DATE: September 27, 2018
TO: Board of Mayor and Aldermen
FROM: Eric Stuckey, City Administrator
Paul Holzen, City Engineer/Director of Engineering
Jonathan Marston, Assistant Director of Engineering
David Hodnett, Staff Engineer 2
SUBJECT:
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Discussion about Recent Public Meeting for Proposed Intersection Improvements at Liberty Pike and North Royal Oaks Boulevard/Mallory Lane
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Purpose
The purpose of this memo is to provide information to the Franklin Board of Mayor and Aldermen (BOMA) concerning a public meeting, which was held on August 30, 2018, to present the preliminary design for the proposed intersection improvements at Liberty Pike and North Royal Oaks Boulevard/Mallory Lane.
Background
On October 25, 2016, the BOMA approved Resolution 2016-69, which adopted the project list for Phase 1 of the FY 2017-2026 CIP (Capital Investment Program). One of the projects included in that list was the intersection improvements at Liberty Pike and North Royal Oaks Boulevard/Mallory Lane. It should be noted that only the design and right-of-way acquisition phases of the project were approved. Since that original approval, staff has been working with a consultant to design the intersection upgrades.
On August 30TH, the City held a meeting to share the proposed intersection upgrades with the public. Seventeen (17) citizens, along with two (2) aldermen, attended the meeting. Staff gave a brief presentation, showed the proposed design, and took questions from the audience. There were several concerns that attendees generally expressed. Those concerns were:
• Larger, improved intersection may encourage more vehicles to pass through the area, which could make accessing local properties and neighborhoods more difficult,
• Possible increase in vehicle speeds with a larger intersection, and
• General pedestrian safety, especially given that Centennial High School is located directly adjacent to the project location.
Following the meeting, attendees were asked to complete a comment card, which included four (4) “Yes or No” questions. Below is a summary of the responses to those questions.
1. Do you support this project? (as presented at the public meeting)
• Yes - 5 (38%) No - 8 (62%)
2. Do you support the pedestrian & bicycle accommodations? (as currently designed)
• Yes - 10 (67%) No - 5 (33%)
3. Should sidewalks be included with this project?
• Yes - 14 (93%) No - 1 (7%)
4. Should a multi-use trail be included with the project?
• Yes - 8 (57%) No - 6 (43%)
A complete copy of the comments is included as an attachment. In addition to the concerns about additional traffic and increased speeds, eight (8) of the sixteen (16) returned comment cards mention roundabouts.
Following the meeting and after a review of the public comments, staff recommends the following changes to the design:
• Reduce project limits by approximately 350 feet to the north (e.g. on Mallory Lane),
• Replace proposed multi-use trail, which complies with Connect Franklin recommendations, to sidewalk, which matches the existing surroundings more closely.
• Reduce impact of project where feasible, which includes reduction of the grass strip between the curb & gutter and sidewalk.
Financial Impact
No additional financial impact at this time.
Recommendation
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Staff seeks direction from the BOMA on how to proceed with the development of this project.