Welcome and Introductions Nick Popa, P.E. Marie Keister, AICP - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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

Welcome and Introductions

• Bicentennial Bikeways Plan
• State Route 161 proposed shared-use

path

• Your thoughts
• Next steps
• Contact information

Agenda

• 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

• f the city’s transportation to

bicycling, walking, transit and

• ther transportation options.”
• Bicentennial Bikeways Plan

Bicentennial Bikeways Plan

The 4 E’s

• Engineering
• Enforcement
• Education
• Encouragement

Components of the Plan

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

10

State Rt. 161 today

• Proposed design for a new shared-use path on

State Rt. 161 from Linworth to Sawmill Roads (2.2 miles)

Tonight’s Focus

• 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

Why Now?

• Narrow shoulders
• Heavy, high speed traffic
• Not ideal for a bike lane or sharrow treatment

Existing Conditions

State Rt. 161 today

• 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

Why on the North Side?

Proposed Shared‐Use Path From Sawmill Rd. to Federated Blvd.

Parking Lane Parking Lane

15

Separation from the roadway creates a safer, more pleasurable ride and walk

Proposed Shared‐Use Path From Sawmill Rd. to Federated Blvd.

Parking Lane

16

Sawmill Rd Federated Blvd

To Dublin shared‐use path

Issues in this Area

Parking Lane Parking Lane

• Access to retail businesses
• Safe crossings at intersections

‒ At traffic signals to get to south side of SR 161 ‒ 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 Lane Parking 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 Lane Parking Lane

19

The green space will vary in width from about 20 to 30 feet, depending on topography and right of way

Proposed Shared‐Use Path From Federated Blvd to Brookdown

Parking Lane Parking Lane

20

Federated Blvd Brookdown

Issues in this Area

Parking Lane Parking Lane

• Trees and landscaping

‒ From Danbury to Brookdown, the proposed shared-

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 Lane Parking Lane

22

Proposed Shared‐Use Path From Brookdown Past McVey Blvd.

Parking Lane Parking Lane

23

Brookdown McVey

Issues in this Area

Parking Lane Parking Lane

• Industrial businesses on south
• Moderate right of way required
• Topography at Brookside Lake

‒ Some trees near the road will be removed, but

most trees will remain

Intersection Safety: Crossing Commercial Drives

Parking Lane Parking 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 Lane Parking Lane

26

No grass median between roadway and shared‐use path; less separation between path and road where 45 mph speed limit drops to 35 mph.

Proposed Shared‐Use Path Past McVey Blvd. to Linworth Rd.

Parking Lane Parking Lane

27

McVey Linworth Rd

Issues West of the RR Tracks

Parking Lane Parking Lane

• Right of way narrows, businesses closer to road
• Speed limit drops from 45 mph to 35 mph
• Path moves closer to road
• 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

Parking Lane Parking Lane

• Continuation of more urban area
• Multiple conflict points
• May impact some parking

‒ City will work with local businesses to minimize

impacts

‒ Please help identify what those impacts might be

(indicate on comment form)

• Visibility at entrances to

drives and businesses

• Right of way impacts
• Education and

encouragement of safe bicycling and driving practices

Other Considerations

• 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

Benefits

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

Next Steps

Questions/Discussion

• 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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