Sidewalk Revision Removes Curb in Front of Old Brick Store
by Nancy Wood,
January 16, 2012....

The Sidewalk Committee has revised the recommendations for Phase 1 of sidewalk construction in the west Village. The Selectboard will decide tomorrow night (Tuesday, January 17)whether or not to include the cost in the FY 2013 budget. Other budget items will also be finalized at the meeting as well as articles to go on the warning for separate votes at Town Meeting on March 6.

The revised sidewalk plan includes striping instead of a raised sidewalk in front of the store, as well as moving the centerline three feet to the south at that location. The cost is less than the original proposal for Phase 1, down from $84,783 to $76,264. Phase 1 includes a sidewalk along the north side of Ferry Road from the Old Brick Store east to the Little Garden Market, with cross walks at the Post Office and Library.

Here is the communication from the Sidewalk to the Selectboard detailing the revisions:

To: Members of the Charlotte Selectboard
From: Ferry Road Sidewalks Committee
Date: January 12, 2012
Re: Revised recommendations for the Master Plan for Improved Mobility along Ferry Road.

After listening to the concerns raised in regard to the recommendations for the westerly end of the project, the committee evaluated six possible alternatives to address the issues and weighed the pros and cons of each. After careful deliberation the Committee unanimously agreed with the revisions described below. These recommendations address the concerns expressed about the area in front of the Old Brick Store regarding snow removal, navigation for large farm equipment and flexibility for delivery vehicles while maintaining the connectivity and intent of our original plan. They also reduce the cost.

1. Replace the curbed sidewalk between the Old Brick Store and the Frost property with five feet wide striping on the existing paved surface. This will result in a painted pedestrian area from the west end of the Frost property to the monument.
2. Provide a smooth transition between the east end of the striping and the raised curbing in front of the Frost property.
3. Shift the road centerline a maximum of three feet to the south.

This modification will result in five feet of painted walkway, eight-foot wide parking on the north side, two 12-foot wide travel lanes and a 9-foot width for parking on the south side, for a total of 46 feet of paved width in front of the Old Brick Store, the same width that exists at present. This configuration provides four more feet between the white painted lines than is currently available in front of the Old Brick Store. Should the Selectboard so desire, it would also be possible to widen the shoulder on the south side of Ferry Road, directly across from the store, by an additional one to three feet of pavement to allow more “step¬-out” space for vehicle passengers.

As an alternate to the “step¬-out” space, the Committee continues to recommend that in the future the entire length of Ferry Road be widened by one foot on both sides to provide more space for bicyclists. Although speed may increase on a wider road, this is countered by the new street trees and the painted crosswalks and wider striping recommended in the plan. In addition, the risk of higher speed must be balanced against the hazard of bicyclists being struck by motor vehicles.

These proposed modifications reduce the cost of Phase I from $84,783 to $76,264, a savings of $8519. If the Selectboard decides to include widening Ferry Road by three feet on the south side across from the Old Brick Store, the cost is an additional $4856. The cost for a future widening of the entire length of Ferry Road by one foot is $23,274.