ATTACHMENT 2
In late 1997, the Town Council adopted a local Transportation Project Priority List for submittal to the Metropolitan Planning Organization and the State that listed the improvement of South Columbia Street as a number two priority. During 1998, Town and University officials began discussing their mutual interest in having the State construct limited improvements on South Columbia Street.
In mid-1998, with concurrence of the University Chancellor, the Town Council adopted a resolution requesting that the State design and construct certain limited improvements on South Columbia Street to accommodate a four-foot wide striped bike lane and a continuous sidewalk on the east side of the road, curb-and-gutter along both sides of the road, and associated drainage and intersection improvements with minimal disruption of adjacent properties. The following chronology outlines the current project history:
APRIL 6, 1998 – The Town Council adopted a resolution requesting that the State design and construct a limited improvement project on South Columbia Street between Fordham Boulevard and Manning Drive to include curb-and-gutter along both sides of the road, a four-foot wide striped bike lane along the east side of the road, a five-foot wide sidewalk at the back-of-curb along the east side of the road, and associated drainage and intersection improvements as can be reasonably accommodated within the existing right-of-way and with minimal disruption of adjacent properties.
MAY 18, 1998 – The University Executive Vice Chancellor (Elson Floyd) sent a letter to the State Transportation Secretary (Norris Tolson) stating the University’s support for the limited project proposed by the Town and described in the Council’s resolution.
JULY 2, 1998 – The Mayor received a letter from the State Highway Administrator (Len Sanderson) acknowledging the Town’s request for a limited project, noting that the State had abandoned its original plans to construct a five-lane road, and proposing a preliminary roadway cross-section reflecting the Council’s wishes to the extent practicable.
OCTOBER 12, 1998 – The Council adopted a resolution endorsing the State’s proposed cross-section for limited improvements on South Columbia Street to include two twelve-foot wide travel lanes, four-foot wide striped bike lanes along both sides of the roadway, curb-and-gutter along both sides of the roadway, a five-foot wide sidewalk along the east side of the roadway, and associated drainage and intersection improvements as can reasonably be accommodated with minimal disruption of adjacent properties.
OCTOBER 23, 1998 – The University Chancellor (Michael Hooker) sent a letter to the State Transportation Secretary (Norris Tolson) endorsing the limited improvement project on South Columbia Street as agreed upon by the Town and State.
NOVEMBER 16, 1998 – The Mayor received a letter from the State Transportation Secretary (Norris Tolson) acknowledging the Council’s endorsement of the proposed limited improvement project on South Columbia Street and advising that the project was formally included in the State Transportation Improvement Program.
JUNE 21, 1999 – The State held a project scoping meeting attended by State and Town staff where project development steps were outlined and a preliminary schedule and cost estimate was discussed.
NOVEMBER 9, 1999 – The Town and State hosted a joint Citizens Informational Workshop to present information and to receive comments and questions about the proposed project.
MARCH 27, 2001 – The University Chancellor (James Moeser) sent a letter to the State Transportation Secretary (Lyndo Tippett) stating that University wanted to reopen discussion of the limited improvements proposed for South Columbia Street and the adequacy of those improvements to serve the University and Hospitals.
APRIL 3, 2001 – The Mayor sent a letter to the State Transportation Secretary (Lyndo Tippett) stating that the Town and University had already agreed to the limited improvement project currently funded in the State Transportation Improvement Program.
APRIL 27, 2001 – The Mayor and the University Chancellor received letters from the State Transportation Secretary requesting that officials of the Town, the University, and the Metropolitan Planning Organization discuss the matter and present the State with a joint recommendation for improving South Columbia Street between Fordham Boulevard and Manning Drive.
FEBRUARY 2002 – The Town Council held discussion of this matter at its May 13, 2002 regular meeting, and held a Public Forum on May 29, 2002, to receive comments from citizens and University officials regarding South Columbia Street.
JUNE 24, 2002 – The Council approved a resolution with following limited improvements on South Columbia Street: