Welcome and Introductions Nick Popa, P.E. Marie Keister, AICP Project Manager Public Involvement Lead Division of Mobility Options State Rt. 161 City of Columbus Engage Public Affairs John Panovsky, P.E . Brooks Vogel, P.E. Principal in Charge Project Manager State Rt. 161 State Rt. 161 Korda Engineering Korda Engineering
Agenda • Bicentennial Bikeways Plan • State Route 161 proposed shared-use path • Your thoughts • Next steps • Contact information
Bicentennial Bikeways Plan • Extensive community input • Adopted by City Council in 2008 • Goals: - Create a citywide bicycle network to make it easy for citizens to ride bicycles to parks, neighborhood gathering places, businesses - Promote active, safe and healthy transportation choices
Bicentennial Bikeways Plan “By implementing the Bicentennial Bikeways Plan, Columbus can shift 10 percent of the city’s transportation to bicycling, walking, transit and other transportation options.” -Bicentennial Bikeways Plan
Components of the Plan The 4 E’s • Engineering • Enforcement • Education • Encouragement
Accomplished So Far • Engineering – 60 miles shared use paths – 48 miles on-street bikeways – 710 sharrow pavement markings – 368 bike racks – 127 Share the Road signs – 10 bike parking shelters
Accomplished So Far • Enforcement – Code changes – Police on bikes • Encouragement – Bike events – Organizing committee – June 11 Mayor’s Bike to Work event/Consider Biking CEO Challenge
Accomplished So Far • Education
Reducing Cars ‐ Only Focus • Previous emphasis was on capacity and safely moving vehicles • Now focused on safely accommodating all users State Rt. 161 10 today
Tonight’s Focus • Proposed design for a new shared-use path on State Rt. 161 from Linworth to Sawmill Roads (2.2 miles)
Why Now? • State Rt. 161 was specifically ranked one of the top 12 Bicentennial Bikeways Plan priorities based on a number of factors, such as: ‒ Connectivity ‒ Existing safety concerns ‒ Potential for high bicycle use • Neighborhood and road characteristics support the shared-use path concept
Existing Conditions • Narrow shoulders • Heavy, high speed traffic • Not ideal for a bike lane or sharrow treatment State Rt. 161 today
Why on the North Side? • Design always starts with safety • Most residents, the likely bicyclists and pedestrians, live north of State Rt. 161 • Locating the path closer to residents: ‒ Minimizes crossings, which introduce more potential for conflicts between motorists, pedestrians and cyclists ‒ Provides safer, more direct access between residents and businesses • Engineering and environmental considerations are about the same on both sides of the road
Proposed Shared ‐ Use Path From Sawmill Rd. to Federated Blvd. Parking Parking Lane Lane Separation from the roadway creates a safer, more pleasurable ride and walk 15
Proposed Shared ‐ Use Path From Sawmill Rd. to Federated Blvd. Federated Blvd Parking Lane To Dublin shared ‐ use path Sawmill Rd 16
Issues in this Area • Access to retail businesses • Safe crossings at intersections Parking Parking ‒ At traffic signals to get to south side of SR 161 Lane Lane ‒ At stop signs at major, un-signalized cross streets • Preserving current landscape and mounding that screen businesses • Connection to Dublin Bridge Street Corridor and shared-use path • Moderate right of way required
Intersection Safety: Crossing Streets Parking Parking Lane Lane Stop signs at streets would alert bicyclists and pedestrians to stop and wait for motorists
Proposed Shared ‐ Use Path From Federated to Brookdown Parking Parking Lane Lane The green space will vary in width from about 20 to 30 feet, depending on topography and right of way 19
Proposed Shared ‐ Use Path From Federated Blvd to Brookdown Brookdown Federated Blvd Parking Parking Lane Lane 20
Issues in this Area • Trees and landscaping ‒ From Danbury to Brookdown, the proposed shared- Parking Parking Lane Lane use path follows a meandering alignment to preserve trees • Mostly flat topography; a few deep ditches • No crossings necessary across State Rt. 161 • Safe crossings at cross-street intersections • No new right of way required
Proposed Shared ‐ Use Path From Brookdown Past McVey Blvd. Parking Parking Lane Lane 22
Proposed Shared ‐ Use Path From Brookdown Past McVey Blvd. Brookdown McVey Parking Parking Lane Lane 23
Issues in this Area • Industrial businesses on south • Moderate right of way required Parking Parking Lane Lane • Topography at Brookside Lake ‒ Some trees near the road will be removed, but most trees will remain
Intersection Safety: Crossing Commercial Drives Parking Parking Lane Lane Signs at commercial drives would alert drivers to watch for bicyclists and pedestrians
Proposed Shared ‐ Use Path Past McVey Blvd. to Linworth Rd. Parking Parking Lane Lane No grass median between roadway and shared ‐ use path; less separation between path and road where 45 mph speed limit drops to 35 mph. 26
Proposed Shared ‐ Use Path Past McVey Blvd. to Linworth Rd. McVey Linworth Rd Parking Parking Lane Lane 27
Issues West of the RR Tracks • Right of way narrows, businesses closer to road • Speed limit drops from 45 mph to 35 mph Parking Parking • Path moves closer to road Lane Lane • More potential conflict points (safety) • No parking will be taken • Minimal right of way impacts – up to two properties • Work with CSX to install gates at the railroad crossing RR crossing in Arena District
Issues East of the Railroad Tracks • Continuation of more urban area • Multiple conflict points Parking Parking • May impact some parking Lane Lane ‒ City will work with local businesses to minimize impacts ‒ Please help identify what those impacts might be (indicate on comment form)
Other Considerations • Visibility at entrances to drives and businesses • Right of way impacts • Education and encouragement of safe bicycling and driving practices
Benefits • A safer, more active and connected community • Improved bicycle and pedestrian access from area neighborhoods to Linworth and Sawmill Rd-area retailers • Experience in other cities shows property values increase near shared-use paths and other bicycle facilities
Next Steps Now: • Listen to your comments and answer questions After tonight: • Review input and technical findings • Follow up with stakeholders and a working group • Reconvene the public to review recommended alternative • Apply for MORPC funds • 2013 – move to final engineering and design • 2014 – purchase right of way • 2015 - construction
Questions/Discussion
Provide your Feedback • Please fill out a comment form and hand it/send it to us • Share comments, questions with staff • See http://bit.ly/ColumbusBike (click on “Current Bike Projects”) Nick Popa, P.E., City of Columbus (614) 645-0543 njpopa@columbus.gov Marie Keister, Public Involvement Lead (614) 565-2819 mkeister@engagepublicaffairs.com
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