Bardstown Road Safety Survey - due August 14!
Highlands Douglass Neighborhood Association
Hello Highlands Douglass Neighbors,
KYTC, The Kentucky state transportation cabinet, needs your comments by Friday on their Phase 2 safety improvements on Bardstown Road, from Eastern Parkway to Taylorsville Road!
In the last month since the designs were released, we have been talking to neighbors, visitors, and vendors in person at the Farmer’s Market each week, walking around to businesses, churches, and schools, meeting with other area neighborhood associations, handing out flyers, talking to elected officials and public leaders, and interacting on social media (over 120,000 views and thousands of engagements on our posts!).
We’ve looked at our approved neighborhood plan, set priorities around walkability, safety, parking, green space, and mobility options, and have recommendations from our board and community to share with you.
Take the state survey, it’s due Friday August 14, but first read our thoughts below.
The Board of HDNA generally supports the proposed efforts to “increase safety for all road users on Bardstown Road”, especially residents, visitors, and business owners who travel by foot, bike, bus, or car. For this project, the HDNA’s priorities are to 1) Keep & add on street parking, 2) Improve, add & shorten road crosswalks, 3) Slow drivers to speed limit, and 4) Build the roundabout. Our recommendations align with these priorities.
The roundabout option in particular will not only move more cars with less delay, and improve safety and livability for everyone on foot, bike, bus, or car, but will serve as a gateway to the neighborhood, a destination for shoppers, and a vibrant sign that you are entering a welcoming part of the Highlands. KYTC’s own data on 60+ state roundabouts, national data, and a specific, equivalent roundabout in San Diego shows results like:
🚗 same car volume as a signal
⏰ less car delay versus a signal
🏁 while speeds down 50%
👂 noise down 77% from lower speeds
💥 crashes down 90%
🚶🏽♀️ walking safety up significantly w/ easier crossings
🌳 more room for green space and trees
🅿️ more room for on street parking spaces
💰 retail sales up 30%
💨 reduced pollution from gas, brakes, tires
👍 approval rating 70% after a year
💵 saves tax money on both install and maintenance
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For each of the 6 sections of the state survey, here are our recommendations, which you may cut and paste, and add your own comments:
A: Eastern to Bonnycastle
Support Option A2
– Would like to see all cross-hatched paint in this section turned into concrete, to slow drivers, prevent dangerous right side passing, and shorten crossing distances and protect pedestrians at Eastern
– Would like a mid block crosswalk w/ RRFBs at Stevens
B: Bonnycastle to Speed Avenue
Support Option B1
+ Prefer the B2 version of the intersection design of Bonnycastle and Bardstown Road with the curb extensions and the in-lane bus stops.
+ Prefer the B1 version for the crosswalk designs at Murray and Maryland. These both are great placements and love the curb expansions around both of those crosswalks to shorten the crossing across BTR.
+ Prefer the B2 version of the intersection with Speed. Allows for crosswalks on all sides of the intersection.
C: Roanoke to Grasmere
Support Option C1
+ Appreciate the added parking spots and curb extensions.
– On the southbound side of BTR, the alley that is across from Grasmere, would prefer a concrete curb extension instead of paint
D: Alfresco to Harvard
Support Option D10
+ Strongly support the roundabout that would reduce speeding of cars, make it safer for walkers to cross, eliminate need for left hand turns (which currently are dangerous for drivers and pedestrians), and increase retail sales
– Support raised crosswalks and rumble strips (or speed cushions) on all 9 legs of the roundabout, to ensure cars slow down and stop for pedestrians
+ Like the larger sidewalk and green space near Woodford Place from roundabout
– Add a mid-block crossing w/ RRFBs at Woodford for Farmer’s Market and shops
+ Love the new intersection design for Blvd Napoleon and Rutherford – safer for cars and walkers, more green space.
+ Like only having one lane in each direction in the D10 version
+ Love adding the parking spots on BTR in front of Graeter’s and Havana Rumba, and on Harvard
E: Douglass to Wrocklage
Support Option E5
– Love the single lane roundabout!
– Would prefer one lane in each direction and then a center turn lane in the middle of this whole section
+ Love the curb extension at the intersection of Woodbourne and BTR on the East side. Would prefer them to be larger like in E1 design.
+ Love the intersection redesign at BTR & Dorothy/Wrocklage
– Could a mid-block crossing w/ RRFBs at Woodbourne be added, like by Kroger
– Would like to see more concrete islands in the parking lanes to prevent people using it to pass
– Can anything be done about all the excess curb cuts, which makes it dangerous to walk and prevents more on street parking? Especially between Wrocklage and Harvard.
F: Wrocklage to Taylorsville
Support Option F6
– In several parts along this section, there is extra road width (i.e. between Weber and Taylorsville). Can we widen sidewalks along this section? Would allow for safer walk and allow for potential street trees along this section of the sidewalk too.
+ Support redesigned intersection of BTR & Taylorsville, specifically adding the northern crosswalk that’s missing today, and adding curb extensions.
– Need in lane TARC stop at Wrocklage for more on street parking.
– Support moving the crosswalk North of Weber by Kroger – can it be made safer with rumble strips, speed cushions, or raising it?
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We welcome this project’s safety improvements and better walkability for our community and local businesses. Now we need your help in ensuring KTYC has heard the best ideas from residents, businesses, and visitors for our neighborhood. Please leave your feedback now!
Sincerely,
Highlands Douglass Neighborhood Association Board members
PS. If you’d like to see our full recommendations and more details, see our project webpage.