City Council Minutes 2019 01 08 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

City Council Meeting Minutes January 8, 2019 Page 5 of 8 Mayor Pro Tem Lipton stated he also supports the five -lane design We are being overwhelmed by regional traffic and it is already a problem that will only get worse He asked if Pine Street could be addressed in the short to medium -term Director Kowar stated we are constrained at that location The signal was recently upgraded to have more adaptive timing and it continues to be monitored but it won't make the traffic backup disappear there. Councilmember Stolzmann stated she would like the Cannon Street signal removed from the plan, she supports five -lanes, and she likes the multi -use path to remove bikes from the highway She stated she doesn't know if it is in our best interest to put the Tight at Short or Griffith Griffith has access across the tracks and that may be the superior location. She is concerned that we make the right choice on this. Councilmember Maloney stated he also supports five -lanes and he wants us to think long-term He would like to have discussions of what the future priorities are for the corridor He agreed there should be some discussion of whether Short or Griffith is the best location for the signal as it is likely to be the only one we are allowed Mayor Muckle asked if Griffith could be considered this year Director Kowar stated this would be changing many years of planning and moving the signal would require policy changes, reaching out to stakeholders, and redesign work. It would take some time, possibly two years. Mayor Muckle noted there has been development built in the area based on having a light at Short and this does serve that neighborhood more centrally There is retail at that location Short is a better place to enter the combined sports complex if it happens. This location is the one we have spent the money and time to design He would like to discuss full movement at Griffith with CDOT Councilmember Loo agreed with the Mayor She noted alternatively it might be helpful to have a signal with full movement on a street that is not affected by the railroad such as Short. She agreed the five -lane option is preferable and the Short signal should be designed to accomodate this. Councilmember Stolzmann stated we need to be fully aware that making this decision likely precludes other lights in the corridor She stated any underpass will have to compete with many other request for underpasses throughout the City She added a rail station will likely not fit in this area any longer with the current development so that should not be used as an argument for the signal in that location Councilmember Keany agreed the underpasses will need to be prioritized with all the other projects in the Transportation Master Plan