Two downtown revitalization projects proposed for Mansfield in 2013 are still on hold as community leaders continue to discuss the details for each scenario.
The reunification of Central Park and the conversion of Main and Diamond Streets to two-way traffic are on the table between Mayor Tim Theaker, Central Park committee member John Siegenthaler, and two-way traffic advocate John Fernyak. According to Siegenthaler, the three men along with fellow Central Park committee member Dirk Schluter, Mansfield City Engineer Bob Bianchi, and a few representatives from local engineering firms have met two or three times to discuss ideas for downtown.
“The last meeting was probably three or four weeks ago,” said Siegenthaler. “As far as I know they don’t have another one scheduled, but that’s all pending. It’s up to the mayor when we meet again.”
The discussions thus far include closing Park Avenue through Central Park with traffic traveling around the square on North and South Park Streets. Diamond, Main, and Mulberry Streets could also be changed from one-way to two-way. Walnut Street has already been changed to two-way traffic.
Mayor Theaker stated the group has discussed a few scenarios for downtown, but is “waiting for the engineering firm to finalize and come up with some scenarios.”
“The committee is discussing some scenarios, but it’s now up to the engineering firm to come back and say here’s scenario one, two and three so we don’t know exactly what they are,” he said.
Theaker named K.E. McCartney, a full service civil engineering and surveying firm in Mansfield, as the engineering firm.
“They’ve submitted a proposal but it’s been revised,” said Theaker. “The people that are on there want to look at other possibilities.”
James Mawhorr, Senior Vice President of Transportation Services at K.E. McCartney & Associates, Inc., said his office has submitted a proposal to do preliminary study work to see what would be feasible or not feasible, but has not been authorized to do any work.
“The Richland County Regional Planning Commission did a basic study a year or two years ago,” said Mawhorr. “We have not ourselves done any work.”
In February of 2013, the Richland County Regional Planning Commission (RCRPC) conducted a traffic study focusing on Central Park and its surrounding streets. The study identified slow speeds, high delays and inadequate capacity in some streets surrounding the study area, which spanned routes from Bowman to Ashland Road and from Sixth to First streets. This specific grid was divided into different segments categorized by east, west, north and south bound traffic and data was extrapolated from each.
Potential locations of incidents called “hot spots” were identified within the simulation model due to closer intersections and associated lane change maneuvers. The study concluded both North and South Park Streets would need widened to two lanes, instead of one lane. In addition, Main Street between North and South Park Streets would need to be straightened.
Todd Blankenship, Transportation Technical Director with the Richland County Regional Planning Commission, said he has reached out to Theaker and Siegenthaler to notify them he was interested in the project and wanted to be a little more hands-on. Blankenship was named transportation technical director in April 2014.
“I think I should be on that committee, or some transportation personnel from my office,” said Blankenship. “I think eventually we will be. I understand they can have a whole lot of meetings before they need to talk to planning or transportation people, but when it comes to the nuts and bolts of transportation and planning for the area I think we should be involved, and maybe we will. I’m aggressively going after information on those things.”
Theaker anticipated K.E. McCartney would be able to use some of the information provided by the RCRPC traffic study to move forward with scenarios. Once the group could agree on one scenario, Theaker stated the next step is determining cost for a feasibility study.
“After everybody decides on what components we want to study, everybody is going to have to ante up their money, and once they ante up their money we have to make sure we take it through council and get council’s approval,” said Theaker. “Then after the study, if it works out then they’re going to have to do an engineering design.”
At their November 2013 meeting, Mansfield City Council unanimously agreed to table bill 13-296, which would have authorized Fernyak to fund a feasibility study evaluating the conversion of Main and Diamond Streets to two-way traffic. The structure and wording of the proposed legislation was cited as the reason to delay a vote.
Siegenthaler said the conversation between the parties involved have been positive. He added it is somewhat preliminary to state anything specific until the group decides what to do from an engineering and planning standpoint.
“As far as what things are going to cost and who will pay for them is all very preliminary,” said Siegenthaler.
Theaker noted the city of Mansfield does not have the money to contribute to the construction or engineering portion of the projects.
“Maybe if there’s federal or state grants maybe we can go after some of that to help offset some of the costs, but the city cannot afford to pay for engineering or the construction,” he stated.
Both Theaker and Siegenthaler emphasized all discussions were still in early, preliminary stages. John Fernyak could not be reached for comment.
“It’s a slow-moving process, that’s for sure,” said Siegenthaler.
