SDN wraps last night BOA with the evolution of the Lynn Lane project.
From the article:
Kevin Stafford of Neel Schaffer Engineering, the firm surveying the path, said that the Mississippi Department of Transportation has a Sept. 30 deadline for the survey, making it virtually impossible to jump through hoops for the hoped-for plans to be ready in time.
The original plan was to follow Lynn Lane from McKee Park to South Montgomery Street and then to Locksley Way and onto Blackjack Road.
The revised plan calls for building a 9,000-foot lane connecting McKee Park to Lynn Lane and the Starkville Sportsplex and running around the perimeter of both parks. Stafford said that future phases of the master Lynn Lane plan will continue to include connectivity to Mississippi State University.
Appointments were on the agenda for P&Z, GTR Airport Authority and Parks & Rec.
The pullquote speaks for itself:
Pat Bryan, who represents Ward 5 on the Planning and Zoning Commission, was nudged off the table with the appointment of Robbie Coblentz.
Ward 5 Alderman Matt Cox, who would be expected to make a recommendation, was absent from the meeting.
McLaurin made a failed motion to reappoint Bryan before Ward 2 Alderman Rodney Lincoln made a motion to appoint Coblentz, receiving a second from Davis.
Why is it that this lynn lane gets put on the agenda for some stupid path when they could put that money elsewhere, like maybe more roads. Particularly Airport Rd. It is horrible. The road that the co-op is on got paved and it had only the co-op on it. Academy road gets paved and it wasn’t even as bad as Airport road but I guess that the city officials that make these decisions want a a good rd to go to Oby’s on. There is businesses on Airport road and there is also a lot of people that are from out of town and the first road they see is Airport road. It is a bad decision not to pave this road now not a year or 2 from now. Sometimes I wonder where these peoples heads are.
Rob,
The Lynn lane project wasn’t for some stupid path that gets us nowhere. Unfortunately due to the incredible amount of bureaucracy with this federally funded project it is quickly becoming a recreational path (in phase 1) which does get us no where instead of part of our transportation infrastructure. As originally planned it is important to our community because:
1. if we spend $300k we get $1.2mil (As planned we wouldn’t have spent anything except for a bait and switch scheme from MDOT and the FEDS)
2. We want to continue to get funding for future projects
3. It provides for greater connectivity in our city including connecting the University and two high schools to our major recreational center as well as all of the residences along the path.
4. Pedestrian paths create a healthier and safer community
5. Safe healthy communities attract economic development
6. Economic development helps get Airport Rd. paved
While I can’t say I wholeheartedly support the idea of a path around the sports plex, I would hate to see this opportunity wasted.