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 PUBLIC WORKS AND TRANSIT COMMITTEE AND TRAFFIC COMMISSION August 9, 2023 10:00 AM. Sam King Room - 601 Broad Street PRESENT: Commissioner Beeman, Chair Commissioner Bojo Commissioner Collins Ms. Meredith Ulmer, Assistant City Manager Mr. Chris Jenkins, Public Works Director Mr. Aaron Carroll, Engineering Department Director Mr. Patrick Hawkins, Transit Department Director Maj. Chris Dehart, Rome Police Department Capt. Danny Story, Rome Police Department Sgt. Chase Burnes, Rome Police Department Mr. Doug Walker, Public Information Officer CALL TO ORDER Commissioner Beeman called the meeting to order. REVIEW AND APPROVAL OF MINUTES The minutes of the May meeting were approved by common consent. POLICE REPORTS Blank presented the July traffic accident report. He noted there were 160 accidents with fifty of those resulting in injuries. There was one fatality, 13 DUI arrests with five DUI related accidents. The total traffic cases numbered 802. The primary cause of accidents remains following too closely. 200 Vaughn Road • PO Box 1433 • Rome, Georgia 30162-1433 Phone: 706/236-4466 • fax: 706/236-4532 The five highest accident intersections were:  Marthy Berry Hwy/Veterans Memorial-5 accidents  Shorter Ave/Redmond Circle- 4 accidents  E 12th St/Dean Ave-3 accidents  Turner McCall Blvd/Hicks Dr/Riverbend Dr-3 accidents  Broad St./2nd Ave-3 accidents TRANSIT OPERATIONS Transit Updates Ms. Ulmer welcomed and introduced the new Transit Assistant Director, Patrick Hawkin. Mr. Hawkins updated the committee on the Transit Department. He reported that he is working on training and certification requirements to ensure everyone has the required training in a timely manner. We are updating our safety plans to ensure compliance with FTA and GDOT. We are also conducting an internal review with Ms. Huffman on our internal safety meetings. We are in the process of getting the Paratransit buses rebranded with the new logo and they are looking very good. Two have been completed and one is in the paint shop at this time. Commissioner Beeman asked if the website is being updated. Mr. Hawkins said he has recently met with Ms. Kent to get training for updating the website. We will be able to offer text alerts to subscribers giving them up to date information about the buses in a couple of weeks. He added they are currently looking at an app as part of the micro transit proposal. Financial Report The Financial Report was presented for review. OLD BUSINESS Riverbend Drive Pavement High Friction Surface Treatment Mr. Carroll reported the high friction surface treatment was completed the latter part of July. There have been no accidents since then. We continue to use our speed flashers each way. Speed has remained at only about 6.8% exceeding the speed over ten mph. River District Streetscape Improvements Mr. Carroll reported the River District streetscape improvements was a 2017 SPLOST project that has grown. We have received preliminary plans from Pond and Company. The project stretches from the bridge over the Oostanaula River northward along N 5th Public Work Committee/Transit Committee/Traffic Commission Minutes August 9, 2023 Page 2 of 4  Ave to West 3 St. SW where a roundabout is currently designed. We are going to realign Avenue A and bring it in perpendicular north of the roundabout. The project will then continue up N 5th Ave to West 4th St where it will terminate along N 5th Ave. The project at will pick up on West 3rd St. at North 5th Ave. and proceed westerly along West 3rd Street to N 2nd Ave (SR 101). He noted that the Nova project is within the limits of our project and will include improvements constructed by them. Mr. Carroll noted the estimate from Pond and Company was $2.6 million for the hardscape improvements. The Georgia Power estimate for their conversion was $3.2 million. The electrical conversion would include all the buildings on the west side of 5 th Avenue. He noted many of the buildings would have to be totally redone inside. That estimate is being developed right now with the total expected to be from $8 million to $10 million. Mr. Jenkins added the 2017 project requested for $2.4 million but was awarded $2 million, so we must determine how we can fund the remaining $6 million. Further, he noted the 2nd Ave State project is about to start. Mr. Carroll said CW Mathews has already been issued a Notice to Proceed and it will be a three-year project. Georgia Power feels they can complete their project in a year. None of the hardscape work can be done until their project is complete. We are at a point where we have some decisions to make before we can move forward. Dodd Blvd Storm Drainage Replacement /Rehabilitation Project Update Mr. Carroll reported the Dodd Blvd storm drainage project went out for bid a couple of week ago and we had a single bidder, Spriggs Paving, has been awarded the bid for $969,375. The project will begin around the first of November. It will be a total replacement from where the pipe currently discharges at ADF Welding up to the lot line where the Quick Lube and motel are located. We chose to replace that section because the current pipe has misaligned joints and the bottom is out of it, causing sink holes. From that point up to Sunset Blvd, the joints are in better shape though the bottom is not. On that section we will pour a new concrete bottom to stabilize it. He added that they implemented a weir that will reduce the velocity in stormwater. Mr. Jenkins added this has been of concern for a long time noting that if the pipe should ever cave in it would adversely impact the businesses in the area. Commissioner Bojo asked how long the project should take. Mr. Carroll said that it should take about 120 days. Commissioner Collins asked if we have the funds for this project. Mr. Jenkins said we had already allocated $850,000 for this project so we will have to supplement that from infrastructure funds from the 2017 SPLOST. Public Work Committee/Transit Committee/Traffic Commission Minutes August 9, 2023 Page 3 of 4 NEW BUSINESS Request for 4-Way Stop at Lee avenue and E 7th Street. Mr. Jenkins reported we received a request for a 4-way Stop at Lee Avenue and E 7 th Street. There is currently a 2-Way Stop at this location. Mr. Watson made the request out of concern for increased traffic coming from the new apartment complex at the previous AT&T site. Mr. Jenkins recommended we wait to see what the actual traffic behavior is after the apartment construction is complete. North Broad Ext Road Improvements Mr. Carroll reported the North Broad Ext. is for curb and gutter from North Broad Ext at SR 53 across from Tolbert St. all the way to where it passes the North Pointe subdivision to connect to SR 53 again. Mr. Carroll added that North Pointe Subdivision’s HOA president, Sam Evans, has inquired about having sidewalk installed. He noted many of the residents at North Pointe walk North Broad Extension all the time. The inclusion of sidewalk was not a part of the original project only to improve the road, but he spoke with the engineer about looking at extending the sidewalk on one side from Crestwood to the end of our project. This is where they typically walk since the other side of North Broad Ext is hilly. He suggested we put this sidewalk extension as a bid alternate, and we will consider it if we can afford it. Request to Close a Portion of 6th Ave. Mr. Jenkins reported that he has received a request to close the block of E 6 th Ave from Broad Street to 1st Street for the Rome International Film Festival. He noted that we have had a policy in place for several years prohibiting road closures for private functions. We normally only close the road for DDA or City-sponsored, and City-staffed events on Broad Street such as the First Friday Concerts. After some discussion, the Commission agreed that we have a policy that we will uphold. No vote was needed. MONTHLY REPORTS The monthly 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 9, 2023 Page 4 of 4