APPENDIX I

Additional Comments and Coordination

WRANGELL ROAD AND UTILITY IMPROVEMENTS

OPEN HOUSE MEETINGS

May 11, 2009

NOTES

PRESENTATION OVERVIEW

The 35 percent design drawings were presented at two separate open houses on Monday, May 11, 2009 at the Nolan Center in Wrangell, Alaska. The first open house was for business and adjacent property owners from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. The second was for the general public from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. The two open houses were identical in format and had the following drawings available for review:

Two copies of an aerial map of the existing project limits.

Two copies of the “Roadway Layout” that featured the proposed curb line, parking configurations, and the proposed streetscape design.

A “Utility Layout” that showed the existing and proposed water, sewer and storm drain alignments.

A “Streetscape Layout” that showed both the proposed streetscape design and a future streetscape alternative.

Steve Noble (DOWL HKM), Toby Lockhart (DOWL HKM), and Chris Mertl (Jensen Yorba Lott) were available to listen to comments, field questions, discuss the project, and explain the design rationale. Comment forms were available and participants at the open house were encouraged to record their input. A number of comments were transcribed directly on the presentation drawings and are summarized as follows:

Business/Adjacent Property Owners’ Open House

Roadway Layout Drawing

Steve Cole of Stikine Drug had the following comments:

o Remove the designated handicap stall in front of his business.

o Do not restrict alley traffic to one-way only.

o Move fire hydrant to the crosswalk bulb-out.

Sewer odor problems were noted at Lot 1A of Block 5, and Lot 4B of Block 4.

A mountable curb is preferred at Lot 8 of Block 4, but a parking stall is okay in front of the alley.

Wrangell Road and Utilities Improvements Open House Meeting Notes - May 11, 2009 July 2, 2009 Page 2

Sue Callbreath, owner of the Diamond “C” Café, was in favor of the handicap stall shown in front of her business.

It was suggested that the City and Borough of Wrangell buy Lot 17 of Block 5A and turn it into a parking lot or park.

A drainage problem was noted at Lot 12C of Block 5.

The City Market off-street parking lot entrance needs to be able to handle trucks with containers.

A drainage problem was noted at Lots 10, 11, and 18 of Block 6.

Angled parking was suggested across from Rayme’s Bar. It was also noted that the small gated entrance to the shipyard is seldom used and parking could possibly be added there.

Concern was expressed that truck/trailer movements through the Mckinnon Street intersection may be limited by the proposed curb line.

Utility Layout Drawing

The following comments/concerns were recorded in the vicinity of Angerman’s Inc.:

o Buildings on both sides of alley have sewer gas problems. How can we stop this problem? How big is the sanitary sewer? The odor is the strongest in front of the buildings between April and September.

o Storm drain currently runs off back of buildings, flows into sumps and is pumped into the sanitary sewer. Can it be re-routed to the storm drain?

o A big icing problem was noted in the winter.

o Can the sanitary sewer be re-routed to the alley?

o Need to retain curb-cut for the alley.

Tim Buness had the following comments/questions:

o Roof drains are tied into the sanitary sewer. Can these be fixed?

o Check the property lines between Lots 3, 4, and 4A of Block 2.

The northwest corner of the McKinnon Street intersection has an icing problem in the winter.

The alley next to Ottesen’s Hardware needs to remain open for a loading door.

There are plans to construct a carving shed on Lots 15 and 16 of Block 5A. No driveways will be needed.

Streetscape Layout Drawing

Build “pocket-park” at the City Pier turnaround as part of this project.

Demolish vacant building next to First Bank ATM and build a park.

Wrangell Road and Utilities Improvements Open House Meeting Notes - May 11, 2009 July 2, 2009 Page 3

Like bulb-out at southeast corner of Campbell Drive in front of Ottesen’s Hardware building.

Verify trailer turning movements into City Market off-street parking lot.

Use mountable curb instead of driveway cut at new Bay Company building. Not sure about landscaping in front of new store.

Is the driveway needed for the smaller shipyard gate?

Like the idea to plant street trees on private property.

General Public Open House

Roadway Layout Drawing

It was asked that the construction be phased if necessary so as to ensure the work from the City Pier through the business district is completed first (and by the end of the 2010 construction season).

There was some discussion about raising the Lynch Street intersection to match the sidewalk grade to be consistent with future plans for Lynch Street.

Suggestion was made to move the crosswalk near St. Michael’s Street either closer to St. Michael’s Street or closer to the City Market.

Mountable curb is desired throughout the length of the Sentry Hardware parking lot.

Utility Layout Drawing

No comments were recorded.

Streetscape Layout Drawing

Like the extended bulb-out in front of Stikine Drug (as proposed in the future/alternative streetscape design).

Add flashing light at the alley next to Stikine Drug

Include:

o Bike racks

o Good parking signs

o Ornamental pedestrian lighting

o Lighted trees

In addition to the comments that were transcribed on the drawings, the project team also met with the public one-on-one to discuss the project and the following is a summary of what was discussed. It is not intended to be a verbatim record of all the questions and answers:

Benn Curtis (City Market owner) and Chet Powell (General Manager) expressed their concerns with the proposed parallel parking in front of the City Market to Steve Noble

Wrangell Road and Utilities Improvements Open House Meeting Notes - May 11, 2009 July 2, 2009 Page 4

and Toby Lockhart (DOWL HKM). The main issue was the loss of several parking stalls as a result of the design change from perpendicular stalls. DOWL HKM explained that parallel parking would be the safest option in front of the City Market in light of the narrow ROW, and that perpendicular or angled parking would require either an easement or property acquisition. After a lengthy discussion it was decided to have a follow up meeting to see if a compromise could be reached on the parking configuration. Two other issues were also raised and agreed upon at the open house. First, that the width of the curb cut for the City Market off-street parking lot would be increased to handle intermediate semitrailers; and second, that the proposed curb cuts in front of Sentry Hardware would be removed and a mountable curb would be used throughout the length of the parking lot.

Chet Powell, Jr. (Bay Company) expressed his concern over the parking configuration in front of the new Bay Company building to Toby Lockhart (DOWL HKM) and Chris Mertl (JYL). Chet would like to see the proposed bulb-out in front of his new store removed in order to create more parking. The necessity of the bulb-out was questioned because the 15-foot ROW adjacent to his lot (across from Episcopal Street) does not constitute a full-fledged intersection. It was explained that the bulb-out is desirable for protecting sight distances, and shortening the length of the crosswalk. There was some discussion regarding what streetscape elements would be used if the bulb-out remained. It was agreed that further discussions would be necessary.

There was also discussion about the Federal Way and Stikine Avenue intersection. There was concern that the concrete “island” between the two streets may have to be pulled back to allow vehicles to make a 160-degree right-turn from Federal Way onto Stikine Avenue, and vice-versa.

J70112.Open House Mtg Notes.051109.DNB.070209.tla.mas

35% Design Comments(as of July 7, 2009)

ID: 2642 id: 7882 Parent: 0

Re: road planning for bicycle access downtown and bicycle safety.  I asked two of the city managers, Carl Johnson, and Carol Rushmore about whether there had been any discussion related to bicycles included in the planning for improvements to the streets and sidewalks in Wrangell.  They said there hadn't been.  I have been using a bicycle as a primary means of  getting around in Wrangell, for about 30 years.  Wrangell is very easy to do minor daily chores in, by bicycle.  The only safety margin is the low traffic volume, forgiving vehicle drivers, and alleys and parking lots, that allow a person on a bicycle to dodge the broken pavement, chipped curbs, sunken grates, missing water main covers and other perils. I made an effort to balance this subjective view of mine by counting the bicycles in plain sight in Wrangell, these were on lawns, leaning against houses, at the schools and in one afternoon I counted 403 bicycles.  It would seem that at least 1/4 of the population of Wrangell could be interested in bicycle access, and in sidewalk and road planning related to bicycle safety. Is there some way to have this included in the ongoing plans? For instance the sidewalk bulges now marked out at the ends of each block, push a bicycle rider out into traffic, because most bicycles are riding the curb, and the inevitable breakage and destruction of those extensions from trying to clear snow is going to make it hard to get the snow away from sidewalks and create more chipped curb edges.

5/28/2009

ID: 2645 id: 7878 Parent: 0

(comment received via email)  To Whom It May Concern,  I have a few comments and suggestions on Wrangell's Downtown Revitalization Project. As a citizen of Wrangell Island for over 25 years I am very happy with Wrangell's authentic downtown and how it caters to Wrangellites, not just tourists. Recently, I had a visitor ask me if we appreciated Wrangell's downtown and its stores. So, my point is, 'if it's not broken don't fix it.' The proposed bulb‐outs would be great in a city with more room on their roads, but they don't fit in Wrangell. I would love to see a bike path, however, that also wouldn't fit in our downtown with the space we have available.  I would also like to mention I am an avid gardener and love plants and trees. However, there is a place for them and I don't believe they are in the street where it will make it difficult to turn corners, remove snow and limit parking. My positive alternative to the bulb‐outs would be to see plant hanging poles, similar to the gorgeous ones in Petersburg. They are very beautiful and don't take up any road space.  Further, since I do love plants and trees and would like to see more, not less parking downtown, I suggest Jitterbugs' land be bought and turned into a combination park and parking lot. I think this would be a tremendous opportunity for the downtown area to make it feel more open and spacious. As well as highlight the Museum from Front St.   This would really revitalize downtown, add parking, flowers and a meeting place. Even if there is not enough money to fully develop the lot at this time, even just clearing it and adding gravel until further funds become available for picnic tables or benches, etc.  And last but not least, please do not change City Market's parking!   Like I mentioned before, if it works, don't try to fix it. And it has been working ever since I have been here and long before. I love shopping at City Market (they have the BEST produce!) and out of respect to the owners let's listen to their desires. This is a very old family run business and they deserve not only to be listened to, but also to not have their business hampered in any way!  Any questions please feel free to contact me. Thank‐you for taking my comments and suggestions into account.

5/22/2009

ID: 2650 id: 7873 Parent: 0

I was driving the main St. & noticed the markings of the so called bump‐outs.  These are described as places as beauty for trees & shrubs. I frankly see nothing except loss of parking & hazards going around corners.  I can't imagine a business owner being very happy about losing parking by his business. I do not like these at all and don't see the necessity of them.

5/16/2009

Tuesday, July 07, 2009 Page 1 of 5

ID: 2651 id: 7869 Parent: 0

The parking across the street from Rayme's Bar cannot be taken away. The way that it is now is the way it should stay. If you move the parking lot to the way you want you will take away over 3/4's of my parking. If you put it at an angle I will lose maybe 2 or 3 spots. Please don't take away anymore parking from me.

5/14/2009

ID: 2652 id: 7868 Parent: 0

‐ Like the parking by NAPA store  ‐ Like the round‐a‐bout idea  ‐ Would like to see the entire lot behind the NAPA store black‐topped to keep down the dust and the mud  ‐ Not sure at all about parallel parking by City Market. I think it's going to be a disaster.

5/14/2009

ID: 2657 id: 7867 Parent: 0

Thank you for the opportunity to comment. I don't oppose the bulb outs. Good idea! There will be "0" maintenance of any shrubs or trees; save the money, please don't do it. Please revisit your plan to add additional parking obviously without blocking driveways. The city should buy Wilcox's property and make it a parking lot. Please also consider offering Ann Armstrong a reasonable price for 30' of her property next to Arrowhead Transfer to allow more parking at the south end of the street. At the very least look again at the property in front of Arrowhead which has a sidewalk the full length. Parking should be allowed on that side of Main St. as well. Looking forward to project and please begin 7/5/10 and end the following year which ever year you decide on (We need our street together for our 4th project). I like the trash cans and parallel parking should not be used at City Mkt to the boat yard gates.

5/14/2009

ID: 2662 id: 7866 Parent: 0

Gateway Park ‐‐ like this ‐‐ could be included in this phase? I have no problem with the bump outs, even those in "purple"; seems that any parking lost is made up for in safety and "beauty".  I really like as much "green" as possible!   The extra bump outs by Stikine Drug would be nice for them as a place to put their "cafe tables" AND make a wider place for folks to congregate during 4th of July and other festivities.  I like the "human scale" street lights...preferably with some character ("gas lamp" look?)  I like the idea of "dressed up" crosswalks (cobble look or different color?)

5/14/2009

Tuesday, July 07, 2009 Page 2 of 5

ID: 2668 id: 7865 Parent: 0

Please start construction at the City Dock end of town. We are trying to attract another cruise ship & we've been waiting for this project to finish. We need to tell them something new is done in Wrangell. Also, please do something to fix the parking in front of City Market. It is very dangerous as it is now. I favor the parallel parking as an alternative. I am also in favor of as many landscaping ideas as possible, such as flower baskets, trees, lamp poles, etc.

5/14/2009

ID: 2672 id: 7864 Parent: 0

Keep the bumpouts; they are a safety factor, they need to stay.  2nd biggest land owner ‐‐ like the plans. Keep it up.

5/14/2009

ID: 2675 id: 7863 Parent: 0

Flashing lights to warn pedestrians of vehicles coming down alley.  Parallel parking in front of City Market/Bay Company  Where is the Xmas tree going?  Like the alternative plan  Makes good first impression

5/14/2009

ID: 2680 id: 7862 Parent: 0

I like the base plan! Bumpouts and trees will look good. 6" curbs will be much safer. You need to evaluate handicapped parking spots carefully.  More crosswalk by City Market, closer to door of City Market. Look into how senior van & taxis pick up and drop off folks at City Market.  I'm so glad to see benches included!  The turnaround by the visitor shelter is a great idea!

5/14/2009

Tuesday, July 07, 2009 Page 3 of 5

ID: 2686 id: 7861 Parent: 0

Do away with the way parking is in front of City Market. It is too dangerous. Parallel parking would be okay. Perhaps drivethrough from Silvernail to make their parking easy access.  Bike racks  Places for some flowers  Maybe some design in the sidewalks or crosswalks

5/14/2009

ID: 2691 id: 7860 Parent: 0

Like/need bike racks  Downtown needs trees  Move sewer dump station on lot 4A to ___? Use the one at Shoemaker. Downtown not the spot (next to a bar/restaurant) and it doesn't or isn't kept clean.

5/14/2009

ID: 2695 id: 7859 Parent: 0

Need lots of landscaping and poles should have places to hang banners, hanging flower baskets. We need bump outs so this can be done. Wrangell can be a beautiful place for us all to enjoy. We need to attract people to come to Wrangell. This could be one attraction to draw people here. I don't like sterile looking towns.

5/14/2009

ID: 2758 id: 8010 Parent: 0

The cul‐de‐sac at the dock approach and across the road/street from Stikine Inn will work without the center obstacle! We enter the parking lot with tractor trailer loads in excess of 90' long! We NEED all the swing room allowed now ‐‐ mobile home units are 70' long then add another 28' of tractor and it is impossible to clear the center planter/flag display you have planned at Stikine Ave and Front Street.

7/7/2009

Tuesday, July 07, 2009 Page 4 of 5

ID: 2761 id: 8009 Parent: 0

Bulb‐out's Lot 8 & 9 at City Market will inhibit our tractor/trailer approach and exit with containerized freight. Northland Services delivers 5‐7 tractor trailer loads per week and picks up empty containers on Fridays. The parallel parking out front will drive more customers to the side lot which constricts our ability to deliver tractor trailer loads safely into the side parking lot. We strongly advocate angle parking at City Market.

7/7/2009

Tuesday, July 07, 2009 Page 5 of 5

APPENDIX J

Public Hearing Documentation

                             

What:  An Open House to update the public on the planned Front Street construction project  and  Public Hearing  to  discuss  and  obtain  formal  comments  from  the public on the planned Front Street  improvements and potential environmental impacts in downtown Wrangell, Alaska.  

When:  Monday, November 22, 2010 from 6:00‐8:00 PM Presentation at 6:30 PM and Public Hearing at 7:00 PM 

Where:   Nolan Civic Center, 296 Campbell Drive 

A  sign‐up  sheet will be provided  for  those  individuals wishing  to provide oral testimony.    Written  and  oral  comments  will  be  part  of  the  environmental documentation and will help in the environmental decision.  Written comments are requested by December 3, 2010. 

Public Hearing Notice

The  State  of  Alaska  Department  of  Transportation  and  Public Facilities  (DOT&PF),  Federal  Highway Administration  (FHWA),  and  the  Environmental  Protection  Agency  (EPA)  have  approved  for  public distribution,  the  Environmental  Assessment  (EA)  for  proposed  road  and  utility  improvements  along Front  Street  in downtown Wrangell, Alaska.   EPA has  also  released a draft  Finding of No  Significant Impact (FONSI) for this project.  The proposed improvements include widening traffic lanes, resurfacing the  roadway,  improved parking,  improved  traffic  circulation, adding pedestrian amenities, additional lighting,  improvements  to  the  existing  storm  drain  and  water  and  sewer  lines,  as  well  as  other improvements. 

This project has been developed in accordance with the following special purpose regulations including Sections: 4(f) of the Department of Transportation Act; 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, 7 of the Endangered Species Act; and Executive Orders:  11988 (Floodplain Protection); 11990 (Wetlands Protection); and 12898 (Environmental Justice). 

The EA and the EPA’s FONSI will be available for review on November 1, 2010.   The EA describes the alternatives considered and the potential economic, social, and environmental effects, and the project’s consistency with the goals and objectives of such local planning, as has been carried out by the City and Borough of Wrangell.  Anyone may request a copy of the EA by contacting the DOT&PF or DOWL HKM or by accessing  the EA online at www.wrangell.com/projects.   Copies of  the EA are also available  for viewing  at  the  office  of  the  City  and  Borough  of Wrangell  and  at  the  Irene  Ingle  Public  Library  in Wrangell. 

 

Alison Lohrke DOWL HKM 5368 Commercial Boulevard Juneau, Alaska 99801 

Comments may also be submitted via the City and Borough of Wrangell’s website at www.wrangell.com under the Projects tab. 

Persons with a hearing impairment can contact the DOT&PF at our Telephone Device for the Deaf number 465‐3652.   We are also able to offer, upon request, reasonable accommodations for special needs related to disabilities. 

Public Hearing to discuss planned improvements and potential environmental impacts in downtown Wrangell, Alaska

If you cannot attend the Public Hearing and have questions, please contact Alison Lohrke, Public Involvement  Planner, DOWL HKM  at  907‐562‐2000  or  e‐mail  alohrke@dowlhkm.com.   Written comments or oral  testimony may be given at  the Public Hearing, or you  can  send  them  to  the following address by December 3, 2010:        Jane Gendron, Environmental Coordinator   State of Alaska   Department of Transportation & Public Facilities   P.O. Box 112506 

  Juneau, AK 99811‐2506 

Start Date: Nov. 1, 2010 Kill Date: Nov. 22, 2010 Contact: Alison Lohrke Address: DOWL HKM 4041 B Street Anchorage, AK 99503 Phone: 907-562-2000 PUBLIC SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENT

THE DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC FACILITIES AND

CITY AND BOROUGH OF WRANGELL IS HOLDING AN OPEN HOUSE ON THE

PLANNED FRONT STREET CONSTRUCTION AND A PUBLIC HEARING TO

DISCUSS AND OBTAIN FORMAL COMMENTS ON THE FRONT STREET

IMPROVEMENTS AND POTENTIAL ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS IN

DOWNTOWN WRANGELL.

THE MEETING WILL BE HELD ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER TWENTY-SECOND

AT THE NOLAN CIVIC CENTER FROM SIX P.M. TO EIGHT P.M. WITH THE

PRESENTATION BEGINNING AT SIX-THIRTY P.M. AND THE PUBLIC

HEARING BEGINNING AT SEVEN P.M. A SIGN UP SHEET WILL BE PROVIDED

FOR THOSE INDIVIDUALS WISHING TO PROVIDE ORAL TESTIMONY.

WRITTEN AND ORAL COMMENTS WILL BE PART OF THE EVIRONMENTAL

DOCUMENTATION, KNOWN AS THE E-A, AND WILL HELP IN THE

ENVIRONMENTAL DECISION. THE E-A WILL BE AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW

AT THE OFFICE OF THE CITY AND BOROUGH OF WRANGELL, ONLINE AT

WWW.WRANGELL.COM UNDER THE PROJECTS TAB, THE IRENE INGLE

PUBLIC LIBRARY, OR BY CONTACTING THE D-O-T & P-F OR DOWL H-K-M.

WRITTEN COMMENTS WILL BE ACCEPTED UNTIL DECEMBER THIRD, TWO-

THOUSAND-TEN. PLEASE SEND THESE COMMENTS TO JANE GENDR-ON,

STATE OF ALASKA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION AND PUBLIC

FACILITIES, P. O. BOX ONE, ONE, TWO, FIVE, ZERO, SIX. JUNEAU, ALASKA

NINE, NINE, EIGHT, ONE, ONE.

Notice of Public Scoping Meeting

and Environmental Evaluation

State Projects No.’s 68829/67789

Tuesday, November 18, 2008

6:30 to 9:00 pm ■ Nolan Civic Center

296 Campbell Drive, Wrangell, Alaska

The State of Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities and the City and Borough of Wrangell invite you to attend a public scoping meeting regarding the Wrangell Road Improvements and Wrangell Utility Improvements Project. The meeting will discuss plans for upgrading and replacing sidewalks, reconstructing utilities, and resurfacing deteriorating roads on Front Street through a context sensitive design process. Included will be design work related to Lynch Street; however, the reconstruction of Lynch Street will depend on available funding.

The meeting will also provide an opportunity for the project team to discuss next steps and answer questions.

Additional information is available on the City and Borough of Wrangell’s project website, www.wrangell.com, under Projects.

To submit comments on the project or for more information please contact Dawn Bailey, DOWL HKM Public Involvement Planner, at (907) 780-3533 or wrangell@dowl.com. Public comments can also be submitted by mail to DOWL HKM, 5368 Commercial Boulevard, Juneau, AK 99801.

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Public NoticesWRANGELL ROAD AND UTILITY

IMPROVEMENTS, Notice of PublicMeeting

Submitted by: vmrandolph/25Date Submitted: 10/26/2010 08:48 AM

Date Modified: Ak Admin Journal: [not printed]

Attachments: No files attached

WRANGELL ROAD AND UTILITY IMPROVEMENTS, Notice of Public Meeting

Category: Agency Meetings Department: Transportation & Public FacilitiesPublish Date: 10/26/2010 Location: Wrangell

Coastal District: N/A

Body of Notice:

PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE

WRANGELL ROAD AND UTILITY IMPROVEMENTS

What: Open House to update the public on the planned project and Public Hearing to discuss and obtain formalcomments from the public on the planned improvements and potential environmental impacts in downtown Wrangell,Alaska

When: Monday, November 22, 2010, 6:00-8:30 PM, Presentation at 6:30 PM and Public Hearing at 7:00 PM.

Where: Nolan Civic Center, 296 Campbell Drive

A signup sheet will be provided for those individuals wishing to provide oral testimony. Written and oral comments will bepart of the environmental documentation and will help in the environmental decision. Written comments are requested byDecember 3, 2010.

The Alaska Department of Transportation and Public Facilities (DOT&PF), Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), andthe Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) have approved for public distribution, the Environmental Assessment (EA)for proposed road and utility improvements along Front Street in downtown Wrangell, Alaska. EPA has also released adraft Finding of No Significant Impact (FONSI) for this project. The proposed improvements include widening trafficlanes, resurfacing the roadway, improved parking, improved traffic circulation, adding pedestrian amenities, additionallighting, improvements to the existing storm drain and water and sewer lines, as well as other improvements.

This project has been developed in accordance with the following special purpose regulations including Sections: 4(f) ofthe Department of Transportation Act; 106 of the National Historic Preservation Act, 7 of the Endangered Species Act;and Executive Orders: 11988 (Floodplain Protection); 11990 (Wetlands Protection); and 12898 (Environmental Justice).

The EA and EPA’s draft FONSI will be available for review on November 1, 2010. The EA describes the alternativesconsidered and the potential economic, social, and environmental effects and the project’s consistency with the goalsand objectives of such local planning as has been carried out by the City and Borough of Wrangell. Anyone mayrequest a copy of the EA by contacting the DOT&PF or DOWL HKM or by accessing the EA online atwww.wrangell.com/projects. Copies of the EA are also available for viewing at the office of the City and Borough ofWrangell and at the Irene Ingle Public Library in Wrangell.

If you cannot attend the Public Hearing and have questions, please contact Alison Lohrke, Public Involvement

WRANGELL ROAD AND UTILITY IMPROVEMENTS, Notice of Public... http://notes4.state.ak.us/pn/pubnotic.nsf/c34a64e79ffdb0e6892...

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Coordinator, DOWL HKM at 562-2000 or email alohrke@dowlhkm.com. Written comments or oral testimony may begiven at the Public Hearing, or you can send them to the address below by December 3, 2010:

Jane GendronEnvironmental CoordinatorAlaska Department of Transportation & Public FacilitiesP.O. Box 112506Juneau, AK 99811-2506

Persons with a hearing impairment can contact the Department at our Telephone Device for the Deaf, number 465-3652.We are also able to offer, upon request, reasonable accommodations for special needs related to disabilities.

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What is this project about? The  State  of  Alaska  Department  of  Transportation  and  Public  Facilities  and  the  City  and  Borough  of Wrangell are constructing  improvements  identified  in the Wrangell Downtown Revitalization Report and Concept Plan including upgrades to pedestrian facilities, modifications to parking, landscape architecture, and  reconstructing utilities and deteriorated  road surface on Front Street.   Since  the public meetings  in November 2008  and May 2009,  the project  team has  completed environmental  studies on  the project corridor and has evaluated the potential impacts to the commercial historic district in an effort to preserve the  integrity  of  valuable  resources  in  downtown  Wrangell.    The  Draft  Environmental  Assessment  is available for public review and comments and can be found on the project website at www.wrangell.com in addition to other project documents.   

Why are we doing this? At  present,  the  downtown  core  has  deteriorated  and  uneven  concrete  roads  and  sidewalks, undesignated on‐street parking, and some utilities need replacement.  The downtown area is, however, rich with historical and cultural sites along with a working waterfront.   The project team  is working to preserve  Wrangell’s  history,  culture,  and  character  while  integrating  the  necessary  infrastructure improvements. 

FACT SHEET

 

To submit comments or contact the project team:

Alison Lohrke, Public Involvement Planner DOWL HKM   •   5368 Commercial Boulevard   •   Juneau, Alaska 99801

Phone: (907) 780‐3533   •   Fax: (907) 780‐3535 Email: wrangell@dowlhkm.com 

To receive project information, please provide your name and an e‐mail or postal address: Name: ___________________________________________________________________

Address: _________________________________________________________________

E-mail: ___________________________________________________________________

Phone: ___________________________________________________________________

Project Schedule Public Review of Environmental Assessment   November 2010 

Final Environmental Assessment and FONSI    December 2010 

Final Design        January 2011 

Finalize Right‐of‐Way Utilities        January 2011  Bidding and Construction        February 2011 ‐ October 2012 

Website A project website has been established  for  the public and  is maintained on  the City and Borough of Wrangell’s website, www.wrangell.com,  under  the  Projects  tab.    It  contains  up‐to‐date  information regarding  the project  schedule and decisions.   Comments can be  submitted on  the website and are available for review at any time.   

Opportunities for public participation The project  team encourages members of  the public  to submit comments about  the project.   These comments  are  accepted  via  e‐mail,  telephone, mail,  and  fax.    The mailing  and  distribution  lists  are continually updated throughout the course of the project, and members of the public can request to be added to the mailing list at any time. 

Public Open House

November 22, 2010and Hearing

1

Meeting Purpose

The purpose of this Public Hearing is to give an update on p p g g pthe planned Front Street construction project.

• Provide information on the planned improvements and findings of environmental documentation.

• Provide the public with the opportunity to submit formal comments.

2

Project Objectives and Major Elements

Primary goals of this downtown revitalization project include: • Improvements to a one-half (0.5 mile) corridor of road, sidewalks, and

utilities in and along Front Street.utilities in and along Front Street.

• Add visual character and pedestrian amenities described in the Wrangell Downtown Revitalization Report.

Major elements of the design include:

• Reconstruction of water and sewer utilities• Reconstruction of water and sewer utilities• New concrete road surfacing• Extending and improving sidewalks for pedestrian safety and comfort• Delineating on-street parking areas with curb bulbsDelineating on street parking areas with curb bulbs• New street lighting• Landscaping and decoration elements such as light poles, red glass in

sidewalks, and vegetation areas• Lynch street was included in the environmental document but was not in

the design and will not be part of the construction3

Project Area

4

Existing Conditions

• Deteriorated and uneven concrete roads and sidewalks

U l d i i t t f t t ki• Unclear and inconsistent use of on-street parking

• Utilities are old, in disrepair, and a maintenance burden

• Rich cultural and historic sites• Rich cultural and historic sites

• Pedestrian facilities don’t meet ADA criteria

5

Proposed Action

• Construct consistent 13-foot wide travel lanes from City

Road ImprovementsConstruct consistent 13 foot wide travel lanes from City Pier to Case Avenue.

• Clearly mark curbs and road shoulders and post a 15-il h d li imile-per-hour speed limit.

• Reconstruct subsurface retaining walls near the Tlingit and Haida Regional Housing Authority and the City Marketand Haida Regional Housing Authority and the City Market to correct the gap between the street and the sidewalk.

• Delineate 8-foot parking lanes throughout most of the project corridor.

• Improve circular turnaround for tour buses and truck traffic at the city pierat the city pier.

6

Proposed Action

• Reconstruct sidewalks on both sides of Front Street

Pedestrian Facility Improvements

Reconstruct sidewalks on both sides of Front Street between the city pier and Campbell Drive– increase width

dd l– add cross slopes

– add ramps that meet ADA standards

• Clearly define crosswalks by constructing 10-foot bulb-outs at the intersection of Front Street and Federal Wayat the intersection of Front Street and Federal Way, Campbell Drive, McKinnon Street, and adding or reconstructing curbs.

7

Proposed Action

• Utility Improvementsy p– Add lighting to project corridor

– Improve existing storm drain system

Improve existing water and sewer system– Improve existing water and sewer system

• Visual Character and Pedestrian AmenitiesVisual Character and Pedestrian Amenities– Addition of lamp posts on Front Street sidewalks

– Addition of colored concrete in sidewalk design

Preserve areas for future landscaping– Preserve areas for future landscaping

8

Environmental Impacts

• Reconstruction of the roads and sidewalks requires

Right‐of‐Way

Reconstruction of the roads and sidewalks requires partial acquisition of eleven parcels of property.

• Temporary construction permits.

• Resolution of ROW encroachments

9

Environmental Impacts

• Increased community cohesion for residents and

Social Impacts

Increased community cohesion for residents and business owners, enhanced accessibility and visual aesthetics, improved utility systems, and increased safety for road and sidewalk userssafety for road and sidewalk users.

• Increased accessibility to sidewalks associated with thisIncreased accessibility to sidewalks associated with this project will directly benefit disabled persons.

10

Environmental Impacts

• No long-term direct economic impacts are anticipated.

Economic Impactsg p p

• Indirect economic impacts could result from increased spending as residents and tourists spend more time in downtown Wrangell.

• Short-term economic impacts to Front Street businesses may occur as a result of construction.

11

Environmental Impacts

• FHWA, in consultation with the USEPA, has determined

Cultural Resources, ,

that the proposed project will not directly or indirectly adversely affect historic properties in the project’s Area of Potential Effectof Potential Effect.

• SHPO has concurred.

• A new storm drain outfall and the addition of two oil-Water Quality

water separators will improve the water quality of stormwater runoff being discharged into Zimovia Strait.

12

Environmental Impacts

• Long-term impacts to air quality are not anticipated as a

Air Qualityg p q y p

result of this project.

• Localized short-term impacts to air quality may result during construction.

• Short-term noise disturbances may be associated with

Noisey

construction and will be minimized by limiting construction to 7 a.m. through 8 p.m. on weekdays and holidays to comply with local ordinancesholidays to comply with local ordinances.

13

Permits and Authorizations

• Costal Zone Consistency determination.

• USACE Nationwide permit (7) for Outfall Structures and Maintenance.

• Notification of intent to work under the DEC Construction• Notification of intent to work under the DEC Construction General Permit under the Alaska Pollutant Elimination Discharge System.

• DEC storm drain plans review– Sewer system

– Storm drainStorm drain

– Drinking water

• Noise Permit from City and Borough of Wrangell.

14

Summary of Public Involvement Activities

• November 2008 – Present Collect Public Comments

• November 2008 Public Scoping Meeting• November 2008 Public Scoping Meeting

• November 2008 Met with Business Owners

• May 2009 Public MeetingMay 2009 Public Meeting

• May 2009 Met with Community Members

• June 2009 Hosted meeting with CBW, City Market and Bay CompanyCompany

• February 2010 Met with Community Members and Business Owners

15

Summary of What We’ve Heard

• Pedestrian safety concernsy

• Sidewalks subsiding

• Concerns with possible reduction in parking

• Concern with the need for the project

• Icing, drainage and freezing problems

f• Make sure maintenance of improvements is a consideration

16

Design Changes Resulting from Public Comments

• Maximize Parking– Modified size of bulb-outs and eliminated others

• Modify Driveway Cuts– Curbcut locations modified

• Improve Front Street & Stikine Ave. Sidewalk ContinuityImprove Front Street & Stikine Ave. Sidewalk Continuity – Modified to tie into private sidewalk and landscaping was added

• Odor and Sanitary Sewer ComplaintsR d h l ith t t diti– Removed a manhole with stagnant conditions

– Made alignment changes to improve flow velocities

• Preserve Truck Turning Movements at McKinnon Street– Modified bulb-outs and prohibit parked vehicles to accommodate turning movements.

• Address On-Street Parking Configuration at City Market– Roadway alignment shifted away from City MarketRoadway alignment shifted away from City Market

– Angled parking will retain significant number of stalls

17

Project Schedule

• Public Review of Environmental November 2010Assessment (EA)

• Final EA and FONSI• Final Design

December 2010January 2011Final Design

• Finalize Right-of-Way & Utilities• Bidding & Construction

yJanuary 2011February 2011 – October 2012

18

Comments

• Submit written comments to:Sub t tte co e ts to

Alison Lohrke, Public Involvement PlannerDOWL HKMO5368 Commercial BoulevardJuneau, AK 99801

Phone: (907) 780-3533Fax: (907) 780-3535

E-mail: wrangell@dowlhkm.comWebsite: www.wrangell.com, under the Projects tab

19

QUESTIONS?

20

Project History

• 2000– The City of Wrangell, after considerable community input and

participation, developed the Downtown Wrangell Economic Enhancement Strategy (EES) to address growth and enhancement

i iopportunities

• 2004– The Economic Development Committee reassessed the

recommendations of the EES and discussed potential changes and project implementation

• 2006– The community worked with design architects to identify and

explore various design alternatives for enhancing the downtown corridor and finalizing a conceptual design

21

Project History (cont’d)

• 2006– Publication of the Wrangell Downtown Revitalization Report and

Concept Plan

• 2008• 2008– DOT&PF issues request for proposals

– Public scoping meeting to discuss implementing the f Crecommendations of the Revitalization Report and Concept Plan

22

                             

COMMENT FORM

Comments may also be submitted via the City and Borough of Wrangell’s website atwww.wrangell.com under the Projects tab. 

The  State  of  Alaska  Department  of  Transportation  and  Public  Facilities  (DOT&PF)  and  the  City  and Borough of Wrangell  invite you to comment on the planned Front Street  improvements and potential environmental impacts in downtown Wrangell, Alaska.    The  DOT&PF,  the  Federal  Highway  Administration,  and  the  Environmental  Protection  Agency  have approved  for  public  distribution  the  Environmental  Assessment  for  proposed  road  and  utility improvements along Front Street.   Proposed  improvements  include widening traffic  lanes, resurfacing the  roadway,  improved parking,  improved  traffic  circulation, adding pedestrian amenities, additional lighting,  improvements  to  the  existing  storm  drain  and  water  and  sewer  lines,  as  well  as  other improvements.    Your participation is greatly appreciated, as working with residents and business owners to understand their concerns  is vital to developing collaborative solutions that are responsive to both  infrastructure needs and community ideals.    Official public comments will be accepted through December 3, 2010.   

 

Project Comments - Please provide any comments on the project below.

__________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________________________

To submit comments or to contact the project team:

Alison Lohrke, Public Involvement Planner DOWL HKM   •   5368 Commercial Boulevard   •   Juneau, Alaska 99801

Phone: (907) 780‐3533   •   Fax: (907) 780‐3535 Email: wrangell@dowlhkm.com 

To receive project information, please provide your name and an e‐mail or postal address: Name: ___________________________________________________________________ Address: _________________________________________________________________ E-mail: ___________________________________________________________________ Phone: ___________________________________________________________________

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Meeting Purpose

The purpose of this Public Hearing is to give an update on p p g g pthe planned Front Street construction project.

• Provide information on the planned improvements and findings of environmental documentation.

• Provide the public with the opportunity to submit formal comments.

2

Project Objectives and Major Elements

Primary goals of this downtown revitalization project include: • Improvements to a one-half (0.5 mile) corridor of road, sidewalks, and

utilities in and along Front Street.utilities in and along Front Street.

• Add visual character and pedestrian amenities described in the Wrangell Downtown Revitalization Report.

Major elements of the design include:

• Reconstruction of water and sewer utilities• Reconstruction of water and sewer utilities• New concrete road surfacing• Extending and improving sidewalks for pedestrian safety and comfort• Delineating on-street parking areas with curb bulbsDelineating on street parking areas with curb bulbs• New street lighting• Landscaping and decoration elements such as light poles, red glass in

sidewalks, and vegetation areas• Lynch street was included in the environmental document but was not in

the design and will not be part of the construction3

Project Area

4

Environmental Impacts

• Reconstruction of the roads and sidewalks requires

Right‐of‐Way

Reconstruction of the roads and sidewalks requires partial acquisition of eleven parcels of property.

• Temporary construction permits.

• Resolution of ROW encroachments

9

Environmental Impacts

• Increased community cohesion for residents and

Social Impacts

Increased community cohesion for residents and business owners, enhanced accessibility and visual aesthetics, improved utility systems, and increased safety for road and sidewalk userssafety for road and sidewalk users.

• Increased accessibility to sidewalks associated with thisIncreased accessibility to sidewalks associated with this project will directly benefit disabled persons.

10

Environmental Impacts

• No long-term direct economic impacts are anticipated.

Economic Impactsg p p

• Indirect economic impacts could result from increased spending as residents and tourists spend more time in downtown Wrangell.

• Short-term economic impacts to Front Street businesses may occur as a result of construction.

11

Environmental Impacts

• FHWA, in consultation with the USEPA, has determined

Cultural Resources, ,

that the proposed project will not directly or indirectly adversely affect historic properties in the project’s Area of Potential Effectof Potential Effect.

• SHPO has concurred.

• A new storm drain outfall and the addition of two oil-Water Quality

water separators will improve the water quality of stormwater runoff being discharged into Zimovia Strait.

12

Environmental Impacts

• Long-term impacts to air quality are not anticipated as a

Air Qualityg p q y p

result of this project.

• Localized short-term impacts to air quality may result during construction.

• Short-term noise disturbances may be associated with

Noisey

construction and will be minimized by limiting construction to 7 a.m. through 8 p.m. on weekdays and holidays to comply with local ordinancesholidays to comply with local ordinances.

13

Summary of What We’ve Heard

• Pedestrian safety concernsy

• Sidewalks subsiding

• Concerns with possible reduction in parking

• Concern with the need for the project

• Icing, drainage and freezing problems

f• Make sure maintenance of improvements is a consideration

16

Project Schedule

• Public Review of Environmental November 2010Assessment (EA)

• Final EA and FONSI• Final Design

December 2010January 2011Final Design

• Finalize Right-of-Way & Utilities• Bidding & Construction

yJanuary 2011February 2011 – October 2012

18

Public Hearing Transcript

11/22/10 Public Meeting and Public Hearing Nolan Civic Center, 296 Campbell Drive, Wrangell, Alaska

Introduction Jane Gendron, Environmental Coordinator, Alaska Department of Transportation & Public Facilities (DOT&PF), welcomed the public for attending, along with Greg Lockwood (DOT&PF), Chris Riley, Federal Highway Administration (FHWA), and Steve Noble (DOWL HKM). Jane Gendron that Steve will give us a 20 minute presentation with questions and answers and then at 7:00pm the formal public hearing will begin. There is a sign-up sheet for the public hearing but it is not mandatory that you sign-up to speak at the public hearing. The public hearing will be recorded. The hearing is not really intended to be a question and answer session, but your comments to the project team will go into the administrative record. If you choose not to speak to the group, we can also record your comments and testimony. I'm not sure how many people are here to give testimony. Usually we limit the testimony period to five minutes but today we will be flexible on how long you give your testimony. Once people are done giving testimony, we will conclude the public hearing and we can continue the questions and answers. The team is here if anybody wants to talk to them. Member of the public: What is the testimony for? Jane Gendron: The testimony is not for questions and answers. It is for comments on the project, and the environmental process. There is a sign-up sheet, or sign-in to record your attendance. A fact sheet and comment form for written individual comments are also available. All comments are appreciated and will all be treated equally. We also have extra copies of the environmental document if anyone wants their own copy. My recollection is that we are receiving comments until the 3rd of December. We are recording the comments and they will be transcribed after the hearing. The comments will become part of the administrative record, either attached to or in the revised environmental document if we need to revise it. Presentation Steve Noble: Thank you all for attending. We will try to make it as brief as we possibly can. If you have any questions we would be happy to address them as we go along. The purpose of the meeting today is let you know the findings of the environmental documentation effort. We are not really going to be talking about the design in detail, but we will be happy to answer any questions. As you saw on the wall when you first walked in, the purpose of this meeting is to give you an update but will also serve as a public hearing and to receive public testimony after

Wrangell Road and Utilities Improvements Public Hearing Transcript November 22, 2010 Page 2

the completion of the environmental documentation effort. This hearing is being held before the Findings of No Significant Impact (FONSI) is issued by the FHWA. We will try to get public comments and make sure that we have any last issues recorded for the administrative record. That is what the public hearing and public testimony is for. The information will then be taken into consideration by FHWA before they issue the FONSI. The FONSI is a decision made by FHWA after an environmental assessment is completed that allows the project to move forward. If a FONSI is issued, then no more environmental documentation will be needed. We anticipate that a FONSI will be issued for this project. Jane Gendron: The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also issued a draft FONSI that is in the environmental document here. Steve Noble: As there are two federal funding agencies for this project, there are two federal actions being done on the environmental document and that is why both the EPA and the FHWA will be issuing FONSIs. So how many of you were here in this very room four years ago or so when we had the Downtown Revitalization Plan? I am just curious as to how many people we have in the audience. Audience: About 10. Steve Noble: I can tell you that we are almost 99% complete and construction is scheduled to occur next summer. The main purpose of this project is to implement the recommendations from this process. I know it started a long time ago, and it is a lengthy process, but the process is very comprehensive to make sure all the environmental issues and elements are identified early on in the project. There will also be significant water and sewer utilities reconstruction, and that project will be funded separately by the City and Borough of Wrangell (CBW). New concrete road resurfacing will also be done at the same time. Really this project is to resurface the road and to upgrade the pedestrian facilities to meet ADA, (Americans with Disabilities Act) criteria. That describes 90% of what the project is, the last 10% is the revitalization portion, with landscape architecture elements included in the project to try to enhance the downtown area at the same time the other work is being done. If you are curious about Lynch Street, Lynch Street was included in our environmental documentation effort but is not being carried forward due to funding, so this project is from Front Street to the pier to Case Avenue. You are probably familiar with all those streets. I feel like I'm preaching to the choir on all of these issues and conditions set; you can probably tell me the issues in the downtown area better than I can; our primary effort here is to upgrade the pedestrian facilities, the accessibility criteria, clarify where there is legal and non-legal parking, and fix utilities that are old and in disrepair. One of the elements of the project that has required a little bit of extra time is the historical and archeological aspects. This area has a very long documented historical issues and elements in the project. As part of this project a historical and cultural resources

Wrangell Road and Utilities Improvements Public Hearing Transcript November 22, 2010 Page 3

assessment was conducted for the entire project area and its surroundings. We will tell you a little more about that once we get going. The proposed action is the proposed construction; this is what the environmental document is evaluating and is the primary element of the project. It includes new travel lanes, new curb and gutter, new sidewalks, new water and sewer utilities, new pipe storm drain system, and some retaining wall elements that are being reconstructed where the road is being supported by a retaining wall underneath, like the City Market area. One of the reasons why the sidewalk is separated from road is that the retaining wall under the City Market building has partially failed and material from under the road is being washed through that wall so the road is slowly settling. That big gap will get bigger and bigger until the wall is repaired. We are also going to make sure that the parking is very clearly marked. There are curb bulbs at specific locations, strategically located in the corridor and we will try to provide a more downtown feel to the Wrangell area. We are also paving the turnaround area at the City pier. There are some sidewalk sections that are pretty wide as you get closer to the City pier, and this project will be make those consistently about 8 feet on both sides of the road. There will be some exceptions but that width will be for the majority of the sidewalks. We will also make sure that the cross slopes are no more than 2%. Right now many of them are 7 to 8% cross slopes and when it gets icy they are difficult to walk on. With ADA the cross slopes cannot be steeper than 2% on the sidewalks. We have to make sure all the driveways and curb ramps are constructed to criteria. Crosswalks, particularly on Campbell Drive and McKinnon Street are very important. Curb bulbs will help to delineate the parking and provide more safety, especially to prevent people parking in close proximity to the intersection. They will also provide the opportunity for landscaping in the downtown area. In many of those cases the curb bulbs are going to be constructed as part of the project, but a lot of the landscaping will be a separate project. We have provided space for landscaping but not included as part of the project. Decorative lighting has also been added to the project. The full length of court will be downtown street lighting. They are similar in design to the light pole shown on the wall. They are kind of a goose-neck type street light. The storm drain system is largely being overhauled and much of the water and sewer system is being overhauled. With the storm drain, there will be outfall and new oil and water separators to clean up the water that runs off the project area. That pretty much covers it. We will spend a few slides here identifying impacts. Some of these are positive impacts and some of them are negative impacts. When you hear the word "impact" most people think it’s a negative thing. In some cases the impacts are positive or depending on your view point, it possibly could be negative. On the right-of-way side, in order to provide the space that we need for the sidewalks, and to fix some of the alignment issues for the parking elements, some right-of-way acquisitions are

Wrangell Road and Utilities Improvements Public Hearing Transcript November 22, 2010 Page 4

needed along the corridor. There is no full property acquisition required, but there are about 11 or 12 partial property acquisitions. We can look these up if you have specific questions. There are also a number of properties where we have to encroach onto private property a few feet, so we have acquired right-of-way adjacent to the property and provided space so that City owns or at least has a public easement for that property for future access to maintain it. The City has also been hard at work trying to clean up some of the right-of-way encroachments that have appeared over the years. Buildings and signs have encroached into the public right-of-way. These elements will need to be cleaned up before the project can be constructed. In some cases there were actually building footprints that were six inches into the right-of-way, so rather than demolish a building, the City went through the process of vacating that six inches of property. In some cases the City is helping the property owner to acquire an encroachment permit. Each scenario is unique but resolution of the encroachments is required before the right-of-way can be certified, which is required. This project will provide improvements for residents of the community, improve the utilities, and improve the safety for people who are walking or biking. It will improve the accessibility and provide a positive social impact for the project. There were no documented long-term direct economic impacts due to the project. There will likely be indirect short-term impacts during construction, and there may be potential indirect economic impacts if the corridor becomes more attractive and people spend more time in the area. We were required to do an exploratory assessment of the project for cultural resources and had to get concurrence from the State Conservation Office. It was decided that this particular project will not directly or indirectly affect the historic properties in the project. There are properties and buildings that have been determined to be eligible for the historic register. However, this project will not have an impact on those historical properties. On the water quality side, most projects have to have water quality certification and the State Department of Conservation has to approve the storm water runoff and make sure that we are not out falling. In this particular case we are trying to protect Zimovia Straits and so there are new storm drain outfalls and separators being constructed that will improve water quality and provide the ability to the City and Borough of Wrangell to maintain their water quality, and the cleanness of Zimovia Straits. It's not potable water. Long term impacts to air quality, are not anticipated. There may be some short-term impacts during construction. It is anticipated that we will get a noise permit from the City. In terms of permits and authorizations, we will have to obtain a coastal zone consistency determination, a Corp of Engineers permit for the outfall structure (we have one outfall that is

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below the mean high tide line for Zimovia Straits), and we will also have to obtain a DEC general permit for the Alaska Pollution Discharge Elimination System. Lastly, I just wanted to summarize what has happened throughout the project and to give people and ideas as to when opportunities for public comment have occurred. Sometimes it’s good to look back and see all the opportunities that we've had to collect comments. We want the public to feel like they had meaningful opportunities to be involved in the project and so we have tried to summarize the main opportunities since we've started the project in 2008. We also wanted to talk a little bit about some of the things that we've heard to date. Some of the major concerns we have heard include: pedestrian safety, sidewalk issues, concerns with the reduction of parking, a lot of discussion of the curb bulbs (for and against) relative to the parking impacts, concerns about the need for the project e.g. is the concrete really that bad that it needs to be replaced, concerns from individual property owners regarding icing and drainage and freezing, and will the property be maintained after the project is completed. It is important for the public to know what actually changed as a result of our comments. One of the things that I like to do is show some of the things that did change because of the public comments. Some people had concerns about the parking, and concerns about maximizing the parking even though we are putting in the curb bulbs. As a result of the public comments, I can tell you that the curb alignment changed significantly throughout the corridor, as we responded to individual property owners concerns and to make sure we were maximizing the number of parking spaces in the corridor. The curb cut locations also changed a lot relative to driveway locations based on conversations with property owners. In general, we are not taking driveway curb cuts away but they shifting in some locations based on comments from the public. There were concerns about the odor from the sanitary sewer and we've tried to clean up the sewer as part of the project. We have made alignment changes to the sewer system to increase the velocity of the sanitary sewer line. We are hoping those things will help. We also painted on the road where the curb cuts or curb bulb-outs would be, and made sure that trucks would be able to make those corners after the curbs were in place. There was a lot of give and take on the City Market's side of the project to make sure that the nose end parking was able to be preserved, and would still be able to achieve the pedestrian and downtown feel we are trying to achieve for the project. That was a summary listing of direct comments that influenced the design process. Hopefully those of you who have been involved from the beginning, trying to get funding for the project can say the project team has been responsive to public comments. When looking at the project schedule, you can see that a review of the EA is going on right now, and the formal public comment period will be over on December 3rd. We will still accept public comments after that date but they won't be part of the public record. The later we go in the

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process, the less likely the comments will be able to influence the project. If you have comments or concerns, please submit them today or soon. We are planning to have the final design in January 2011. As the environmental process was extended beyond what was originally envisioned as far as the schedule goes, the State actually funded the design of the project, so it could be partially completed before the environmental documents were complete. That work was done last spring. The design is not quite 100% complete, but it’s about 90% complete for the corridor. Once the environmental design is done and the FONSI is issued, we will finalize the design. The right-of-way has mostly been acquired and the utilities are already designed so we are fully anticipating going to bid for this project in February 2011. February bidding puts the construction start date at sometime in May. Due to the extent of this project for the downtown, it will probably be a two season construction process. Formal Testimony Jane Gendron: We are going to start the formal testimony now. For the record, I am Jane Gendron, Environmental Manager for the Southeast Region, of the Alaska Department of Transportation and I am a Project Environmental Analyst. It's Monday, November 22, 2010, 7:00 p.m., and you are in Wrangell. I have 5 people who have signed up for testimony. If you have not signed up, that is no problem. We will start it off with Jeremy Maxand. Jeremy Maxand: I am Mayor of the City and Borough of Wrangell. I would like to say thank you to the Department of Transportation for coming down and taking comments and providing us some information on this project. This project is very important to our community. I know you will hear from small business owners who exist in downtown Wrangell and I want to speak specifically to issues, accessibility and safety in downtown Wrangell. This project is extremely important to a large number of people in this community for access and safety. We have a lot of people in town who are elders who use wheelchairs, walkers, canes, and they have had strokes or traumatic brain injuries or are just getting old and its hard getting around. People in this community should not have to make a decision or deliberate whether or not to go to the store or pharmacy or hardware store and have to deliberate whether to take that risk to break a hip, or a leg or arm. The state of our downtown - and I know the City does what they can do to make sure its safe as possible - but when you have a plan like this and you know there will be a lot of money spent, you don't want to invest in a lot of money in infrastructure that will be torn out year after year when we know this project is going to happen. It’s not acceptable that we have the downtown corridor that basically excludes the members of the public from participating and what should be our primary center of community involvement. We live in a town where you communicate with people by running into them at the grocery store or the post office or on the street. Right now, a lot of people do not feel safe coming downtown and trying to get around on the sidewalks or streets. I consider myself to be pretty strong and mobile. It can be entertaining for me to get around town but for a lot of people it’s completely undoable and that is completely unacceptable. I know there is a lot of technical reasons and policy reasons why this project hasn't happened sooner than what it has. What I want to leave you with is the expectation that I have as a leader of this community, a taxpayer of the State of Alaska. Every time you go to work,

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this should be your number 1 priority and when you go to work, you think about the residents who cannot use the stores, and for right now because they fear literally for their lives. I don't want to seem like I am over exaggerating it but I can tell you exactly that is what people are feeling in this community and we are isolating them. We are causing them to lose their dignity and we are excluding them to participate in this community. And that's not acceptable. As you move forward, you need to make this your number 1 priority until it’s completed from this day forward. I am happy to help you in any way that I can, to provide you with any support that you need, as mayor I can tell you the days of delays and setbacks are over and that again, your number 1 priority is to get this project done and to be as creative, and as intelligent and committed to getting this finishing this project, as we are in seeing it completed. So that is all I have to say. I appreciate you coming down and I am excited about seeing the plans and I want to leave you with that sense of urgency and thank you. Dawn Angerman: I am the owner of two businesses in downtown Front Street. Jeremy touched on health and safety and I want to touch on the economic impact of the project. There have been some of us going to downtown revitalization meetings for at least 10 years. I know the State didn't get involved until 2007/2008, but we have been looking forward to this project, and there have been a lot of hopes and prayers put into this project, and it’s been delayed now for several years, so I guess my first question is why? I'd like to know when the State received the federal funds. Due to the delay of this project, now we don't have the funds to do the landscaping portion of this. All of the things that we were excited about. When I hear you say that its 90% infrastructure project, 10% other that is the first that I've heard of that. The word revitalization is the key here. I don't know how many businesses have closed down since this project. If we wait any longer I'm afraid we may not need this project. We are hanging on by our finger tips. I am also on the Convention and Visitors Bureau and we have delayed going to cruise ship meetings waiting for this project to be done, so we have something new to take to them and say, see, see how beautiful our downtown is and how accessible it is. It is easy for tourists to get around; it’s easily cohesive for all of us to get along. It’s just one delay, one delay after another; we can't take one more delay. If this project starts in 2011 and I hope it does, I hope they take into consideration that we have one small cruise ship coming in 2011. We need to somehow incorporate them into the plan so that it will not be too ugly for them. I'd like to know which end of the town the project will begin at. I would like to know if the State received any kind of interest on these federal funds they received and held in their coffers for at least two to three years, because it sure would be nice if the City can get those reimbursed so that we can pay for those landscaping issues. So I want you to keep in mind that we are not just waiting to get those sidewalks fixed, our sewers fixed and the roads resurfaced, but we look at this as a new beginning. I'm afraid if it doesn't get done soon, I don't know what our downtown will look like, thank you. Jane Gendron: Please wait to ask questions until we are finished with the hearing. Bill Privett: I am on the Assembly, and was a property owner of 3 different properties located downtown Wrangell Island. One property in particular is one of the oldest buildings, the Biehl's building. Back in 1924, was moved back 24 feet, which created the main street of downtown

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Wrangell, because that is where it ended and after that it was beach front. That part of building and side walk, from Jenkins Building, which was constructed in 1932, and that section of the sidewalk was at such an angle (relating to what Mayor Maxand said), that it’s very difficult for anyone in a wheel chair or small mobile chair to get around. It's pretty dangerous because it has a heck of a slope. My third building is the 49th Star building which is right dead center in downtown Wrangell. I am looking forward to this project getting completed on time and I echo Dawn Angerman's comments and Mayor Maxand's statements, in terms of hurrying it up and getting it done. Let's get it done right but let's get the streets and sidewalks straightened up because those people who have a disability, whether it is a noticeable disability or just an elderly person have difficulties, those sidewalks need to be fixed so that people don't start shuddering down towards the street and end up in the gutter. I've actually seen that happen with individuals and it’s really sad to see that kind of thing happen. I am looking forward to seeing this thing done. I would remind everyone probably one of the biggest events is the 4th of July so if this is a project that rolls over a two year plan, I don't have a problem with that, but we need to make people very aware of that period of time because you will have more people in town and it will be congested. We need to be part of this process so that when it goes out to bid, that time frame will be considered. We will have a lot of folks in the downtown during that time period. We certainly don't need a great big ditch, so it’s worthy of mentioning, so when we put this project out to bid, those dates are considered because they are key and critical to our community. The 4th of July is the premier event for our community, not only as an event and a money maker for our community but as a return of folks coming back home and loving this community for what it is. It should be focused on and thought about while we are planning this construction process. Those are my comments, thank you. Don McConachie: I have been intimately involved in the past with this project and I would like to think that the timeline set out in this presentation is going to be something that I can hang his hat on because we've heard these timelines before only to be setback. I feel that I know certain reasons why and I don't know whether to say who delayed the project, but I will flatly state that DOT has been a real pain and that's all there is to it. I do not mind saying it. From the perspective of the people in this town, they do not know why a lot of these things happened but now hopefully they do. I think we need to be cognitive with the fact that we have been waiting on this project for a very long time. This project could of been ready and being done two years ago, and we could be sitting here tonight thinking here tonight saying we have a really nice looking downtown. I really want to see this project go ahead. I know we've had growing pains with different aspects of different downtown areas and I hope all of them have been addressed to the satisfaction of our business owners because it is our town. I'd like to think you will stick with this timeline. That is all I have to say. Thank you. Rudy Briskar: I work for Alaska Island Community Services, with the elderly and disabled people. Some of my clients are people who are not able to get downtown to do anything because they fear they will fall and end up in the hospital, long-term care. I myself have fallen and twisted my ankle due to the sidewalks that are broken and busted up. The environmental process is entirely too much of a strain. I know my comment isn't going to affect it. You have your regulations because the people who lobby Congress and make these laws, they do not care about

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the human aspect; they don't care what kind of damage it does to communities or families. They have one agenda, to make things entirely difficult, and I do not mind commenting on it either. Jane Gendron: Are there any more comments? It is now 7:20 p.m. and I am formally closing the public testimony portion of this evening. Next are questions and answers. These will be taken by Steve Noble. Question and Answers Dawn Angerman: Earlier it was said that Lynch Street was included in the EIS study. Would we have to go through the EIS again, if funding was found for Lynch Street in the future? Jane Gendron: If federal funds that are found for that and if the scope of work is equivalent to what we analyzed in the environmental document, and then we would not have to go through another environmental process. In three years you would have to have a written re-evaluation, but it could be as simple as check, check, and check, go. You don't have to go through the public process again. Dawn Angerman: My other question was on the lamp posts. If we can include them in this project, can we include outlets and water sources, so if we had trees and we wanted to put lights on at Christmas time, or flower pots in the spring or whatever, they would already be in place? Steve Noble: I will have to look into putting outlets in strategic locations. It is not too late to do that. I will have to see what that requires, if it requires additional wiring, and what that cost is. The City can then make a decision. With the water source, are you talking about irrigation? In my experience with other projects, it’s generally not cost effective to put in an irrigation system for the City. They would rather spend their dollars in maintenance rather than investing money in an irrigation system. The City may feel differently, but that has been my experience with past projects. Dawn Angerman: Will the project be done in phases, digging up the road? Steve Noble: The road will be constructed in phases, and all necessary work will be conducted so it should not have to be dug up again. Dawn Angerman: What will be happening with the electrical system? Steve Noble: With the overhead electrical distribution lines, the City is paying to have an underground system designed, and the conduits for undergrounding the electricity lines will be installed concurrently with this project, but the work will be paid for and bid out as a separate project. Then the City will pursue funding to move poles and to do the work to eventually underground the lines. I will follow up with the City on the water and electrical outlets, and where we might strategically place those.

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Dawn Angerman: Which end of town will you start and where did the interest go from the federal money? Steve Noble: I can tell you that most likely the contractor will start from the city pier. Generally on a storm drain system, you start at the lowest point and you work uphill so if something goes wrong you can adjust it. But the contractor may come in with a different plan. I cannot tell you exactly how it will go. The State does not dictate exactly how it is going to go because it ties the contractor’s hands too much and can end up costing more. We try to stay out of the contract. He does the work. On the federal dollars debt, I think I know the answer to this. The federal dollars do not end up in the State's bank accounts until the construction has been awarded. It's not earning interest in the State's account anywhere; it’s earning interest in a federal account, maybe. Dawn Angerman: It seems like we have been penalized because the cost of the project has increased, and now we have fewer dollars to do what we wanted to do, due to the DOT's delays. Steve Noble: I will not argue that you could have constructed the project for less money ten years ago. Dawn Angerman: Two years ago. Steve Noble: Well two years ago, it is hard to say. Actually construction costs have gone down 10% to 15% in some parts of the state due to the economic conditions, so it’s hard to say. It may or may not be true because you didn't bid it out, and so you can’t compare costs but 10 years ago I would definitely agree with you. The last two years ago, maybe, maybe not, but there other impacts besides just the construction costs. Rudy Briskar: Was the fee for disposal of concrete for downtown figured in the costs? Steve Noble: Yes. It's actually envisioned that the concrete will be stockpiled out near the waterfront so it can be eventually used for expansion of the waterfront. Bernie Massin: Will you use temporary sidewalks and are you planning on tearing up the street in sections? Steve Noble: Regarding temporary sidewalks, we require the contractor to provide access to all the buildings and the streets, except for very short spaces of time that are approved by the State and when proper notice is given to the property owners of the buildings. But generally during business hours the businesses will have temporary access to their buildings and the State will have full time inspectors to make sure that the properties are accessible. As far as tearing up sections of the road, we have specifications for the contractor to bid on. The project will be built in two-block section and the contractor has to have that paved before starting on the next section. The surface won't necessarily be finished but it will be drivable. The schedule will be largely at

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the discretion of the State's Inspector, he will decide when they will close one piece and move onto the next one. Bernie Massin: What do you consider to be two blocks? Steve Noble: We are looking at one block as the section from street to street, Case to Stikine is one. I will show you on the plans. Member of the public: What about the financial impact? The community is concerned about this. This project impacts revitalization. There is a lot of evidence out there, around the countries and communities that show investment in the downtown, that it doesn’t just provide safe sidewalks and streets that are drivable, but it makes people want to visit their towns. Is the State going to work with this community to reimburse for the lost revenue from the delays or find ways to help us fund the secondary projects, i.e. landscaping? This project is more than about safety, it should be about making this community the most amazing community. These people here are amazing. Jane Gendron: The State has already given Wrangell $300,000 worth of design money that came out of the General Fund. We have recognized our responsibility, and have given to your community. Ruby Briskar: How big will the curbs be? Steve Noble: The curbs will be six inches tall. Dawn Angerman: At one of the last meetings, the curbs were an issue. Carol Rushmore (CBW): Early on, we changed from rolled to standard curbs except for the bulb outs; the conceptual design had rolled curbs. Rudy Briskar: I have already noted how much money the project has already lost, right after the Bay Company, and you said that portion of project is going to up in a year. Steve Noble: In order to make sure that we have the full project that we can pay for after bidding, we have a limited project budget. We are trying to get as much done as we can with available funds. A common strategy that we use to make sure we have something that is affordable after have bid the project is to take a segment of the project and add it as an alternate, so that if bids were to come in 15, 20, or 30% higher than we estimated, we can drop the alternate. If we don’t have any added alternates in there, then we are delayed, because we cannot award the project. With the alternate, if bids come in too high, we will not award that last section. That is the strategy for this project. If bid prices come in where we think they will, the entire thing will be awarded. There is nothing guaranteed to a project. We have a limited project budget. Hopefully we've done our homework and have things cost out to where we think they will be.

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Wrangell Sentinel reporter: I understand the project has been delayed, but how much money has been spent to date? Steve Noble: It has cost an estimated one million dollars plus or minus to get the project ready to go to construction. Rudy Briskar: How much of those one million dollars has gone towards environmental work? Steve Noble: It’s really hard to break it out, the phases, the tasks overlap with each other, and they are broken out. I would estimate a third for environmental and a third for design and survey. Member of the public: Can you tell me more about the historical assessments you conducted? Jane Gendron: We can take a look at a map afterwards but back in 1986, the community got a grant from the State Historic Preservation Office (SHPO) to conduct a survey of historic Wrangell that included all of the buildings in the area that were considered to be part of the beginning of Wrangell. The Post Office and Churches were listed on the National Register but the proposed Wrangell corridor district was never nominated on the National Register. We did our survey and found that some buildings still had historic integrity along Front Street when linked to some of the residential structures and the already listed Post Office, Catholic Church and Episcopal Church. SHPO staff, FHWA, and EPA have agreed that Front Street has enough structures and enough integrity to give you a sense of Wrangell's core. If the community wanted to go forward with a nomination to the National Park Service to have a district listed on the national register, there would be opportunities to get grant monies to retain, maintain, and revitalize the buildings to make part of that historical district. If that nomination is not taken forward then those grant monies are not available. Private owners of the buildings don't usually have any reason to main historical building, so it’s somewhat honorary title, but it does give Wrangell the stature of having a historic district. It could go further if the community wanted it to. Bill Privett: You have to remember that Wrangell is the third oldest community in Alaska or actually the territory. Steve Noble: We didn’t add any properties to the register, but we did identify what was potentially eligible to be added to the register. If you want to take the next step, that would be up to the residents of the City. We will stick around as long as you as you want. This project will not be completed in 2011 but we will make significant progress. In January, the City and the State met and due to the delays, the State agreed to fund the design in advance of the environmental documentation process being complete. Normally this is a linear process and we cannot start the design using federal dollars until that environmental document has been approved. If that were the case, we would not have started the design yet. So because the State paid for the design using state funds, that work was

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completed in parallel, and we are now nearly complete with the design. Since March as the right-of-way process and the environmental process has proceeded, numerous things have changed along the way (driveways, sidewalks have changed). Those changes along the way have resulted in a laundry list of design changes that need to be done to clean up the project and to have it ready for construction in January. That process is should be completed in January. Jane Gendron: That work is intended to be paid for by FHWA. Steve Noble: We are looking for completion in mid-December of the environmental document. We estimate that based on the size of the project, construction will take 8-10 months, and so we will get 5 or 6 months in next summer and 5 to 6 months in the following summer. We've also heard a number of comments about the 4th of July. Jane Gendron: Please write more comments if necessary. Meeting adjourned.

Comments and Responses from Hearing on November 22 to December 3

Category Comment Response

4th of July

I would remind everyone probably one of the biggest events is the 4th of July so if this is a project that rolls over a two year plan, I don't have a problem with that, but we need to make people very aware of that period of time because you will have more people in town and it will be congested. We need to be part of this process so that when it goes out to bid, that time frame will be considered. We will have a lot of folks in the downtown during that time period. We certainly don't need a great big ditch, so it’s worthy of mentioning, so when we put this project out to bid, those dates are considered because they are key and critical to our community. The 4th of July is the premier event for our community, not only as an event and a money maker for our community but as a return of folks coming back home and loving this community for what it is. It should be focused on and thought about while we are planning this construction process.

Comment acknowledged.

Accessibility

We have a lot of people in town who are elders who use wheelchairs, walkers, canes, and they have had strokes or traumatic brain injuries or are just getting old and its hard getting around. People in this community should not have to make a decision or deliberate whether or not to go to the store or pharmacy or hardware store and have to deliberate whether to take that risk to break a hip, or a leg or arm. The state of our downtown - and I know the City does what they can do to make sure its safe as possible - but when you have a plan like this and you know there will be a lot of money spent, you don't want to invest in a lot of money in infrastructure that will be torn out year after year when we know this project is going to happen. It’s not acceptable that we have the downtown corridor that basically excludes the members of the public from participating and what should be our primary center of community involvement. We live in a town where you communicate with people by running into them at the grocery store or the post office or on the street. Right now, a lot of people do not feel safe coming downtown and trying to get around on the sidewalks or streets. I consider myself to be pretty strong and mobile. It can be entertaining for me to get around town but for a lot of people it’s completely undoable and that is completely unacceptable. I know there is a lot of technical reasons and policy reasons why this project hasn't happened sooner than what it has. What I want to leave you with is the expectation that I have as a leader of this

This project is partly being conducted to upgrade the pedestrian facilities to meet ADA, (Americans with Disabilities Act) criteria, and make the downtown safer and more walkable for pedestrians.

Category Comment Response community, a taxpayer of the State of Alaska. Every time you go to work, this should be your number 1 priority and when you go to work, you think about the residents who cannot use the stores, and for right now because they fear literally for their lives. I don't want to seem like I am over exaggerating it but I can tell you exactly that is what people are feeling in this community and we are isolating them. We are causing them to lose their dignity and we are excluding them to participate in this community. And that's not acceptable. As you move forward, you need to make this your number 1 priority until it’s completed from this day forward. I am happy to help you in any way that I can, to provide you with any support that you need, as mayor I can tell you the days of delays and setbacks are over and that again, your number 1 priority is to get this project done and to be as creative, and as intelligent and committed to getting this finishing this project, as we are in seeing it completed.

Accessibility

One property in particular is one of the oldest buildings, the Biehl's building. Back in 1924, was moved back 24 feet, which created the main street of downtown Wrangell, because that is where it ended and after that it was beach front. That part of building and side walk, from Jenkins Building, which was constructed in 1932, and that section of the sidewalk was at such an angle (relating to what Mayor Maxand said), that it’s very difficult for anyone in a wheel chair or small mobile chair to get around. It's pretty dangerous because it has a heck of a slope. I am looking forward to this project getting completed on time and I echo Dawn Angerman's comments and Mayor Maxand's statements, in terms of hurrying it up and getting it done. Let's get it done right but let's get the streets and sidewalks straightened up because those people who have a disability, whether it is a noticeable disability or just an elderly person have difficulties, those sidewalks need to be fixed so that people don't start shuddering down towards the street and end up in the gutter. I've actually seen that happen with individuals and it’s really sad to see that kind of thing happen.

This project is partly being conducted to upgrade the pedestrian facilities to meet ADA, (Americans with Disabilities Act) criteria, and make the downtown safer and more walkable for pedestrians.

Accessibility

Some of my clients are people who are not able to get downtown to do anything because they fear they will fall and end up in the hospital, long-term care. I myself have fallen and twisted my ankle due to the sidewalks that are broken and busted up.

This project is partly being conducted to upgrade the pedestrian facilities to meet ADA, (Americans with Disabilities Act) criteria, and make the downtown safer and more walkable for pedestrians.

Project Delays What about the financial impact? The community is concerned about this. This project impacts revitalization. There is a lot of evidence out

The State has given Wrangell $300,000 worth of design money from the General Fund.

Category Comment Response there, around the country and communities that show investment in the downtown, that it doesn’t just provide safe sidewalks and streets that are drivable, but it makes people want to visit their towns. Is the State going to work with this community to reimburse for the lost revenue from the delays or find ways to help us fund the secondary projects (i.e., landscaping)? This project is more than about safety, it should be about making this community the most amazing community.

Project Delays

There have been some of us going to downtown revitalization meetings for at least 10 years. I know the State didn't get involved until 2007/2008, but we have been looking forward to this project, and there have been a lot of hopes and prayers put into this project, and it’s been delayed now for several years, so I guess my first question is why?

Project Delays

Due to the delay of this project, now we don't have the funds to do the landscaping portion of this. All of the things that we were excited about. When I hear you say that its 90% infrastructure project, 10% other that is the first that I've heard of that. The word revitalization is the key here. I don't know how many businesses have closed down since this project. If we wait any longer I'm afraid we may not need this project. We are hanging on by our finger tips. I am also on the Convention and Visitors Bureau and we have delayed going to cruise ship meetings waiting for this project to be done, so we have something new to take to them and say, see, see how beautiful our downtown is and how accessible it is. It is easy for tourists to get around; it’s easily cohesive for all of us to get along. It’s just one delay, one delay after another; we can't take one more delay.

Comment acknowledged.

It seems like we have been penalized because the cost of the project has increased, and now we have fewer dollars to do what we wanted to do, due to the DOT's delays.

Comment acknowledged.

Funding I'd like to know when the State received the federal funds. The State will not receive the federal funds until the construction has been awarded.

Funding

I would like to know if the State received any kind of interest on the federal funds they received and held in their coffers for at least two to three years, because it sure would be nice if the City can get those reimbursed so that we can pay for those landscaping issues.

The State does not receive the federal funds until the construction has been awarded and so this money has not been earning interest for the State.

Funding Where did the interest go from the federal money? The State does not receive the federal funds until the construction has been awarded and so this money has not been earning interest for the State.

Funding How much money has been spent to date? Approximately one million dollars.

Category Comment Response Funding How much money has gone towards the environmental work?

Cruise Ships

If this project starts in 2011 and I hope it does, I hope they take into consideration that we have one small cruise ship coming in 2011. We need to somehow incorporate them into the plan so that it will not be too ugly for them.

Comment acknowledged.

In favor of project

I am looking forward to seeing this thing done. Comment acknowledged.

Schedule

I would like to think that the timeline set out in this presentation is going to be something that I can hang my hat on because we've heard these timelines before only to be setback. I feel that I know certain reasons why and I don't know whether to say who delayed the project, but I will flatly state that DOT has been a real pain and that's all there is to it. I do not mind saying it. From the perspective of the people in this town, they do not know why a lot of these things happened but now hopefully they do. I think we need to be cognitive with the fact that we have been waiting on this project for a very long time. This project could have been ready and been done two years ago, and we could be sitting here tonight thinking/saying we have a really nice looking downtown. I really want to see this project go ahead. I know we've had growing pains with different aspects of different downtown areas and I hope all of them have been addressed to the satisfaction of our business owners because it is our town. I'd like to think you will stick with this timeline.

Comment acknowledged.

Environmental Process

The environmental process is entirely too much of a strain. The environmental process is required by law whenever federal funds are involved.

Environmental Process

Would we have to go through the EIS again, if funding was found for Lynch Street in the future?

If federal funds were allocated for Lynch Street in the future, and the scope of work was similar to the scope already analyzed in the environmental document, we would not have to go through another environmental evaluation. However, if the funds were not found within three years the project would have to undergo a written re-evaluation, but it would probably be a simple process.

Environmental Process

Can you tell me more about the historical assessments you conducted? Information regarding the historic survey, findings, and conclusions are included in the Section 4.5 of the EA, which is available via the project website.

Project Components

My other question was on the lampposts. If we can include them in this project, can we include outlets and water sources, so if we had trees and we wanted to put lights on at Christmas time, or flower pots in the spring or whatever, they would already be in place?

Comment acknowledged.

Category Comment Response

Project Components

Consider a sound system, wireless, or speakers around the event areas on Front Street…for 4th of July, for Tree Lighting Ceremony…probably from McKinnon to Campbell Drive (by Diamond C).

Comment acknowledged.

Project Components

Was the fee for disposal of concrete for downtown figured in the costs? Yes. It's actually envisioned that the concrete will be stockpiled out near the waterfront so it can be eventually used for expansion of the waterfront.

Project Components

Will you use temporary sidewalks?

Generally the contractor will be required to provide access to all the buildings and the streets during business hours. There may be short durations where access is removed, but these times will need to be approved by the State and proper notice given to the property owners of the buildings.

Project Components

How big will the curbs be? Six inches high.

Phasing Are you planning on tearing up the street in sections?

Specifications will be provided for the contractor to bid on. The project will be built in two-block sections and the contractor will have to pave those two blocks before starting on the next section. The surface won't necessarily be finished but it will be drivable.

Phasing What do you consider to be two blocks? One block is considered to be the section from street to street.

Phasing I'd like to know which end of the town the project will begin at.

The contractor will probably start from the City Pier. Generally with a storm drain system, the project must begin at the lowest point and continue uphill. The contractor may implement a different plan however, as the State does not dictate exactly how the contractor should build the project.