eNewsletter Spring 2010
Working with Business and Property Owners
The E Street Corridor sbX BRT Project will involve acquiring rights of way, relocating utilities, building stations and park-and-ride facilities, realigning roads, and modifying and enhancing street landscaping. Omnitrans will work closely with property and business owners and along the E Street Corridor—including Kendall Drive, Hospitality Lane and Anderson Street—to communicate BRT plans and make transitions as smooth as possible. “We are excited about what the finished product will bring to the community,” said CEO/General Manager Milo Victoria. “Omnitrans has a long history of working cooperatively with property owners, and the sbX project will be no different as we move forward to provide the community with a high-tech, environmentally friendly transit service.”“Businesses and their customers are our potential customers and riders. Both are important to Omnitrans.”
—MILO VICTORIA, OMNITRANS CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER
Some areas of construction for this project will require relocation of utilities, but Omnitrans does not expect major utility interruptions. If a utility is to be temporarily shut down, the construction team will make its best effort to schedule the outages during off peak or after business hours, and will also contact business owners well in advance.
Omnitrans’ project team has carefully evaluated the need to acquire properties for street modifications and has worked to minimize the need for property takes. An estimated 150 properties - mostly narrow strips and possibly 5 full properties - may have to be purchased or will require temporary construction easements or rights of entry. All transactions will strictly follow federal guidelines and standard
industry practices, including restoration of sites used during construction.
Similar to any public works project, construction activities include detours due to temporary closures of portions of streets and driveways; construction noise; possible dust emissions;construction equipment; traffic; and material and equipment storage. Design and construction teams will review such impacts and develop plans to minimize and mitigate these impacts in a practical manner.
Throughout the life of the project, Omnitrans’ sbX community outreach team will keep property owners and the public up-to-date with schedules and impacts expected during construction. Public input will be sought in reducing inconveniences during construction through many outreach activities including personal contacts, distribution of informational material and installation of signage. These efforts will help residents and patrons to know that shops are still open for businesses.
