Option W: N. Washington Street Project Location: one block of North Washington Street, between West Broad Street and Park Avenue Description: upgrades to existing lighting new brick sidewalk to replace existing concrete new accessible curb ramps, curb extensions and a marked crossing at Park Place additional marked crossing at Park Avenue Cost: $160,000
Option B: W. Broad Street Project Location: two blocks of West Broad Street, between North Washington Street and Little Falls Street Description: upgrade to existing lighting (convert to LED and refurbish poles) new sidewalk brick pavers, as needed replant tree pits refresh crosswalks (thermoplastic markings) new conduit for electric and/or fiber optic in the utility strip sidewalk weed removal and pressure washing
three of the signal mast arms at Washington/Broad will be replaced o one existing NE mast arm has been damaged by a vehicle and will be replaced o two existing mast arms on the south side of the intersection are not the City standard decorative mast arms and would be replaced Cost: $506,000
Option S: LED Street Light Conversion Location: West Broad Street from Little Falls to Haycock Description: streetlight refurbishment (painting/part replacements) conversion to LED of the approximately 80 existing City streetlights depending upon contractor availability (i.e., number of crews available), may add 4 months to the work schedule Cost: $150,000
DOWNTOWN REINVESTMENT OPTIONS Notes from Meeting with Downtown Businesses January 9, 2015 Option W Comments: Can the median on N. Washington St. be removed or narrowed to create space to widen the sidewalk on the east side of the street? Staff s answered that the median could be removed, and along with a few other adjustments, could gain perhaps 2-4 feet of sidewalk. There was no consensus that a tradeoff of median for sidewalk space is preferable. Option B Comments: Do not replace the City trees any time soon. The trees are now reaching a size where business signage is less obscured. The VPIS investment of $10,000 several years ago for flowers and shrubs in sidewalk planters has mostly died due to inadequate maintenance. A replacement solution is needed for this and other lost landscaping. Roses planted on City streetscape at the far west end of Broad Street have been hardy and may be a solution for planters in the 100 and 200 blocks of W. Broad Street. Can holes be punched in the existing Broad Street planters to improve drainage? Staff s answer was yes. Install hose bibs and electrical outlets with lock boxes in the utility strip on Broad Street. Option S Comments: Double-headed LED lights could help with better lighting of sidewalks and provide better street lighting. Additional Ideas: Support was expressed again for double-headed street lights. Improve all pedestrian crossings at Washington and Broad intersection.
o Improve street markings. o Consider bump outs. o Consider pedestrian islands. o Install extra lighting on signal poles. Install and improve crosswalks at Park Ave. and Washington. Another crosswalk to/from the State Theatre and Park Ave. is needed. Beautify the Washington and Broad intersection, perhaps with public art on southeast and southwest corners such as Virginia s traveling LOVE sculpture. Gary LaPorta s compass image on the pavement in the center of the intersection is another creative idea to consider. Encourage the installation of murals on building walls that flank the City s mini-park and at other locations downtown. Create festival space downtown. The mini-park is a prime location for that. Fund other improvements to the mini-park, including electricity and water. Install decorative bike racks throughout the downtown. Install street trees on Park Ave. in the 100 and 200 blocks. Install street furniture throughout the downtown. Install some electric parking meters on City streets to test the concept of paid public parking. Install more and better directional signage for public parking. Paint all pedestrian street crossings and refresh the paint frequently. Investigate creative use of thermoplastics (different colors, patterns, etc.) to illustrate increased pedestrian intensity areas. Install larger and better signs at City entranceways and which feature the Little City logo. Move the Farmers Market nearer to downtown businesses. Consider Little Falls St. between Broad and Park as a new location. Study the expense of a shuttle to/from the downtown and Metro stations.
Install and maintain planters on light poles with accessible and permanent watering systems. Time expired at the meeting without a formal ranking of priorities. However, the additional items most discussed and supported by comments from representatives of business interests were: physical and aesthetic improvements to the Broad and Washington intersection; crosswalks at Park and Washington; improved markings for other pedestrian crosswalks; better lighting for traffic and pedestrians; pedestrian amenities and bike facilities; improved directional signage ; public art; and festival and special activity space built into or closer to the central downtown area. Downtown Business Feedback, 010915a Additional Feedback from Mike Novotny, Next Pages.