Flower Street crossing gets OK

Councilman Frank Quintero, though voting to approve the crossing and upgrades, said he still didn't feel the Flower Street crossing was necessary.

"I'm going to go ahead and vote in spite of the fact that my feeling is that Flower Street crossing just isn't needed " Quintero said.

Quintero also asked city staff members to let neighbors who live around the crossings know that upgrades will take place, and in particular to let residents around the Chevy Chase Drive crossing know what is being done.

"I recommend your staff sort of take the lead and let all the residents of that neighborhood and the business … know that there are going to be improvements and that there is no talk of closing it," Quintero said.

Quintero said it was important that people know that construction will be to improve the crossings, so there is no confusion that the city is attempting to close off Chevy Chase Drive near the crossing, an idea that when proposed by the council in 2005, received a heavy backlash from the surrounding community.

City Manager Jim Starbird said it was the council's determination to create the crossing and make the upgrades that made the project possible.

"Without your support for putting a tremendous amount of more resources into this effort, it's likely we wouldn't be sitting here today with a successful outcome," he said.

"It's only possible because of your support for approval of [improvements at] all the crossings which has been a key objective of yours from the very beginning."

The city has 30 months to complete the improvements. City officials will meet to consider specific design solutions.

QUESTION

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