bunker Hill section of Paterson• Trucks coming over bridge to East Street tight turn on corner• Delayed traffic lights may be good• The 6th Avenue Bridge is good for auto traffic, not tractor trailers & buses• The trucks can’t make turns without holding up traffic in all directions, trying to come off the bridge from

Paterson or turning onto the bridge to go to Paterson• The school buses parked in Bunker Hill. There’s a lot of traffic in the morning & evening when they pull out

of the lot on 6th Avenue and go across the bridge.• There’s nothing wrong with the bridge. I’ve walked the sidewalk from my house in Prospect Park to 100 6th

Avenue everyday, 5 days a week, for over 35 years. It may be a little slippery when it rains, or shake a little when a big truck goes across. I’d still walk the walkway, even when it snowed.

Even during a lot of the floods I walked to the bridge, and never seen water go over it. I even remember growing up in Paterson, coming across the bridge and seeing men & boys fishing on the bridge.

Again, there’s nothing wrong with the bridge!

NEXT STEPS

• Finalize Purpose & Need(Winter 2017)

• Develop Alternatives(Summer 2017): • No Build• Rehabilitation• Build - In Place• Build - Relocation

NEXT STEPS

Project website launch - February 15, 2017http://sixthavenuebridge.com/

NEXT STEPS

Public Information Centers (PIC)Thursday, February 23, 2017

Prospect Park2:00 PM to 4:00 PM(Presentation at 2:30)

Borough of Prospect Park Municipal Building106 Brown AvenueProspect Park, NJ

Paterson6:00 PM to 8:00 PM(Presentation at 6:30)

Riverside Vets Community and Recreation Center165 5th AvenuePaterson, NJ

Questions & Comments

Documents

Community Stakeholders Meeting - Sixth Avenue Bridge