MOUNT VERNON — On Monday, city council members heard the recommendations stemming from a recent traffic study in the downtown area. Michael Hobbs of the GPD Group said the results were based on creating a plan that would function with drivers’ current habits as well as move truck traffic away from the downtown area.
City Engineer Brian Ball said the study built on the concept started in 2004 of rerouting truck traffic from around Public Square. The study included a traffic count for downtown intersections during peak traffic, an origin and destination study of drivers, previous results from Richland Engineering, and resident feedback from two public meetings in addition to the public meeting held by the Area Development Foundation. All of that information was then fed into a computer model.
The plan that came to the forefront involves eliminating the splits on routes 13 and 229, continuing the Sandusky Street corridor project south to merge with Phillips Drive, developing Sandusky Street into two-way traffic, reconfiguring South Main Street at the viaduct, and slightly rerouting southbound traffic on South Main Street.
Route 13
- Southbound trucks will take South Sandusky Street to South Main Street at the viaduct and continue out of the city on 13, 586, or 661. (South Sandusky Street will be extended south, curve around the current AMVETS property, and merge with Phillips Drive.)
- Northbound trucks will turn from South Main Street onto a redeveloped, two-way South Sandusky Street, cross High Street, and continue out of the city on the current Route 13.
Route 229
- Eastbound trucks entering the city via West High Street will turn right onto South Sandusky Street, travel to Gambier Street, turn left (east) on Gambier Street, and continue out of the city.
- Westbound trucks entering the city via East Gambier Street will continue to South Sandusky Street, turn north on South Sandusky, left (west) on High Street, and continue out of the city.
- Trucks entering from the south side heading east on 229 will travel to the viaduct on routes 13/586, continue around the curve to Gay Street, and then turn right on Gambier Street. The viaduct curve will become one lane of traffic, probably 5 mph, to provide the turning radius the trucks need.
- Trucks entering from the south side heading to westbound 229 will catch Sandusky Street at the viaduct, travel to High Street, and then turn left (west) on High Street.
South Main Street
- Southbound traffic will travel to Ohio Avenue, turn right on Ohio Avenue to Mulberry Street, and then turn left onto Mulberry Street to South Sandusky Street. A traffic light will be installed at the intersection of Mulberry and South Sandusky streets.
- Northbound traffic will turn slightly onto South Sandusky Street, then turn right onto South Main Street.
Ball said the proposed rerouting will not eliminate all of the truck traffic around Public Square, but it will eliminate a good portion stemming from routes 13 and 229. Remaining truck traffic around the square and on Gay Street would involve trucks from routes 13 and 229 that are connecting to routes 3 or 36.
Mayor Richard Mavis said the development of South Sandusky Street to handle two-way traffic involves acquisition of property. He has already spoken with representatives for Holmes Tire, AMVETS, Dominoes, and Duke Oil. The South Sandusky Street curve as it approaches South Main Street will be 25 mph.
Ball did not have a time frame for the rerouting and development of South Sandusky Street, noting that it partly depends on council’s decision whether to proceed with the whole project at once or in stages. Hobbs said that it is easier to get the Ohio Department of Transportation’s involvement if it is done as a whole project. ODOT safety funds and ODOT’s small cities program, which allocates up to a $2 million cap, would then be available.
The improvement project lies within the South Sandusky Street TIF District (Tax Increment Financing), so the city can use TIF funds for the redevelopment. Mavis said that, similar to the Coshocton Avenue improvement project, the city would finance the project and use TIF funds to repay the loan as TIF money is generated.
Ball will have a resolution ready for the next council meeting authorizing him to proceed with the next stage of design work. The next stage will provide more details as to cost, time frame, and scope.
City officials plan a public hearing in a month or so to explain the proposal to residents. Ball said that the proposal will work in conjunction with recommendations stemming from the downtown study done by the ADF.
The ADF’s plan also takes into account streetscapes, beautification, and creating a “welcome” for visitors to the city. Jeff Harris, ADF president, will present that plan to council in the next few weeks.
In other business, council:
- Gave a second reading to legislation appointing the city’s representatives to the Regional Planning Commission. Councilman Chris Menapace reiterated his position that the appointments should be separate pieces of legislation vs. all in one piece. Councilwoman Nancy Vail restated her opposition to separating the legislation, stating that if RPC representation was separate legislation so, too, should all other legislation only have one item.
- Passed as emergencies five resolutions authorizing the safety-service director to sell/trade in equipment no longer needed and buy replacement equipment
- Passed as an emergency an ordinance amending the property maintenance code
- Postponed the ordinance establishing a vacant property registry for commercial structures to the May 13 meeting. Council will hold a public hearing on April 8 and a committee meeting on April 22 to further discuss the registry.
- Authorized bill payment and appropriations. Appropriations include $343,475 from the Ariel Foundation for the tree program, $6,971.68 in grant money for the MERIT drug program, and $3,500 from unappropriated funds for K-9 expenses.
In a Parks and Lands Committee meeting, council discussed renaming Field No. 1 at Phillips Park in honor of Army Pfc. Ryan Martin. Kyle Theibert submitted the petition requesting the designation.
Martin, a 2000 graduate of Mount Vernon High School, served in the Army National Guard and was killed in action in Iraq on Aug. 20, 2004. In his petition, Theibert wrote, “Ryan lived his life with honor and is a great role model for children in the community.” Martin played three years of Little League at Phillips Park.
The city’s recreation board approved the renaming of the field, which is currently named for Paul Slaughter. Plans call for a permanent plaque or marker to include Slaughter’s and Martin’s names. Future honorees will be added to the plaque.
