go back to Forest Hill Road    CAUTION Macon    Macon-Bibb.com  Moreland Altobelli
SOS forest


Mediation - http://www.macon-bibb.com/FHR/Mediation_20080228.htm
Mediation or Smoke-Screen? (here)






  

  
 
 Date: Thu, 26 Jun 2008 17:47:12 -0400
To: "Dorothy Toth Beasley" <beasleydt@bellsouth.net>
From: Holliday Dental <teeth@mindspring.com>
Subject: FHR Mediation - June 26, 2008
Cc: "Susan Hanberry Martin" <mermaidlover@bellsouth.net>,
 <teeth@mindspring.com>,<CLystlund@AtlanticSouthernBank.com>,
 <shanberry@stratford.org>,<FISCHER_DP@Mercer.edu>,<dmbx1@cox.net>,
 "Rick Chellman" <chellman@tndengineering.com>,,<tdavis@maai.net>,
 <sdaniel@maai.net>,<wroberts@maai.net>,<ksheets@co.bibb.ga.us>,
 "Virgil Adams" <vadams@ajtlaw.com>,
 "Donna Thompson" <donna@henningmediation.com>
Mime-Version: 1.0
Content-Type: multipart/mixed;
        boundary="=====================_898620000==_"
Message-Id: <200806261745.1kbZhq4vK3Nl3p20@pickering.mail.mindspring.net>
X-ELNK-AV: 0
X-ELNK-Info: sbv=0; sbrc=.0; sbf=0b; sbw=000;



The Forest Hill Road Neighborhood Representatives Position

Thursday, June 26, 2008.



We appreciate Judge Beasley's patience in clarifying the County Representative’s current position on the two lane section for the northern section of Forest Hill Road. It was our understanding from prior communication that the Country Representatives’ position had previously been conditioned on accepting all other aspects of the current design (Wimbish and south). We understand from our conversation with Judge Beasley on June 25th, 2008, that the County Representatives are now willing to address the section north of Wimbish independently, with no commitment on the part of the Residents’ Representatives regarding segments including the Wimbish intersection south to Vineville/Forsyth Road.

We agree in principle that a two-lane section is better than a three-lane section for the northern segment of Forest Hill Road. The two-lane cross-section plan as submitted by the county does not represent any change in footprint (road width) or design speed (47 mph) from the original design, and thus still imposes excessive neighborhood impacts.    A narrower profile (34 foot) and 11 foot travel lanes (the marked lane width on Ridge Avenue) will address these concerns and earn our acceptance.  Such a design might also reduce cost by negating the need to relocate utility poles. We agree that turn lanes are appropriate for four to six of the intersections with more traffic or other safety concerns; the configuration of these intersections have not been detailed at this time (those at Newport, Lundy and Lokchapee are of particular concern).

We will accept a sidewalk on one side, strongly preferring a multi-use path detached from the roadway and following the natural contour to minimize fill and cut requirements and reduce disruption of adjacent properties. This too could reduce cost by negating the need to relocate utility poles, as the multi-use path could meander around and behind the poles and other obstacles.


We continue to have major concerns with the Wimbish/Northminster/Forest Hill Road intersection designs and the segment of Forest Hill Road between Wimbish and Ridge Avenue. We emphasize that we are not accepting the current design for these segments, and strongly oppose the county’s design. We incorporate by reference the FHR Neighborhood Reps Position 6-4-2008, which outlines our concerns regarding the intersections and the segment of Forest Hill Road from Wimbish to Ridge.


Respectfully submitted,
The Forest Hill Road Neighborhood Representatives
Thursday, June 26, 2008.
 

 


 
 


- The FHR Neighborhood Representatives:

- Carol Lystlund <CLystlund@AtlanticSouthernBank.com>
[478] 477-3389
730 Forest Hill Rd.
Macon 31210

 - Lindsay Holliday <teeth@mindspring.com>
o-746-5695, h-742-8699, c-335-3452
744 Forest Hill Rd.
Macon 31210

- Susan Hanberry Martin <shanberry@stratford.org>
w-477-8973 , h-474-4437
4831 Guerry Drive
Macon 31210

 - Dan Fischer <FISCHER_DP@Mercer.edu>
h- 477-3875 h, w- 301-2489, 
489 Ashville Drive
Macon 31210

- Alice Boyd <dmbx1@cox.net>
h-477-6407
540 Forest Hill Rd
Macon 31210

 


 



 
  

 
HR Neighborhood Reps Position 6-4-2008

The County Representatives “final” position of May 14, 2008, fails to address the residents’ serious concerns regarding safety for residents and the traveling public, access, and neighborhood impact.  It is, therefore, not acceptable.

We have made our concerns clear from the initial stages of mediation:  a reasonable footprint appropriate for an established residential area, access to adjoining properties, and safety.  The County Representatives have not addressed these concerns to our satisfaction. 

The County Representatives’ contention that a design speed significantly greater than the proposed posted speed is safe defies logic and modern traffic design theory.  That assertion is presented as unsubstantiated opinion, with the admission that MAAI does not conduct post-construction reviews of previously built projects to test design assumptions.  The residents of the FHR area have provided, at their own expense, the expertise of Mr. Rick Chellman, an internationally recognized expert in modern traffic planning and design; his valuable insights which address modern design practice and safety issues have been ignored.

The separated four-lane configuration of the Wimbish to Ridge segment is of a scale without precedent in Bibb County for even the exaggerated traffic volumes cited for FHR.  The width, comparable to that of the newly completed section of Riverside Drive, is inappropriate for an existing residential neighborhood (the County Representatives are referred to the preface of the ASHTO Greenbook, which makes explicit reference to context-sensitive design).  Additionally, the design denies safe and convenient access to adjacent residential properties and to St. Francis Church.

Refusal to address the conflicts caused by the proximity of the Northminster/Wimbish intersection with both Wimbish/Forest Hills and the High Point North Condominium Townhouse complex entrance results in aggravating the existing problem at substantial expense rather than effectively eliminating it through realignment of the intersections, as proposed by Mr. Chellman.

We, the Residents Representatives, cannot in good faith acquiesce to a plan that defies good transportation planning while compromising public safety and neighborhood integrity.   With current constraints on transportation funding, a more cost-effective and reasonable design is mandated.


We repeat our preferences and compromises that we would find acceptable:
  • Wimbish Avenue to Northside Drive: We prefer the current two-lane configuration, with an improved road bed and dedicated left turn lanes where warranted (roundabouts at the intersections with Forest Lake Drive South/Newport Road and Lokchapee Drive/Old Lundy Road would be ideal solutions incorporating modern traffic-calming technologies!). As a compromise, we agreed to a two-lane configuration with 11 foot driving lanes and 5 foot shoulders as proposed by Mr. Rick Chellman, with dedicated left turn lanes where warranted. A grassy swale is preferable in either iteration, as on and off-site drainage problems are minimized and the character of a beautiful urban-rural roadway – one of the hallmarks of Macon, is preserved. A sidewalk/multi-use path detached from the roadway on one side only is desirable given the residential density of this segment; a detached walkway/path that follows the terrain will reduce the fill and grading impacts of the roadway and will also be safer, more attractive, and consistent with the overall character of the neighborhood.

.
  • Wimbish Road to Ridge Avenue: We remain convinced that a two-lane configuration with dedicated left and right turn lanes where warranted is adequate for future traffic requirements on this segment. As a compromise, we agreed to three-lane section (preferable) or alternately a four-lane section with no median strip or center lane and minimal shoulders. In either case, the width of the travel lanes plus shoulders could be accommodated in a 50 foot to 52 foot footprint, and should allow access (right and left turns) to the church and adjoining properties. A sidewalk/multi-use path detached from the roadway on one side should be adequate, but we would accept sidewalks on both sides in this segment.
    •


  • Ridge Avenue to Vineville Avenue: We would accept a wider profile and additional lanes, as adequate stacking in this segment will be most effective in improving the flow and capacity of Forest Hill Road. The width of the street and the presence of stacked vehicles justifies sidewalks on both sides in this segment. We remain puzzled as to why this segment is proposed for construction after the northern segment, as it will provide the greatest benefit.


  • Forest Hill/Wimbish/Northminster intersection(s): The current plan offers minor relief from conflicts with the Forest Hill/Wimbish intersection, but greatly aggravates dangers between the Wimbish/Northminster intersection and the sole access road for the High Point North Condominium Townhouse complex.  The Condo residents have repeatedly expressed their grave concern about poor safety here.  Mr. Rick Chellman’s proposal for realigned and integrated intersections solves both conflicts, rather than just shifting the problem from one section of road to another. It or an alternative plan that addresses serious safety concerns must be considered. A roundabout at a realigned Forest Hill/Wimbish/Northminster intersection would address the County Representative’s concern regarding predominate traffic flow, as all legs of a roundabout are equal.


  • The design speed of all sections must be 35 mph to assure the safety of residents and through traffic alike.  It is not acceptable to have incongruity between the posted speed of 35 mph which you proposed and the design speed which exceeds 47mph.
Respectfully submitted,

The Forest Hill Road Neighborhood Representatives

Wednesday, June 4, 2008.


At 06:41 PM 6/4/2008, you wrote:
Respectfully submitted by the

The Forest Hill Road Neighborhood Representatives

Wednesday, June 4, 2008.

http://www.macon-bibb.com/FHR/FHR-Citizens_6-4-2008.doc



 





 





This webpage originates from some of the Mediators for the Friends of Forest Hill Road in Macon , Georgia.  It contains information which may be confidential or privileged and is intended only for the individuals or entity named above.  It is prohibited for anyone to disclose, copy, distribute, or use the contents of this webpage.  All personal messages are the express views of Concerned American Citizens and Taxpayers, and nothing here may be copied or distributed without their specific and individual permissions. 

If you reached this webpage or this message in error, please notify me immediately - Lindsay Holliday <teeth@mindspring.com> 478-742-8699 


 




 

- CAUTION Macon -
  Eisenhower Parkway Extension  

go back to Forest Hill Road