Tuesday, August 8, 2023

Agenda - Columbia Borough Council Meeting - August 8, 2023

 


Download the meeting packet HERE.

Columbia Borough Council hears $1.3M plan to renovate Walnut into 'an enticing-looking street'

Engineer Derek Rinaldo of C.S. Davidson explains proposed renovations to Walnut Street at the August 3, 2023 Columbia Borough Council meeting. 

When: Columbia Borough Council meeting, Aug. 3.

What happened: Council members and the public received an updated explanation of proposed renovations to Walnut Street. The public hearing, which lasted more than an hour, covered planned changes between Front and Third streets. Council then continued its regular meeting.

Background: Columbia received about $900,000 in 2020 in federal money distributed by the Lancaster County Metro Planning Organization. The borough will supply the rest of the $1.3 million cost now estimated when construction starts in 2025.

Why: The streetscape project would eliminate some safety concerns associated with the current two-way traffic pattern, borough engineer Derek Rinaldi said.

What's new: Renderings display a canopy of shady trees dotting a center median that spans five feet at its narrowest point and expands to 12 feet at its widest point; add in aesthetically pleasing streetlights, a generous two-way bike lane on one side of the barrier, and two lanes of one-way traffic heading toward the river on the other side; and shows room for pedestrians, updated sidewalks, and two rows of parking spaces.

Quotable: "We're looking more to prioritize pedestrian and bicycle traffic," Rinaldi said. In addition, the updated roadway would link the riverfront to Columbia's downtown area. Plans call for "an enticing-looking street," Rinaldi explained.

Questions: Members of the public, however, questioned the borough about switching to one-way traffic — how such traffic might affect emergency vehicle response times, whether residents and visitors would lose parking spaces on Walnut, and other matters.
MORE:

https://lancasteronline.com/news/regional/columbia-borough-council-hears-1-3m-plan-to-renovate-walnut-into-an-enticing-looking-street/article_993dead6-34a7-11ee-b01d-a31abba33b32.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share 

Monday, August 7, 2023

Columbia shooters fired at victim more than 20 times before fleeing: police


Bullets fired by two men struck four residences and three cars in Columbia on Saturday afternoon, the borough's police department said. 

Police were dispatched at 2:50 p.m. to the intersection of Third and Cherry Streets, one block away from The Columbia Market House, for reports of shots fired. Witnesses said two shooters wearing dark clothing targeted a person walking nearby. 

Columbia Police Chief Jack Brommer said there were more than 20 shell casings from rifles and pistols found in the area.

Witnesses said the targeted individual fled on foot and was not injured. Police said they are reviewing footage from surrounding cameras and are asking anyone with information about the incident to contact Detective Matt Leddy or the department at 717-684-7735.

https://lancasteronline.com/news/local/columbia-shooters-fired-at-victim-more-than-20-times-before-fleeing-police/article_139ba32e-3550-11ee-8bf1-a3a03906d020.html?utm_medium=social&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=user-share 

Rolling Traffic Shifts on Route 30 Wrights Ferry Bridge Between Lancaster and York Counties Wednesday, August 9



08/07/2023

Contractor to evaluate barrier prior to barrier improvement project

Harrisburg, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) announced today that a rolling traffic shift is planned for this Wednesday on the eastbound or westbound direction of the Route 30 (Wrights Ferry) Bridge connecting Lancaster and York counties. This will allow a contractor to evaluate the existing barrier on the bridge in preparation for a barrier improvement project.

Weather permitting, the traffic shift will occur on Route 30 bridge from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM Wednesday, August 9. This will be a mobile operation to shift traffic from the left (passing) lane to the right (travel) lane so workers can evaluate the barrier. Only one direction will be shifted at a time.

This work could cause traffic delays on Route 30. Motorists should be alert and drive with caution through the work zone.

Work on the barrier project is expected to begin later this month. An updated press release will be issued prior to the start of the project.

JD Eckman, Inc., of Atglen, PA is the prime contractor on this $5,247,787 project. Work is expected to be completed by November 2024.

Motorists can check conditions on major roadways by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 1,000 traffic cameras. 511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 5-1-1, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

Subscribe to PennDOT news and traffic alerts in Adams, Cumberland, Dauphin, Franklin, Lancaster, Lebanon, Perry, and York counties at PennDOT District 8.

Information about infrastructure in District 8, including completed work and significant projects, is available at District 8 Results. Find PennDOT’s planned and active construction projects at PennDOT Projects.

Follow PennDOT on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram.

CONTACT: Dave Thompson 717-418-5018, dmthompson@pa.gov


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Deeds Recorded - Columbia Borough - August 7, 2023

 


Angel Gomez and Margarita Gomez conveyed property on Franklin Street to Grisel Quintana-Trujillo and Waleska Gonzalez-Toro for $190,000.

Dale L. Nell and Sally A. Nell conveyed 23 North Ninth Street to Dale L. Nell, Sally A. Nell and Tiffany M. Nell for $1.

Nicholas Stone Boitnott conveyed 1037 Locust Street to Lead The Future LLC for $211,000.

John H. Feeman conveyed 123 South Eighth Street to Liliana Delgado for $175,000.

Sunday, August 6, 2023

About Town - August 6, 2023

 This week's photos of Columbia

(Click/tap on photos to see larger, sharper images.)


Habitat for Humanity's Women Build Week Day 4 wrapped on Friday. These photos at South 5th Street are from earlier in the week. By the end of the week, a second floor had been added.

Emergency personnel effected a rescue last Sunday when they transported a patient down a precarious set of steps at 4th & Walnut.



Sidewalk wisdom

"We must do what is right, not what is easy"


Bullet hole on the windshield of a parked car near the intersection of South 3rd & Cherry, which was hit during the Saturday afternoon "shots fired" incident there. Alarmingly, a second incident was reported early Sunday morning. Today, many Columbians are on edge, afraid to sit out, wondering what can be done about the problem. There's still no public statement from the mayor.

Four police departments responded to the Saturday afternoon incident.


A moving graffiti gallery down at the tracks rolls by daily



Strangely enough, State Representative Brett Miller voted against a bipartisan bill that would create a database of hazardous material being transported through the state on railways.

Trains carrying who-knows-what often speed through Columbia.


Up close and personal with a moving train near 2nd & Mill
(There's no barricade or warning lights there.)

Sunday, August 13

Ice cream at Columbia River Park on Saturday

Meanwhile, at Rail Mechanical

Old style means of transportation, just add horse

Time for a new sign?

An orca-shaped plane flying over

A bag of flags at the Used Flag Deposit at the Elks

Even a hearse needs maintenance sometimes.

They don't seem as bad this year.

A look down Walnut Street, from 3rd
This sight will be a thing of the past when it becomes one-way.

More work is being done on that fancy door at the Columbia School of Music.

Walk in love today!

Civil War Trail sign on the first block of North 3rd

Until next week . . .