City Budget Cuts Cause Delay In Planned Striping Of Cozza Drive

Among the projects put on hold by city budget cuts is the planned striping of pedestrian areas on Cozza Drive around Friendship Park.

Residents have been working for three years trying to slow traffic on Cozza, which is still being used as an illegal shortcut by delivery trucks headed for stores on North Division and at Northpoint.

The neighborhood steering committee hoped the city could get the project completed by this summer when kids go back and forth to the park. The work included a twoway left turn lane and edging for a parking lane, which would narrow the roadway and slow traffic.

In a letter to the neighborhood, city traffic engineer Bruce Steele said the project is still a priority for the city but he had to lay off his summer work crew at the direction of the City Council. The council put a freeze on hiring after being hit with lower than anticipated sales and property tax revenue.

But residents aren’t satisfied. They say the city’s annexation of nearby Calkins Addition is going to bring in hundreds of more housing units - and more tax revenue. Some of that should be spent on improvements to existing streets that will carry the new traffic.

“The people up here are prepared to go before the council on the striping issue,” said Sandy Smith, chair of the neighborhood traffic committee. “They’re prepared to go out and buy their own paint brushes and paint and paint. By golly, that will get their attention.”

Bluegrass traffic study

The first project proposed for the Calkins Addition is heading for public hearing and developer Craig Condren is soliciting input to a traffic study for the 400-home Bluegrass subdivision at Crestline, Lincoln Road and Nevada.

Engineers will present the result of a preliminary traffic study for the project at 7 p.m. June 29 at the Mountain View Assembly Church of God, 633 E. Magnesium Rd. The public is asked to come and offer input on the planning.

Bike route planned

The Nevada-Lidgerwood Steering Committee has agreed to spend $18,000 for planning and development of a bikeway on Addison Street between Francis and Euclid avenues.

A meeting on the plan is set for 7 p.m. July 19 at the Northeast Community Center.

For more information contact Lawrence Walters, 484-3826.

, DataTimes