Fayetteville asking residents about transportation desires

Signs warn drivers about upcoming construction on College Ave. Sunday Mar. 6, 2016. Fayetteville is starting a construction project on the east side of College Avenue to improve and widen the sidewalk and do other work between North and Maple streets.
Signs warn drivers about upcoming construction on College Ave. Sunday Mar. 6, 2016. Fayetteville is starting a construction project on the east side of College Avenue to improve and widen the sidewalk and do other work between North and Maple streets.

FAYETTEVILLE -- Residents started brainstorming Thursday about what the city transportation network needs to look like.

The city has scheduled workshops through Saturday to get residents' input and experiences with streets, trails, parking lots and transit.

Here’s the workshop schedule:

Today

• 11:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., Evelyn Hills Shopping Center, 1320 N. College Ave.

• 3:30-5:30 p.m., Harps Food Store, 1274 N. Colorado Drive off Wedington Drive

• 7-9:30 p.m. at the northeast corner of Dickson Street and West Avenue.

Saturday

• 8-11 a.m., Farmers’ Market on downtown square

• 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Public Library, 401 W. Mountain St.

Residents can also participate online: www.fayetteville-ar…

Source: City of Fayetteville

"We're just trying to determine what residents' goals are and aren't," said Liza Cohen with Nelson/Nygaard Consulting Associates, the group hired by the city to help with the study.

The workshops are part of the process to develop a transportation master plan to guide city projects and decisions for the next several years. The plan will replace one adopted in 2003.

Residents can vote on such things as parking preferences in the downtown area and entertainment district, whether driving, walking, bicycling or public transit should be prioritized and where people would like to see transportation improvements.

Some examples: Do residents want to pay to park closer or walk from free parking further away from the places they frequent? Should there be more on-street parking or more parking garages or lots? Is there a preference for maintaining existing infrastructure or should the city look at new projects?

The first session was Thursday on the Fayetteville Senior Center parking lot.

"I came out because I'm concerned about crossing Archibald Yell. It's dangerous," said Karen Muller, who lives south of the street. "I wanted to put in my two cents worth. I like to walk to the town square to the Farmers' Market."

Edward Hejtmanek said he rides a bike to and from work and for recreation and also walks a lot. He said he takes his grandchildren on the trails but won't let them ride on the streets because it's dangerous.

"I know where some of the bad and dangerous areas are because I'm on the trail system every day," Hejtmanek said. "I just want to see it safer."

Hejtmanek, who served on the city's Sidewalk and Trails Committee a few years ago, also suggested changes at crosswalks to better protect pedestrians, particularly Martin Luther King Jr. Boulevard and Razorback Road.

He said the city should change some priorities, adding there's still too much emphasis on cars and parking lots and not enough on bikes, pedestrians and public transportation.

The City Council hired Nelson/Nygaard in March for $600,000 to put together the plan during the next 15 months. The firm is also working with the University of Arkansas on a transportation plan. The consultants have worked on similar studies in Chicago, San Diego and other cities, according to the firm's website.

NW News on 05/06/2016

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