Published: November 08, 2008 10:35 pm         

City seeks views about Jackson

DANVILLE — Longtime Jackson Street resident Betty Thornsbrough said speeding vehicles are a problem in her neighborhood, particularly between English and Voorhees streets.

But she hardly notices the actual street condition.

“I’ve lived here so long, I’m used to it,” she said, laughing about any street deterioration.

Another Jackson Street resident, Norman Ponder, who’s lived there 50-plus years, said, “It’s a busy street, I know that.”

He added that most people keep their properties “nice” along there and he’d like to see the street resurfaced. But he questions where the money will come from.

However, the city’s gas tax was expected to generate about $1 million, $815,000 in new funding, just this fiscal year for an enterprise fund only for streets.

Residents will have the chance to discuss Jackson Street at a public meeting Wednesday night.

City engineer David Schnelle said a street repair survey on the city’s Web site received numerous public comments about the condition of Jackson Street and other issues, such as speeding.

He said the survey results showed that the community feels Jackson Street is the highest priority street to address.

He said there are concerns about the pavement, curb and sidewalk conditions, intersections, vehicular speed and pedestrian accommodations.

Going back to city ward meetings five years ago, residents complained about speeding motorists on Jackson Street, particularly between Voorhees Street and Winter Avenue.

With North Ridge Middle School nearby and school children walking along the street, residents were concerned about vehicles that travel well over the 30 miles per hour speed limit.

Neighbors then signed a petition in favor of putting additional stop signs along Jackson Street. City officials, however, cautioned that adding stop signs could cause traffic to speed up between the stop signs.

Other residents complained years ago about exposed rebar on Jackson Street.

Public Works Director Doug Ahrens said in 2004 that the city probably wouldn't address Jackson Street for more than 10 years. The street saw joint patching four to five years prior to that.

Then-city engineer Cameron Alden said Jackson Street suffered more from aesthetic issues than structural and rideability problems.

The meeting Wednesday will start public discussions on the Jackson Street Corridor Community Design Project.

“We will get the public’s input on what they think needs to be changed, what they see as the problems and where we want to go with it,” Schnelle said.

He said it made sense to hold this public meeting the same night as the Lincoln Park Shared Use Path meeting because the path initially will end on Jackson.

Schnelle said Jackson Street will be discussed from Williams Street to Ridgeview, the street near Custard Cup.

He said giving it a smooth riding surface is more economical than reconstructing the entire stretch.

Funding could come from motor fuel tax and/or infrastructure funds and possibly sewer funds if sewer lines need replaced, Schnelle said.

Aesthetically, there also are issues with overgrown landscaping in some areas and no grassy areas where the sidewalk and curb are adjacent to the concrete roadway, Schnelle added.

City officials have invited property owners along Jackson Street to the meeting.

After the meeting, data collection will continue and persons will be assigned to design groups to come up with preferred, cost-effective designs of what residents want to see, Schnelle said.

“This is the first time we tried to do a formal community design project like this,” Schnelle said.

He encourages interested residents to visit the city’s Web site at http://www.cityofdanville.org to learn more about the project.

COMING UP

A public informational meeting about the Lincoln Park Shared Use Path will be at 6:45 p.m. Wednesday at the American Legion Post 210 on Jackson Street where it intersects with Prospect Place.

The meeting will overlap with the Jackson Street Corridor Community Design Project public meeting at 7 p.m. also Wednesday at the American Legion.