Columbus, Georgia

Agenda Item # 1



Columbus Consolidated Government



Council Meeting



09/20/2005



Agenda Report # 34



TO: Mayor and Council



SUBJECT: Cherokee Avenue: 3-lane roadway



INITIATED BY: Department of Engineering







Recommendation: Approval is requested to convert Cherokee Avenue from

the existing 4-lane roadway to a 3-lane roadway with a bike/pedestrian lane

along the west side between Garrard Street and Camille Drive. The Columbus

Water Works will be doing work in this area beginning in middle or late October

2005. The work will take 3 weeks from the time they begin until the time they

are out of the area of Cherokee where re-striping is proposed. Therefore, we

recommend to begin the re-striping in early November 2005.



Background: The City analyzed requests from motorists using Cherokee

Avenue to protect from accident involving vehicles crashing into Weracoba

Creek. The Engineering Department analyzed several options determining that

the installation of guardrail along the west side of Cherokee Avenue would

provide the best alternative to keep errant vehicles out of the creek. This

proposal was not acceptable to residents in this area.



Analysis: Therefore, a public information meeting was advertised inviting

residents/motorists to attend on Monday, August 29, 2005 at the St Elmo

cafeteria. The City Manager listened to the communities concerns and

recommendations. Based on this meeting and other recommendations, the City

Manager recommends the re-striping of Cherokee Avenue to a 3-lane roadway with

a bike/pedestrian lane along the west side between Garrard Street and Camille

Drive. Additional, traffic control will include the installation of an

Intersection Flasher at Cherokee Avenue and Slade Drive plus realigning Camille

Drive with Cherokee Avenue using a stop sign. All of the improvements will be

installed and analyzed for a one (1) year period to determine if a 3-lane will

operate better than a 4-lane roadway.



Financial Considerations: This conversion will cost between $25,000 and $30,000.



Legal Considerations: Council is the approving authority for all resolution.



Recommendations/ Actions: Approval is requested of a resolution authoring the

Engineering Department to convert Cherokee Avenue from the existing 4-lane

roadway to a 3-lane roadway with a bike/pedestrian lane along the west side

between Garrard Street and Camille Drive.