Information Items:
The U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) will hold a free workshop on Saturday, April 28 in the Council Chambers at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center. The workshop will provide information and options available to FHA homeowners who may find themselves unable to make their mortgage payments on time. Two repeated sessions will be held: Session I - 10 am - noon (registration at 9:30 am) and Session II - 2 - 4 pm (registration at 1:30 pm).
HUD notified 2,300 borrowers in default in the Charlotte area. Not all of these borrowers are in trouble, but they do represent borrowers that either have been or currently are late on their FHA insured loans. FHA staff, housing counselors and servicing lenders will be available at the workshop to provide information to help borrowers avoid foreclosure. Participants are asked to confirm their attendance by calling 1-800-Call FHA or by registering online at
hud@custhelp.com . Seating will be limited.
Landscape Management has responded to about 110 requests for service related to downed trees and limbs from the high winds on Monday, April 16, 2007. Clearing work also involved crews from Street Maintenance and several City hired contractors. Many downed trees involved power lines and Duke Energy will have to de-energize and repair those lines before city crews can remove the trees. We expect to have all cleanup work from the storm completed by the end of the week.
As part of a federally mandated safety evaluation, CATS and their consultant (K&J Safety and Security Consulting Services, Inc.) identified opportunities to enhance the safe operation of southbound South Boulevard between Clanton Road and Scaleybark Road. The light rail project rebuilt this section of South Boulevard. Key changes included:
- Shifting southbound South Boulevard to the west side of the light rail tracks and eliminating the earth embankment on the west side of South Boulevard, which blocked the motorist views of adjacent properties.
- Adding two at-grade crossings of the light rail and South Boulevard
- Eliminating unprotected left turns from South Boulevard to adjoining businesses
- Eliminating the intersection of South Boulevard and Clanton Road/Hartford Avenue
- Upgrading storm drainage through the entire section
- Adding landscaping and street lights through the entire section
- Creating a full intersection at South Boulevard and Whitton Street
- Adding a protected left turn lane from northbound South Boulevard into Blume Supply, north of Clanton Road
- Creating a signalized T-intersection at South Boulevard and Clanton Road
After evaluating these crossings the CATS safety consultant recommended removing the left turn lane on southbound South Boulevard at Clanton Road for the following reasons:
- The entrance to the left turn lane is difficult to identify because it is preceded by a long at-grade crossing of the light rail tracks and South Boulevard and the transition into the northbound left turn lane. This presents a risk that vehicles may become stuck on the tracks or collide with LRT vehicles.
- The left turn lane is too short for the intersection queues and could result in vehicles stopped on the tracks at the grade crossing.
- There have already been four crashes in this area. (Note: All drivers involved in crashes were cited for driving while intoxicated.)
CATS and CDOT staff reviewed these issues and concur with the consultant's recommendation. CATS and CDOT staff believe that the southbound approach of the South Boulevard/Clanton Road intersection will operate more safely once the left turn lane is eliminated. An alternate access is provided at the next signalized intersection of South Boulevard and Whitton Street.
CATS staff will notify affected property owners of the change and coordinate reconstructing the curb line to remove the left turn lane.
WIRED Initiative UpdateStaff Resource:
Veronica Mosley, 704-336-2427 - vmosley@ci.charlotte.nc.us
Recently the Economic Development staff provided you with information on the Workforce Innovation Regional Economic Development (WIRED) grant proposal that was submitted by the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Workforce Development Board along with the Gaston County WDB, Centralina WDB and the Charlotte Regional Partnership to the Governor. Our office received notice that the Governor's office selected grant applications from Eastern North Carolina WIRED Initiative and All-American Center for Workforce and Regional Economic Development to submit to Washington.
The Charlotte-Mecklenburg WDB and the Charlotte Regional Partnership will continue to collaborate on several initiatives to increase high skill and high wage opportunities for the Charlotte region.
