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Commission hears design options, costs for downtown streetscape lighting and sidewalk patterns
Summary
Consultants presented two design alternates for a GDOT‑funded downtown streetscape (wavy sidewalks vs. fossilized/river motif) and recommended wavy patterns to align existing downtown branding; the change order would add final lighting plans, a foundation/geotechnical analysis and an optional $51,000 sound study for possible future pole speakers.
City consultants told the commission the downtown streetscape project — funded primarily through a GDOT Transportation Alternatives Program grant — is moving into final design and that a change order (Change Order 3) would add final lighting design and two sidewalk pattern alternates.
WSP’s David Griffith summarized alternate 1 (wavy sidewalk patterns) and alternate 2 (a fossilized, river‑themed pattern), noting staff’s recommendation for alternate 1 to maintain consistency with existing downtown footprints. The change order also includes geotechnical and foundation design for upgraded pedestrian light poles: staff said designing foundations now will prevent costly retrofits later should the city choose to add amenities such as banners or speakers.
The presentation triggered questions about scope and cost. Commissioners asked whether pole upgrades had been approved previously and expressed concern about adding amenities that had not been voted on by the full commission. Staff clarified that a limited commitment had been made for the Sandy Bottom area and that the current work would allow poles to support future features without obligating installation of speakers. A consultant and staff noted the city’s 20% match obligation for preliminary engineering and that the change‑order package would add about $69,139 of work (city share for the change order was quantified in discussion), plus an optional sound study estimated at roughly $51,000 (city pays 20% of the study under the grant rules).
Commissioners asked staff to present clearer cost breakdowns and to confine wavy patterns to the north side of Pine Avenue near the river aquarium if approved. Staff said that if the commission wanted to proceed with either alternate, formal approval of a change order would be placed on a future meeting agenda with full cost and match details.
Next steps: staff said they would provide an itemized change‑order request and cost allocation for formal action at the next commission meeting.
