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Minutes for the Master Street Plan Committee meeting for September 25, 2014
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Members present: Mike Cameron, Marvin Day, Ann Garner, Eugene Holloway, Ben Owens (chair), Bill Smith and Councilman John Street
Members absent: Jim Abel, Josh Brown, Paul Hoelscher, Robin Nix, Sr. and Garry Tate
Chairman Owens explained changing the Master Street documentation to the Little Rock format as decided as a previous meeting is taking longer than expected. That will be forthcoming at a future meeting.
City Engineer Craig Light presented the committee with a new proposed Master Street Plan Map that doesn’t include the greenway since the map was hard to read with the greenway on it (see attached). This map is just roads with a timeline of the next 25 years. They took the drawing Mr. Tate prepared and overlayed them on the existing Master Street Plan map. Some of it matches up with what is on the Master Street Plan map now. Discussion was held concerning the overlay. It was noted that Patrick Street is being shown as a road that is a future major roadway, but has not been classified as what type it will be. He stated they suggest Patrick Street being a collector street (a three-lane road) for the 25-year planning period.
Mr. Cameron questioned what changes have been made. Mr. Light explained at this point it’s mostly updates. For instance, Caraway Road is currently being shown as a principal arterial, but they proposed changing it so Caraway Road south of the bypass will be a minor arterial (four-lane roadway) in the 25-year timeline. He noted there are several other changes. They handed out a list of the changes at a previous meeting.
Mr. Light then discussed a change on the proposed Master Street Plan to Commerce Drive. They propose to change Commerce to an eastern arterial route. He noted there are several changes and he had hoped the group would look at the changes so they can be discussed. Discussion was held concerning how the committee would look at the changes to the map.
Mr. Day questioned whether Mr. Light had any comments regarding Mr. Tate’s proposal. Mr. Light referred to Patrick Street, where Mr. Tate has it as a collector street. Staff agrees with that proposal, but the Master Street Plan stops at Thomas Green Road while Mr. Tate proposes it goes to Philadelphia Road, another one-half mile north. City Planner Otis Spriggs stated as long as there is an east-west connection they will be fine. Mr. Light then stated Mr. Tate took Philadelphia Road as the cross-route to Highway 49. The Master Street Plan showed a similar type route, but it is north of Philadelphia Road which is a principal arterial that lines up with County Road 730. It will come out north of Sage Meadows. Staff proposes it as a collector street in order to get people to a major road. Ms. Garner questioned what the advantages are for the route to go more north as proposed by staff as opposed to further south as proposed by Mr. Tate. Mr. Spriggs explained he thinks Mr. Tate was looking at it from a perspective of the least expensive way to make the route. He stated they can consider replacing the Peachtree connection that is on the current Master Street Plan and replace it with what Mr. Tate is suggesting. Mr. Light added staff was trying to minimize any road sections due to having to acquire real estate and make new alignments. So, they tried to follow existing roadways. Further discussion was held concerning this area.
Discussion was then held concerning other changes to the Master Street Plan as proposed in the new Master Street Plan. Mr. Cameron stated he likes the changes as proposed by staff. He noted they included some of Mr. Tate’s proposal along with other ideas and made a good plan.
Mr. Light asked if they wanted to change the proposed map so North Church Street to Highway 351 will be a minor arterial instead of a collector. Mr. Smith stated he didn’t know, but questioned whether roads that in the future may be a minor arterial can be built as a collector. Mr. Light answered yes, that they have discussed that in the past in terms of preserving right-of-way. Mr. Cameron stated he thinks that area could be a minor arterial in the future. It was then suggested to change the future collector road between North Church and North Culberhouse near Arrowhead Farm Road to minor arterial. Mr. Cameron agreed, adding if they are planning to help people get to Bono, then it needs to be a minor arterial at least. Discussion was held concerning the route in that area.
MPO Director Patrick Dennis explained some of these ideas will be included in their plan in the future. Right now, they’re still coordinating information requests and proposals. They will be soliciting public input during public meetings. He added the eastern bypass and interchanges along the bypass will come up, but the requests will have to be fiscally constrained in the plan based on predicted revenue over the next 20 years. He noted AHTD will ultimately determine what projects will be included. He indicated he would talk with the MPO Coordinator to see if any related discussions have come up. Mr. Cameron suggested asking for a feasibility study for interchanges.
Other changes were discussed. Mr. Light stated they will make the requested changes to the map.
Mr. Smith motioned, seconded by Ms. Garner, to approve shifting the minor arterial, remove the existing arterial and replace it with Mr. Tate’s arterial. All voted aye.
Chairman Owens asked that the changes be put on a map and be distributed to the committee members. Mr. Light stated they will get it done before the next meeting.
Mr. Cameron motioned, seconded by Mr. Smith, to approve the minutes from August 28, 2014. All voted aye.
Chairman Owens noted in a previous meeting they provided the committee members with a bicycle plan that was made in the past. At that meeting, it was suggested to make a subcommittee to look into the plan. He asked Mr. Smith to chair the committee and asked for other volunteers. It was noted staff would be on the committee, including Parks Director Wixson Huffstetler. Mr. Holloway and Ms. Garner offered to serve on the committee. Chairman Owens stated that hopefully they will be able to meet before the next meeting.
With no further business, the committee adjourned.