Public Works / Traffic / Transit Committee

Chris Jenkins, Director Justin Messer, Assistant Director PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION Cemetery Department Stan Rogers, , Director Engineering Services Aaron Carroll, Director Solid Waste Collections Department Tim Garrett, Director Solid Waste Processing & Disposal Department Lee Stone, Director Transit Department Kathy Shealy, Director Public Works Garage Department Joe Krinke, Superintendent Streets & Drainage Department Chad Hampton, Director PUBLIC WORKS AND TRANSIT COMMITTEE AND TRAFFIC COMMISSION April 14, 10:00 a.m. Sam King Room ‐ 601 Broad Street PRESENT: Commissioner Mark Cochran Commissioner Bill Collins Commissioner Bony Askew Mr. Sammy Rich, City Manager Mr. Chris Jenkins, Public Works Director Mr. Justin Messer, Assistant Public Works Director Mr. Aaron Carroll, Engineering Services Director Ms. Kathy Shealy, Transit Director Ms. Courtnay Griffin, Transit Assistant Director Maj. Rodney Bailey, Rome Police Dept. Capt. Chris DeHart, Rome Police Dept. Ms. Toni Rhinehart, Finance Director Ms. Emma Wells, ECO Center Program Coordinator Mr. Art Newell, Planning Director Ms. Kayla Schaff, Associate Transportation Planner GUESTS: Allie Booker, RACCA Executive Director Julie Smith, TRED CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Cochran called the meeting to order. REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the March meeting were approved by common consent. 200 Vaughn Road • PO Box 1433 • Rome, Georgia 30162‐1433 Phone: 706/236‐4466 • fax: 706/236‐4532 POLICE REPORTS Capt. Dehart presented the March accident report. He noted there were 212 accidents for the month, up from 160 at this time last year, with 572 year to date. Private lot accidents were up from 60 last year to 72 DUI arrests were up from 12 last year to 33. Total traffic cases were up from 550 last year to 1,239. He noted that normally Following too Closely is clearly the number one cause of accidents but Failure to Yield increased significantly in March. Capt. Dehart added that the peak accident times continue to be morning and evening rush hour and the lunch hour. He noted that the highest accident intersection continues to be Redmond Circle/Shorter Ave, but for the first time, Chatillon Road/Riverside Drive is the second highest. Mr. Jenkins noted the City has recently signed a contract with EXP.US for an in‐depth traffic study of this intersection headed up by former GDOT District Engineer, De Wayne Comer. Mr. Comer is also performing a study at the Old Summerville Road/ Stonebridge Drive intersection. TRANSIT Update on 5307 Grant Ms. Shealy reported that a few years ago we were approved to purchase the 30 ft low floor Gillig buses in 2020 and 2021, which have a 12 to 15‐month delivery schedule. We did not get those on order before CARES funding came in, which shifted many of the grants from 80/10/10 to 100% funding. She is working with GDOT to approve amending the grant to allow us to purchase 16 buses for $2.2 million at 100% funding. These would replace five of our main line buses and five expansion buses in order to reduce our headway from 1 hour to 30 minutes. There will still be one Gillig bus in that purchase. She is also including two trolley buses that are on the State contract and have been purchased by Gainesville Transit already that we could get delivered in about 150 days. This purchase will also give us four additional paratransit buses. GDOT has approved another six months added under the CARES ACT on the operating side. Commissioner Cochran asked if the trolleys could be used for tennis tournament shuttling. She replied that we aren’t allowed to do charters but would have to create a fixed route to the tennis center to accommodate tournaments. Ms. Shealy introduce Ms. Courtnay Griffin, who has recently been hired as the Assistant Director of Transit. The committee welcomed Ms. Griffin. Financial Report Ms. Rinehart presented the February financial report. She noted that Main Line revenues were down about $4400. Paratransit Services are down $20,000 but must of that is due to the DHR contract with the state which typically stays a couple of months behind in reimbursements. We have only just received the January payment in March which is usually about $7400 per month. Total revenues are down $24,800. Public Work Committee/Transit Committee/Traffic Commission Minutes April 14, 2021 Page 2 of 5  On the expense side, she noted Main Line expenses were down $166,000 from last year. There were some personnel changes over the last two years with the Tripper Service ending. Paratransit expenses were down about $7000. Retirement contributions were up. OLD BUSINESS Update on Unity Point Mr. Carroll updated the Committee on Unity Point. He noted that our Engineer continues to work on the environmental concerns. The project is very complicated but we are making progress. NEW BUSINESS Trail Trash Art Ms. Allie Booker of RACCA and Ms. Julie Smith, of TRED introduced themselves and discussed their project to bring awareness to the problem of litter and trash on our trails through an art project involving sculpture made from recycled materials. The first site they have selected is located outside the ECO Center at the entrance to the trail at Ridgeferry Park. They presented a sketch by local artist Siri Selle for the first sculpture called “Garden of the River” noting that and requested approval for the Public Works staff to install the first sculpture at the selected site. Mr. Jenkins said that Public Works staff could do the installation. They are hoping to have the sculpture in place for unveiling in October. Commissioner Collins moved to approve the site selected for this sculpture. Commissioner Askew seconded. The motion carried. DDA Street Closure Requests Mr. Jenkins presented DDA’s street closure request for this year’s First Friday concert. He noted that the first Friday concerts will be relocated to the Town Green and will take place on June 4th, July 2nd, August 6th and Sept 3rd They are requesting to close West 1st Street from 4pm – 11 pm from Mitchell Plaza to 4th Avenue on these dates. He added that the Forum will be involved in this event. Commissioner Askew moved to approve the closures. Commissioner Collins seconded. The motion carried. Mr. Jenkins presented a second request from DDA to close the 100, 200, 200 and 400 blocks of Broad Street from 6 AM until 10 PM on October 9th for the Fiddlin’ Fest event. Public Work Committee/Transit Committee/Traffic Commission Minutes April 14, 2021 Page 3 of 5  Commissioner Collins moved to approve the request. Commissioner Askew seconded. The motion carried. Request to change Ridgepointe Drive from Private to a Public Street Mr. Carroll presented a request to change Ridgepointe Drive from Private to a Public Street from Drs. Collins and Schecter, who originally developed the 8‐acre property in Woodfin Estates as a private County subdivision in the early 90’s. They later annexed the properties in to the City. In considering this type of request, he stated the first thing we look at is whether or not the street meets code or ULDC requirements and if we will be able to maintain it. He noted there is adequate right‐of‐way but the pavement width is 4 feet narrower than our standards. It does have curb and gutter but there are no catch basins or drop inlets, storm pipes, end treatments or drainage easements. The subdivision has two flumes that dump water from the private road onto the properties. Our concern is that if we take over responsibility without the modifications to bring it up to standards first, we will have liability for the street water dumping on private properties with no easements for maintenance. Commissioner Collins asked if the City is responsible for any of the streets in Woodfin Estates. He replied that we work only on those areas that have been annexed into the City. Commissioner Collins asked if water from this private street affects City residents in Woodfin Estates. Mr. Carroll stated he is unaware of any problems at this time but we could table this item until next month so he could for further research. Raised Mid‐block Crossings on Broad Street Mr. Jenkins reported there has been a request to look into raised mid‐block crossings or speed table for Broad Street as a means of reducing speeds and increasing pedestrian safety. He presented several different designs ranging from asphalt with paint to concrete and brickwork. Mr. Jenkins noted that research shows the raised crossings reduce speeds to between 25 to 30 mph, and is preferred over speed humps by emergency agencies and is more cost effective. Mr. Rich noted that pedestrians don’t have signals to help them cross at mid‐block crossings and this would greatly increase safety. Mr. Carroll suggested installing a temporary asphalt speed table to test this type of crossing with a speed study before and after the installation. Mr. Jenkins agreed noting it would cost about $2000 per table. Commissioner Askew moved to test a temporary asphalt speed table at the 400 block of Broad Street. Commissioner Collins seconded. The motion carried. Public Work Committee/Transit Committee/Traffic Commission Minutes April 14, 2021 Page 4 of 5 MONTHLY REPORTS Departmental Reports The departmental reports were distributed for review. ADJOURN There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned. Respectfully Submitted, Margaret Hollingsworth Margaret W. Hollingsworth, Secretary Public Work Committee/Transit Committee/Traffic Commission Minutes April 14, 2021 Page 5 of 5