Knox County US 36 (Coshocton Avenue) and SR 768 (Vernonview Drive) Safety Project
PROJECT UPDATE
Public Involvement continues to be a very important part of ODOT’s planning and project development. The development of this project is a team effort which includes partnering with the city of Mount Vernon as well as with the public. The comments received from the November 11, 2010 public meeting included comments that were property specific to project concerns such as the traffic signals at Eastgate/Highland Drives and TSC and the location of the sidewalks to be constructed with the project.
The individual property comments will be responded to directly with a letter. Listed below is the response reached by the project team regarding the signals and sidewalk comments.
EASTGATE/HIGHLAND DRIVES SIGNAL
In response to the public request for consideration of permitting the existing signal at Eastgate/Highland Drives and TSC to remain additional analysis and discussions with officials from Mount Vernon, ODOT planners and FHWA occurred. As a result it was decided that the traffic signals will remain at Eastgate/Highland Drives and Coshocton Avenue and the TSC location. It is important to note that these two traffic signals do not meet the criteria as described in the Ohio Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices, and safety concerns will continue to be monitored.
SIDEWALKS
Several comments were received regarding the sidewalks planned in the project area. As a result of coordination with the city of Mount Vernon, design considerations and existing right-of-way, an area of additional sidewalk is able to be installed at Vernedale Drive west to Shalimar on the north side. The sidewalks will be installed from Center Run bridge east to Vernonview Drive (SR 768) on the south side of Coshocton Avenue. On the north side of Coshocton Avenue the sidewalk will extend from the Center Run bridge east to Vernedale Drive intersection with the drive of Mount Vernon Shopping Plaza. The new sidewalk will provide an opportunity for pedestrian travel from the residential area east of Vernedale Drive to the commercial/retail area of eastern Coshocton Avenue.
If you have additional questions or concerns please feel free to contact the following team members:
CITY OF MOUNT VERNON
- Cameron Keaton (City Engineer)-740-393-9528
- David Glass (Safety Service Director) -740-393-9520
OHIO DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORTATION
---Dave Slatzer -ODOT District 5- (740) 323-5100
---Ty Thompson -ODOT District Planner- (740) 323-5194
---Laura Philabuam -ODOT Real Estate Administrator- (740) 323-5341
---Chris Yount and Heather Gilbert-ODOT Design Engineers-(740) 323-4400, Chris.Yount@dot.state.oh.us, Heather.Gilbert@dot.state.oh.us
PUBLIC OPEN HOUSE NOVEMBER 10, 2009
The first public involvement opportunity is an open house public meeting that will be held on November 10, 2009 at the First Church of the Nazarene (Family Life Center), 807 Coshocton Avenue (US 36) in the City of Mount Vernon from 4:00 pm-6:00 pm. The meeting is an open house format which means there will be no formal presentations. At the open house meeting aerial mapping of US 36 showing the proposed improvements will be available for your review at your own pace. The meeting will be staffed with representatives from ODOT and the City of Mount Vernon to answer any questions you may have as well as receive your comments. Comment sheets will also be available and must be received by November 24, 2009.
The overall goal of the proposed safety improvements is to implement solutions that will provide safe and efficient travel along US 36 and create safe access to and from the properties along the US 36 corridor.