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Minutes for the Master Street Plan Committee meeting on May 21, 2015
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Members present: Jim Abel, Mike Cameron, Marvin Day, Ann Garner, Eugene Holloway, Ben Owens (chair), Bill Smith and Councilman John Street
Members absent: Robin Nix, Sr. and Garry Tate
Mayor Perrin stated his staff has been researching for several years street improvements that are needed throughout the city. He noted the improvements will work with the Master Street Plan. Traffic Engineer Mark Nichols explained a lot of the projects came about as a result of this committee. He discussed the projects including the overpass project on Highway 18/Nettleton Avenue, Hilltop area, Hwy 18 & Caraway Road, Hwy 49 at Southwest Drive & Parker Road, Hwy 351 & Airport Road, Gee Street & Dan Avenue overpasses, Harrisburg Road widening. Commerce Drive eastern arterial, Patrick Street widening, Race Street major widening, and Hwy 63 & Hwy 1 improvements. He explained he thinks those are all efficient projects that will touch a lot of people.
Mayor Perrin asked what the total cost is of all the projects. Mr. Nichols answered the exact number is hard because they don’t have good number for all of the projects, but the total is around $170 to $180 million. He noted the list was originally for $400 million worth of improvements, so the list has been refined. Some of the less efficient projects were taken off the list in favor of the more efficient projects.
Ms. Garner questioned what the timeline would be for the projects. Mr. Nichols stated that comes down to funding and that part is undecided. It mainly depends on how fast the city can get funding. But, the projects themselves take years to come to fruition. Mayor Perrin added the Highway Trust Fund will be broke by the end of August. Congress will push funding from the federal level to extend the funding at the state level to the end of August and then try to address the funding issue. He explained in the future if any city in the state wants to...
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