Greenville City Council Workshop: NCDOT Projects, Disparity Study, ArtWalk – Sept 9, 2024
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Greenville City Council Workshop – September 9, 2024
The Greenville City Council held a workshop on September 9, 2024, at 4:00 PM in City Hall Conference Room 337 to receive updates on NCDOT projects, discuss a disparity study for city contracting, and review the 2023-24 First Friday ArtWalk and future capital needs. No formal votes were taken; the session served as a briefing and discussion.
Call to Order & Approval of Agenda
- Mayor PJ Conley called the meeting to order. Roll call showed all members present except Councilmember Robinson, who joined later.
- The agenda was approved unanimously on a motion by Mayor Pro Tem Daniels, seconded by Councilmember Blackburn.
NCDOT Project Updates
- Jeremy Stroud, NCDOT Division Engineer, presented the 10-year Statewide Transportation Improvement Plan (STIP) for the Greenville Urban Area MPO. There are 13 highway projects totaling nearly $570 million in improvements.
- Active projects:
- Dickinson Avenue (38% complete, completion summer 2027)
- Bridge replacement on NC 11 over Tar River (30% complete, spring 2026)
- Oxford Road culvert replacement (let Sept 2024, completion spring 2025)
- Rock Spring Road culvert replacement (construction 2029)
- Projects in design/right-of-way: Island Road (let Oct 2025), Evans Street Widening (~$167M, let Apr 2026), 14th Street Widening (~$30M, let Sept 2026), Fire Tower Road Widening (~$167M, let July 2029), NC 43 Widening (~$92M, let June 2029), Worthington Road roundabout, Greenville Signal System Upgrade (~$14M, let Nov 2027), West 5th Street dual left turns (~$1.4M, let Oct 2025).
- Prioritization challenges: Due to construction cost increases (some projects nearly doubled since 2017-2018), available funding is insufficient. At the regional tier, only one project (Grumble Boulevard access management, ~$216M) could be funded, consuming nearly all capacity. The division tier has $140 million in capacity, but many projects compete.
- Council positions: Several members expressed frustration that projects have been delayed for a decade, citing Evans Street, Fire Tower Road, and signalization as examples. Councilmember Foreman noted the signal system upgrade was discussed in 2016 at $9M but now costs $13.9M and won't be let until 2027. He and other members emphasized that NCDOT faces funding formula constraints and called on state elected officials to find new revenue sources. Councilmember Daniels echoed concerns that infrastructure is the city's greatest growth challenge.
- Discussion on pedestrian needs: Councilmember Daniels asked how pedestrian projects score; Stroud answered that 6% of funding is set aside for pedestrian projects, but they compete with highway projects, and adding multi-use paths can significantly increase project costs.
- Short-term solutions: Stroud highlighted upcoming projects: a HAWK signal at 10th and Anderson (Aug 2025), access management on Stantonsburg Road (median installation to reduce crashes—103 crashes in 5 years), signal at Evans and Howe (Aug 2025), and roundabouts at NC 43/US 264 ramps (to address safety and mobility).
Overview of Disparity Study for City Contracting
- Tish Williams, Business Development Manager, presented an overview of a proposed disparity study to evaluate the availability and utilization of minority- and women-owned business enterprises (MWBE) in city contracting. The last study was conducted in 1991; the current participation goals are based on that outdated data.
- Cost estimate: $350,000–$400,000 (based on other municipalities). The study would take 12–18 months. Staff recommended partnering with Greenville Utilities Commission (GUC) to share costs.
- Process: Publish an RFP in October 2024, evaluate consultants in November–December, and kick off in early 2025. Data collection includes quantitative (purchase orders, invoices, subcontractor data from MUNIS system) and qualitative (surveys, interviews with business owners).
- Council discussion: Council members questioned the high cost and frequency (industry suggests every 5 years). Councilmember Willis asked about establishing specific MWBE participation targets; staff explained those would be determined by the study's findings. Councilmember Foreman inquired about HUB certification assistance; staff confirmed monthly workshops and one-on-one support.
- Next step: Staff will approach GUC about cost-sharing and report back with bid results for council approval.
Review of 2023-24 First Friday ArtWalk and Future Capital Needs
- Holly Garriott, Emerge Gallery & Art Center; Andrew, CVB; and Kevin (city staff) presented the ArtWalk program, which started in 2001 with 3 stops and now has 25 stops. The trolley (Emerald Express) was reintroduced in 2023-24 with strong ridership.
- Ridership data (2023-24): Total ridership 680 over the season (excluding broken-down months). September 2023: 74; June 2024: 141; September 2024: 132. Riders spent an estimated $125 per person on average.
- Trolley condition: The three trolleys (2005 vintage, gifted from Charlotte) are near end of useful life. Maintenance costs in FY24 were $43,000; revenue only $9,000 from 15 events. A replacement trolley is estimated at $270,000 (purchase and upfit).
- Proposed funding: $80,000 from the City, $80,000 from Travel & Tourism (CVB), and the remainder from grants/donations raised by Emerge and the Arts Council. The new trolley could be ordered upon full funding and delivered in 4-5 months.
- Council discussion: Councilmember Willis questioned the cost-per-rider ($270,000/680 riders = ~$397/rider) and suggested a wrapped van or party bus as a lower-cost alternative (estimated $150,000). Councilmember Foreman favored the trolley's unique appeal, noting it attracts diverse riders and connects downtown businesses. Councilmember Daniels emphasized the trolley's role in economic development and resident amenity. Ideas for additional uses (shuttling football game attendees, hotel partnerships, standing tours) were raised.
- Outcome: Council generally supported the program. Staff will explore alternative vehicles (e.g., wrapped cutaway bus) and continue fundraising to reduce the city's share. No formal action taken.
Key Outcomes
- No formal votes were taken; all agenda items were informational and discussed for future action.
- NCDOT: Council expressed need to lobby state for more transportation funding; staff will continue collaborating with NCDOT on short-term safety projects.
- Disparity study: Staff will initiate conversations with GUC and issue an RFP, returning to council with a cost and recommendation.
- ArtWalk trolley: Staff will evaluate alternative vehicle options, seek grants/donations, and report back on a final funding plan.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon, everyone. Welcome to the September 9, 2024 workshop for the Greenville City Council. I'm Mayor PJ Conley. I'll be presiding over today's workshop. First, I'll call honor city clerk for the roll call. Yes, sir. Mayor PJ Conley. Here. Mayor Protein Daniels. Present. Council Member Foreman. Here. Councilmember Blackburn. Present. Councilmember Stelling. Here. Council Member Robinson will be joining us. Councilmember Wellis. Here. All right. Mayor Conley Inform. Thank you very much. We'll now move on to the approval of the agenda. Mr. Manager. Second. Motions are made by Mayor Pro Time Daniels, same by Councilmember Blackburn. All those in favor say aye. Those opposed say nay. Motion passed by zero. Alright, we'll move on to new business. Mr. Manager. Thank you, Mayor. The first item on the agenda today is an update on outstanding institute DOT projects staff of NC DOT. We are fortunate to have with us Mary Joe Alco with our representative district two representative on the board. It's here also with Jeremy Stroud from NCDOT and staff. And we had the pleasure of taking uh the staff around and uh Miss Alco to do some tours of a couple of our uh very uh major thoroughfares with concerns to vehicle and pedestrian uh activity. And what we thought is what we would do is while they were here is just take an opportunity to review some of the very major NC DOT projects that that we have outstanding that will be moving forward over the next several years, several hundred million very worth of project projects. Take a look at the the funding status of a majority of those and then talk about what some of the of the major priorities that currently stand unfunded are in the ferry fairy near future that will impact our our ability to keep on expanding our community. I will first turn it over to our director of engineering, Lisa Kirby to introduce our good afternoon, everybody. Um as Michael told you, we did have a we had a two-hour tour today of the city of Greenville and some of our uh trouble corridors. Um very appreciative of the time that Division 2 and D N C D OT uh as well as some representatives took on our behalf today. Um I'll introduce Jeremy Stroud, he's been with uh NC DOT since 2006, if I remember that correctly, and uh was recently promoted to division engineer in January of this year. So we're happy to have him here. Thank you. Good afternoon, everybody. Um Jeremy Stroud with NC DOT. Uh, thank you for having me tonight and share share a little bit of information about some projects and good things we've got going on in the Greenville area. Uh first thing I'd like to share with you is uh we have a statewide transportation improvement plan.
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