TO:			Judge Dorothy Beasley

FROM:		Bibb County Representatives

SUBJECT:		Response to Citizens (May 7, 2008)

DATE:		5/16/2008

We would first like to place our verbal proposal of April 30th in writing, as this will be our final proposal of the mediation process.  To settle all mediation issues, we would propose a two lane section for Forest Hill Road north of Wimbish Road as shown on the attached Road Program Drawing No. 6.  Turn lanes at street intersections would be installed where possible (about 6 locations +).  The proposed four lane section south of Wimbish would remain as presently designed (See Drawing No. A, attached).  This is the proposal to be considered.

We will now try to address the concerns in the Citizen Response of May 7, 2008:

1.	Design Speed
We have addressed this issue in Bibb County Representatives response dated March 25, 2008.  The posted speed on the roadway will be 35 mph.  The proposed new alignment and grades basically follow the existing Forest Hill Road.  It is not feasible at this time to make design changes that could possibly make the existing roadway less safe.  Numerous roadways have a lot higher design speed than is posted for the traveling public.  It is not a bad thing.  As a matter of fact, it is safer for drivers and pedestrians because drivers have longer sight distances and braking distances.

2.	The proposed two lane section is shown on the attached Road Program Drawing No. 6.  It has five foot wide sidewalks on each side.
This is the first time I have heard of a proposed sidewalk/multi-use path detached from the roadway on one side only.  This type of facility has a much larger impact on the resident’s property.  Besides, at the May 30, 2002, stakeholder’s meeting, it was decided to include sidewalks on both sides of the roadway on both the three lane and four lane projects.

3.	The proposal that we have placed on the table is for the four lane section south of Wimbish Road to remain as presently designed.  In our responses of March 11, March 25, and April 16, we made an offer to reduce the four lane section width from 86 feet 7 inches to 79 feet 5 inches wide.  A total reduction in width of about 7 feet.  This proposal 

Judge Dorothy Beasley
May 16, 2008
Page Two of Two 

was rejected.  We are not negotiating any further reductions to the four lane section.

4.	Our response dated March 25th addressed the issue of making Wimbish Road the dominant alignment.  Our position has not changed on this matter.  Wimbish Road currently dead ends into Riverside Drive and I-75.  Forest Hill Road’s alignment with Wesleyan Drive extends to the north end of the County and into the high growth area being developed at this time.  This route certainly has more potential than Wimbish Road.

In response to your question, Judge Beasley, about whether there is a financial reason for the southern section of the road having to be four lanes, we offer the following:

The County’s Representatives are charged with negotiating with the Resident’s Representatives with the outcome being a design that can be constructed by our joint venture partner (the Georgia Department of Transportation).  Bibb County does not have any funding for construction of this project.  We are using the Georgia Department of Transportation’s plan development process along with our best judgment to negotiate.  We cannot negotiate away parts of the project that we feel, in our best judgment, may jeopardize the available funding.

As you know, our deadline for having the plans and right of way acquired for the section north of Wimbish Road is December 2008.  We have to get all design work done immediately.

The final proposal of the mediation by the County Representatives is now on the table.  We must have your response by Wednesday May 21, 2008.