I had understood that Cafritz is funding the traffic study - no?<br>I see no reason why a conditionality shouldn't be that the bridge be built in the beginning; no trigger. It is infrastructure that is as essential to the project as the storm water management system. Surely we wouldn't accept that being built only after a trigger, potentially years into the future? One of the most persuasive rationales in favor of the bridge is that it connects the new retail on the Cafritz property to the present and soon-to-be office complexes on the east side of the tracks. That seems crucially important to the success of the retail portion of the project, and I can't imagine Cafritz wouldn't acknowledge that. Build the bridge - and they will come! Let's just not give them any wiggle room: write it in to the approval that the bridge be built now, not later.<br>
<br><br><div class="gmail_quote">On Sun, Nov 13, 2011 at 9:48 PM, Bruce Wernek <span dir="ltr"><<a href="mailto:bruce.wernek@mindspring.com">bruce.wernek@mindspring.com</a>></span> wrote:<br><blockquote class="gmail_quote" style="margin:0 0 0 .8ex;border-left:1px #ccc solid;padding-left:1ex;">
<div link="blue" vlink="purple" lang="EN-US"><div><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Hi Jonathan<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<span style="color:#1F497D">A few points;<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p><u></u><span style="color:#1F497D"><span>1)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><u></u><span style="color:#1F497D"> Cafritz, not the tax payers, should fund any/all traffic studies associated with their development plan.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p><u></u><span style="color:#1F497D"><span>2)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><u></u><span style="color:#1F497D">The Cafritz Phase 1 plan does not include a RR crossing to River Rd. This is just their ideal (for them) plan going into negotiations with the local jurisdictions. An alternative plan is certainly an option, which should not be taken off the table because Cafritz may not like it.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#1F497D"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p><u></u><span style="color:#1F497D"><span>3)<span style="font:7.0pt "Times New Roman""> </span></span></span><u></u><span style="color:#1F497D">E/W Highway to Rt 1 access to the proposed Cafritz development makes the most sense for emergency vehicles. 30 seconds could turn into 10 minutes if a train is passing thought the Queensbury Rd RR crossing. If I were the fire chief, I wouldn’t want to take that chance.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p><span style="color:#1F497D"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">On a related note, I’ve heard rumors that the Town may be moving their offices to the Cafritz property and have some kind of deal going on with them. Is this true? If so, could you fill us in on the details.<u></u><u></u></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><u></u> <u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D">Bruce<u></u><u></u></span></p><p class="MsoNormal"><span style="color:#1F497D"><u></u> <u></u></span></p>
<div><div style="border:none;border-top:solid #B5C4DF 1.0pt;padding:3.0pt 0in 0in 0in"><p class="MsoNormal"><b><span style="font-size:10.0pt">From:</span></b><span style="font-size:10.0pt"> <a href="mailto:towntalk-bounces@riverdale-park.org" target="_blank">towntalk-bounces@riverdale-park.org</a> [mailto:<a href="mailto:towntalk-bounces@riverdale-park.org" target="_blank">towntalk-bounces@riverdale-park.org</a>] <b>On Behalf Of </b>Jonathan W. Ebbeler</span></p>
<div class="im"><br><b>Sent:</b> Sunday, November 13, 2011 12:00 PM<br></div><b>To:</b> <a href="mailto:towntalk@riverdale-park.org" target="_blank">towntalk@riverdale-park.org</a><div class="im"><br><b>Subject:</b> [RP TownTalk] Transportation Study/Traffic Management<u></u><u></u></div>
<p></p></div></div><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">All –<u></u><u></u></p><div><div class="h5"><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">I apologize for any confusion for the Maryland/Rhode Island distinction – I did so in deference to the history of the town and platted road structure. <u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">There seems to be some confusion over a few points that I would like to speak to:<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">-The town has requested the Cafritz team to fund a transportation management/traffic study that evaluates and makes recommendations to current, and proposed vehicular and pedestrian connections. These studies, especially with the scope we are asking for are expensive. We are taking the opportunity to have a 3<sup>rd</sup> party fund this vs. with tax payer money. I believe we have a fundamental duty to collect information if it is there and available.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">-The CSX bridge is not envisioned to be constructed as part of Phase I – it will be based on a trigger (i.e. once X number of residential units are permitted or built the bridge’s existence will be required). The EYA development south of town has a similar trigger to build the hiker/biker trail connecting to our portion of it.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">-Public services (police/fire/EMS) will need access to the Cafritz property (if the District Council approves its re-zoning) without using EW Highway or Route 1. The difference of 30 seconds to first responders could be life and death.<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">-There are a variety of alternate solutions that a thorough transportation study will allow us to evaluate including intersection re-designs, one-ways, do-not enters etc.<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">
<u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Best,<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Jonathan<u></u><u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal"><u></u> <u></u></p><p class="MsoNormal">Jonathan W. Ebbeler – Council Member Ward One<u></u><u></u></p>
<p class="MsoNormal">4711 Oliver Street (nee Washington Street as platted in the original Riverdale Park subdivision in 1889)<u></u><u></u></p></div></div></div></div><br>_______________________________________________<br>
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