McAllen breaks ground on Bicentennial extension
January 27, 2010 8:36 PM
Nick Pipitone
The Monitor
McALLEN — City officials and contractors broke ground on the long-awaited extension of Bicentennial Boulevard on Wednesday, saying that the 2.2-mile extension from Nolana to Trenton Road will go a long way toward alleviating traffic congestion in the city.
Plans for the extension have been 15 years in the making and have faced several obstacles along the way. City officials now estimate the $5.2 million project should be finished by fall 2012.
“One of our biggest challenges here is mobility,” Mayor Richard Cortez said. “We are a long and narrow city, and getting people from north to south and south to north is very important.”
Cortez said that adding another major four-lane, north-south corridor to the existing Jackson, McColl and Ware roads and 10th and 23rd streets is a good start to addressing the city’s traffic problem.
The extension will be similar to Second Street, with two northbound and two southbound lanes and a hike-and-bike trail along the east side of the corridor, though final landscaping and beautification is not expected until 2012 because of budgetary concerns, City Commissioner Scott Crane said.
But unlike Second Street and other major north-south roadways, the Bicentennial extension will have limited access and traffic lights, Crane said, which will make it a much faster route. The only intersections will be at 4 mile line and Dove Avenue.
“Because it is limited access, it helps...
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Showing posts with label nick pipitone. Show all posts
Showing posts with label nick pipitone. Show all posts
Wednesday, February 10, 2010
Monday, November 30, 2009
San Juan enters second phase of downtown revitalization plan
San Juan enters second phase of downtown revitalization plan
City leaders hope more Basilica voters will “pray and stay”
November 28, 2009 7:09 PM
The Monitor
Nick Pipitone
SAN JUAN — The San Juan Economic Development Corp. kicked off phase two of a downtown revitalization plan Nov. 19 and will focus on public outreach over the next four months in crafting a “cohesive vision” for downtown San Juan.
City leaders said that by creating a pedestrian corridor to the downtown area near Nebraska Street and Business 83, they will be able to attract and retain more of the estimated 20,000 to 30,000 Mexican nationals and visitors who come to see the National Shrine of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle every week.
“Many visitors come via a charter bus so they don’t have a method or means for transportation,” corporation Executive Director Miki McCarthy said. “Our plan is geared toward giving them all the amenities they need for a full visit. They come and pray. We’d like them to pray and stay.”
The city spent $50,000 on a feasibility and infrastructure study in August and identified the infrastructure improvements needed downtown to accommodate future commercial growth.
McCarthy said new water and sewer lines, improved drainage and sidewalk improvements need to be addressed first.
“Once we accomplish those, then we’re talking about aesthetic improvements that would follow,” she said.
McCarthy said the city is envisioning lighting, water features, shaded areas and landscaping that would beatify the downtown area.
The city has invested $120,000 into this second phase of the project — the designing, planning and public outreach stages that will culminate into the creation of the city’s downtown revitalization plan.
The plan will lay out guidelines and regulations for downtown redevelopment, including new construction, building rehabilitation and sidewalk and street improvements.
During the four-month phase, the development corporation will host several forums for business owners and the community to attend in order to provide input for the plan.
At the forums, the city will showcase the different design options provided by civil and engineering firm Edminister, Hinshaw, Russ and Associates Inc., which the city hired as its primary consultant on the project.
“Are we going to preserve our historic structures? Will downtown have more of a Main Street-feel or will it be newer construction? These are all questions we’re considering,” McCarthy said.
She said there will one town hall meeting a month from January through April, and the city will begin advertising them with a billboard downtown and in store front windows in December.
City officials said San Juan residents will also benefit by having more entertainment options downtown—instead of having to leave the city.
“We’d hate to see (downtown) become an old ghost town. There are a lot of buildings that need to be remodeled,” Mayor Pedro Contreras said, using the abandoned San Juan Hotel as an example. “We’re hoping for a huge, positive change in our downtown, bringing in commercial businesses and creating a family environment.”
Along with the engineering firm, CDS Spillette is also consulting the city in the...
Full Story
City leaders hope more Basilica voters will “pray and stay”
November 28, 2009 7:09 PM
The Monitor
Nick Pipitone
SAN JUAN — The San Juan Economic Development Corp. kicked off phase two of a downtown revitalization plan Nov. 19 and will focus on public outreach over the next four months in crafting a “cohesive vision” for downtown San Juan.
City leaders said that by creating a pedestrian corridor to the downtown area near Nebraska Street and Business 83, they will be able to attract and retain more of the estimated 20,000 to 30,000 Mexican nationals and visitors who come to see the National Shrine of Our Lady of San Juan del Valle every week.
“Many visitors come via a charter bus so they don’t have a method or means for transportation,” corporation Executive Director Miki McCarthy said. “Our plan is geared toward giving them all the amenities they need for a full visit. They come and pray. We’d like them to pray and stay.”
The city spent $50,000 on a feasibility and infrastructure study in August and identified the infrastructure improvements needed downtown to accommodate future commercial growth.
McCarthy said new water and sewer lines, improved drainage and sidewalk improvements need to be addressed first.
“Once we accomplish those, then we’re talking about aesthetic improvements that would follow,” she said.
McCarthy said the city is envisioning lighting, water features, shaded areas and landscaping that would beatify the downtown area.
The city has invested $120,000 into this second phase of the project — the designing, planning and public outreach stages that will culminate into the creation of the city’s downtown revitalization plan.
The plan will lay out guidelines and regulations for downtown redevelopment, including new construction, building rehabilitation and sidewalk and street improvements.
During the four-month phase, the development corporation will host several forums for business owners and the community to attend in order to provide input for the plan.
At the forums, the city will showcase the different design options provided by civil and engineering firm Edminister, Hinshaw, Russ and Associates Inc., which the city hired as its primary consultant on the project.
“Are we going to preserve our historic structures? Will downtown have more of a Main Street-feel or will it be newer construction? These are all questions we’re considering,” McCarthy said.
She said there will one town hall meeting a month from January through April, and the city will begin advertising them with a billboard downtown and in store front windows in December.
City officials said San Juan residents will also benefit by having more entertainment options downtown—instead of having to leave the city.
“We’d hate to see (downtown) become an old ghost town. There are a lot of buildings that need to be remodeled,” Mayor Pedro Contreras said, using the abandoned San Juan Hotel as an example. “We’re hoping for a huge, positive change in our downtown, bringing in commercial businesses and creating a family environment.”
Along with the engineering firm, CDS Spillette is also consulting the city in the...
Full Story
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