Public Works / Traffic / Transit Committee

Chris Jenkins, Director Justin Messer, Assistant Director PUBLIC WORKS DIVISION , Cemetery Department Jody Gonzales, 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 Transit Department PUBLIC WORKS AND TRANSIT COMMITTEE Kathy Shealy, Director AND TRAFFIC COMMISSION May 11, 2022, 10:00 AM Sam King Room - 601 Broad Street PRESENT: Commissioner Mark Cochran Commissioner Bonny Askew Commissioner Jim Bojo Mr. Sammy Rich, City Manager Ms. Meredith Ulmer, Assistant City Manager Ms. Kelly Parker, Assistant to the City Manager Mr. Chris Jenkins, Public Works Director Mr. Justin Messer, Assistant Public Works Director Mr. Aaron Carroll, Engineering Services Director Ms. Courtnay Griffin, Assistant Transit Director Ms. Aundi Lesley, DDA Director Ms. Julie Harris, Parking Services Manager Mr. Artegus Newell, Planning Director Ms. Kayla Schaff, Associate Transportation Planner Maj. Paul Webber, Rome Police Dept. Capt. Chris DeHart, Rome Police Dept. GUEST: Grant Miller, resident 2653 Callier Springs Rd. Julie Smith, TRED Executive Director CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Cochran called the meeting to order. Mr. Grant Miller was invited to address the Commission. He proposed the City and County Public Works combine to service roadways in his area that are part City and part County. He noted that development and traffic has increased and there is a need for improved roads, street lighting and sidewalks in the area. Cochran noted that the City Attorney confirmed there is a 200 Vaughn Road • PO Box 1433 • Rome, Georgia 30162-1433 Phone: 706/236-4466 • fax: 706/236-4532 provision in our charter that allows us to go up to two miles out of the City limits, but the City only has jurisdiction over roadways that are within the City limits. REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the previous meeting were approved by common consent. POLICE REPORTS Captain Dehart presented the April traffic accident report. He noted that total accidents were at 188 total for the month up from 186 at this time last year. Injuries were from 59 last year to 65. DUI related traffic accidents were up from 4 last year to 6. Total traffic cases were up from 703 to 744. High traffic times continue to be early morning, lunch, and early evening. The highest accident intersection was North 2nd Avenue/Martha Berry Blvd. was the highest accident intersection for the month with 7 accidents. Five of them were cited for following too close. All were coming off North 2nd Avenue near the hospital. The intersections of E 2nd Ave/Broad St and Turner McCall Blvd/Hicks had six accidents each. TRANSIT OPERATIONS Update on Main Line Bus Purchases Ms. Shealy reported that three Gillibus’ were ordered that should arrive by late October or early November. GDOT has allowed us to order two additional buses so we will have a total of five. Ms. Griffin added this will give us almost a complete Main Line fleet of low floor buses which are favored by riders. She noted $500,000 was already allocated for a 30 ft. bus under an 80/10/10 grant, and we wanted to use our 100% funding first. She explained that GDOT had some additional funding left in the 100% COVID funding that we could use to purchase one bus and another out of the 80/10/10 funding. A quick decision had to be made to get this purchase added to the previous order that had a locked-in price, which saved us a 12 to 16% price increase on the $500,000 we would have otherwise had incurred. GDOT agreed to extend that contract enabling us to take advantage of this savings. Ms. Griffin stated that we are expecting the four buses in mid-September and the fifth one may be added in right after those but expect it by the end of the year or at the least by the first quarter 2023. She noted we have received written permission from GDOT to proceed. She added we hope to have a larger roll out presence by the end of the year than we previously expected. Public Work Committee/Transit Committee/Traffic Commission Minutes May 11, 2022 Page 2 of 5  Financial report Ms. Rhinehart noted that Main Line revenues will continue through the end of this year because of the free ridership. She noted we will not do the mid-year transfer from the general fund while we still have 100% funding. Under expenses, she noted that Main Line is in line with last year. Personal Services is up, and depreciation is down due to several buses being fully depreciated. Paratransit labor costs are up $23,000 from last year, which is largely due to pay increases and training. Fuel cost will be a big increase for transit as well as city-wide. Commissioner Cochran asked when the $14.4 million will come in from Build Back Better. Ms. Rhinehart stated she has not heard anything on this yet but has requested the second round of ARPA funds and expects to hear from that any day now. OLD BUSINESS Update on Painting of Poles and Signs on Broad Street Mr. Carroll reported the painting contractors, who came from Lawrenceville, GA have doesn’t an excellent job. They are coming back this week to wrap up four more of the informational signs that were missed. He noted they will even do some on the County property and Ms. Leslie is working on getting some reimbursement on that. The overhead signage is in, but the brackets are not. The new red lights that will be up on the mast arm pole should all be in by August so the whole project should be complete by the end of August or early September. Bojo asked what kind of sensors will be on the lights. Mr. Carroll said the detection will stay as it is now, which is from loops on the sides of the road and a couple of cameras up and down Broad St. Parks Hokes Park Project Update Mr. Carroll updated the Committee on the Parks Hokes Park project. He reported the slab work will take place in June and the project is moving along. Speed Table for 200/300 Block of Broad Street Mr. Carroll reported he ordered the speed tables last week with projected delivery in 4 to 6 weeks. He will update the committee when he has more information. He added that he and Mr. Jenkins have discussed removing the paddle signs in the middle of the road where we have speed tables. They typically get hit and damaged where they are. Mr. Jenkins added they are not required by the MUTCD since we have enlarged the signage. The Committee agreed. Public Work Committee/Transit Committee/Traffic Commission Minutes May 11, 2022 Page 3 of 5  Request for Multi-Way Stops at Hampton Blvd/Chulio Rd. Mr. Jenkins said he has been talking to Michael Skeen regarding placing a digital speed sign at Hampton Blvd and Chulio Rd. Mr. Skeen currently has eight that he will install around the county as part of the LMIG off system safety grant. Those eight are designated to specific areas in the grant but he will be looking into getting some more signs out of his capital grants for this area. Stop sign request at Charlton at Vineland Mr. Carroll stated that from a traffic analysis standpoint as far as sight distance, this location does not warrant a stop sign. Commissioner Cochran stated that if they want a STOP sign, they should have one. Mr. Carroll suggested a pedestrian signal there once the trail ties in there. Commissioner Askew added we have also committed to No- Through Truck signs on either rend of Charlton. Commissioner Bojo moved to approve the request for a Stop sign on Charlton St. at its western most intersection with Vineland Dr. Commissioner Askew seconded. The motion carried. Mr. Carroll suggested that we should also temporarily place advance warning signs for the Stop sign. NEW BUSINESS Street Closure Request for Chambers Street 4 Kids Event June 18th from 4 PM until 9 PM Mr. Jenkins reported he has received a request to close a portion of Chambers street for the Chambers Street 4 Kids event. He noted this event has taken place for several years, skipping the last two years because of COVID. It takes place on father’s day weekend on June 18th from 4 PM until 8 PM. There have never been any problems or issues associated with this event. Commissioner Bojo moved to approve the request. Commissioner Askew seconded. The motion carried. Mt. Berry Trail Update Mr. Carroll reported that the Mt. Berry trail spur is now connected via pavement to the Redmond trail. It looks very nice. Chad Hampton and his employees did a phenomenal job. Ms. Julie Smith added the overhead canopy and landscaping will be done in mid to late June. Mr. Carroll added the bridge for our crossing over big dry creek is under construction should be in by Mid-July. Public Work Committee/Transit Committee/Traffic Commission Minutes May 11, 2022 Page 4 of 5  Rome Pride 2022 Road Closures Mr. Jenkins reported on a request from Justin Deal for road closures to accommodate the Rome Pride Event. The closure would be Saturday June 25th from 7 AM until 8 AM and would include West 1st Street off Broad St. at Bridgepoint Plaza, and the section of Road that would be in front of the staging area facing the green space. It would require closing the private parking lot next to Bridgepoint Plaza building which has already been denied by owner Mark Brewster, who needs the lot open to service the tenants in the building, such as Moe’s Original Barbeque. Mr. Jenkins noted that under this request, patrons of Moe’s would have to exit the wrong way on the One-Way street back to 2nd Avenue and it would be detrimental to that business to lose parking spaces intended for their patrons who would be coming in and out throughout the day to park. Mr. Jenkins did not recommend closing the area off due to traffic concerns and safety issues as well as the inconvenience to the businesses. Commissioner Bojo moved to deny the request to close the roads for this event based on staff recommendation. Commissioner askew seconded. The motion carried unanimously. Commissioner Cochran added that this action sets a precedent that will apply every other entity that makes a similar request for this area. River Arts District Mr. Carroll updated the Committee on the River Arts District project. He reported the engineer is working with 4 Stones Group and everything is progressing with the roundabout. He added that does not know when I will go out to bid yet. Commissioner Bojo asked how we could get the cameras like those at Rome High to Main Elementary. Captain Dehart said our Chief is already in discussions about this issue. Commissioner Bojo asked why the School Board has a say in it. Capt. DeHart said that when the statute initially was passed, a signed agreement between the school and local government was required. Recently, the State legislature met and said that is not the case anymore. MONTHLY REPORTS The monthly department 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 May 11, 2022 Page 5 of 5