Proposed 13th Street lane-reduction project rankles some citizens, councilors

A city proposal to reduce the number of lanes on 13th Street, from Fifth to 13th Avenues, got a cool response from some Columbus councilors on Tuesday.

Those who raised concerns about the proposal said they had received calls from constituents opposed to the project, following a two-week test of lane closures last month. Critics also have been very vocal on Facebook.

The debate erupted Tuesday as councilors discussed a resolution in support of the Georgia Department of Transportation’s plans to re-stripe 13th Street, reducing lanes from seven to five over the viaduct, from Fifth to 10th Avenue, and from five to three lanes from 10th to 13th avenues. Council is scheduled to vote on the resolution week.

City Engineering Director Donna Newman said the plans emerged out of discussions with Midtown Inc., which wants to improve connectivity for drivers, pedestrians, cyclists and transit riders between midtown and downtown. In 2015, the organization received a Knight Foundation Grant for a “Minimum Grid” project to explore such possibilities.

In a presentation to council, Newman said the GDOT project also would include signal upgrades, sidewalks with ADA accessible ramps and other safety improvements. She said the changes could improve conditions for area businesses, increase Metra ridership, provide low-income residents with access to services, and attract more Millennials who prefer alternatives in transportation.

But Councilor Bruce Huff said more people should have been included in the discussions.

“I think if this is something that really needs to happen, it probably could have been discussed and we probably come to the same conclusion a long time ago, without us having to go back and forth, and get all the phone calls and figure out what everybody wants to do,” he said. “I’m just real concerned all the time that council is faced with trying to take phone calls, move the city forward, but we don’t get all of the input all of the time.”

Councilor Judy Thomas said she was concerned about safety issues.

“What is that bicycle rider going to do going west on 13th when they get to Fifth Avenue?” she asked. “They can’t continue on 13th Street from 10th Avenue to Veterans, and Veterans to uptown, to the 13th Street Bridge over the Chattahoochee, unless you have McMullen or International Funeral Home, or somebody parked there to take them off the road, because there is no place for them to ride their bicycle

“One block over on 14th Street, we are putting in a tremendous new facility for bike riders,” she said. “And I would hope that that area would be used much more so than 13th Street for bicyclists.”

Thomas said 13th Street is a major corridor for fire trucks and ambulances in the area, and first-responders have told her they are very concerned about narrowing the road.

City Manager Isaiah Hugley said bigger cities work in such conditions all the time.

“We’re talking seven lanes now and we’re taking it down to five,” he said. “And in my mind, I think about Atlanta, New York, and these other places where there’s serious traffic congestion and they’re doing this stuff all the time.”

Hugley said city staff would address Thomas’ concerns with sheriff and fire and EMS officials.

“I don’t know about my fellow councilors, and maybe the millennials don’t call old people like me,” she said. “But the calls and the contacts that I received were vastly in favor of keeping the road as it is now — hundreds to less than 25.”

Thomas asked Hugley to notify GDOT if the resolution passes and it’s not unanimous.

“I think if we do this, no matter what the good intentions are, we’re going to have people who are very, very upset with this configuration,” she said. “I just have some real concerns about doing it at this point.”

Other councilors who expressed concerns about the proposed changes included Councilors Gary Allen and Jerry “Pops” Barnes.

The lane-closure test occurred from May 11-31.

“Several members of staff, GDOT and Midtown and others drove through the area during peak times to monitor traffic and delays,” according to the resolution. “Results from travel time studies from GDOT, experienced by staff, the public determined the delays were minimal and in most cases less than a minute.

“ If the road diet is fully implemented other elements would be incorporated to improve traffic flow in the area, i.e adjustment of signal timings, additional signs and markings to clearly delineate lane drops, etc.,” it continues. “Also, overall traffic patterns would change with some travelers choosing under utilized alternate routes.”

This story was originally published June 13, 2017 at 5:11 PM with the headline "Proposed 13th Street lane-reduction project rankles some citizens, councilors."