Funds will help with Fruitland street work
By Julie Engel | Argus Observer
Tuesday, March 13, 2007 12:04 PM PDT
Fruitland - The Fruitland City Council jumped at the chance to gain funding for a road construction project Monday night at its regular meeting.
Fruitland Transportation Engineer Karen Doherty, Doherty and Associates, told the council the Idaho Transportation Department was looking for a venture to fund this fiscal year because of an environmental setback in another road project. Now, thanks to the ITD, phase two of Fruitland's Pennsylvania Avenue enhancement project will be funded in advance, Doherty said.
“It would behoove the council to advance the project,” Doherty said.
Even though funding appears guaranteed, Doherty said it is not 100 percent for sure, especially with the other project moving into the next fiscal year.
Final design of the Fruitland project would need to be completed by June 30, and Doherty said that can be accomplished.
“The longer you wait, the costs will only go up - astronomically,” Fruitland City Councilman Ed Pierson said.
Doherty and Associates held a public open house March 7 to gather feedback from homeowners along Pennsylvania Avenue between Southeast Sixth Street and Southwest Fourth Street regarding on-street parking.
Doherty said only five residents representing three properties showed up at the meeting, and while two property owners wanted on-street parking, one property owner said it would hinder his business.
The City Council approved the advancement of the project to the 2006 to 2007 fiscal year with the no parking option on either side of the street.
Doherty said the Pennsylvania Avenue enhancement project is already estimated to cost $100,000 above the city's $39,000 match, and a parking option would cost anywhere from $55,000 to $70,000 above that.
The homeowners that requested on-street parking were on the west side of the street and would not have to give up any right-of-way to the city, Doherty said. Also, if the city had chosen to allow on-street parking on the east side of the street, Doherty said it would be difficult to obtain the necessary right-of-way by the June 30 deadline.
