Meeting Minutes for June 11, 2007

• Carol Stewart – Franklinton Area Commission
• Jim Sweeney – Franklinton Development Association
• Judy Basham – Franklinton Board of Trade
• Bruce Warner – Franklinton Homeowners Association
• David Hooie – Franklinton Pride Center

• Nick Shultz - EMH&T
• Larry Creed - EMH&T
• Dilip Karpoor - MORPC
• Bernice Cage - MORPC
• Terry Stewart - City of Columbus

Terry Stewart welcomed everyone to the meeting and thanked them for their attendance

Mr. Stewart explained that the City of Columbus is planning a traffic calming, community mobility, multi-modal traffic project for Franklinton. He stated that implementation may start as early as next year and introduced the project team consisting of the City of Columbus, EMH&T, Inc., MORPC, McKenna Associates, Inc. and Walkable Communities, Inc. from Florida.

Mr. Stewart briefly discussed the project goals including:

1. A balanced transportation infrastructure
2. Reduce traffic violations, speeding, and failure to yield to pedestrians
3. Strengthening connection between land uses and the transportation system
4. Promoting distinct and vibrant neighborhoods
5. Satisfying “Safe Routes to School” criteria

Mr. Stewart introduced Larry Creed, Project Manager for the Franklinton Project from EMH&T.

Mr. Creed briefly discussed the project steps including:

• Developing a plan to improve mobility and related livability issues in Franklinton by:
  • Balancing transportation infrastructure
    • Reducing traffic violations, ticketed and non-ticketed (speeding, failure to yield)
    • Strengthening connection between land users and the transportation system
    • Promoting distinct and vibrant neighborhoods
    • Satisfying “Safe Routes to School” criteria
• Encourage public involvement
  • Meeting with stakeholders
  • Public open houses
  • Charrettes
  • Walk audits
  • Overview to mayor, council, and service director
  • Internet website: www.columbusmobility.info
    • Meeting notifications
• Data Collection – (Currently in process)
  • Obtain existing data
    • Traffic counts
    • Pedestrian crash data
    • Land planning documents
    • Perform traffic counts (volume, speed, and classification)
    • Inventory of existing area characteristics, including, but not limited to:
      • Sidewalk, curb, curb ramps, pedestrian features, traffic calming measures
      • Intersection traffic control devices, lane control, turn restrictions, ped controls
      • One-way operations, designated parking areas, bus stops, speed limits
• Analysis and Recommendations
  • Identify problems and develop solutions
  • Review constructability feasibility
  • Prepare cost estimates and prioritize
  • Present recommendations to public, stakeholders, and city departments
• Final Reporting
  • Prepare report describing purpose, methodology, findings and recommendations
  • Provide typical drawings of recommended improvements

Mr. Creed provided upcoming events including:

• Tuesday, June 19, 2007 – Public Open House
  • Gladden Community House, 183 Hawkes Avenue
  • Key Stakeholders Meeting – 3:30 PM to 5:00 PM
  • Public Open House – 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM
• Friday, July 13, 2007 – Opening Charrette
• Saturday, July 14, 2007 – Walk Audit
• Thursday, July 26, 2007 – Closing Charrette

Mr. Creed opened up the floor to discussion

Sidewalks

Carol Stewart offered that sidewalks in the southeastern part of the community are lacking. Over 2,000 citizens live south of Mound Street. Sidewalks along Harmon Avenue from Mound Street to Greenlawn Avenue do not exist and Franklinton has been attempting to get them put in for the last ten years. Sidewalks exist on the east side of Mount Calvary Avenue; however, citizens tend to walk on the west side where there are no sidewalks in order to more conveniently get to the bus stop on Mound Street. Sidewalks are currently being replaced at Mound Street and Central Avenue. Sidewalks are also missing on a block of Souder Avenue, between Campbell Avenue and Thomas Avenue. Sidewalks on McKinley Avenue will not be constructed.

Development

It is desired by Franklinton to have West Broad Street be a Restaurant/Entertainment district. On-street parking can be an issue; however, Franklinton is not willing to negotiate their requirement that only the first two parcels back from West Broad Street can be used to construct parking lots. Possible redevelopment areas include; the National City Bank office building on West Broad Street, across from Mount Carmel, Cooper Stadium, influence areas of the I-70/I-71 split reconstruction, and McDowell Street corridor. Ms. Stewart noted that a new Life Care Alliance warehouse building will be constructed at Renick Street and Harmon Avenue. The SR 315 Technology Corridor Plan should be referenced.

Transit

Ms. Stewart offered that there used to be a COTA line that ran down Harmon Avenue that is no longer in existence. Those who live in the Southpark Community must travel up Harmon Avenue, where there is no sidewalks, to get to the nearest bus terminal which is over one mile north on Mound Street. At this bus stop, there is no flat place to stand. In general, there is no north/south bus route, except at Mount Carmel. Franklinton would like to bring back Harmon Avenue bus line. Based on census bureau information, Franklinton is largely a walking community; however, COTA is used as a means for citizens to travel outside the community.

Accident Locations

Crossings where roads jog over along West Broad Street tend to be accident locations, such as with Hartford Avenue. Many accidents occur at the Sullivant Avenue/Glenwood Avenue intersection, possibly due to sight distance issues caused by the bar or the Mid-City Electric building.

West Broad Street Traffic Calming

Jim Sweeney recommended a boulevard with street trees and marked crosswalks. The speed limit through a majority of the study area is 40 miles per hour, which is perceived as too high for most locations. Mr. Sweeney suggested that Franklinton may have leverage with ODOT for possible improvements due to the fact that ODOT is taking a portion of Dodge Park for the I-70/I-71 split reconstruction. Bruce Warner noted that the intersection of Chicago Avenue/West Broad Street tends to have many red-light runners, possibly due to loss of visibility from glare from the sun. Trees along West Broad Street were installed in the early 1990’s and the extent of their life span is in question.

North/South Corridors

General consensus was that the eastside of Franklinton does not have a north/south arterial roadway. Souder Avenue may be the best option for north/south through travel; however, there is a jog in the road when it meets West Broad Street. Mr. Sweeney recommended realigning the roadways, but Mount Carmel’s cooperation would be needed. Hartford Avenue is getting to be a busier route due to Mount Carmel traffic. There is limited access to the major interstate system from the east side of Franklinton; in particular, access to I-70 eastbound from SR 315 is not permitted. Central Avenue on the west side of the area was considered by the group as a well functioning north/south corridor.

Other Issues

Judy Basham noted that students from the Dowd Center tend to cross West Broad Street at Grubb Street where there is no traffic signal.

Semi-truck traffic creates issues by traveling through residential properties because turning radii near warehouses are too small, such as Scott Street at Glenwood Avenue and areas south of Sullivant Avenue.

Suggestions were made for the meeting point for the Walk Audit. Gladden Community House and the Franklinton Library are heavily used and centrally located.