In case you missed it: Garland Avenue Meeting
Those attending tonight’s Ward 2 Garland Avenue expansion meeting were quick to point out that a compromise is not something they’re willing to live with.
The project, which is already a year behind schedule, is a complete redesign of a small stretch of Garland Avenue from North Street to Janice Drive. The two-lane road is in desperate need of being widened and City officials are trying to keep the state from simply paving a five-lane, College Avenue-esque street that would begin at Harps Foods and end about .75 miles to the north.
Garland Avenue doubles as Arkansas Highway 112 and part of the funding for the $6.5 million project will come from the State. Therefore, the plan must first be state-approved before the $1.5 million is released. The City plans to contribute the remaining $5 million.
“I’ve never wanted a five lane road. I just don’t think they’re very safe,” said Mayor Lioneld Jordan. “What we want is something iconic for Garland,” added Alderman Matthew Petty who led the meeting.
Originally, a plan was submitted to the state that would include four lanes and a continuous median with trees to mirror the already-complete stretch that extends from Harps to the University of Arkansas. The plan was twice rejected, said Mayor Jordan.
A revised plan was created by the Street Committee that includes five lanes but features about seven 100-foot-long, landscaped refuge islands in what the Mayor called a compromise to the original plan and what the State is more in favor of. “I don’t know if they would even agree to this, though,” said Jordan.
But the neighbors weren’t having it. Some even called the revised plan “completely unacceptable.” “Well, I can keep pushing if that’s what the people want,” said Jordan.
In an effort to get residents on the same page, Petty created an online survey to gather public opinion. At the time of the meeting, about 200 citizens had participated but in order to be most effective when presenting to the State, Petty stressed the need for at least another 200 completed surveys.
Although tonight’s crowd was obviously against any type of five-lane plan, Fayettville chief of staff Don Marr wondered where everyone was during last month’s Garland Avenue meeting that included state officials. When asked for a show of hands of those who attended the June meeting, only about four hands arose from the audience.
“And that’s part of our problem,” said Marr.
Such disorganization has led to two recent undesirable widening projects, noted Petty. South Crossover and West Wedington were cited as examples of state highways that ended up being transformed into traditional, five-lane roads.
“And that’s exactly what’s going to happen to Garland,” warned former Mayor Dan Coody.
Marr said the City has until about October to come up with a plan or the state may decide to take its money to another project.
For anyone who wishes to voice their opinion, head over to tr.im/garland to take the survey.
Comments
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By Outatouch on July 17th, 2009
Fayetteville doesn’t have room to expand, expand, expand. Now is the time for Fayetteville to take one more step toward become an even more beautiful town than it is today. Don’t rush into a hasty “fix”. Garland has been a bad situation for a long time. When it is rebuilt, it will be what it is for a long, long, long time. What do you want to live with for a long, long, long time?
Fayetteville has two or three major focal points. One, of course, is the University. The University should be more than its grounds. It should stretch from Old Main to deep into the surrounding area. Garland falls within that depth. Don’t let the beauty end at Harp’s just because you are impatient.
By burgerboy on July 17th, 2009
The city is paying for 4/5 of this project. Why can’t the state just do what we want?
I swear, it seems like the state works against Fayetteville sometimes.
The “Public Service” Commission’s handling of the SWEPCO powerlines fiasco is the most recent example that burns me up.
Does the PSC do ANYTHING besides directly advocate for whatever SWEPCO wants? Those people need to be investigated, as I don’t view their recent actions with this and the coal power plant to be truly looking out for OUR interests. They advocate for a private entity staunchly, and appear closer to being a lobby rather than public servants.
AHTD needs to cooperate with us on this. WE PAY YOUR SALARIES.
By burgerboy on July 17th, 2009
If the state won’t let us have our median, frick them. Lets withhold funds. I’d rather keep the current two-lane congested road than do another five-lane.
By burgerboy on July 17th, 2009
Or better yet, spend that bond money on burying those monstrous powerlines that now cross Dickson. Slap a sidewalk over the top of the finished project and call it a “transportation improvement”.
By Outatouch on July 17th, 2009
burgerboy, you seem to be reasonably entrenched in FAY. How do you get PEOPLE (FAY PEOPLE) to take control of this project? Do you remember sit ins and marches? This summer is the Woodstock 40th. Maybe the Hippies can organize for the summer they Made Garland Beautiful.
By Matthew Petty on July 17th, 2009
The first thing people can do is fill out this survey: http://tr.im/garland
I don’t think you’re fair to belittle Fayetteville citizens as hippies who can’t get organized. Our citizens are far more engaged than the citizens of most other communities. Democracy is alive here and doing well, and the results of the meeting last night show it.
By Sardon on July 17th, 2009
Everybody please take Matthew Petty’s survey, and forward the link to everybody you know. AHTD listens to numbers, and so does Mayor Jordan, who is the one who has to fight for this median (and doesn’t seem to want to). We had to fight for the one between North and Maple, and isn’t it nice?
It would also help if you call or email your aldermen. Mr. Petty seems to be the only one of them who cares.
We don’t have to take the money for a crappy project. AHTD would gladly give the highway up and let it be a City street. Cool. Leave it the way it is now until we can afford to do it right. The traffic isn’t really bad anyway.
By Me on July 17th, 2009
Matthew, do you know if there is a telephone campaign for this issue? I’m not on their list, but my wife is and has gotten a few calls about the lottery and a couple of other issues. She loves particpating in the telephone surveys and I’m sure there would be some respondents that don’t know about the internet survey… just a thought. I think most people would have an opinion about this, but unfortunately the city needs to get in their faces for them to be heard.
By Outatouch on July 17th, 2009
@M. Petty – Not intending to say FAY is only unorganized hippies. In the past they were the ones most likely to organize. I am glad there is interest in this.
To all, I sorry if I seemed to put FAY down in any way. I have lived all over the South. FAY is still my favorite.