June/July Start Expected for Park and Ride Project Inside Prairie Springs Park
During February of 2013, the Village announced that an Agreement had been approved for a new park and ride facility inside Prairie Springs Park. The Agreement was a cooperative effort between Kenosha County, the Wisconsin Department of Transportation, and the Village.
Kenosha County had received Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) funding from the State to construct a park and ride lot in the county. The original proposed location at I-94 and State Highway 50 was determined unacceptable because of environmental and other constraints.
The Village then entered discussions with the County and State regarding the possibility of locating a park and ride adjacent to RecPlex in Prairie Springs Park. Both agreed that this location was a good alternative due to its proximity to State Highway 165 and I-94 and because numerous commuters were already using the park for this purpose.
Public meetings regarding the proposed facilities were held in May and July of 2013. Project design has been ongoing since the announcement was first made and construction of the park and ride is expected to begin in late June or early July. The project has been planned in two phases.
The first phase will include the construction of an access road bridge across a creek, located on the opposite side of Terwall Terrace from the RecPlex member parking lot. The first phase will also include the construction of a pedestrian bridge on the east side of the facility. This phase of the project will be sent out for bids in April.
The second phase will include the grading and paving of the parking facility and the construction of a pond for stormwater management. The second phase of the project will be sent out for bids in May.
Staff expects that the first phase of construction will begin in late June or early July with the second phase following the first. The project is expected to be complete in mid-October, barring any weather related or other unexpected delays.
The new park and ride will include 387 parking spaces. The project is intended to promote carpooling opportunities. The location will also provide overflow parking during heavily attended events held at the Pleasant Prairie RecPlex.