Comments favor Tylertown-Oakland project

Clarksville, Tn — Comments submitted by residents about a proposal to improve Tylertown and Oakland roads show that 70 percent of respondents have a positive view of all or part of the project.

As a result, Mayor Kim McMillan has recommended that the Clarksville Street Department and its consultants move forward to complete the right-of-way design for the project.

“This means the project will stay on the drawing board, and a completed right-of-way plan will show residents exactly how the project might impact specific properties along the roadways,” Mayor Kim McMillan said. “After we see that design, we’ll make a decision about whether to seek funding of the full construction project.”

The proposal calls for Tylertown Road to be widened from Trenton Road to the City limits just past Oakland Road, and Oakland to be widened from Tylertown Road to Spring Creek. The project covers about 3 miles of roadway.

Overall, 171 people signed in at a meeting about the project March 15th, and 97 of them returned comment cards seeking public input on the project. Of that number, 68 people — or 70 percent  — expressed positive feedback.

“Do whatever improves traffic flow and accommodates growth in this area, and include adequate lighting,” wrote one respondent, who also indicated a preference for sidewalks and bicycle lanes.

“Make sidewalks/multi-use paths connect with neighborhoods, businesses and schools (Northeast and Oakland campuses).  Make safe routes to schools an absolute priority. Very exciting project,” another resident wrote on a comment card.

Of the 97 who wrote responses on the comment cards, 28 people — or 29 percent — expressed negative views, and most of the handful of residents who spoke at the meeting opposed the project or had negative comments.

The comment card data was compiled by Brian Trotter, manager for project consultant HDR, and presented to the Clarksville Street Department.

“The negatives expressed on the cards were very clear — those respondents simply said they didn’t like the project and opposed it,” Trotter said. “But the positives were more general, with people seeing the long-term need for improvements, and liking specific aspects of the preliminary ideas we presented.”

Trotter and Clarksville Street Department staff who briefed Mayor McMillan on the meeting feedback noted that many commenters expressed support for sidewalks or multi-use paths for bikes and pedestrians.

At the meeting , Trotter had told the crowd the reasons for considering improvements  include:

• Dealing with current overcrowding on the two roads and inevitable increases in traffic.

• Improving safety and decreasing crash potential.

• Addressing “hot spot” intersections that cause congestion and delays.

• Providing sidewalks or other structures to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety.