The Forest Hill Road Neighborhood 

TO: Bibb County Representatives

FROM: Forest Hill Road Representatives

SUBJECT: Forest Hill Road Mediation Response to New (4-30-08) Information from Judge Beasley

DATE: 5/7/2008

Dear Sirs, 

We had a telephone conversation with Judge Beasley on 4-30-08 in which she conveyed the County Representatives willingness to leave the segment of FHR north of Wimbish two lanes, if we accept a 4-lane cross section from Wimbish south.  We are willing to consider this alternative with the following clarifications and understandings: 
 
The design speed of all sections must be 35 mph to assure the safety of residents and through traffic alike.  It is not acceptable to have incongruity between the posted speed of 35 mph which you proposed and the design speed which exceeds 47mph. 

Are we to assume that the cross section of the northern segment will be that proposed by Mr. Rick Chellman, with a sidewalk/multi-use path detached from the roadway on one side only?   

You will recall that two of the primary concerns raised by the neighborhood about the segment of FHR from Wimbish to Vineville are the footprint of the proposed cross section and the lack of adequate access to adjacent properties and side streets.  The excessive footprint aggravates speed, access, neighborhood integrity, and drainage concerns.  We could accept a 4 lane section from Wimbish to Ridge with no median strip or center lane and minimal shoulders (the width of the travel lanes plus shoulders could be accommodated in a 50 foot to 52 foot footprint, and would allow access to the church and adjoining properties).  We would accept a wider profile and additional lanes from Ridge to Vineville, as adequate stacking in this segment will be most effective in improving the flow and capacity of FHR.  Again, a sidewalk/multi-use path detached from the roadway on one side only should be adequate, except in the Ridge to Vineville segment where existing businesses and the width of the street justify sidewalks on both sides.

 We would also expect you to review the realignment of the FHR/Wimbish/Northminster intersections suggested by Mr. Chellman in more depth, to include consulting with GDOT and outside experts.   Mr. Chellman's proposal for a standardized intersection  greatly enhances safety and efficiency at substantially less cost and disruption.  It allows two intersections to be combined into one signalized intersection, especially important given the substantial school traffic on Northminster.  It also addresses neighborhood concerns related to safety and the impacts on Wimbish.  The current plan offers minor relief from conflicts with the Wimbish/FHR intersection, but greatly aggravates dangers between the Northminster/Wimbish intersection and the major driveway into the High Point North Condominium Townhouse complex.  The Condo residents have repeatedly expressed their grave concern about poor safety here.  Mr. Chellman's proposal solves both conflicts, rather than just shifting the problem around from one section of road to another section. 

Thank-you for your consideration, 

The Forest Hill Neighborhood Representatives