Meeting Minutes for July 10, 2007

• David Gay – Lower Lights Ministries
• Carol Stewart – Franklinton Area Commission
• Donna Woods – Gladden Community House
• James Ingerham – Jericho’s Light Club
• Edward Hughes – Chicago Avenue Christian Church
• Sister Mary Francis, O.S.F – Holy Family Catholic Church
• Pauline Edwards – Homeowners Association/Resident/FDA
• Jeff Julien – West Park United Methodist Church

• Larry Creed - EMH&T

The Franklinton Community Mobility Plan was the first item on the agenda for the Franklinton Ministerial Association (FMA) monthly meeting on July 10, 2007 at 9:00 AM.

Mr. Creed 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. Creed 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. 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:

• Friday, July 13, 2007 – Opening Charrette
• Saturday, July 14, 2007 – Walk Audit
• Thursday, July 26, 2007 – Closing Charrette

Mr. Creed opened the floor to the FMA members

• The FMA is considering establishing a housing program that will:
  • Recognize good landlords
  • Publish pamphlets to help renters understand their rights as tenants
  • Partner with the Franklinton Pride Center
• The FMA performed a community survey that was completed by 400 people
• Traffic on Dakota Avenue should not be moving in the same direction on both sides of the median. This creates confusion at the intersections.
• On-street parking is deficient and should not be reduced as a result of improvement alternatives
• Existing speed bumps on Thomas Avenue transferred speeding issues to other streets
• Speeding on Cypress Avenue is common
• All areas along the railroad tracks are difficult to access and are poorly maintained
• Apartments near Thomas Avenue and Nace Avenue are heavily populated with children, but are inaccessible by foot
• Adult bookstores, show bars, and sleazy hotels occupy the area
• Dangerous dogs are abundant in the area. A man was injured last week by pit bulls on Rodgers Avenue
• Overall, the police department does a good job watching the neighborhood
• State Street Issues
  • No stop signs from Central Avenue to Yale Avenue encourages speeding
  • There is a dip at Princeton Avenue causing sight distance issues
  • Parked cars create sight distance issues
• West Broad Street Issues
  • Parked trucks create sight distance issues for Meek Avenue traffic
  • Pedestrian crossing is difficult, especially in Yale Avenue area
• Rogers Avenue/Scott Street Issues
  • Speeding
  • Heavy truck traffic
  • These issues were more prevalent when McKinley Avenue was open
  • Four-way stop is desired
• Alleyway Issues
  • Speeding resulting from cut-through traffic attempting to navigate one-way streets
  • Poorly maintained (pavement and trash)
  • More prevalent north of Broad Street, between Chicago Avenue and Princeton Avenue
  • Hot spots for criminal activity
• Graffiti Issues
  • Became more of an issue since Fall 2006
  • Difficult to get adults to cover it for fear of retaliation
  • Seems more gang oriented than in the past