Public Works / Traffic / Transit Committee

Chris Jenkins, Director Justin Messer, Assistant Director PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION , Cemetery Department Jody Gonzalez, Superintendent Engineering Services Aaron Carroll, Director Public Works Vehicle Maintenance Department Joe Krinke, Superintendent Solid Waste Collections Department Tim Garrett, Director Solid Waste Processing & Disposal Department Lee Stone, Director Streets & Drainage Department Chad Hampton, Director PUBLIC WORKS AND TRANSIT COMMITTEE AND TRAFFIC COMMISSION August 12, 2021 10:00 AM. Sam King Room ‐ 601 Broad Street PRESENT: Commissioner Mark Cochran Commissioner Bonny Askew Mr. Chris Jenkins, Public Works Director Mr. Justin Messer, Assistant Public Works Director Mr. Aaron Carroll, Engineering Services Director Ms. Toni Rhinehart, Finance Director Ms. Courtnay Griffin, Transit Assistant Director Mr. Art Newall, Planning Director Capt. Chris Dehart, Rome Police Department GUEST: Grant Waldrop, GDOT District 6 Engineer Ricky Boatner, GDOT Area Engineer CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Cochran called the meeting to order. REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the previous meeting were approved by common consent. POLICE REPORTS Captain DeHart presented the accident report. In July, he noted there were 251 crashes with 71 of those in private lots. There were 56 injuries but no fatalities. Total traffic cases were at 545 down from 822 in July 2020. 200 Vaughn Road • PO Box 1433 • Rome, Georgia 30162‐1433 Phone: 706/236‐4466 • fax: 706/236‐4532 There has been no major change in the highest accident times of day or days of week. Higher peak times remain the same. The highest accident intersection was Turner McCall at Hicks Drive with 6 accidents followed by Riverbend Dr/Turner McCall and Turner McCall/Cooper Drive with 5 accidents each. TRANSIT OPERATIONS Financial Report Ms. Rhinehart presented the June financial statement. She noted that the Main Line service revenues are in line with 2020. We are over budget $6300 at this time but very close to last year. The Para Transit DHR contract service is a better caught up at this time but still in line with this time last year. She added that the operating reimbursement grants do not show about $544,000 does not show in this report but shows up in July. Revenues year to date are in line with last year. Expenses are pretty much in line with last year and we are on target with year‐to‐date budget at this point. There is a little repair and maintenance and depreciation still in the Tripper section but we are working on disposing those vehicles now. The cash balance at the end of June cash balance was 784,000. Commissioner Cochran asked about the sale of the Tripper buses. Ms. Griffin reported that 11 buses have just been posted on GovDeals and the process of preparing all the vehicle information for sale is underway. OLD BUSINESS Mr. Carroll reported the speed table is here but will not be installed until the ramps can be constructed for them. We are currently coordinating mobilization with the company that will build the ramps in place. Mr. Carroll reported that five bids were received for the River District this morning. We will be reviewing those over the next couple of weeks and then bring a recommendation to this Committee. Commissioner Cochran asked Mr. Jenkins reported the pressure washing on Broad Street is complete. Commissioner Cochran noted that at the last meeting we discussed tackling all our paving at one time, noting that we would likely have to contract it out. Mr. Jenkins added that we could do the milling. He added that the centerline mileage in roe is 240 miles excluding State Routes. Paving for 240 miles would cost about $36 million. Commissioner Cochran noted if we could contract that out the Street Dept. could focus on other things besides potholes. He asked Mr. Rich if we could issue a bond. Mr. Rich replied the Public Work Committee/Transit Committee/Traffic Commission Minutes, August 12, 2021 Page 2 of 5  payback would be expensive and noted that we could break it down into a phased approach. NEW BUSINESS State Route Sidewalks Mr. Jenkins introduced Mr. Grant Waldrup, GDOT District 6 Engineer and Mr. Ricky Boatner, GDOT Area Engineer who were invited to discuss State Route sidewalk issues. Commissioner Cochran said the Shorter Avenue sidewalks are dangerous and what solutions there are to address this serious public safety issue. Mr. Waldrup stated that GDOT only installs sidewalk in conjunction with a road project and does not maintain the sidewalk after construction. There are several options for improvements and adding pedestrian facilities, noting that GDOT offers solicitations for local governments to make applications for enhancement projects on state right‐of‐way. Shorter Avenue sidewalks would be a bigger project requiring additional right‐of‐way. He added that LMIG funding has also opened up to allow for sidewalk projects on State Routes. If the City wants to undertake this work it will only require a simple permit. Commissioner Cochran asked if there was any other funding available. Mr. Waldrup said there has been other funding in the past such as the Safe Routes to School project but at this time he doesn’t know of any other funding. Commissioner Cochran asked about the Georgia Power light poles right on the edge of the road. Mr. Waldrup responded there is some limited funding available for hazard elimination that can be used for projects to relocate poles that are being hit frequently. Commissioner Askew added that he feels unsafe walking on Shorter Avenue and feels that wider sidewalks would be an improvement. Commissioner Cochran asked about Shorter Avenue being repaved. Mr. Boatner replied that project will take place in the next two or three years. Commissioner Cochran asked if any sidewalk improvements can be included with this project. Mr. Waldrup stated that sidewalk would only be included in a construction project and not a resurfacing project. Commissioner Cochran asked if GDOT could look at the possibility of taking Shorter Avenue down to four lanes and a median to have more room on the sides. Mr. Waldrop replied the State would not want to impact traffic too much but could run research the impact that would have. Commissioner Cochran asked about the AGL project noting the poor paving job the contractors did. Mr. Boatner noted there are different standards for smoothness set for patching, resurfacing and reconstruction or roads. The standard for pathing is to match existing asphalt based on the its age of the asphalt and when it was last resurfaced. Public Work Committee/Transit Committee/Traffic Commission Minutes, August 12, 2021 Page 3 of 5  Shorter Avenue hasn’t been resurfaced in 21 years so the patching only needed to match 21‐year‐old worn pavement. The road will not be really smooth until it is fully resurfaced. Mr. Carroll asked how to initiate a quick response project. Mr. Waldrup stated that GDOT solicits quick response projects each year. Mr. Carroll noted there is an issue needing quick response at SR 293/SR 53 near the Old Tymer BBQ that requires more than milling and repaving. He asked if that could be on the list. Mr. Waldrup noted that request. Mr. Carroll added that all the guard rail in the Ledbetter Interchange is approximately 50 years old and needs to be upgraded. Mr. Waldrup stated that he noticed that guardrail coming into town and has made a note to check on that. Mr. Waldrup added that there is also a project to pave Hwy 27 from Georgia Highlands to the Ledbetter Exchange and from there down Hwy 411 all the way to Fulton County. Commissioner Cochran asked if Shorter Avenue resurfacing could be moved up on the list. Mr. Waldrup said it is possible but there is a process to go through. The State will be receiving some funding that will likely cover many of their pending projects which could change our projections for that project. Mr. Jenkins asked about the section of Loop 1 from Hwy 27 to Hwy 20 in West Rome. Mr. Boatner said they are scheduled to come in on the 16th, but rain is expected all next week, which may cause a delay. Commissioner Cochran asked about the Turner McCall and 2nd Ave Bridges. Mr. Boatner said it should be about two years. Mr. Waldrup added there is funding for Hwy 27 at Etowah River. Litter Signage Recommendation from the Blight Committee Mr. Jenkins reported the Floyd County Blight Committee has recommended litter signage to place in the County and want to place them inside the City limits as well. He presented the proposed signage and recommended we review and consider alternative signage prior to placing all. Mr. Waldrup said he would be happy to share information from the State’s litter campaign. Captain DeHart noted that Rome has a litter ordinance that imposes an over $400 fine for general littering and commercial littering is around $1300. Walton Creek Subdivision Stop Sign Mr. Jenkins reported that we have been getting requests for Stop signs at South Fork Drive, Walton Creek Drive and Hawks Spring Drive with their intersections at Knotting Pine Trail. He noted that each of these streets are through ways with two‐way Stops. He noted that the State MUTCD guidelines do not recommend Stop signs for speed control. He noted that this body has authorized Stop signs in the past despite the MUTCD recommendation against it. Capt. DeHart added that neighborhood streets are not on the radar list so it is difficult to control speeding. Mr. Jenkins recommended posting speed Public Work Committee/Transit Committee/Traffic Commission Minutes, August 12, 2021 Page 4 of 5  limit signs first to increase awareness. Mr. Carroll added that we could put out our speed counters as well to perform a speed study. Commissioner Askew agreed. Commissioner Askew moved to post the speed limit at 25 mph in Walton Creek Subdivision. Commissioner Cochran seconded. The motion carried. MONTHLY REPORTS The monthly 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, August 12, 2021 Page 5 of 5