Port Republic may improve

SGA, City Council work on plan for sidewalks, turning lanes, bicycle lanes

CHRIS LABZDA / staff photographer A construction crew breaks ground to begin changes along Port Republic Road.

During its Thursday meeting, the Student Government Association Executive Council approved the drafting of a letter of support for the Harrisonburg City Council's plan for the construction of sidewalks, bicycle lanes and additional lanes for motor vehicle traffic along Port Republic Road.

The letter, drafted by SGA President David Mills, supports the HCC's efforts to attain state grants for transportation enhancement funds for Phase Two of the project. The intention of the letter is to give the city government more weight as it negotiates with the contractor for grant money and contract approval.

"It's pretty clear that there have been a ton of pedestrian safety issues at JMU," Mills said. "This plan goes out of its way to address student concerns."

Harrisonburg City Planner Keith Markel said that the entire project has been divided into three major phases.

Markel said the current construction will create an additional lane on Port Republic Road for cars, a turning lane for Ashby Crossing, a bike lane and sidewalks from Forest Hill Road to Devon Lane.

According to Markel, Phase One currently is underway and is expected to be completed by August of this year. The total cost is estimated at $900,000.

Phase Two, which was supported by the SGA, will continue the project from Devon Lane to Neff Avenue, with the same features as Phase One. Markel said that the projected cost of this phase is just over $1 million.

The HCC is dependent on a grant from the Virginia Department of Transportation in order to fund Phase Two. At-Large Senator Jenny Brockwell, a freshman, who proposed the resolution to draft the letter, said she believes that JMU's support of the HCC plan "will carry a lot of weight.

"The proposal affects 6,200 people who live on that stretch of Port Republic and the tons of others who travel on it," Brockwell said. The area under construction is one of the main arteries to JMU student apartment complexes and town homes.

Bolstering its efforts to improve community relations, members of SGA were extremely pleased to be asked by the HCC for its approval of the plan, Brockwell said. "This is the first time the city has come to us to get student input," Brockwell said.

Markel said, "Students will notice a substantial benefit along Port Republic Road when everyone returns to class next fall, not only in their cars, but increased safety for bikers and those that walk along that stretch of the road."

Harrisonburg will know if it has received the grant money for Phase Two sometime in the spring. If the plan is approved, completion of the project will occur in May 2004.

There currently are no definite plans for Phase Three of the project.

Residents of apartment and town house complexes located off Port Republic Road feel that the construction is a temporary inconvenience, but the outcome will be worthwhile.

Junior Don Swan, a Foxhill resident, said, "I have sat at the light coming out of Foxhill for over 20 minutes before because there is too much traffic heading into campus.  So far, the construction hasn't been too much of a hassle, and I think eventually it will be a great improvement from the way the road is now."

Sophomore Kelley Keegan said she will be living in the South View apartment complex next year.
"Since I will be traveling on that road a lot in the next two years, whatever makes for less traffic is fine by me.  Construction will be a pain, but I think it will be worth it.  Right now, I try to avoid Port Republic completely," Keegan said.