City hears study to remake 619 corridor; consultants recommend phased gateway project, pedestrian bridge and safety upgrades

Consultants from OHM presented a four‑phase plan for improvements along the 619 corridor to New Franklin City Council, emphasizing safety, pedestrian access and a phased funding approach.

The plan, funded by a grant from AMAS and prepared by OHM, recommends a first phase focused on a gateway area that would include sidewalks, a shared‑use path, a pedestrian bridge across the channel and a concept roundabout at a key intersection. "This is really the gateway," consultant Josh said, adding the design aims to "create that welcoming environment that people can come in and feel that they are part of the community." The consultants estimated the gateway (phase 1) at about $5,000,000 and the total corridor program at more than $10,000,000.

Why it matters: the corridor now lacks sidewalks or continuous pedestrian or bicycle facilities and has a pattern of rear‑end crashes tied to stop‑and‑go traffic, consultants said. Council members and staff raised questions about right‑of‑way impacts, sewer and water timing, and how to pay for construction.

Key details from the presentation

- Safety and multimodal access: The study identified frequent rear‑end crashes and large gaps in sidewalks and bike facilities. Consultants recommended sidewalks, crosswalks, a shared‑use path, and targeted traffic‑calming measures, including a rectangular rapid‑flashing beacon at a key crossing.

- Phasing and costs: OHM proposed a four‑phase approach: launch and discovery, visioning, quick actions/draft report, and an implementation program. Phase 1 — focused on the gateway and the pedestrian bridge — was estimated at about $5,000,000; the entire vision was described as roughly a $10,000,000+ program. Consultants said phasing was necessary because the total cost would be hard to fund at once.

- Funding strategy and timing: Consultants said AMAS offers funding programs and is running a Surface Transportation Block Grant (STBG) program with an application due Nov. 7. They said award decisions from the AMAS policy committee would come in February 2026 and that successful STBG awards typically fund construction (design usually funded from other sources). The consultants said the STBG could cover roughly 80% of construction costs and, if engineering plans/specifications are delivered in a specified timeframe, a sponsor can sometimes secure up to a 90% construction share. "If this is something that council would be interested in moving forward, we would need to pass legislation at an upcoming meeting to support the application," Josh said.

- Project elements: Phase 1 would include a pedestrian bridge across the channel (consultants called the bridge critical to avoid ending sidewalks at the channel), sidewalk and shared‑use path construction, intersection reconfiguration concepts (including a roundabout demonstration), and streetscape elements (landscaping and lighting) to build community identity. Consultants also showed a possible overlook/pedestrian bridge bump‑out for seating and viewing.

- Right‑of‑way and property impacts: Consultants said right‑of‑way widths vary and that detailed design would be required to resolve exact encroachments. At one location (Frigard Plaza), consultants said vehicles currently park in city right‑of‑way and that implementing the shared‑use path could remove a small number of parking spaces; they noted a GIS‑based estimate that up to "0.2 feet" of a proposed element could be on private property in one configuration but stressed final design would resolve those issues.

- Utilities and coordination with development: Council members asked whether sewer and water should be installed before roadway reconstruction. Consultants and the mayor said sewer/water extensions will be separate projects and likely precede or be coordinated with later phases; they emphasized the sewer/pump station work would be a distinct funding and design effort. Councilmembers and consultants also discussed potential developer contributions and timing advantages if adjacent development advances the need for larger phases.

Council response and next steps

Council members generally responded positively to the concepts and asked for additional detail about right‑of‑way, parking impacts, utility timing and realistic funding paths. The consultants urged the council to consider applying for the STBG program and said the city would have years to complete design even if awarded construction funding. The mayor said staff would prepare any necessary resolutions to support grant applications.

Sources and limits: The article is based on the OHM presentation and the council discussion recorded in the meeting transcript. Cost estimates cited are consultants' planning estimates; detailed design and engineering are required to confirm scope, right‑of‑way impacts and final costs.

Ending: Council members signaled interest in pursuing grant applications and further design work; staff and consultants recommended continuing outreach and preparing grant‑application materials for the STBG deadline.