MONROE - The Monroe Common Council turned down a $55,000 traffic study proposed for West 8th Street.
The council members voted 2-7 Tuesday on a motion to conduct an extensive, pre-construction study of the city's west-side main thoroughfare, which is not yet scheduled for reconstruction but is in the preliminary stages of discussion. Tom Miller and Jeff Newcomer voted in favor of the study.
The proposal, submitted by Fehr Graham, included analysis of the traffic counts at each intersection to determine the capacity and performance of four-lane and three-lane design alternatives and of a roundabout at the intersection of 6th Avenue West. The firm also offered potential savings of up to $6,000, for up to 80 hours of work performed by city staff.
The proposed study came to the council on the recommendation of the Board of Public Works on a narrow 3-2 vote Nov. 17.
Reid Stangel, president of the Board of Public Works, voted against the study. He said the study was probably not needed. Louis Armstrong agreed, adding that city already knows the areas that are most troubling along the street. Charles Koch called the study "premature."
Points against the study, made during the council meeting, included the prematurity of the study for a construction project that may not even get started in 2015 and the uncertainty of the future use of the 6th Ave. West intersection in light of the new Colony Brands marketing facility there. Armstrong also indicated that a roundabout at the corner could save the city money in the future by not maintaining another traffic light.
Michael Boyce questioned using general funds now for a study that could become obsolete before the project begins, when the city would have to bond for the project anyway and could include the costs of studies. The reconstruction project is estimated to cost about $3 million.
The cost of the study is less than 2 percent of the total project, but Armstrong said that does not justify spending the money unnecessarily.
Director of Public Works Colin Simpson noted that traffic studies would be required for the project, whether as a singular, preliminary study to designing the street or in pieces as the project progresses.
The council members voted 2-7 Tuesday on a motion to conduct an extensive, pre-construction study of the city's west-side main thoroughfare, which is not yet scheduled for reconstruction but is in the preliminary stages of discussion. Tom Miller and Jeff Newcomer voted in favor of the study.
The proposal, submitted by Fehr Graham, included analysis of the traffic counts at each intersection to determine the capacity and performance of four-lane and three-lane design alternatives and of a roundabout at the intersection of 6th Avenue West. The firm also offered potential savings of up to $6,000, for up to 80 hours of work performed by city staff.
The proposed study came to the council on the recommendation of the Board of Public Works on a narrow 3-2 vote Nov. 17.
Reid Stangel, president of the Board of Public Works, voted against the study. He said the study was probably not needed. Louis Armstrong agreed, adding that city already knows the areas that are most troubling along the street. Charles Koch called the study "premature."
Points against the study, made during the council meeting, included the prematurity of the study for a construction project that may not even get started in 2015 and the uncertainty of the future use of the 6th Ave. West intersection in light of the new Colony Brands marketing facility there. Armstrong also indicated that a roundabout at the corner could save the city money in the future by not maintaining another traffic light.
Michael Boyce questioned using general funds now for a study that could become obsolete before the project begins, when the city would have to bond for the project anyway and could include the costs of studies. The reconstruction project is estimated to cost about $3 million.
The cost of the study is less than 2 percent of the total project, but Armstrong said that does not justify spending the money unnecessarily.
Director of Public Works Colin Simpson noted that traffic studies would be required for the project, whether as a singular, preliminary study to designing the street or in pieces as the project progresses.