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Syracuse council selects Option 6 for West Davis Corridor aesthetics; members debated bison sculpture safety
Summary
Councilors authorized staff to award the West Davis Corridor aesthetics contract and chose Option 6, which covers signage on both exits and stays within budget. Members discussed whether placing bison sculptures on steep slopes could distract drivers before voting unanimously to move forward with Option 6.
Syracuse City Councilors authorized the administration to award the contract for West Davis Corridor Aesthetics Improvements and selected "Option 6," which the council said would cover signage at both exits and keep the project within the available budget.
Council discussion focused on which elements to include beyond a funded base package. Staff said the base package covers the primary signs at Antelope on both sides and a decorative bison ("bison/buffalo") sculpture; supplemental elements included bison on the slope near the exit, underpass landscaping and secondary signs. Staff reported that updated bids made Option 6 feasible and that it would leave roughly $80,000 under budget for other aesthetic work.
Several council members expressed safety concerns about placing large bison sculptures on the steep exit slopes. One councilor said a driver approaching the exit might see the sculpture while still moving at highway speed and that a life-like figure could act as a distraction: "...my ADHD says that's a traffic hazard... distracted driver." Another councilor questioned whether, given sightlines, the bison on the slope would even be visible to motorists and said the extra sculptures could be more distracting than beneficial. Council members discussed prioritizing signs on both exits instead of adding multiple sculptures.
After discussion, a councilor moved to approve Option 6, which staff said takes care of signs at both exits and leaves additional funds available; the motion was seconded and passed unanimously.
What the council approved: staff is authorized to proceed with the Option 6 package for the West Davis Corridor Aesthetics Improvements Project and to award the contract to the successful bidder. Staff said an earlier winning bidder did not honor its bid, prompting a second solicitation; a later update confirmed secondary sign pricing would fit within the budget.
Implementation notes: the council asked staff to consider placement and sightlines to avoid creating traffic hazards when finalizing sculpture siting and landscape plans.
