Title
RESOLUTION R-1617-34: A RESOLUTION OF THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF NORMAN, OKLAHOMA, URGING CITIZENS TO PATRONIZE THOSE BUSINESSES IMPACTED BY THE LINDSEY STREET ROAD AND BRIDGE REPLACEMENT PROJECTS; PLEDGING A CONTINUED PARTNERSHIP WITH THE OKLAHOMA DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION TO ENSURE ACCESS TO BUSINESSES AND ADEQUATE WAYFINDING SIGNAGE; AND WAIVING PERMIT FEES AND OTHER REQUIREMENTS FOR TEMPORARY SIGNAGE THAT DOES NOT IMPEDE CONSTRUCTION OR CREATE AN UNSAFE ENVIRONMENT FOR THE DURATION OF THE LINDSEY STREET PROJECT.
Body
BACKGROUND: On August 28, 2012, the citizens of Norman approved a bond issue to finance the local share of eight projects. One of the eight projects is the Lindsey Street Project. The Lindsay Street Project impacts West Lindsey Street from 24th Avenue SW to east of Berry Road. This project is being done in conjunction with the Oklahoma Department of Transportation’s (“ODOT”) Lindsey Street Bridge Replacement Project. This project includes the following improvements:
• Widening Lindsey Street from 3 to 4 lanes with a raised median,
• A new bridge over Imhoff Creek,
• Continuous sidewalks on both sides of the street,
• Multi-modal improvements including bicycle lanes,
• Aesthetic enhancements including decorative pavement, landscaping, and roadway lighting, Underground utilities,
• Accessibility to disabled individuals, and
• Improved drainage on Lindsay Street.
On Monday, July 5, 2016, construction on the Lindsey Project began. The estimated completion date is October 2017.
DISCUSSION: The Lindsey Street Corridor is an important retail corridor and represents a major entry point into Norman and the University of Oklahoma. Although the Lindsey Street Project, in conjunction with ODOT’s Lindsey Street Bridge Replacement Project, will improve traffic, aesthetics, and drainage when it is completed, the construction phase has been difficult for existing businesses, including those on Ed Noble Parkway that are impacted by the Lindsey Street bridge outage. Utilizing the website www.lindseystreetnorman.com <http://www.lindseystreetnorman.com>, Staff has been able to communicate road closures, construction phasing and potential impacts to access to the impacted businesses. However, to encourage continued support of this corridor, businesses have requested continued cooperation to limit the impact of the construction on access to their businesses and the ability to install temporary signage to improve visibility of the businesses in the corridor during construction.
Resolution R-1617-34 formally expresses the City’s support for these businesses by urging citizens to patronize businesses on the Lindsey Street Corridor and Ed Noble Parkway during the construction projects. Additionally, it pledges continued cooperation by the City with ODOT to maintain access to businesses during construction and guide motorists through the corridor during the Project. The City also pledges to install additional temporary wayfinding signage to direct motorists to the corridor. Finally, the resolution formally recognizes the City’s willingness to waive permit fees and relax requirements related to temporary signage for the duration of the Project.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends Council approve Resolution R-1617-34.