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HomeMy WebLinkAboutFAX Oman noticeCity of Little Rock Department of Planning and DevelopenentPlanning 723 West Markham Zoning andSubdivision Little Rock, Arkansas 72201-1334 (501) 371-4790 DATE: TO: COMPANY: FAX COVER SHEET Umv�p.&-, FAX NUMBER: -7; a - '-i% (e,5 PHONE NUMBER: r FROM: klA'4 IA DIVISION: FAX NUMBER: (501) 399-3435 PHONE NUMBER: (501) 3 r !- Ll"? P9 TOTAL NUMBER OF PAGES INCLUDING COVER SHEET: COMMENTS: DATE,TIME FAX NO. /NA14E DURATION PAGE (S) RESULT MOUE TRANSMISSION VERIFICATION REPORT 023/09 7.1:03 937?.4765 00:01:17 03 Dw STAB DARD ECM TIME : 03/09/2012 11:04 TO: MEMORANDUM Walter Malone, Little Rock Planning Department FROM: Robert Voyles DATE: February 13, 2012 SUBJECT: Adding the Chester Street Bridge to the Master Street Plan The North Little Rock Planning Commission has voted to support an amendment of our City's Master Street Plan adding a new bridge to the Master Street Plan that would connect Riverfront Drive at or near Karrot Street on the north bank and Chester Street on the south bank. Arguments for such a bridge are many. The transportation models of the region have long indicated the need for an additional bridge crossing in the downtown area to distribute traffic and to serve future needs. Recently, our Mayor asked for the Commission's recommendation on the proposed bridge. A primary concern is the economic impact that the region will experience with the loss of the Broadway Bridge. This bridge serves many trips and carries twice the traffic as compared to the Main Street Bridge. The Main Street Bridge is not constructed to be a high volume facility as the downtown revitalization success of both River Market and the historic Argenta area have become pedestrian centers and not designed for excessively large volumes. The expansion of the State House Convention Center has reduced the capacity on the south by routing two-way traffic onto Scott. On the North, Main Street was modified to two way traffic to generate a more livable and special purpose place. Today, that area is becoming a special destination place for people and the proposed Chester Street Bridge would allow for traffic to be route to Pike Avenue, a major commuter route rather than forcing more commuter traffic through the core downtown. A Chester Street Bridge would then support livability issues for both sides of the river. The AHTD anticipates that replacement of the Broadway Bridge will take approximately two years but we anticipate construction to take three years. This is a very long time to be without a major river crossing and the congestion will likely cause investment decisions to be redirected to locations further from the urban core. The second major concern is the economic impact the loss of the Broadway Bridge will have on the region. The AHTD as being in a state of "design obsolescence" and will be demolished in 2012 or 2013. In addition, the State has indicated the need to replace the 1-30 Bridge after reconstruction of the Broadway Bridge. An additional bridge crossing would provide some relief and means to redirect traffic to alternate routes. The addition of the Chester Street Bridge is most justified as a relief facility during the removal of both the Broadway Bridge and the I-30 River Bridge. Minyard, Brian From: Minyard, Brian Sent: Friday, March 09, 2012 11:19 AM To: Minyard, Brian; Bozynski, Tony; Matthews, Meg Subject: RE: Press message I faxed a copy of the memo from north little rock planning to Noel Oman at the Demo gazette. Brian Minyard, AICP bminyard@littlerock.org (501) 371-4789 fax (501) 399-3435 Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail. From: Minyard, Brian Sent: Friday, March 09, 2012 8:38 AM To: Bozynski, Tony; Matthews, Meg Subject: Press message I returned a message to Noel with the Democrat Gazette. I left him a message referring him to our website and told him if he wanted some quotes to call Metroplan. I told him the Staff person handling that item was out of the office today (Walter is out). Brian Minyard, AICP bminyard@littlerock.org (501)371-4789 fax (501) 399-3435 Please consider the environment before printing this e-mail.