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Minutes for the Master Street Plan Committee meeting on October 23, 2014
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Members present: Jim Abel, Mike Cameron, Marvin Day, Ann Garner, Eugene Holloway, Ben Owens (chair), Bill Smith and Garry Tate
Members absent: Josh Brown, Robin Nix, Sr., Paul Hoelscher and John Street
Mr. Day motioned, seconded by Mr. Smith, to approve the minutes from the September 25, 2014, meeting. All voted aye.
Chairman Owens noted at the last meeting they formed a bicycle plan subcommittee. He asked if there was an update concerning the subcommittee. Mr. Smith explained they have not met yet, but MPO Director Patrick Dennis had indicated he wanted to make some changes in the MPO Plan and then get the changes to them before they met for the bicycle plan. He further explained they did not want to work off a plan that was going to be revised by the MPO, so they are going to wait for the information before they meet.
Chairman Owens informed the committee that Mayor Perrin has asked for a report from the committee before Christmas, but he thinks they will be able to meet the deadline without a problem.
City Engineer Craig Light discussed a north-south route selection. He explained the current Master Street Plan shows the north-south route as Rains Street to Kitchen Street around East School, then using Kitchen to Bridge Street and stopping at Bridge and Johnson Avenue. There has been some discussion about Patrick Street being the north-south corridor. He questioned what the committee would like the corridor to look like. The proposed Master Street Plan suggests using Patrick Street with a new overpass on Patrick Street to go over the railroad tracks. He explained it makes sense to use Patrick Street as a main road because it is already used that way. He further explained there was discussion about tying Patrick Street into Harrisburg Road, but since this map will only have a 25-year timeframe he doesn't recommend putting that on this version of the map unless the committee wants to put it on there. Another connection that's been looked at is using Rains to Oak, then over to Patrick Street and then going north using existing roadways. He noted the problem with Rains is that it's a one-way street during certain times of the day due to the school being on that road. If they continue to use Rains on as a north-south route, then they would have to make provisions for the school to stop using Rains for their bus traffic and move the road over to allow them room to handle the buses. Mr. Light noted he thinks something could be worked out with the school.
Mr. Tate suggested looking at using the back end of the lots on Terrace Court off Nettleton Avenue as a way to get traffic from Nettleton to Patrick Street since Terrace Court dead south of Patrick Street. He explained some areas would need drainage improvements and possibly utility changes, but that's less expensive than buying homes. He noted that would also line up with Metzler Lane in order to carry traffic south to Highland Drive. Mr. Cameron agreed, adding he thinks that's a better route than Kitchen/Rains even if you have to use Terrace Court itself instead of going through people's backyards.
Mr. Cameron motioned, seconded by Mr. Tate, to change the north-south route to Patrick Street/Terrace Court/Metzler Lane. All voted aye.
Discussion was then held regarding Bernard Street. Mr. Light explained the proposed Master Street Plan shows Bernard Street connecting with Nettleton Avenue. It would make a connection all the way from Nettleton to Race Street. Mr. Day questioned whether there were any plans for Bernard north of Nettleton. Mr. Light answered not at this time. Mr. Day questioned what the advantages would be to straighten out Bernard Street considering the cost of extending it to Nettleton. He suggested having the Bernard Street route connect to Franklin Street, which already intersects with Nettleton Avenue.
Mr. Cameron recommended hiring a consultant to establish a transportation plan within the area of the railroads tracks to the north, the bypass to the south, Franklin to the west and Matthews to the east. He stated that is now a downtown area and should be looked at for improvements.
Mr. Day motioned, seconded by Ms. Garner, to adjust the street plan to utilize the corridor from Franklin Street to Wilkins Avenue to Bernard Street in order to have a north/south connection between Nettleton Avenue and Highland Drive. All voted aye. Mr. Light noted that route would be collector streets. After further discussion, Mr. Day then rescinded his motion and Ms. Garner withdrew her second.
Mr. Cameron reiterated his suggestion for a traffic study for the area from Nettleton Avenue down to Highland, including Red Wolf Boulevard and Caraway Road. He recommended having a master planner suggest signalization and channelization to enhance traffic flow instead of putting all of the traffic on Red Wolf Blvd and Caraway. He noted King Street could be used to flow traffic between Caraway and Red Wolf Blvd. JETS Director Steve Ewart also suggested realigning Stone Street to help with traffic flow between Stallings Lane and Highland Drive. Mr. Cameron explained the purpose of the improvements would be to help get traffic off Red Wolf Blvd and Caraway Road and to get traffic flowing better within those areas. Mr. Tate agreed, adding that he thinks extending King Street so it flows between Caraway and Red Wolf is more important than working on Bernard Street. Mr. Light explained they have looked at extending Bernard Street, but kept coming across problems with the traffic light on Red Wolf Blvd due to having to give the light time for left-hand turn movement. Any time given to the light on King Street to allow for more left-hand turn motorists takes away from the time allowed for moving traffic north and south along Red Wolf Blvd. He added it would make more sense to make improvements to Bittle Street, Stone Street or another street that runs parallel to Red Wolf. Mr. Cameron stated that is why he suggests the whole area be studied to figure out the most effective way to move traffic.
Mr. Cameron motioned, seconded by Mr. Tate, to encourage the city to hire a consultant to perform a study of the areas bounded by the Turtle Creek ditch, Race Street, Metzler Street and East Matthews. Mr. Light expressed concern about being able to get a study done within the timeframe the mayor has set which has a Christmas deadline. Mr. Cameron explained if a study is performed that would allow the committee to move forward to other topics without being stuck on this one area for a long amount of time. All voted aye. Mr. Light noted the study would be part of the recommendations section of the report given to the mayor since there isn't time to have it completed before Christmas.
Mr. Holloway mentioned the format of the Master Street Plan documentation is being changed to be similar to the Little Rock format. He stated he reviewed the Little Rock plan and he liked what they mentioned about having sidewalks on major and minor arterials. He asked if that would be included as well. Mr. Light stated the committee has already passed a motion about where sidewalks would be constructed. Mr. Day explained he thinks the motion was to include sidewalks where cross-sections of the existing plan show sidewalks. He added he thinks the motion was to put sidewalks on one side of collector streets and both sides of commercial collectors.
Mr. Cameron asked whether developers will be required to construct sidewalks within a subdivision. Mr. Spriggs stated that would require changing city ordinances. He explained he thinks the committee has asked staff to consider changing the city ordinances for that, but has not actually instructed them to do so. Mr. Light agreed, adding he doesn't remember a motion being made to change the city ordinance. Mr. Spriggs explained it would be recommended to have sidewalks in certain areas according to the Master Street Plan, but it won't be required. Mr. Smith asked for someone to review the minutes of the meeting to see what the motion really was. Mr. Cameron stated he doesn't think developers should be required to build sidewalks where they're not needed. Mr. Holloway and Ms. Garner indicated they would like to require sidewalks. Further discussion was held concerning sidewalks.
With no further business, Mr. Smith motioned, seconded by Mr. Abel, to adjourn. All voted aye.