Okay, welcome. Thank you all so much for being here. I'm Nora Eamis, Director of Planning and Community Development. We have a few staff folks here, excited. We have our Community Engagement Manager running AV over here. We all wear lots of hats. Town Manager, Josh Fera, Director of Public Works, Mike Jennings, Business Development Coordinator, Kelly Frankie. She's new. If you haven't met Kelly, please come and introduce yourself after the meeting. Our town engineer, Ingrid Stenby-Ran, she's been working really hard on the design of this project. And then our principal planner, Carrie Raglan. I'm really echoey up here. Am I echoey out to you all? This a little. Okay. I'll stand back a little bit. So how many of you own property or a business on England Street? Three folks. Okay. Fantastic. Thank you all for being here. I hope that you have heard of this project before tonight. We're having this meeting because we went and met with a business owner and he said, I don't know what you're talking about. And so I said, well, we need to have a meeting to I don't know what you're talking about. And so I said, well, we need to have a meeting to make sure you know what you're talking about. And I'm gonna share these slides with them. So thank you all for taking time out of your evening where I'm sure you could be enjoying time with your family. So we appreciate you coming here. This is really just an informational meeting. I'll be giving out some information. We will have some time at the end of the meeting to answer some questions on the, especially the technicalities of the actual project and construction and how it might impact your property and your business. And then we also do have some drawings if you need to see, again, more on the smaller scale locally connected to your project. So I'm going to start by going over just the history, how we got here, what we're envisioning the project to be, how the planning process started, and then move into the construction and where we are, and how it's going to go over probably the next year. So there's a pretty good long history of downtown revitalization here. If you've been here a while, you probably remember downtown used to flood a lot and it wasn't quite as attractive as it is now. And so the council supported staff and moving forward with designing some streetscapes. And we did that through Ashland Main Street at the time downtown Ashland Association, their design committee helped us for years to create kind of a design guideline for what downtown revitalization is going to look like as far as the streetscape. And so we ran with that and we completed the North and South portion of railroad avenue. We've added the pavers, we had the permeable paver parking lot, landscaping, lighting, new sidewalks, trying to make everything pedestrian friendly. That's when some of the outdoor eating occurred when we were able to improve those sidewalks. And then we had the visitor station improvements through Amtrak and they took in some of those elements that used the same lighting fixtures. And so during that entire time, we thought, how are we going to move this down England Street? How are we going to make England Street more pedestrian friendly? We've always kind of called it the red carpet to downtown, but you really want your red carpet to shine and be bright and want to be inviting to get people to come all the way into downtown. And ideally across Route 1, if they're over there on the other side of Route 1. And so we've taken a lot of time to plan for that and to get community input. We had community input sessions several years ago, pre-COVID, which everything's either pre or post-COVID. Pre-COVID, we had some input sessions and determined that we really wanted to pull most of the elements that were on railroad Avenue around the corner to England Street. So where you've decided, we're gonna keep, sorry, we're gonna keep the lighting, have those same lighting fixtures, pull the pavers so we're gonna have that same band of pavers along the street. Selfishly that works well for us because then if we have to do any work to utilities or anything next to a building, we're not taking out the whole concrete block necessarily and we're not having to get as close to the building. And so continuing that band, potentially continuing a band along the English street, you can see in later pictures, I'll show you that. The utilities, that was a big one for us, making sure that we were able to relocate the utilities, and so those are going to end up going behind the building. Here's an example of an arch in Farmville, and so we're working on a similar arch near where the Wawa is in the vape shop to have kind of an entrance, and I believe the arts commission is going to work on making that a beautiful arch. And so that's being worked on landscaping, making, you know, we have some trees but they are, they're probably aged out of their usefulness. And so planning trees that are appropriate for the space that we have. And then in areas where we don't have room for trees that could grow and be maintained properly, working with property owners to get planters or additional landscaping in areas that they might already have. And how can we work to make that more coordinated? Pedestrian crossings, pedestrian safety is a big feature for this for us, making sure we've already have the rapid beacon flasher's something like that. The flasher's there at Railroad and England. So we won't have to add that. But this first project is going to go down to Henry Street. And then furniture, you all, I'm a sub-ree. You all know that we've put out, we have trash cans and benches that all kind of batches. So we're going to continue that along. So originally when we met many, many moons ago, the vision of the street scape was to combine current and successful standards in Ashland. So again, those ones on Railroad Avenue with some new ideas, hopefully adding in some ideas and then we have the first one, the first one, the first one, the first one, the first one, the first one, the first one, the first one, the first one, the first one, the first one, the first one, the first one, the first one, the first one, the first one, the first one, the first one, the first one, the first one, the first one, the first one, the first one, past a few of the little shops around the corner people are parking in a parking lot going to their one spot and then getting back in their car and so we're hoping that people can you know venture down and keep walking down it so you can see in this plan there are gonna be several sections so this is the section we're gonna start on first. So for railroad avenue to Henry Street or about Maple. So that'll be phase one. But we do have intentions of doing the entire area all the way to route one. Does anyone want to guess why we aren't doing the whole thing and why we don't know when the rest is going to happen? There we go, money, money, money. So that's it. But I think that this continues to be a high priority for the council, I think in future councils. Especially once we get this first phase done, they're going to want to keep it going. But we'll just have to add to our piggy banks to make that happen. And so again, utilities, landscaping. And also I think a great component, this came from our friend Bob Brown. He went out and measured the roadway. And so we're narrowing each of the lanes just a little bit so that we'll be able to have additional sidewalk space. And so when we replace those sidewalks, they're gonna be a little bit wider than they are currently. So here's the great utility picture. This is our current as of about a month ago picture where we have the utilities and overhead, some go across the street and then the polls here, which really inhibit pedestrian access. They're really probably not safe or compliant. And so we're moving those behind the buildings and then we're gonna get this. Something similar to this, please don't hold me to this exactly. Because we're not sure about the trees. These trees might end up being relocated, but. So you can see the paper band potentially here, but definitely along the street, the new street lamps instead of the overhead utilities. Someone have a question? Yes, Mr. Breed. I'm not going to say it's the next step to do this, but so you're going to add two of the south, but we're not going to take it up. We're not going to take it up. We're not going to take it up. This kind of thing. You're going to leave that side while the man does. It's going to all be replaced and it's going to become wider. Are you putting the power poles behind the building? Behind the building. I'm not there. I'm not there. I'm not there. I'm in the street on the sidewalk. Would you like to speak to that? There's they can't. There's too much other stuff in this room you can have. And Dominion, because this is, I mean, it's not just power for the life, power for the building. We're gonna vary the lines for the white holes, but we're going, we have, but there isn't enough space. There's a big... Transformer? Well, there's Transformers, but there's also a big horizon that's up there and there's water, there's silver, there's God, there's what else. Are you going to bury the buildings or are you just putting power poles in? Well, there's actually mostly existing power poles. There's existing buildings. And weren't just some one of the power balls. And weren't just one of the power from those existing balls to the back of the building. And some of the buildings are already fed from behind. And we're going to take from those same balls that some of the buildings are fed from behind and to be more building. Not like that. Sounds like the cluster wire is all over the place behind the buildings I don't think it's going to be as bad as you think. Yes, sir. How much more narrow the road, the street, the monarchy, the Spanish sidewalk, and what will happen between phase two and the road wider than phase two and narrow than phase one? Well, the roadway should end up being aligned the sidewalks in phase two are already more narrow and so they'll be a little wider. So it's about 40 feet in the other phases and 36 in the current phase and I think we're going down to 11 foot lanes. Is that the standard width of a road. It's more narrow than it is out there now. We have to keep the center lane. Go ahead. All of the lanes will still be there. We're just taking a little bit of the lane and also we have, like you can see, other the curb and then that concrete gutter right there. And the standard went for the gutter pan like that or Norris Point is too cute. And we're going to narrow that some of the planes feel wide or so they feel wide if they get a little wind. That's a fire and rescue. We have no other really way for them to get through and so they come through. Yeah. We have some options to make them more attractive but they'll definitely be traversable. not really good. Correct. Well, but that the longer answer is that they're proving that fault for the result. Yeah, she's on that. Now, I'm guessing that I'm not going to be able to I'm going to be able to do it. I'm going to end it. So I just wondered about that her way. I don't have we can look at that probably be a more So I just wondered about that. Herding on the floor. I don't have, we can look at that probably be a more specific plan question because we are cutting it off around there. But just for the group knowledge there at the corner, where Randolph-Macon is is where we're working on putting Secretary it. And so that whole area is going to change. I mean, we're going to have raised the ethnic workplace to have track of our capabilities and say that we're not veterans. So here, as part of our crosswalk, a raised crosswalk, we have not. We looked at, when we did the community input, we looked at a lot of different crosswalks and there are a lot of different opinions. Mine didn't win, but this is the one that was selected. The whole lot's connected. And standard. Okay, I talked about Secretariat. We'll have lots of time for questions, but keep asking. It's a small group. Okay. Here's looking from the other end of this first phase. Again, lighting, pavers, wider sidewalk, enough room for people to walk in those utility poles gone. So this is what if you're an impacted stakeholder, what I think you're hopefully here to get information on is the construction process. I'm sorry to say I don't have very specific details for you. But as I mentioned, we have this sign-up sheet. And so if you're not already getting our information through a newsletter that Please sign up because we as soon as we find out the exact timing of this will let you know If you've been to any of our meetings about this project or if you've been to a council meeting where we've provided updates This whole project seems to be dependent on Dominion and so we've been working with Dominion for four or five years, it seems, on getting the utility lines relocated. We had a great project manager, and as of a month ago, he handed us off to a new project manager. I'm sure they are wonderful as well, but that again put a delay in what they thought was gonna start in October. Now it might get pushed back. And we also have a few property owners here who we need to receive easements from in order to have some of the lines relocated. And so that's a part of the process as well. And then as soon as we get all of that documentation done, we believe it'll be about three months before Dominion will come and do their work. And so they're going to move the lines, make sure everybody's building still gets power and then we're going to come in and do the construction process. That construction process will probably take between four to six months. There may be some items like lighting if you all have tried to order anything recently that might end up taking longer where we might think it's only going to take three to six months lead time it's possible it's going to take us nine months to get that lighting. And so but the main construction we're looking at about four to six months. So when you're out at your business and you're looking who's working out at my property who's hanging out my parking lot, Tally and Armstrong is our main contractor. They do a lot of the work, most of the work here in town for town projects. And so they have always been excellent at working with our business and property owners and making sure that they always maintain access to their property. If for some reason there's gonna be an hour or two where they're closing your entrance to put down the concrete, they will make sure that they've told you that in advance and try to work with you on your schedule. Perhaps if you're closed on Mondays, or if we have to have them come in a different day, we'll work with you on that. So, hazard, oh go ahead. I see the destruction and then I'm making how you know, how to transport it. Yes, ma'am. So we will at 99% of the time, there will be at least two lanes open at all times. So we'll do one section, leave two lanes open, and then go and do the other section and then fill in. So, and that's another thing depending on the time of this and if the paving companies are open or not, you know we might have to come back and do that final coding of pavement at another date. But we plan to always have two lanes open. There may be the occasional afternoon where one where there was only one lane. But again if you're a business or property owner we plan on communicating this with you. I'm gonna step back real quick, back to the people who are gonna be on your property. Has it electric is the one who's helping us with our electric cooking up the lights. They're also partnering with Dominion on some of this relocation and what has to happen to get the power to the business buildings. And then also public utilities, I think this is a key component for us on what we are hoping to get out of it, not only to improve the attractiveness and pedestrian accessibility, but also we have had discussions with property owners who wanted to either redevelop their property or add onto their property. And we haven't been able to do that because of a water capacity issue as far as fire flow. And so we have been working closely with Department of Public Utilities to make sure that any new infrastructure that we put in the new infrastructure now that would be needed for future redevelopment. So that's our other partner there, Kathleen Bison, who's our project manager for public works. It's not here today, I'm sorry, but she was the project manager for the Visitor Center Amtrak project. So if you saw her out there, and so she'll be doing regular inspections, I'm sure you will see her walking around, checking everything out. And so if you have any questions, she'll be your contact person, and this won't be the last time you get her contact information. And then if she needs to reach out to any of us, we will. If you just know me and you know my email and you've got me in your cell phone, you want to call that's fine. But just know I'm probably going to go to Kathleen because she's the boots on the ground. But I'm happy to help anyone who has any questions through this process. I mentioned earlier that easements that we need, so Dominion needs their easements to rework some of the power lines, but we also will need from a few of you cross maintenance access easements. And so basically on some of the properties, the goes on to your property and so we'll need to get an easement from you to make sure that we can go into your property and fix the sidewalk and maintain it but then also that you can use our sidewalk if needed. And then also some of that includes some landscaping areas that we've called out potential for. And so if you'd like us to come and help you with that landscaping. And so that is, I didn't want to give you too much information. I have more information, but that's the end of my formal presentation. Now I'm happy to answer any more questions. Yes, ma'am. I'm going to revisit the discussion about lay prints. I just didn't see any. Is there a second slide? Yeah, we're recording this for the folks who weren't able to attend so we'll make sure that they're able to get. I want to revisit Scott's question about Lane Whits and that when you're done with construction of phase one, what will the difference be in the width of those lanes at Henry Street on the east side versus the west side. 33 and 3. I mean are there going to be 36 the whole way right the sidewalks on the other half will just be wider is that correct? So 11 11 11 and then one and a half on either side and that will continue down the entire way until you get out to the Wawa. So the existing lane with east of Henry Street is 11 feet? West, well no it's not. It's all getting narrowed. No, just the first phase. So your question is we do this first phase. Yes, it's still the second third phase are still going to be wider, which they are now. So if you're traveling westbound on 54 from Route 1 towards the tracks, the lanes will be wider prior to Henry Street and then you're going to be sort of moving. Correct, which they are now. We'll send her a little bit. They are currently that way But yes, I'm sorry. I didn't understand that was your question You're on the narrow road this the shorter road and then you go to the water when it's gonna flare out But coming back is gonna flare in and says it's just the change in the curb Yes, so after Henry Street and at the post office is going to flare in and it's just the change in the curb. Yes. So after Henry Street and at the post office, it's going to get a little wider until we finish the project. And we can do some pavement marking. Thank you. We can do some pavement marking at those places where it will be narrowed so that it kind of channels people to the narrower road. So for greater safety. So I got a few questions. Okay. The lights that you're going to use, the ones we see in this picture. Correct. Are you gonna, is any thought been given the light standards that include banners and also planting, hanging, planting? And why are you, it looks like you're doing sidewalk all concrete, why not just do all brick favors? So all of those specific details were worked out in the community input section. And so we're kind of far down. We do have drawings of the plans and we can look at those after the meeting. As far as the banners, yes I think that's something we can look at. When we did the community input section we took out the hanging pots. We just don't have the capability of maintaining those. And I don't see us maintaining those. Why is that because of the tax revenue? From all of the businesses out there, our roof one. I mean, the other one. We have, I mean, eventually we hope to get phases two and three done. So you said you had a couple questions. Yeah, the other one is when are you going to do anything to continue on down here in front of the caboose, all that seating in area. It's sort of like a second, you know, there's no thought been given to that outside of the curb. And also that thing that you've got blockading it, why not have removable ballards? Well, we had looked at removable ballards in the beginning and that was not, what was that? CSX was not happy about removable ballards. Right. So we have to be I think about seven and a half feet off and they were just not fans of the removable ballards along the tracks. Now on the sidewalk side we are working, we do have a plan to improve that. I was talking about the entrance to Center Street. Just this is you come around the corner you've got some plan for you. Oh the planters know those will probably stay just for safety. You can't remove the ballers there. I don't know. I mean we can look at it. We can look at it. We can look at it. We've got the melt railing along the railroad tracks and it just seems that's not no thoughts been given to that. Okay, thank you. Rosie, are you okay? Oh yeah, I had a very selfish question. When you get down to college, I mean to Henry Street to route one, it sure would be nice if you're going to put the overhead lines in the alleyways if you could do it for college avenue as well or at least set it up so that it can be done later. Okay, so set it up so that the poles, the power on college could be moved to the rear. Yeah, each year it seems like there's more and more lines, more heavier poles and it just seems like a major. A bunch of electricity coming along there and it's doing, it's a mess on our trees. And we'd like to have trees that will grow. And when that I'm your maple to thrive, yes. Yes. Yes. So I think that's definitely something we can look at and consider with dominion. I can't promise you that's going to be any time soon. No, no time soon. And most of the main power is on the other side of the street that's on your way. Yeah, I know. Oh well. Sir. We know where the length is. Do we know the maximum length from the back of a building to a pole, what that can be. I do not, but we can ask Dominion. Do you mind writing that? Do you have a pen? Do you write that too? We'll get you an answer. Thank you. Dominion? Can Dominion assure you they have all their equipment in before they get started on the project? Because we're on another project now that started about two years ago and they say they don't have any more transformers. Yeah, the transformers are three years out at this point. Yeah, that's a great question. I will just make sure everything is in hand before they start. I'm so glad you asked that. All right, while you all think of more questions, I completely failed and didn't introduce our council members, which we have four of our five council members. So we have Dr. Dan McGraw, Mrs. Cackie Abbott, Mrs. Anita Barnhart, and Mr. John Hodges. Thank you all so much for being here and for your support on this project because they do get to determine where funds are allocated. This project will be mostly paid for through our federal ARPA funds. Hi, I just wanted to ask you that when it comes time to do that Northeast corner, which is where Secretary is going to go, will there be coordination with the team with Jeannie and others so that whatever needs to be done should be done ahead of time before we do certain. I don't know how it goes together, but I just wanted to point out that that needs to be because we're hoping to break ground in January. Yes ma'am, so I would imagine just working with Dominion for these past several years that you all are gonna be ahead of us, but we'll definitely be coordinating once we figure out who's on the construction there. Trader, do you have another question? Has any thought been put into, and I know you have to coordinate with Dominion, but there's a lot less traffic on 54 when schools not in session. Has there been any thought to spacing this out so it can be done during the summers when there's a lot less traffic? So that's so interesting you bring that up because I said we need to get this done before the summer rush. But you as someone who's right there on the street, you believe that the school actually has more. In lessons, they know our service. Okay. I'm going to see if that we see a drop all the time. I'm going to see if that we see a drop all the time. I'm going to see if that we see a drop all the time. I'm going to see if that we see a drop all the time. using Henry, and they won't have to, because they won't be coming from Henry Clay. But that would be great because we were worried we were going to get into the summer. So if working in the summer works for you, then we might make you happy. Josh, did you have a comment? It's a really good little small part of the e-dvention of stamp hungry in the median. I didn't know if that was an ad on it, if it was actually happening. So an ad alternate means if we can fit it in our budget. And so we would like to have stamped medians, so at least visually it looks like there's a median there. So the, it looks like brick, the stamped brick. Yes. So it can still be traversed, but it's stamped. And it's about maybe half of the statement, so you can write on it, but it's a reason me and over on the library. Oh, that one's, yes, that one ruins a snow plow raised median. Not that we are going to have any snow anytime soon, but yeah. The crosswalk. Yes, it's a crosswalk. Right. Anything else? Well, if you have a property here, you just want to see more specifically detailed what's happening property property. We do have the plans here. You just want to see more specifically detailed what's happening property property. We do have the plans here Yeah, we'll get a table pulled out real quick and Again Kathleen Bison will be your project manager wins the construction starts if you have any questions beforehand She can answer it. I can answer it in grid come to any of us and we really appreciate you coming again and spending your evening with us Thank you.