A proposal that Second and Third streets in downtown Columbus carry two-way traffic is being considered.
But such significant changes would require Indiana Department of Transportation approval, because both streets serve as State Road 46 between Central Avenue and Jonathan Moore Pike.
In November, the Columbus Redevelopment Commission voted to work with Sprague Hotel Developers to develop a proposed downtown hotel and conference center.
Two sites have been identified by city officials as possible locations: the county-owned block east of Franklin St., between Second and Third streets — or a Second and Lafayette streets site immediately east of the county jail. The latter site is already controlled and owned by the city and the redevelopment commission.
When the redevelopment commission met again Monday, members were told a “terms sheet” has emerged from the negotiations between the developer and the city. One term was the developer’s request that both eastbound Second and westbound Third streets carry two-way traffic, said Dave Hayward, executive director of public works and city engineer.
“As negotiations have progressed, we felt we needed to address the concern and the question,” said Hayward, who added a traffic study of both streets should provide the needed data.
Currently, the lanes on both Second and Third streets are 12 feet wide, although Hayward said there are places where it widens out a little more than that.
Commission member Jeff Caldwell asked Hayward whether an oversize load would create problems if both streets are made two-way.
While he didn’t provide a yes or no answer, Hayward did say he doubts whether INDOT would allow lanes to be reduced to less than 11 feet wide.
After Caldwell asked whether the developer’s request was a “deal-breaker,” Hayward said negotiations that will resume in May. But he did say that INDOT “will be in the process all the way.”
After receiving two proposals to do the traffic study, the commission approved signing a contract with the Indianapolis offices of WSP USA.
Besides being the lowest bidder, WSP USA had recently created a traffic study for Cummins Inc. that includes some of the needed data, Hayward said.
The commission agreed Monday to an hourly contract with the WSP Indianapolis office that will not exceed $40,000.
While the city was hoping to have the traffic study completed by the time negotiations with the developer resume in May, the outbreak of the COVID-19 virus will likely delay matters, Hayward said.
When spring break ends, all Bartholomew Consolidated schools will remain closed until Friday, April 3, in an effort to keep the virus from spreading.
“Traffic patterns are different when school is not in session,” Hayward told the commission. “We may want to wait two or three months.”
Since WSP is being paid an hourly rate, delays will not add to the cost, he said.
Until the new traffic counts are completed, the city may provide earlier counts to give Sprague Hotel Developers a preliminary look at what to expect, Hayward said.
