Urban Street Design Guidelines
Staff Resources: Norm Steinman, 704-336-3939 and Tracy Newsome, 704-353-0778
On Friday, April 29, the new Urban Street Design Guidelines (USDG) public review draft will be available on the Charlotte Department of Transportation website (www.charmeck.org/departments/Transportation). The USDG Stakeholders Group is reviewing this draft. The stakeholders group represents a wide variety of perspectives on streets and how they should be designed. There will also be at least two public meetings to discuss the USDG, and staff will be available to present the USDG to interested civic, neighborhood, and business groups.
The guidelines recommend how Charlotte's streets should be planned and designed to provide viable transportation options for people traveling by all modes, including:
- why this new approach to street design is necessary,
- how the guidelines should be applied, and
- the details of how a wide variety of technical design elements should be used for different types of streets in Charlotte and its sphere.
The guidelines are intended to create streets that will allow Charlotte to accommodate projected growth, while maintaining the quality of life necessary for continued economic development.
STS Incidents - Mr. Loudermilk
Staff Resource: Pete Wallace, 704-336-3860
Rusty Loudermilk has signed up to speak before the City Council at Monday night's citizen forum. We believe he will be addressing Council about two separate incidents involving his use of CATS' Special Transportation Services this past week. Staff regrets that these incidents occurred, has expressed that regret to Mr. Loudermilk and is investigating the circumstances around each one.
On Saturday, April 23, Mr. Loudermilk was involved in an incident aboard an STS vehicle in which it appears under initial investigation the wheelchair was not completely secured. It appears the driver only secured two of the four straps required to properly fasten a passenger in a wheelchair to the securement system on the floor of the vehicle. When the driver accelerated to put the vehicle in motion, the wheelchair tilted back on its rear wheels and Mr. Loudermilk and the chair landed backwards on the floor of the vehicle.
Mr. Loudermilk was transported to the hospital to be examined and was released. He has indicated the diagnosis was a bruised spine. The STS driver was taken by the supervisor on duty for a post-accident drug test, which is standard procedure. The incident is currently being investigated and appropriate action will be taken. We understand that the Charlotte Observer plans to run a story about Mr. Loudermilk's experience under the "Citizen Watchdog" column, possibly tomorrow.
In a separate, unrelated incident on Monday morning, April 25, the STS vehicle which arrived to pick up Mr. Loudermilk to take him to his destination had a lift which did not operate properly. As soon as this fact was discovered, the driver immediately called for another vehicle to be dispatched. Mr. Loudermilk arrived at his destination on time. Staff is investigating the equipment problem and will have it fixed before the vehicle is placed in use again.
Passengers that use wheelchairs are to have their wheelchair firmly secured to the floor of the STS vehicle at four points. Four heavy nylon straps are hooked to the wheelchair's frame (two in the front and two in the back) and secured to a special track securement system built into the vehicle's floor. The straps are ratcheted down to secure the wheelchair. In addition, passengers are secured by a lap belt and shoulder belt.
STS collaborates with advocacy groups for the disabled in the training process for all drivers. For example, the Metrolina Association of the Blind (MAB) provides new STS drivers with training on how to assist customers with visual impairments.
New drivers must complete up to 160 hours of training that includes proper securement of wheelchairs and conducting a final check-off ride with a supervisor before driving independently.
STS carries over 800 riders a day and provides close to 205,000 rides per year. STS provides door-to-door transportation for individuals who are certified according to the guidelines contained in the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to ride within Mecklenburg County.
Johnston and Mecklenburg Mill Apartments - Update
Staff Resources: Stanley Watkins, 704-336-3796 and Ron Tober, 704-336-7245
Last week, members of City Council received correspondence from Paul McBroom, President of the North Davidson Business Association, regarding the Johnston and Mecklenburg Mill Apartments. In response, staff is providing a status report on the properties, CATS' plans for the Northeast Transit Corridor and Neighborhood Development's plans for moving forward.
Johnston Mill Apartments: The Johnston Mill Apartments (3315 North Davidson Street) are currently in bankruptcy. The apartments consist of 90 affordable housing units and the City's investment of $3.9 million is in first lien position. Our attorneys (Horack,Talley) have petitioned the court to remove the property from bankruptcy, which would allow the City to foreclose. It is anticipated that the court will review the case in May. Foreclosure would take an additional 90 to 120 days and the City could take possession of the property in August/September.
Mecklenburg Mill Apartments: The Mecklenburg Mill Apartments (3327 North Davidson Street) are also in the process of being removed from bankruptcy. The apartments consist of 60 affordable housing units and the City's investment of $3.3 million is in first lien position. The plan is to foreclose at the same time as the Johnston Mill and take possession of the property in August/September.
Disposition of the Mill Apartments: Neighborhood Development plans to issue a Request for Proposals (RFP) to developers to acquire, rehabilitate and manage the Mill buildings. The primary goal is to preserve as many affordable housing units as possible. The developments would be mixed income, as experience has shown this to be the best approach. The draft RFP document will be completed within the next 30 days.
CATS - Northeast Transit Corridor: CATS is currently conducting an environmental and engineering study in the Northeast Corridor in conjunction with Planning Commission staff. This study will set the locations for stations along the corridor to be covered in the Draft Environmental Impact Statement. One of the station locations being considered is in NODA at 36th Street between the NCRR and the Mill. CATS does not anticipate having to use any of the Mill building for the station itself or parking at the station. As an historic property, the Mill could not be used for a transit station project under federal law unless there is no feasible alternative available to using the historic property. CATS expects to come to Council in July or August with information on the Northeast Corridor prior to action by the MTC to approve station locations and alignment alternatives.
Community Contacts: Staff has met and discussed the projects with Mr. McBroom on several occasions. On April 27, 2005 staff met with seven members of the North Davidson Neighborhood Association Board to discuss the City's plans for the project. The Board expressed support for the disposition plan and affordable housing in the community. The feedback we received from them is a desire to keep the historic look of the Mill buildings and have a well managed mixed income project. Staff is committed to keeping them informed and allowing opportunities for input as we move through the process.
Next Steps: Once the City gains possession of the properties, a RFP will be issued to develop the units. Our goals are to make the project financially stable while preserving as many affordable units as possible. More than likely this will mean having a mix of incomes in the project. We will communicate and coordinate closely with the NODA Business and Neighborhood Associations, CATS and others in the preservation of these projects. We will bring to Council a process for disposition of the units after we gain possession of the properties.
