Work session: Greenlink transit system
Greenlink’s $50.3 million bus maintenance facility at 205 Aradia Drive in New Washington Heights should be finished by the end of 2023, Greenville Transportation Director James Keel told City Council March 28.
The facility is still about $15.1 million, or about 30%, away from being fully funded and staff is exploring funding sources and writing grant requests, he said.
Meanwhile, Keel told council members the transit system is mulling replacing its aging fleet of gasoline- and diesel-powered buses with electric ones. About 13 buses are eligible for replacement in 2023, Keel said, and the city has the option to replace them with newer diesels, compressed natural gas buses or electric vehicles.
“We’re thinking about skipping that and going electric,” Keel said.
Presentation: Effects of Augusta Street road diet
Public Works Director Clint Link said traffic has slowed along August Street since council approved a diet for the busy thoroughfare, but they’re still waiting to see how the project will work out in the end.
“We’re not seeing any major traffic issues,” Link said. Engineers plan on adjusting the timing of the signals in hopes of making traffic flow a bit more efficient. The city did see traffic backed up but not stopped as drivers familiarized themselves with the new pattern.
🚘 Improving traffic safety on Augusta Street ➡️ On Sunday, crews worked overnight to create a “road diet” by re-striping a one-mile section between Augusta Place and Crystal Avenue, reducing Augusta from four lanes to three. pic.twitter.com/p88BHII5d6
— City of Greenville (@CityGreenville) March 22, 2022
Link also presented an update on the pedestrian safety studies. They’re three weeks in what should be a nine-month process, and data collection and analysis should take a couple of months, he said. The department also plans on holding public meetings and meetings with other stakeholder groups.
“This is a road map for us to be an active, dynamic city for pedestrians … ,” councilman John DeWorken said.
Approved: City abandons Douthit Circle
City Council approved on first reading the measure to abandon Douthit Circle off North Leach Street between Douthit Street and Gower Street. The purpose is to construct the North Leach Street Townhomes subdivision. The city received a petition from Leach Propco LLC and received no objection from city engineering, public works, fire & police department, and public utility companies.
