The City Council took action on the roadway realignment and heard a presentation on the Bell redevelopment project in July.
Realigning segment of US 183
During a July 27 meeting, Cedar Park City Council authorized the city manager to create an advance funding agreement with the Texas Department of Transportation for the design and construction of realigning Bell Boulevard between Brushy Creek Road and Park Street. The city plans to move less than a mile of the existing Bell roadway east to align with Old Hwy. 183.
Senior Engineering Associate Alan Green said the funding agreement is standard procedure that must be completed when a local entity plans design or construction on any state roadway system. The agreement outlines all state and federal standards and procedures the city has to follow throughout the project.Green said the agreement would typically require the city to reimburse TxDOT for any direct or indirect costs—such as construction oversight—that the state agency incurs as a result of the project. However, he said any costs incurred by the roadway realignment will be captured by the state, so the city will not be charged for TxDOT’s costs.
“According to this [agreement], TxDOT considers this project to be a substantial improvement to the state roadway system, and they are not requesting reimbursement from the city, so this is a substantial savings,” he said.
The realignment project was also proposed to be included in the four-year Transportation Improvement Program by the Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization, which coordinates transportation planning for six counties in Central Texas.
The four-year regional construction planning document outlines upcoming construction of projects submitted by area counties, cities and transportation and transit agencies. Projects in the TIP may include those of regional significance.
To be listed in the TIP, funding must be identified and construction must be set to start in the 2017-20 time frame.
Funding for the realignment of Bell Boulevard was included in the city’s November 2015 bond election. Voters approved the $96.7 million in bond funds, and about $20 million of that amount was set aside for Phase 1 of the Bell Boulevard project, according to the city.
The schedule for design of the realigned Bell Boulevard is expected to last through the third quarter of 2019. Construction on the roadway is projected to start in mid-to-late 2019.
Bell Boulevard redevelopment project
Cedar Park City Council also received an update to the Bell Boulevard redevelopment project in July. City consultants presented updated metrics on economic conditions in Cedar Park, mobility estimates for the realigned Bell roadway and the city’s anticipated rate of return on the project.
The goal of realigning Bell is to maintain or improve mobility along the roadway, said Brian Rice, corporate vice president with Binkley & Barfield, which is the engineering firm hired by the city for the roadway project. He presented mobility estimates on how long it would take to travel on Bell in 2035 in two scenarios: if the roadway remained the same and if Bell were realigned.
Renderings of the Bell Boulevard redevelopment project[/caption]
Renderings of the Bell Boulevard redevelopment project[/caption]
Renderings of the Bell Boulevard redevelopment project[/caption]
Renderings of the Bell Boulevard redevelopment project[/caption]
Renderings of the Bell Boulevard redevelopment project[/caption]According to the estimations, by 2035 a driver on the existing Bell roadway could wait at the intersection of Park Street for 79.4 seconds during the morning rush hour and for 55.7 seconds during the evening rush hour. With Bell realigned, the numbers show a driver at the same intersection could wait for 52.4 seconds in the peak morning hour and 61.2 secs in the peak evening hour in 2035.
At the intersection of Bell and Buttercup Creek, a driver could wait 72.8 seconds during morning hours and 66.4 seconds during evening hours on Bell in 2035. With the realigned roadway in 2035, Rice estimated a driver could wait 46.5 seconds during morning hours and 56.7 seconds in evening hours.
City-hired consultant Rebecca Leonard said the team working on Bell took a look back at the city’s comprehensive plan, which was approved by the City Council in 2014. Based on input from the community in the plan, Leonard said realigning Bell would make room for a family-friendly gathering space through 40 acres of developable land plus a 12-acre park.
“To create an economically vibrant corridor and energize the Greater Cedar Park area, that was the No. 1 goal [for the Bell project],” she said. “Because from the very beginning, dating back to the comprehensive plan, that creation of this gathering place and strengthening the economy there on Bell Boulevard was one of the key objectives of all of that work.”
Leonard said the city had a vision in 2015 for the Bell redevelopment to become a mixed-use center with a mix of residential, retail, restaurant, office and park amenities. She showed updated projections from 2017 to the council and said the vision for a mixed-use center is still feasible.
She also said the team has been researching the benefits of the city partnering with a developer for the southern portion of the Bell redevelopment project. The city could expect to invest $47.4 million in the 40-acre core area, which is defined between Brushy Creek Road and Park Street.
According to 2017 financial performance updates, city consultants estimate receiving a payback on the city’s investment in 17-20 years. The city estimates its total revenue, which includes property tax revenue and sales tax revenue, for the core of the development as being $103 million-$126.4 million over 30 years.
As the discussion was for council feedback, there was no formal action taken by council members during the meeting. Staff expects to provide another update to the council later in the year.
