By Cheryl Splain, KnoxPages.com Reporter
MOUNT VERNON — City Council adopted legislation on Monday night authorizing an assessment of the traffic pattern on the Coshocton Avenue corridor, but not before the topic sparked a bit of controversy in a Finance and Budget Committee meeting.
The city will contract with E.P. Ferris and Associates to assess Coshocton Avenue from Vernonview Drive west to the intersection of Eastgate and Highland drives, with close attention in and around the entrance to the Plaza shopping center. “I don’t think anyone is happy with how the state handled the perceived problems out there,” said Councilman Sam Barone, referring to the safety improvements the Ohio Department of Transportation completed.
Noting that ODOT improved the safety of the corridor but not necessarily traffic conveyance, City Engineer Brian Ball said the goal is to look to the future. The assessment will include a traffic count and forecast for usage of the road through 2027, a look at the drainage and erosion of Adams Run in front of Chipotle, signal timing and how to divert traffic from neighborhood streets such as Teryl and Marita drives. The road will not be widened; the goal is to make better use of the pavement already there.
Ball said the assessment will cost $48,900. Councilwoman Nancy Vail questioned the need to spend the money on another assessment when one has already been done. “Who did [the first assessment]?” she asked. “They owe us in a sense because it’s not been successful.”
Vail also objected to the request to suspend the required three readings and pass the legislation as an emergency. She said the subject required another in-depth committee meeting, not simply a 15-minute meeting, and suggested the administration take more bids on the consulting job rather than simply choosing E.P. Ferris. She also mentioned realigning the striping before having an assessment done.
Ball said the previous assessment was done from a safety perspective, not efficiency. He said it would cost about $200,000 to move traffic signals, grind off the striping, repave and remark the road. ODOT plans to pave the road in 2017; since the mill work, paving and striping is already part of ODOT’s project, the city would be spending money on something ODOT is already going to do. The plan is to complete the assessment in 60 to 80 days, analyze the results, come up with a plan and synchronize the plan with ODOT’s paving. He also said that fixing/expanding the Adams Run culvert is about a $100,000 project and it is important to have an assessment done prior to spending that much money.
Councilman John Booth agreed with having an assessment done but said part of the study should include lowering the speed limit from 35 mph to 25 mph. Mayor Richard Mavis said there has been a reduction in the number of accidents since ODOT completed its safety project. “You would significantly impede the flow of traffic if you changed the speed,” said Ball, adding that ODOT’s improvements were designed with a 35 mph speed in mind.
Council waived the required three readings and adopted the legislation by unanimous votes.