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Minutes for the Master Street Plan Committee meeting on April 10, 2014
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Members present: Marvin Day, Bill Smith, Josh Brown, Ben Owens and Mike Cameron
Members absent: John Street, Ann Garner, Paul Hoelscher
Mr. Day motioned, seconded by Mr. Cameron, to approve the minutes. All voted aye.
Mr. Cameron motioned, seconded by Mr. Day, to appoint Mr. Owens as chair of the committee. All voted aye.
City Engineer Craig Light handed out the ordinance passed by Council adopting the 2009 Master Street Plan. MPO Director Dr. Marsha Guffey handed out a list of differences between the current map and the proposed map. She explained the 2009 map used MPO boundaries because the MPO was going to pay for it, but the newly proposed map will use the city limits per recommendation by Mayor Perrin. She discussed other differences in the plans and noted what is in the city limits is largely the same, but there were differences outside of the city limits due to the boundary being set at the city limits. Mr. Cameron stated the reason other cities such as Bono and Brookland were included was because the original plan was to include the whole MPO area, not just Jonesboro. Mr. Light added the plan was paid for by the City without the use of MPO funds and did utilize the MPO boundary. Dr. Guffey further discussed some of the other differences between the current and proposed map as listed on the handout (see attached). She explained the primary and secondary arterials are largely the same with some differences in the collector roads. This is due to them working off the functional map they present to the Federal Highway Administration.
Mr. Day questioned the use of Main and Union Streets as principal arterials. Dr. Guffey stated that was based on the strength of the traffic counts. Mr. Light agreed, adding that it was based on how the streets functions now per the functional classification map. Both streets are currently functioning as arterials. He noted until there is an alternative arterial route in the downtown area those streets will be classified as arterials because there has to be arterials somewhere. Mr. Day expressed concern about it being labeled as “principal” considering the streets have on-street parking and other pedestrian concerns. He added he could see those streets being minor arterials, but not principal. Mr. Light explained the 2009 map’s timeline was 50 years, but the proposed map has a timeline of only 20 years. So, some of the roads shown on the 2009 map as a major arterial will remain as a minor or collector street in the next 20 years. He noted some of the changes are due to the change on the planning period, which can be changed if the committee sees fit.
Mr. Cameron discussed the map’s boundary being the city limits. He expressed concern about not looking outside of the city limits, especially where the northern bypass is concerned. Dr. Guffey stated the Land Use Plan Committee is also having discussions as to whether or not the limit their map to the city limits. She explained part of the decision with the Land Use Committee will depend on how talks go with the county officials and whether or not they will cooperate with the plans. She reiterated Mayor Perrin recommended limiting the boundary’s on both plans to the Jonesboro city limits. His view was they have enough to consider inside the city limits and don’t have the resources to go outside of the city limits. Mr. Cameron expressed concern about limiting it to the city limits because development outside of the city limits will affect the city. He added the original study was done in by a high-level consultant with the Highway Department and shouldn’t be discounted.
Discussion was held concerning an eastern bypass. Dr. Guffey explained one project that may get held off is the engineering and right of ways for the eastern bypass along Rogers Chapel and Nestle Road because there is no financing in view for the project which is estimated at $38 million. But, there are some people who still would like to see the project happen, while others don’t see the need to go out that far and would like to make the city more compact. Mr. Cameron stated the Highway Department has looked at the city’s traffic problems in the north and east. A consultant was hired who held public hearings and came up with three corridors to help with the traffic problem. The process has been done with the corridor study, so there should be a good reason to forsake that part of the study. Dr. Guffey agreed. She noted that may go back to the financing available for the project.
Mr. Cameron asked if NHS funds have been committed for Jonesboro. Dr. Guffey answered yes, but whatever is done has to be on the National Highway System. Mr. Cameron stated the city may get a better response if they take the project in increments instead of as a whole. For example, they could ask the NHS for help with the Highway 49 interchange which would only cost about $5 million, which is just a piece of the whole project. Dr. Guffey encouraged everyone to attend the MPO meeting on April 22nd to help with future project planning. She stated some of the thinking now is there not a need for a bypass, so much as a north/south arterial. The choices are Commerce Drive and Nestle Road/ Rogers Chapel. Further discussion was held concerning the newly proposed Master Street Plan. She noted they are encouraging grid system in the city.
Dr. Guffey asked if any changes need to be made at this point concerning the proposed Master Street Plan. Mr. Cameron stated this is really good progress. While he doesn’t agree with everything, it may just depend on what they are planning for. A consensus of opinion could determine whether to use Rogers Chapel or Commerce Drive, in addition to a good presentation showing the differences.
Mr. Cameron stated the Highway Department performed two studies relating to relieving traffic to on the east. One was the north/east corridor study, which came up with three options. Then, later came the connecting Highway 18/Highway 63 study, which also came up with three options. But, only one should corridors lining up and the corridors lined up along Rogers Chapel Road. He suggested they look at those two studies and find the reasoning behind their conclusions before making changes. Mr. Light noted they have both of the studies, so the committee can either look at the plans as a whole committee or break up into separate committees.
Further discussion was held concerning the eastern bypass. Mr. Light explained they may want to look at using Commerce as an arterial road as opposed to an eastern bypass. He pointed out that unless traffic changes their line of thought, the city will need some sort of loop to help with traffic flow. Mr. Day clarified that Commerce would be shown as a principal arterial that lines up with Clinton School Road with Neslte/Rogers Chapel being marked as a future freeway. Mr. Light agreed, adding Commerce is shown as a principal arterial road on the 2009 plan, but with the proposed plan it will line up with Clinton School Road. Clinton School will take drivers to County Road 702, a section line road, and will allow drivers to continue north.
Discussion was then held concerning obtaining right of way from developers when projects are planned. Dr. Guffey stated there is some concern about the city holding right of way for too long in the future because the city will need cooperation from developers in order to enforce the right of way standards. It’s been questioned why the city should go further out than what developers are willing to give to the city at this point. She noted if they decide to set the boundary outside of the city limits, then they will need the county’s cooperation. Mr. Cameron explained the Master Street Plan should be a map for developers to look at and see what things will look like. That also includes the Highway Department. He noted that if the ordinances are written right, that will help with enforcement so the department heads will have help with enforcement.
Discussion was then held regarding traffic issues in the city that need to be addressed. Mr. Smith explained one reason motorists utilize Red Wolf Boulevard and the Marion Berry Parkway more than what was anticipated is because they have an easier time getting over the railroads tracks on those roads. Their concern is how to shift the north/south traffic away from the ASU campus and their pedestrian population. He also stated they should plan to use funding in ways that impact the city now in the greatest positive way possible.
Chairman Owens asked what traffic issues there are from a public safety standpoint. Assistant Fire Chief Alan Dunn stated ASU, Red Wolf Boulevard and Johnson Avenue near Hilltop are all hard to navigate. He added that there may be no one way to solve the problem because the traffic congestion depends on where the motorists are going at that point in time. For example, regarding the eastern bypass, if motorists are on Highway 63 and driving to Jonesboro, then they won’t use the eastern bypass. Mr. Smith noted there have been some questions raised about whether or not the eastern bypass will actually relieve traffic on the eastern side of the city. Mr. Light stated the Highway Department predicted only at 5% reduction in traffic with the eastern bypass on Commerce. The main obstacle was the railroad crossing at Highland and Nettleton. They are looking possibly building an overpass over that crossing to improve the traffic flow before they do anything to Commerce. Mr. Brown explained motorists should be encouraged to use other streets as opposed to the major roadways, such as Red Wolf Boulevard. He suggested educating motorists in the southern part of the city to try and use Johnson Avenue instead of Red Wolf Boulevard, if they’re able, in order to go to the northern part of the city.
Mr. Light stated the railroad companies are discussing the possibility of closing the Culberhouse railroad crossing near Johnson Avenue and helping to fund an overpass on Gee Street. That project would help relieve some traffic problems around Johnson Avenue. He noted that combined with the extension of Parker Road to Washington Avenue may help get people to the downtown area as well.
Mr. Cameron questioned which areas are the most pressing to deal with. Mr. Dunn answered Red Wolf Boulevard and Johnson Avenue north of Hilltop. Mr. Brown explained it’s not the people who go to Red Wolf Boulevard to shop or eat that negatively impacts the traffic problem in that area; rather, it’s the people who travel on that road several times a day going back and forth from home to work.
Dr. Jim Sanders expressed concern about the proposed map showing a grid system of streets in the southwest part of the city, near his neighborhood. He added that land was approved for conservation use. Mr. Light questioned whether there are restrictions on the land for conservation use. Dr. Sanders answered no, that it could be used for conservation purposes.
JETS Director Steve Ewart stated he has been asked recently what the city will do when people develop more housing in the Brookland area and Jonesboro residents start moving towards that area. Mr. Brown noted that will depend on the residents since some may not be willing to move to a new district. Mr. Ewart added that as the eastern side of the city is improved, more housing will develop.
Mr. Day motioned, seconded by Mr. Brown, to utilize the staff map as the basis of discussion, study it and bring back additional comments or possible changes. All voted aye, with the exception of Mr. Smith who was out of the room when the vote was taken. Dr. Guffey asked that everyone look the map over and let her know if they have any questions or concerns or if they would like to see any changes to the map. Mr. Light also asked them to look over the preferred and acceptable maps.
With no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 5:05 p.m.