A pedestrian safety improvement project at Jackson Square is almost complete, but on Monday, the City Council balked at a second project to improve intersections on the nearby Oak Ridge Turnpike.
They had already authorized the spending, but on Monday, the Oak Ridge City Council balked at awarding a $365,000 construction contract that would use red light camera money for pedestrian safety projects.
The contract would have been awarded to Ronald Franks Construction Co. LLC of Savannah, Tenn. The project would have made traffic safety and pedestrian crosswalk improvements at eight Oak Ridge Turnpike intersections and three residential intersections.
The Oak Ridge Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan had said the intersections needed improvements, and the Council authorized the spending during a special meeting in August.
But on Monday, a few questioned how much red light camera will remain, and they expressed concern that the contract for the sometimes-controversial cameras will expire soon, possibly in April.
Oak Ridge City Council member Trina Baughn proposed an indefinite postponement of the Turnpike safety improvements. She said the city had spent down much of the red light camera money in the past nine months.
Baughn said she was an early supporter of the cameras, but they have negatively affected businesses and much of the money collected from their citations is not directly related to student safety.
“We need to spend this money in congruence with the original intent,†Baughn said.
But Oak Ridge Mayor Tom Beehan said the camera money is not only intended to make roads safer near schools; the city can also improve conditions for the elderly and handicapped, he said.
Oak Ridge City Manager Mark Watson said the bike and pedestrian plan had evaluated pedestrian safety conditions around school zones, among other things.
Former City Council member Ellen Smith urged council members to not delay their vote. There has already been much planning and discussion of the project, and council supported it just a few months ago, Smith said.
“It’s time to use this money that you’ve been accumulating… rather than holding it again from some other plan,†Smith said. “You’re not spending it in a hurry.â€
Council members Anne Garcia Garland and Chuck Hope supported Baughn’s proposal to indefinitely postpone the Turnpike improvements, but it failed in a 3-4 vote.
However, a subsequent vote to proceed with the work also failed, again in a 3-4 vote. Council member David Mosby joined Baughn, Garcia Garland, and Hope in voting against it. Joining Beehan in voting for it were Council members Jane Miller and Charlie Hensley.
A big chunk of the red light camera money was used for another project that is almost complete and was also endorsed in August. It improves a city-owned parking lot on the north side of Jackson Square.
Oak Ridge Finance Director Janice McGinnis told Council members that about $235,000 would remain in the red light camera fund after both sets of pedestrian safety projects, including the work proposed by the contract that Council rejected on Monday, were completed.
The Turnpike work would have included a mix of new and/or upgraded traffic and pedestrian signals, pavement markings, signs, sidewalks, and handicap ramps at Tulane, Rutgers, New York, Georgia, and Florida avenues, and East Division, Bus Terminal, and Administration roads. There were also three residential intersections slated to be improved.
Cindy McCullough says
Wow, this sounds a bit confusing… the project money was approved, but the contract was not approved. The vote to shelve the project for awhile failed. The vote to proceed with the project failed. Sounds like some kind of limbo? But I guess in the end it means that for awhile at least the project is shelved. We sure do need some improved pedestrian crossings and more disabled ramps though.
johnhuotari says
Cindy,
I apologize if the story wasn’t clear. I’ll add some info here and maybe that will help.
I checked my notes from the August special meeting. The vote for the pedestrian improvement projects then was 6-1, with Anne Garcia Garland voting no. Finance Director Janice McGinnis said the red light camera contract expires in April, and the money will only be collected through then unless the contract is renewed. Expressing a concern for safety near RMS and ORHS, Trina Baughn said she would like to see some of the money used for solutions that could replace the cameras. She said she’s heard many complaints about them.
As I reported above, on Monday, Baughn expressed concern that much of the money has recently been spent down. Chuck Hope agreed and pointed out that a contract renewal could be considered soon. Garcia Garland said it might be better to postpone the use of the funds for sidewalks for now. Those three voted in favor of an indefinite postponement. It failed 3-4. Then, David Mosby joined them in voting 4-3 against the main motion to proceed with the work. Mosby did not explain his vote.
I don’t know if, or when, this work might go back to council, or whether it would have to go back out for bids again, but I’ve made a few inquiries to try to find out. I hope this helps.
Helen Standifer says
Boy, those red light cameras really put a bug up everybody’s butt. You do know they have them all over and I don’t think there is that much discussion except that one guy in K-town who shot out the red light camera…now that’s fighting city hall! But all I have to do is mention red light cameras and people start gnashing
their teeth.
Philip W Nipper says
I too am confused. Were not these funds to be used to improve the general safety of the public via crosswalk improvements, better and increased street signage and ADA improvements? The fact that the current contract may or may not get renewed is not the issue. As I see it we have funds in the pot and projects lined up to use the funds. What is the major malfunction, over?
Trina Baughn says
I provide an explanation for my position here: http://trinabaughn.com/2013/11/12/the-peoples-business-111113-oak-ridge-city-council-meeting-summary/
Kay Williamson says
Way to go !!! Just because you have the money doesn’t mean you need to spend it!! They spent money down on the turnpike @ Illinois and now a new krogers is going in and much of that work got tore up!! So let’s wait and hold out for a real need.
TJ Garland says
No one ever mentioned how much money has been collected-or how it was split. It was always put into the general fund. Apparently it has recently been pulled out. But, how much?
We need to know exactly how much each intersection has collected, and how.
The Chief needs to file his traffic accident reports for the years of the contract. They are crucial.
The citizens need to read this one sided contract. I will try to make available at the library, starting tommorrow.
johnhuotari says
TJ,
I think a special project fund was set up several years ago for the red light camera money. This language from the August memo from the city manager seems to support that recollection: “The City Engineer continues work on the implementation of the traffic safety enhancement list as approved by the City Council with Resolution 4-30-11, which indicated City Council’s desire to use said funds for traffic/pedestrian/bicycle safety improvements. A report has been provided by the City Engineer summarizing projects accomplished to date.”
Here’s a link to an August story that includes that memo. It was written for the special City Council meeting on the pedestrian safety projects: http://oakridgetoday.com/2013/07/30/public-meeting-next-month-construction-next-year-on-jackson-square-project/
Here’s a link to an earlier story in March, when City Engineer Steve Byrd said the Oak Ridge Public Works Department would have spent about $330,000 from the special programs fund, leaving an estimated balance of $877,000, after the project to install flashing pedestrian signs on Melton Lake Drive project was completed: http://oakridgetoday.com/2013/03/17/flashing-pedestrian-signs-could-be-installed-at-three-crosswalks-on-melton-lake/
As I reported in this story, the balance would have been down to about $235,000 if the Turnpike improvements had passed (and after the Jackson Square work had already started). But since the Turnpike improvements didn’t pass and that contract was worth roughly $365,000, I assume there is still about $600,000 in the red light camera fund.
Helen Standifer says
I have given up trying to understand what the council wants to do. When I moved back here they were getting ready to up-date and reopen the mall. All I saw accomplished was the Firestone store and others next to it removed. Then they built a road that was about 30 ft. long. What’s up with that? Now this…..they approve things and then change their minds, how can we ever trust anything that is told to us from city leaders. Also, didn’t we get a lot of money from the state to fix up Jackson Square, and all they’ve got is a parking lot.
Ben Smith says
I don’t know how many times this has to be repeated. The city does not control the mall property. The best the city can do is offer an incentive to developers to redevelop the property. The city has tried several times with various laons and grants, but to no avail since the city does not control the property. So the “they” you refer to in your comment is not the city. The city did not remove any buildings on the property, nor has any road been built. In addition, the “city” was prepared to proceed in this case and certain council people changed their minds. Lastly, the state money was never intended to “fix-up” Jackson Square, it was always intended to redo the parking area. The buildings in Jackson Square are, like the mall property, privately owned.
Helen Standifer says
Wow, that’s a lot of money for a parking lot. No wonder we are broke.
Helen Standifer says
So sorry you had to explain it to the dummies in the cities. Please, don’t let me take anymore of your precious time.
johnhuotari says
Helen,
The project funded with the Tennessee Department of Transportation grant is a separate project, and it’s scheduled to start after Jan. 1.
I have previously reported that the TDOT money will be used to renovate the Jackson Square parking lot by adding handicapped parking and access, pedestrian lighting and circulation, landscaping and event enhancements. I’ll have to double-check, but I think this parking lot is the one inside the square, and not the city-owned lot north of it, which is the one being worked on now. (You can see one of those stories here: http://oakridgetoday.com/2013/07/30/public-meeting-next-month-construction-next-year-on-jackson-square-project/
Helen Standifer says
Thanks, John.
johnhuotari says
You’re welcome, Helen
bshippley says
I am so tired of hearing that the red light cameras are stopping people from coming to Oak Ridge to shop, etc. I never heard anyone complain about the ones in Knoxville – Turkey Creek and Farragut. Doesn’t look like those are impeding anyone from shoppingover there. Enough already stop using the red light camera as an excuse…
njengland says
I certainly agree with bshippley. In the past I’ve seen a couple of letters to the Editor saying they won’t shop here because of traffic monitors (red light cameras).
One woman, coming from Clinton, complained that if she was not to exceed 35 mph, she’d have to spend all her driving time watching her speedometer instead of the road. Hey, the last thing we need in Oak Ridge is some pathetic limp-brain wandering all over the road. Good riddance.
Another writer said he didn’t think it was either reasonable or possible to come down Illinois Avenue (going downhill from Oliver Springs) and keep it under 50 mph. We don’t need him either!
I think the traffic monitors are great and have done wonders keeping people at legal speeds, at least at the few places we have them. Let’s put up some more!!
Levi D. Smith says
I regret supporting Baughn now knowing that she originally supported the speed and red light cameras. How about using that money to give the citizens of Oak Ridge a tax break, and tell RedFlex to go back to Australia.