Hi Chris,
Could you please send me contact info for a person in Sheetz who is empowered to discontinue the downtown project?
You did a great job last night answering citizen's questions last night. Your role in creating the Comprehensive plan, your knowledge of the code and especially your professionalism under fire are extraordinary. The City if very fortunate to have you on the job.
I must say however that installing bike racks is not a traffic study. I would have liked to have seen bicycle counts around the prospective Sheetz property and analyses of the effects of the project on bicyclists as well as pedestrians.
How many cyclists travel Foundry St. to use the underpass under Don Knotts Blvd. to get to and from the rail trail? How will the Sheetz project affect them? The Foundry St./underpass intersection is already dangerous because of its proximity to Don Knotts Blvd., the high traffic volume on Don Knotts Blvd. and the steepness of the slope coming up from the underpass. Because that intersection is so close to Don Knotts Blvd. cyclists merging from the underpass onto Foundry frequently conflict with motorists turning onto Foundry since by the time the cyclist can get started on the steep slope the east-bound lane of Foundry that appeared to be clear when the cyclist initiated his or her merge now has a motor vehicle in it bearing down on him or her. With motor vehicles exiting Sheetz onto Foundry, this situation will surely worsen substantially, perhaps to the extent that cyclists will quit using one of the most attractive entrances to the riverfront and trail.
How many cyclists use Kirk St.? Before the Don Knotts Blvd./Pleasant St. reconfiguration, many used it to get to and from the Westover Bridge. Now, after the reconfiguration, I suspect bicycle use of Kirk has been quite reduced. Putting a Sheetz there will probably discourage any cyclists from using it.
How many cyclists use Chestnut St.? Chestnut St. has always been a safe haven for cyclists particularly those coming from the rail trail through the Don Knotts underpass. The intersection of Foundry and South High has such poor sight lines, such heavier and faster traffic and a steep slope up High to Kirk that many cyclists choose to travel up Chestnut St. until they can use a less dangerous intersection such as Chestnut and Kirk (still awful sight lines at High and Kirk), Chestnut and Pleasant or more likely Chestnut and Chancery Row (illegally going against traffic but perceived as safer), Wall St. or even Fayette. Surely, motorists exiting Sheetz onto Chestnut perhaps being somewaht distracted by eating and drinking will increase the peril for bicyclists.
How many vehicles will be going in and out of Sheetz at each of the proposed driveways each hour of the day? Which way will they be headed?
While we are diligently striving to reduce motorized and increase non-motorized traffic downtown, the Sheetz could block one of the key gateways from downtown to the rail trail as well as safe access through town and to the Westover Bridge. Was any of this considered in the Sheetz traffic study? I understand that at the Oct. 16 meeting Sheetz' Robert Franks wasn't even aware that the underpass is there. What is Sheetz' position on the Comprehensive Plan? Who will be liable for pedestrian and bicyclist injuries and deaths that result from this unnecessary project? I feel that to some extent I am if I do not bring these concerns to your and Sheetz' attention.
Frank D. Gmeindl LCI #1703 491 Wilson Avenue Morgantown, WV 26501 304-376-0446 Cyclists fare best when they act and are treated as drivers of vehicles