The Quincy Traffic Commission Monday night heard results of a study conducted by Blessing Hospital to help determine the impact of vacating streets near the hospital under a proposed expansion plan.

The study indicates there would be increased traffic along Eighth Street between Broadway and Chestnut, College between Eighth and 12th, and 10th Street between Broadway and Elm.

Traffic would increase to the following:

• From 2,400 to 4,900 vehicles on College Street between Eighth and 12th streets.

• From 8,550 to 9,000 vehicles on Eighth Street between Broadway and Chestnut streets.

• From 4,500 to 4,900 vehicles on 10th Street between Broadway and Elm streets.

Blessing officials have requested that the city vacate Oak between 10th and 11th streets and 10th Street between Broadway and Elm.

A master site plan shows that expansion would include building a three-story Blessing-Rieman College of Nursing on the north side of College between Ninth and 12th streets, a five-story patient tower just west of the Blessing Cancer Center in a parking lot that is bounded by Oak, and a 550-space parking deck on the south side of College Street between 10th and 11th streets.

Here is a copy of the traffic study.

Blessing Traffic Study

Quincy Transit Lines is asking for a $500,000 loan to hold it over while it waits for reimbursement from the state.

The Quincy City Council recently accepted nearly $2.58 million grant from the Illinois Downstate Operating Program for operating expenses. The transit lines also was approved for a Federal Section 5311 grant for $600,253.

The Quincy Transit Lines receives about 85 percent of its operating costs from the federal and state government. The service gets 11 percent from the city’s general fund and 3.5 percent from fares and other revenue sources.

This isn’t the first time the bus service has asked for a loan as it waits for reimbursement.

In 2009, the City Council agreed to loan up to $482,000 until the reimbursement arrived. The Quincy Transit Lines also received approval for up to $744,000 in 2008 and $200,000 in 2007.

Quincy Transit Lines resolution

Sept. 27 Quincy City Council Agenda

Signs like this have sprung up in the East End Historic District asking local dentist Dr. Louis Quintero to not demolish the bungalow at 2002 Maine.

The saga of 2002 Maine continues.

After the Quincy City Council overturned the Zoning Board of Appeals decision last month, some residents have placed signs in their yards asking local dentist Dr. Louis Quintero to not demolish the house.

The south third of the property was zoned residential, while the rest of the property was zoned commercial.

The council will hear the first presentation of an ordinance tonight that would extend the commercial zoning to the boundary of the property.

Quintero has owned the property, which previously housed a dentist office, since 2008. He is considering developing the property into a dental clinic. He said he originally looked at the “adaptive reuse” of the structure, but he said it did not prove to be practical.

Preservationist group Quincy Preserves has fought the demolition of the home.

Sept. 13 City Council Meeting

2002 Maine Ordinance

The Quincy City Council will meet on Tuesday this week, because of Labor Day on Monday.

Aldermen will consider a resolution authorizing a pilot program agreement between the city and i3 America allowing the company to install 1,300 feet of fiber optic cable in municipal sewer lines along South 46th Street.

The Central Services Committee recommended the council approve the agreement on Thursday.

Sept. 7 City Council Meeting

Sometimes you just get lucky.

Alderman Kyle Moore, R-3, admitted that getting contacted by the i3 Group regarding a citywide fiber optic network took a bit of luck.

i3 America first made initial contact with the city through Aldermen Paul Havermale, R-3, and Moore.

“We were originally contacted by (Brian Foley, vice president of sales for i3 America) off of our 3rd Ward website,” Moore said. “Brian Foley contacted Alderman Havermale and I after seeing our initiative for Google fiber.”

Foley said he was impressed with the community in its pursuit of Google fiber.

Havermale and Moore held an initial conference call with i3 before they passed it on to the city administration.

The city’s Central Services Committee recommended approval of a pilot program to allow i3 to install 1,300 feet of fiber optic cable in municipal sewer lines along South 46th Street. The proposal now heads to the City Council.

The pilot project could eventually lead to the installation of  a network citywide. It will be interesting to see what what happens after the pilot program.