Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Transportation Planning topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Participant urges broader traffic study; finance director points to Columbia Road work and OPWC grant opportunities
Summary
A meeting participant urged setting aside match funds for a comprehensive traffic study to address cumulative development impacts; Finance Director Tom Reynolds said such studies are costly and recommended leveraging the Columbia Road project's mandatory traffic study and possible OPWC grant funding for broader analysis.
During budget discussion, a meeting participant identified as Mr. Iafigliola urged the city to set aside match money so the city can pursue more comprehensive traffic or corridor studies to account for multiple developments and regional growth pressures.
"From my perspective on planning this is in the top 3 complaints of traffic...a traffic study should not be done and then put on a shelf," Iafigliola said, arguing that an ongoing, citywide approach would better inform funding and mitigation strategies.
Finance Director Tom Reynolds responded that standalone traffic studies are expensive and that the administration has prioritized more pressing needs, but he encouraged council to leverage the Columbia Road project's required traffic work and to pursue OPWC grant opportunities that could reduce the city match burden. Reynolds noted the city's potential Columbia Road match is estimated at $800,000, depending on grant success.
Council members agreed further scoping and cost-definition would be required before setting money aside specifically for a multi-area traffic study.
