2003-12-16 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CHARLOTTESVILLE CITY COUNCIL WILL BE HELD ON Tuesday, December 16, 2003 AT 7:00 p.m. IN THE Michie Annex Conference Room THE PROPOSED AGENDA IS AS FOLLOWS: Transit Work Session BY ORDER OF THE MAYOR BY Jeanne Cox MICHIE ANNEX CONFERENCE ROOM - December 16, 2003 Council met in special session on this date with the following members present: Mr. Cox, Mr. Lynch, Ms. Richards. Absent: Mr. Caravati and Mr. Schilling. Ms. Becky Clay Christenson, fa cilitator for the work session, said the purpose of the work session is to look at issues that came out of the transit summit in October. Ms. Judy Mueller, Director of Public Works, said that the following activity has occurred since the transit forum: a third trolley has been added during the heaviest demand time which has improved the schedule; implementation has begun on the transit development plan; funds have been allocated to hire drivers and additional buses will be added to routes 4 and 6 starting next week. Concept: Streetscape Work on West Main Street Mr. Hank Bishop, consultant with Wallace, Roberts and Todd, gave a power point presentation on 'Transforming West Main Street." He said one option includes a dedicated lane for transit in the center of the street, noting that going two ways will be necessary on West Main Street. He said cons of a rail trolley system include: the cost; little matching funds available; increased cost for both ways; overhead contact system; utility relocation in street; less flexibility; bikers do not like crossing rails. Another option includes a non - dedicated, shared lane on West Main Street which could include removal of on street parking. Ms. Christenson asked for feedback on how sacred is on - street parkin g and on dedicated versus shared lanes. Mr. Lynch said parking is not sacred, but he recalled that the loss of only six spaces on West Main Street to make room for bike lanes had large opposition. He said alternatives would be needed if parking is remov ed. Ms. Richards said the condition for community acceptance of removing parking would be strategic parking structures. Ms. Richards said she does not take lightly the issues of paying for such structures and getting community support. Mr. Lynch said there is a need for short - term parking such as that available on the Corner. Mr. Cox agreed that taking parking off has to be coordinated with the location of parking structures. He said traffic congestion would be less if people are not hunting for on - street parking. He said there is a need to show where secondary streets are so people do not have to use West Main Street to find parking. He asked Mr. Bishop if any thought had been given to showing where side street parking exists. Mr. Bishop said re stricting parking during rush hours; restricting left turns, having better synchronization of traffic lights, and better striping of lanes would help traffic quite a bit on West Main Street.