Agenda Item # 7
Columbus Consolidated Government
Council Meeting
05/27/2014
Agenda Report # 127
TO: Mayor and Council
SUBJECT: Columbus Alternative Transportation Plan
INITIATED BY: Planning Department
Recommendation: Adopt the Columbus Alternative Transportation Study as the
official document to guide the development of alternative transportation in the
community.
Background: The Columbus Alternative Transportation Study began in the
Summer of 2012 in response to the implementation of majority of projects
proposed in the previous Alternative Transportation Study for the City, created
in 1993. The new study was developed to satisfy a number of functions
including: documenting the community's desire for continued investment in
alternative transportation opportunities; preparation of technical analyses to
determine areas where alternative transportation investment is most critical;
consideration of policies that Columbus can pursue to encourage more use of
alternative transportation; and, develop project recommendations that leverage
and expand existing alternative transportation system. This study / plan
defines alternative transportation users as pedestrians, bicyclists, and
transit riders.
Analysis: United Research Services (URS), the consultants for this study, has
recommended sixty-eight (68) potential projects which include several low cost,
high-impact improvements. These proposed projects will add an additional
132.20 miles of pedestrian amenities (including sidewalks, road diets, and
trails) and 148.76 miles of bicycle amenities (including bike lanes, sharrows
(street marking's indicating where vehicles must share the road with bicyclists
and trails). These plan recommendations are made with the understanding that
funding constraints, changing priorities, changes in the built environment over
time, and challenges in implementing particular projects make it unlikely that
every project recommended will be built or built as suggested.
Financial Considerations: The recommendations in the plan will be implemented
as part of the Long Range Transportation Plan and as funding opportunities
become available.
Projected Annual Fiscal Impact Statement: Projects contained in this study for
funding will be reviewed on an annual or as needed basis. Funding sources will
have to be identified and approval sought from Council prior to the commitment
of any project for construction.
Legal Considerations: There are no legal considerations at this time in
adopting this study.
Recommendations/ Actions: The Planning Department recommends approval of the
Columbus Alternative Transportation Plan.
A RESOLUTION
NO. _______
A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE ADOPTION OF THE ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN.
WHEREAS, the Planning Department, acting as the Columbus-Phenix City
Transportation Study/Metropolitan Planning Organization (C-PCTS/MPO),
contracted with URS Consulting Firm to conduct a Alternative Transportation
Study for Columbus; and,
WHEREAS, the Alternative Transportation Plan is a long-range planning document
with sixty-eight (68) proposed projects that include an additional 132.20 miles
of pedestrian amenities (including sidewalks, road diets, and trails) and
148.76 miles of bicycle amenities (including bike lanes, sharrows (street
marking's indicating where vehicles must share the road with bicyclists and
trails); and,
WHEREAS, the plan does not commit the City Council to a funding timeline and
the recommendations in the plan will be implemented as funding opportunities
become available.
NOW, THEREFORE, THE COUNCIL OF COLUMBUS, GEORGIA, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
That Council of the Columbus Consolidated Government hereby adopts the Columbus
Alternative Transportation Plan as the official plan for alternative
transportation needs within the community.
________________
Introduced at a regular meeting of the Council of Columbus, Georgia, held
the _________ day of _____________, 2014 and adopted at said meeting by the
affirmative vote of _____________ members of said Council.
Councilor Allen voting __________.
Councilor Henderson voting __________.
Councilor Huff voting __________.
Councilor McDaniel voting __________.
Councilor Turner Pugh voting __________.
Councilor Woodson voting __________.
_____________________________
_________________________
Tiny B. Washington, Clerk of Council , Mayor
Attachments
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