Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.
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F CUSOn Franklin Street Parking Deck to Open in February FAST Ridership Up Route 9 Extension Starts Jan. 23 Since 2008, Fayetteville Area System of Transit ridership has increased 53.8 percent, and in calendar year 2011, ridership topped 1.55 million, or 1,558,466. That number is an increase of over 250,000 rides since 2010, which had approximately 1.29 million rides, or 1,294,778. In 2009, Transit provided 1,079,341 rides and in 2008, 1,013,269 rides were tallied. From 2008 to 2011, FASTtrac! Paratransit ridership increased from 41,250 to 47, 239, experiencing the largest jump from 2010 to 2011, with approximately 3,500 more riders in 2011. "FAST is certainly happy about the number of rides our system experienced in 2011, and even more excited that we have raised the quality of service for our customers," FAST Director Randy Hume said. continue to get better because of the City Council's dedication to providing an improved product for citizens, FAST staff's hard work, and the roadmap that has been laid out in the Transit Development Plan (TDP)." continued next page Due to weather-related delays and suppliers not meeting deadlines, the grand opening and ribbon cutting of the Franklin Street Parking Deck has been pushed back masonry were affected by cold and rainy weather. Substantial completion of the parking deck was expected originally Nov. 10, but that date was pushed back to Jan. 10. A grand opening was scheduled to take place at the January Fourth Friday on Jan. 27. At this point, substantial completion of the deck has not been reached and the new plans for the parking deck's grand opening were discussed at a meeting Thursday, Jan. 12. "The City has been informed by the contractor, LeChase, that they were unable to meet the January deadline," said Rusty Thompson, City engineering and infrastructure director. "City staff was unaware until the meeting Thursday, Jan. 12 that the deck would not be completed for the opening event in January. The main priority of opening the parking deck to the public is to ensure its structural safety for users. The City looks forward to providing more parking spaces to downtown visitors when the deck opens in February." Downtown visitors still have access to free all-day parking in 442 downtown spaces. Three-hour on-street parking provides 145 spaces, two-hour free on-street parking provides 358 spaces, and two-hour free parking lots provide 149 spaces. On nights and weekends, more than 1,900 free parking spaces are available. Requirements include: retention pond that reduces the quantity of stormwater runoff from the property that is designed and maintained according to the standards of the City of Fayetteville's Stormwater Control Ordinance (go to www.cityoffayetteville. org/stormwater and click on "Stormwater Ordinance" next to "More Information") of pollution on water quality and meets the design and maintenance standards in the City of Fayetteville's Stormwater Control Ordinance. A BMP temporarily stores and/or treats urban pollutants, and provide other amenities coverage from either an individual or a general National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) industrial permit. Industrial property owners can get up to an 80 percent credit by complying with all three requirements. Commercial and multifamily property owners can receive as much as a 60 percent credit on their stormwater fees. continued next page 20 11 City Offers Stormwater Fee Incentive Program Commercial, Industrial, and Multifamily Property Owners May Receive Credit Commercial, industrial, and multifamily property owners in Fayetteville may be credited a portion of their City stormwater fee if they manage their stormwater runoff through onsite water quality or quantity structural Best Management Practices (BMP). Some owners may be eligible to receive as much as an 80 percent fee credit if they meet one, two, or all of the three requirements. Radio Show www.espnfay.com w 6 UCW JANUARY 25-31, 2012 Hosted by Sully Monday thru Friday 4:30 - 6 p.m. 910.867.4148 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM Fayetteville & Ft. Bragg's Radio Home For Local Sports "At The Buzzer" Listen Live!