Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation And Pedestrian Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council weighs redirecting DHCD placemaking grant from bus shelters to safety-focused crosswalk at Star Center
Summary
City staff asked the council to support a request to DHCD to change a placemaking grant originally intended for two artistic bus shelters so the funding could instead pay for pedestrian-safety improvements at a busy school-to-Star Center crosswalk; council asked for committee review and offered mixed views on bus shelters versus crosswalk work.
City administration asked the Havre de Grace City Council to endorse a request to the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development (DHCD) to change the scope of a placemaking grant from two artistic bus shelters to pedestrian-safety work focused on the crosswalk leading from a school parking lot to the Star Center.
Doctor Ritchie said staff had discussed possible alternative projects with DHCD and that DHCD is open to considering a grant scope change if the city sends a formal letter of support from the council. "We reached out to DHCD to see if they'd be interested or willing to entertain potentially changing the scope of that project," Ritchie said. He described the proposed pivot as moving funds "from these placemaking bus shelters and focusing more on pedestrian crosswalks," citing chronic vehicle incursions onto the sidewalk near the Star Center and the school parking lot.
Council members debated priorities. Council member Jones asked whether the original grant planned for multiple bus shelters; Director Borsier confirmed two bus shelters were planned (one at Revolution in front of Family Dollar and one on Otsego near McDonald's). Council member Robertson and others said the crosswalk leading to the Star Center sees heavy pedestrian traffic (students and event-goers) and expressed safety concerns. Council member Boker and others emphasized the value of bus shelters for transit-dependent residents and asked that shelters be retained if possible.
Mayor/administration voiced concerns about maintenance and social issues around shelters: "my exposure to bus stops and my travels, bus stops tend to collect trash, graffiti, homeless, illicit drug activity sometimes," an administrator said during discussion (transcript). Council president proposed referring the matter to the planning committee for additional study; administration said DHCD prefers the change request sooner rather than later but that waiting one or two meetings would not necessarily be a deal-breaker.
Outcome: Council took no immediate final action to change grant language at the meeting and directed the planning committee to take up the issue for further review and recommendation. Administration will prepare the formal letter in the spirit discussed and pursue committee review prior to submitting any formal DHCD request.
