TranSystems preview workshop, project plans
, Richmond News Staff
11-13-2009
Before Nov. 12th’s day-long TranSystems master transportation plan workshop, including an evening open house, the TranSystems team gave Richmond officials a preview of coming attractions.
“We’re going to come in essentially with a clean slate to hear concerns from community members,” said TranSystems project manager Sara Clark Tuesday evening. “We want to gather information from people who are here everyday.”
Clark, flanked by fellow TranSystems team members Jeff McKerrow, Sarah Cross and spokeswoman Jayne Siemens, laid out Thursday’s workshop itinerary Tuesday evening. In a sense, it mirrors the next six months’ agenda.
That agenda, the city and TranSystems’ team hopes, will guide Richmond’s transportation decision-making for both the short- and long-term future.
October launched the three-pronged process’s first stage, Clark told the Richmond City Council: take comprehensive, 24-hour traffic counts and an intersection and transportation inventory.
Next, the team can start devising suggestions for intersection improvements, improved transportation “connectivity” and improved sidewalks and bike paths.
Occurring somewhat alongside the first two steps, the third step will have the TranSystems’ team members converse with assigned advisement and stakeholder groups, who can elaborate on specific needs throughout the city.
Thursday’s private meetings with advisory groups and stakeholders will take place before a 2:30 p.m. public meeting in the City Council Chambers, which Clark said provides an opportunity for any citizen to comment openly on Richmond’s transportation needs.
While the advisory group – which includes council member Jim Dunwoodie and Mayor Pro Tem Mike Wright – will serve to address broad, city-wide concerns, the stakeholder groups will address more localized concerns within Richmond, Clark explained.
The end result, Clark explained, should be a useful package including project recommendations, an implementation plan, suggested funding sources and a functional map of areas to address.
“We’ll ask our stakeholders which projects need to be prioritized,” Clark said.
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