CHILLICOTHE — After years of discussions, Chillicothe City Council will finally vote on a nearly $150,000 project that would convert Second Street to two-way traffic.
Five months after the last discussion regarding two-way traffic on Second Street, Council-at-Large Devon Shoemaker, head of the engineering committee, went over the latest figures for the project during Monday night's committee meeting. As the construction project has been debated for years by council members, business owners and community leaders, Shoemaker believes it's time to bring the legislation forward for a vote.
A new estimate from July predicts that the most expensive part of the project will be milling, filling and stripping the street which will cost around $72,000. Additionally, work on signalization such as removing the existing strain poles, masts, signal heads and other items would cost $24,000. It will cost another $25,000 to add in four handicapped parking spots and another $12,000 to install a midblock crosswalk. Finally, new signage is estimated to be $13,000.
Council members previously approved to appropriate around $80,000 of the city's budget to go toward the project. At that time, the estimate did not include the cost of traffic lights — which may cost an additional $50,000 to $70,000 — if the city opted for those over a four-way stop, or repavement of the street because that's factored into the annual street paving budget.
One cost-saving method suggested was to eliminate the mid-block crosswalk — although it would be installed for safety measures. Besides, depending on when the project is approved and put out for bid, the prices may continue to change.
"I would hope that's a conservative figure but I wouldn't count on it," said Dean Carroll, city engineer.
Chillicothe Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Mike Throne has been pushing for a decision on the project since he took over the chamber in late 2018. The Downtown Development Commission — an organization that digs into issues facing the downtown area, presents potential solutions and then makes recommendations to the mayor for consideration — has also been championing the change since 2016.
In the past, a slew of business owners located on Second Street have also voiced their support for the change. Previously Ben Daughters, owner of The Pour House at Machinery Hall, stated that he believes the change will help increase downtown vibrancy and make the street more accessible to customers. He's also hopeful the change to two-way would encourage more businesses to fill vacant storefronts downtown.
Many of the business owners agree that pros for the transition include less confusion for visitors, improved access to businesses as drivers can park on both sides of the street and improved safety due to reduced vehicle speed on two-way streets and decreased potential for driving the wrong way.
And in February 2018, council's engineering committee and a group of about 20 mostly downtown business and building owners met to discuss whether it would be beneficial to make Second Street a two-way street due to the recent downtown revitalization efforts. The committee recommended that the change be made.
However, President Bruce Arnold believes that while downtown business owners support the conversion, many in the general public do not agree.
Resident Jenny Staggs addressed the council in March at the last review session on the matter, saying that Second Street is often closed during the summer for downtown events like Third Thursdays and that it's an area where people frequently idle their vehicles as they wait to pick up and drop off friends and family. Changing the street to two-way would increase disruption during those times, she cited.
Staggs went on to say that when an entrepreneur looks to lease or buy on Second Street, they do so knowing the traffic pattern.
Other criticisms of the change include that there's more likely to be vehicle conflict over the right of way as the intersection of Paint Street and Second Street would become a three-way stop, the removal of parking spaces and concerns over delivery truck drivers on a two-way street.
Since 2018, the Second Street project has been passed back and forth between multiple city council committees or disappeared from the limelight as city officials searched for funding. Although some money has since been appropriated in the 2020 budget, it does not mean the project is approved.
First, council must vote and accept all aspects of the plan like proposed signage. It's likely the legislation will appear on the council's agenda next Monday, Aug. 24 where it will go through three reads before voting.
Chillicothe City Council meets at 7 p.m. every second and fourth Monday. Because of COVID-19, council is not meeting in-person. Community members can watch the meetings on Facebook Live or can contact their representatives for more information on how to participate.
Have a story tip or comment? Contact Toria at tbarnhart@gannett.com or 740-349-1106. Follow her on Twitter @ToriaBarnhart.
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August 18, 2020 at 08:55PM
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Chillicothe City Council to vote on Second Street conversion project - Chillicothe Gazette
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