Fwd: Request for Ninth Street Bicycle Lanes/Sharrows
John Juras
From: John Juras <john...@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Jun 27, 2012 at 11:14 PM
Subject: Request for Ninth Street Bicycle Lanes/Sharrows
To: Andrew Finch <afi...@greatfallsmt.net>
Cc: Greg Doyon <gdo...@greatfallsmt.net>, Michael Haynes <mha...@greatfallsmt.net>, David Bowen <dbo...@greatfallsmt.net>, Bill Bronson <bbro...@greatfallsmt.net>, Mary Jolley <maryj...@q.com>, Anders Blewett <anders....@gmail.com>
John Juras
From: Andrew Finch <afi...@greatfallsmt.net>
Date: Thu, Jun 28, 2012 at 8:40 AM
Subject: RE: Request for Ninth Street Bicycle Lanes/Sharrows
To: John Juras <john...@gmail.com>
John –
Thanks for your thoughtful comments.
As you know, through statements in various plans, the city has committed to bike facilities on street, where and when appropriate and feasible. Although not a priority project in the Transportation Plan, 9th Street is shown as a preferred route for a bike lane. Initial thoughts, when it was first shown, would be that lanes would be added when the street is widened. However, 9th Street is handling its traffic volumes well, and the cost of widening a roadway is such that the City and State will not pursue widening until and unless it becomes a capacity problem. Also, the community has shown great concern about loss of street trees and boulevards changing the character of the historic streetscape in our neighborhoods, and widening must be carefully considered before any action is taken.
So, short of widening, the City and MDT are weighing options. Be assured, any change to the vehicular operation of the roadway will be of great interest to the public at large, not just the bicycling community. Therefore, any the impacts of any change that affects current configurations – be it reduction of lane widths or elimination of parking, must be carefully considered. Additional design concerns exist at the intersection of 8th Avenue North and 9th Street, as well as 10th Avenue South and 9th Street, in the project areas you mentioned. The intervening intersections downtown must also be safely designed if on-street pavement markings are going to be established through the corridor.
Both the City and MDT support bike facilities. We’re considering options to find a “best fit” solution for these segments. As an engineer, I’m sure you can appreciate that this will take some time as well as cost. We are committed to the safety of the roadway, and must be certain any options are not putting bicyclists at risk by giving them a false sense of security. As well, this could be the first “on street” pavement markings in town, and it is important to ensure both the bicyclists and the driving public understand the markings. The simplest marking (a striped bike lane) would be the safest and easiest to understand, but the roadway width may not make that a feasible option.
So – in short, we’re working on it – this discussion is advancing, and please do not think that advocates are being ‘shut down’. Hopefully there will be a feasible solution, acceptable (or at least accepted) by all.
Andrew
**********************
Andrew Finch
Senior Planner
Planning & Community Development Department
City of Great Falls
P.O. Box 5021
Great Falls, MT 59403
(406) 452-6256 FAX
From: John Juras [mailto:john...@gmail.com]
Sent: Wednesday, June 27, 2012 11:15 PM
To: Andrew Finch
Cc: Greg Doyon; Michael Haynes; Dave Bowen; Bill Bronson; Mary Jolley; Anders Blewett
Subject: Request for Ninth Street Bicycle Lanes/Sharrows
Andrew,
Now would be an appropriate time to make Ninth Street the first on-street bicycle facility (other than a bike route) in Great Falls. Ninth Street is in the Downtown Master Plan area where Complete Streets were adopted. The City Transportation Plan shows Ninth Street is recommended for bike lanes between River Drive and 17th Street South. Ninth Street is perhaps the most obvious potential connecting route from City streets to Rivers Edge Trail. A suitable continuation of the bike route already is in place on the Ninth Street bridge.
Two 9th St projects are ongoing which could add bike lanes or sharrows in their respective project areas. CTEP funds are available to pay for striping and signing on parts of Ninth Street that are not being rebuilt this and next year. MDT's Steve Prinzing says that action is needed by the City to add bike lanes, possibly a Resolution, since some parking would likely need to be eliminated between 7th Ave N and River Drive (by the smut shop) to add bike lanes there. All of the businesses on this block have adequate off street parking.
Virtually all other comparable Citys provide at least some on-street information about where and how bicyclists should ride relative to traffic. By consistently choosing to not add that information to our streets, our City may be held legally liable the next time a cyclist is killed or injured in a vehicle accident, especially if that cyclist is either riding against traffic or on sidewalks. Making this step to help educate motorist and cyclists in this very visible location would go a long way toward educating bicyclists and motorists and would help keep them in their proper relative places on this busy street.
The City and State are obliged to provide for public safety. Showing bicyclists where to ride is one important step to fulfilling that obligation. Please help make our streets safer for all users by adding appropriate bicycle pavement markings and signs to Ninth Street between 17th Ave South and River Drive.
I am not just speaking for myself or the Great Falls Bicycle Club with this request. The 150 plus average citizens who attended tonights rally against In-Complete Steets care a LOT.
Please let me know what forum would be best to advance this discussion. MDT says that the time is ripe to make this amendment to their project so a prompt reply would be appreciated.
Respectfully yours,
John Juras, Great Falls Bicycle Club
Bob Giordano
Can you get the lane widths (parking lanes and travel lanes) on 9th? In
Missoula, many bike lanes have been added to streets by changing to 10'
travel lanes, as MDT and the City have been supportive. Often, a bike
lane can be put in by re-striping, without the expense of actually
widening a street. We have found that getting the list of streets for
repaving each year is as important as getting projects in a Long Range
Plan.
A tape measure, ruler, yard stick or measuring wheel is a very handy tool
for improving cycling and transportation infrastructure.
Bob Giordano,
Missoula Institute for Sustainable Transportation
> *Sent:* Wednesday, June 27, 2012 11:15 PM
> *To:* Andrew Finch
> *Cc:* Greg Doyon; Michael Haynes; Dave Bowen; Bill Bronson; Mary Jolley;
> Anders Blewett
>
> *Subject:* Request for Ninth Street Bicycle Lanes/Sharrows
Darlene Tussing
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