City of Seward NOTICE OF TRAIL AND WAVERLY ROAD PROJECTS PUBLIC INFORMATION MEETING Thursday, January 10, 2019 5:00 – 7:00 P.M. Project ENH-80(33) Seward Trail; C.N. 13225 Design Information Open House Seward Middle School 2401 Karol Kay Blvd Seward, NE The City of Seward Engineering Department will hold a public information open house regarding the proposed construction of a federally-funded trail along the south, west and north side of Seward. In addition, proposed locally-funded improvements to Waverly Road from Highway 15 to Karol Kay Boulevard will be displayed. The meeting will be held at the Seward Middle School, Thursday, January 10, 2019, 5:00-7:00 p.m. Design information will be displayed and personnel from the City of Seward and the design consultant, The Schemmer Associates, will be present to answer questions, receive comments about the projects, and review impacts to environmental resources. No formal presentation will be made, allowing meeting attendees to come and leave as their personal schedules allow. Identified as ENH-80(33) Seward Trail, C.N. 13225, the project construction involves a new, approximately 5.0-mile, 10-foot wide, concrete trail for bicycle and pedestrian use in southern, western and northern Seward. The trail would also include new drainage culverts, street and trail signage, pavement markings, new at-grade crossings of the BNSF Railway along South 2nd Street and east of the Seward County fairgrounds, new street pavement at the trail crossings of South 2nd Street and South Columbia Avenue, new curb and gutter, tree removals and temporary erosion and sediment control features. The project would connect to the existing trail at the Plum Creek Trailhead on South Columbia Avenue, just south of Depot Road. This trail would proceed west along the south edge of Seward extending beneath Highway 15 before turning north near the underpass of Highway 34. At this point the trail would head north along the east side of the Seward County Fairgrounds to Waverly Road. The trail would then turn east along the south side of Waverly Road, cross Highway 15 at-grade and end at the existing trail located on the southeast corner of the intersection of Karol Kay Boulevard and Waverly Road, which is the northern end of the existing Plum Creek Trail. The purpose of the project is to complete a trail loop around the City of Seward. The need for the trail is to provide a safe transportation route for pedestrians and bicyclists to access a number of City amenities, such as: Moffitt Park, Dowding Municipal Pool, the Seward County Fairgrounds, Seward Middle School, and the Plum Creek Sports Complex. The project is also needed to improve access to Seward Middle School and to enhance the public use of Moffit Park, the swimming pool, and the fairgrounds. Currently, the Plum Creek Trail extends along the eastern outskirts of Seward, but trails linking amenities within Seward and on the west side of town are limited. The trail corridor is anticipated to impact wetland resources along the project and would be mitigated as necessary. The trail would cross several properties owned by the City of Seward that offer recreational opportunities to the public as follows: Blue Valley Campground-The trail would be located along the south side of the Blue Valley Campground and occupy a portion of the open green space in the campground. Access to the campground and its amenities would remain open at all times during and after construction. Independence Landing-The trail is proposed to be located on the dam of the fishing pond in Independence Landing. Access along the pond’s dam during construction of the trail would be prohibited. The picnic shelter located northeast of the pond’s dam may also require closure while trail construction is occurring. Access to the remaining portions of the pond along with all parking lots and all other picnic shelters in the area would remain open during construction. After construction full access would be restored to Independence Landing and all its amenities. Other public lands open to the public are located in the area but no impacts are anticipated. These lands include the following: Bemis Park, Moffit Park/Dowding Pool, Centennial Park, Seward County Fairgrounds and Arboretum, Seward Country Club, Seward Middle School, Plum Creek Park, Plum Creek Sports Complex and the Plum Creek Trail. South Columbia Avenue and South 2nd Street would be closed while the trail crossings of those two streets are constructed. Drivers would be required to utilize adjacent streets for access. All other streets would remain open during the trail construction with partial lane closures as needed. Driveways along the trail would be reconstructed and vehicular access to those properties would be limited while the driveways are being reconstructed. This project would require the acquisition of additional property rights, which could include new right-of-way (ROW), control of access (CA), permanent easements (PE), and/or temporary easements (TE). If your property is impacted by this project, you will be contacted by a representative once the design footprint has been established. Access to adjacent properties would be maintained during construction, but may be limited at times due to phasing requirements. The project is tentatively scheduled for construction in 2021. A separate project funded with City of Seward funds is also proposed along Waverly Road. The proposed improvements to Waverly Road include widening the existing road to a three-lane roadway with a center turn lane. The improvements to Waverly Road are independent of the federally-funded Seward Trail project and would be constructed prior to the trail project. The Waverly Road project is proposed for construction in 2020. Waverly Road would be closed to through traffic during construction. Local access would be provided to adjacent properties. The City will make every reasonable accommodation to provide an accessible meeting facility for all persons as well as provide the information presented to those who are hearing or visually challenged along with those with Limited English Proficiency. Please contact Jake Vasa by January 3 for special accommodations. For further information regarding the proposed projects, contact: Jake Vasa, City of Seward (402) 643-4000 jake.vasa@cityofsewardne.gov or Doug Holle, The Schemmer Associates (402) 488-2500 dholle@schemmer.com Project information will also be included on the City of Seward website following the public meeting at www.cityofsewardne.gov. Comments can be submitted to the City of Seward, attention Jake Vasa, 142 North 7th Street, Seward, NE 68434 or by emailing the individuals listed above. The deadline for the City to receive public comments on the projects is January 24th, 2019. SCI — December 19, 2018
