Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Infrastructure Public Safety topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Council to inventory sidewalks, address narrow Industrial Parkway near railroad and review traffic signal timing
Summary
Council discussed a constituent request for more sidewalks and repairs in legacy neighborhoods, agreed to inventory and prioritize hazardous segments for FY26 budgeting, and addressed a school-bus safety concern on a narrow stretch of Industrial Parkway potentially within Norfolk Southern right-of-way; staff will seek precise boundary mapping and coordination with the railroad.
Columbiana council members spent a portion of the May 20 meeting discussing pedestrian infrastructure and roadway safety, focusing on damaged sidewalks in older neighborhoods and a safety complaint about a narrow segment of Industrial Parkway that impedes school-bus traffic.
On sidewalks, the mayor presented a resident letter and photographic example of root-damaged sidewalks typical of the city’s legacy residential areas. Council members noted high costs, tree-root conflicts, and ADA compliance issues in downtown and school-adjacent corridors. The council agreed to direct staff to perform a sidewalk inventory, collect photographs of hazardous stretches (for example, Thompson Street and areas near the high school), obtain sample pricing, and prioritize repairs in the forthcoming FY26 budget cycle. Council members emphasized minimizing tree removal where possible and pursuing grant opportunities to offset costs.
Separately, a school-bus driver had raised concerns about a narrow portion of Industrial Parkway near Depo Street and Chelsea Road (County Road 47). The mayor reported that county GIS shows the area within the Norfolk Southern railroad right-of-way; the council instructed the city attorney to coordinate with Norfolk Southern to confirm precise right-of-way boundaries and to request permission for any pavement work. As an interim safety measure, staff recommended discussing possible bus-route adjustments with the board of education to reduce hazardous pick-up points until a permanent solution is in place.
Council also flagged inconsistent traffic-signal timing at the College Street intersection after multiple timed observations showed red phases varying from about 30 seconds to as long as 90 seconds; staff will investigate whether timing schedules or an aging signal controller require repair or replacement.
Next steps: staff will prepare a sidewalk inventory and sample pricing for budget deliberations, the city attorney will pursue an agreement or boundary clarification with Norfolk Southern, and staff will coordinate with the school system on potential bus-route changes. Any pavement or maintenance work within a railroad right-of-way must be approved by the railroad before work proceeds.
