Laserfiche WebLink
4 <br /> <br /> Mr. Owen said he knows the footprint of the interchange is a concern. He said <br />they looked at other interchanges in the City and others that were mentioned in the state. <br />He said they found that a lot of parkway interchanges in the state are actually larger than <br />what is proposed here. He presented footprint comparisons with local and parkway <br />interchanges around the state. <br /> <br /> Responding to a question from Dr. Brown, Mr. Owen said that C-1 and G-1 <br />alternatives can be looked at equally, but C-1 has a few more things that make it more <br />inviting. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown said that G-1 alternative has a signal which would be easier to cross if <br />you are on a bike or on foot. He said it is hard to imagine if there is no signal. <br /> <br /> Mr. Owen said that pedestrian accidents have been shown to be down in <br />roundabouts if there is no signal, but he acknowledged that finding gives the Committee <br />pause. He said it is important to provide a safe crossing. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown said he agrees with the SELC about the need for more detailed models <br />of some type. Otherwise he said he cannot see how the topography will change. <br /> <br /> Mr. Owen said they plan to develop models but it is premature at this stage. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown asked that staff prepare a report on what to expect from a model. <br /> <br /> Mr. Owen said they can send what has been prepared for other projects. <br /> <br /> Ms. Hamilton asked if Council does not pick a recommended preferred alternative <br />will models be developed for all models, and Mr. Helman said yes. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said he appreciates the work and feels a lot of progress has been made. <br />He said he thinks more attention needs to be paid to pedestrian connections. He said the <br />point of the pedestrian access is to get it out of the intersection so there is no conflict with <br />cars. He said he would like to see a little wider spance for pedestrian access. He said he <br />would find it acceptable to spend $5 million for pedestrian access, and said that could <br />come from First Cities funds, urban allocation, or grant funds. He said he leans more <br />toward alternative C-1 with a roundabout. He said G-1 is similar to the interchange at <br />Barracks Road and he does not really think of that as an entrance feature. He said he <br />would support C-1 and if that does not work, G-1. <br /> <br /> Ms. Hamilton asked what the thinking was of the Committee as to why these two <br />alternatives rose to the top. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said they stay away from the Vietnam Memorial, are simpler in terms <br />of traffic movement, and the overall amount of asphalt is not much more than the Park <br />Street interchange. He said there is substantial green space within the footprint. He said <br />they also preserve the Rescue Squad building. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown asked if Council is comfortable with alternatives C-1 and G-1 and with <br />the Planning Commission’s finding that the interchange is compatible with the <br />Comprehensive Plan. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris said he finds it an arbitrary endeavor, and asked for legal advice on <br />how to proceed. <br /> <br /> Mr. Brown, said he has no words of wisdom and there is no guidance in the State <br />Code. He emphasized there is no final design required for a finding of compliance with <br />the Comprehensive Plan. He noted that Council is approving the concept. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said the Comprehensive Plan is clear on a commitment to increasing <br />bike and pedestrian accessing and reducing automobiles. He asked the consultants to <br />continue to enhance the pedestrian access. He said he would like to get a sense of <br /> <br />