Street Committee to keep residents informed
Posted on Friday, November 3, 2006
A chart that's updated monthly, permanent signs with street construction timelines and a street project newsletter are three ways the Fayetteville Street Committee intends to keep residents alerted about the 13 street projects that were part of the 2006 bond issue election.
"This is accountability," said committee chairman Lioneld Jordan. "People can know where we are every month."
A red vertical line on the chart compares where in the construction process any specific project is with where it should be.
Different-colored horizontal lines represent design and construction phase schedules.
"Heaven forbid the black line gets behind the red line, but if it does, people will know and know why," said Ward 2 Alderman Kyle Cook.
The top line of the chart is the schedule for the projects given to the Street Committee by the city engineering staff last month. It will "never change," City Engineer Ron Petrie said.
The chart will be updated and brought to each Street Committee meeting for the next eight years as the street projects continue.
When the idea was first discussed at earlier meetings, the idea was that city residents would have at least monthly access to the chart because the meetings are televised on the local government channel.
The schedules for the four projects - which will be constructed by the state - are not shown on the chart. The bond issue vote identified the projects because city funds will also be used.
Petrie told the committee the city has no control over those projects.
"We will not delay the state," he said.
The project sign for the Mount Cato Road improvements was shown to the committee as an example of the signs that will be displayed across town for the projects.
It identifies a design time - fall 2006 - and a construction time of summer 2008. Bond issue project
updates The committee agreed to forward contracts for three of the projects to the City Council for consideration. These were for engineering and related services, such as surveying and environmental studies, for the Cato Springs Road widening project from U. S. 71 B to Razorback Road; the Garland Avenue project from Interstate 540 to Howard Nickel Road; and a southbound right turn lane from North Street onto Gregg Avenue. Traffic-calming plans in the Washington Willow neighborhood have been completed with input from area residents. City staff still needs to meet with Wilson Park residents before traffic-calming plans there are complete. Petrie reported that the Arkansas Highway Department has indicated a public meeting will be held in January or February regarding the Crossover Road project. Design is started, he said. A contract is being negotiated for the College Avenue project between Rock and Maple streets.
King's Drive The Street Committee also approved a construction contract for the King's Drive improvement project. The low bid was $ 275, 571, more than $ 130, 000 less than the estimated $ 408, 000. Area residents have been concerned for about four years that the road was slipping down Mount Sequoyah due to poor construction in the area.
Restaurant A new restaurant serving French, Italian and Mediterranean foods is being planned at the northeast corner of North Street and College Avenue. The Street Committee learned about variances needed for right of way, parking and access. City staff and the Planning Commission recommend approval of the project with specific conditions. "I hate to start buying stuff we may or may not need," Jordan said as discussion about purchase of property for "possible future improvements."
The property is not needed for any ongoing, scheduled or current bond issue projects but is in an area discussed for improvements after this bond issue group is complete, which would be after 2014.
City staff discussed removing a large oak tree that has been "hit about 50 times in the last 10 years or so"by cars and moving a ditch along Joyce Boulevard to the east of Crossover Road.
It was described as a safety issue.
Cook said he was not against the project but was concerned the work there would take money from other needed projects.
FEEDBACK:
Something to say about this topic? Submit a Letter to the Editor online
