HomeMy WebLinkAboutstaff reportSeptember 18, 2003
ITEM NO.: 16
FILE NO.: MSP -03-03
Name: Master Street Plan Amendment, extending Little Fourche Class I
Bikeway
Location: South Loop alignment to County Line generally along city limits
Request- Extend the Little Fourche Class I Bikeway to the southwest
Source: City Staff
PROPOSAL-
The
ROPOSAL
The request is to amend the Master Street Plan to extend the Little Fourche,
Class I Bikeway, along the city limits south and west of the South Loop
alignment. A Class I bikeway is totally separate from automobile traffic and
designed for bicycle speeds of 35 mph while not meandering or having sharp
turns.
CURRENT MASTER STREET PLAN:
The Little Fourche, Class I bikeway, is proposed to provide a "spine" from the
Fourche route near Interstate Park south and west along the Little Fourche and
former Rock Island railroad right-of-way. The Little Fourche route connects to
various Class If Bike routes which move in to various parts of southwest Little
Rock.
The Little Fourche route currently ends at the proposed South Loop alignment
where the plan calls for a Class I route along the South Loop. This South Loop
route would take a cyclist east to Arch Street or west and north to Southwest
Hospital.
CITY RECOGNIZED NEIGHBORHOOD ACTION PLAN-
A portion of the alignment amendment is within the Chicot West 1-30 South Plan.
The remainder is in an area without a City recognized Neighborhood Plan. The
Chicot West 1-30 South Neighborhood Action Plan does not address the Little
Fourche route. It does recommend as arterials are built, bicycle facilities also be
built.
September 18, 2003
ITEM NO.: 16 (Cont.
FUTURE LAND USE PLAN:
FILE NO.: MSP -03-03
The Land Use Plan from the South Loop alignment south and west recommends
Single Family use. At Heinke Road the Plan shows an area for Low Density
Residential.
ANALYSIS:
As stated the Bike Plan calls for a Class I bike route along the Little Fourche
(former Rock Island Railroad) which stops at the South Loop Alignment. The
Bike Plan does not include connections to other towns and cities but rather
provides a circulation pattern within and for Little Rock.
Metroplan the staff for Central Arkansas Regional Transportation Study (CARTS)
has been reviewing the former Rock Island Railroad route as a transportation
corridor. As a result of that study, a "Rails to Trails" effort is underway. "Rails to
Trails" means taking a former railroad right-of-way and using it for a bicycle
and/or pedestrian trail.
In the Master Street Plan, Class I Bike routes not already developed are
"corridors" just as arterials are. Therefore whether the Little Fourche Route is
the railroad bed or a route near the railroad bed more closely following the turns
of the creek is unimportant. Either of these exact alignments meets the Master
Street Plan (Bike Plan) recommendations. The rail bed better meets the
standards for a Class I Bike Route in this corridor.
The CARTS effort would take the former Rock Island Railroad route from Arch
and 65th Street to Bauxite. As noted most of the proposed route within the City's
jurisdiction is already proposed for this use. Since our Regional and Saline
County counterparts wish to develop the corridor further to the southwest, a link
within our jurisdiction is missing. In order to complete the regional "Rail to Trail"
effort it is necessary to extend the Little Fourche Trail approximately 3/ of a mile
to the Saline County line. This would be generally along the city limits (former
Rock Island railroad) from the South Loop alignment to the Saline County line.
STAFF RECOMMENDATION:
Approval
2
Vicinity Map
Little Fourche Route Extension
I
Case: MSP -03-03 N
Location: Generally Along City
Limits From South Loop
Alignment To Saline Co. Line
Ward: 7
PD: 15 0 250 500 Fw
CT: 41.05
TRS: T1SR13W14
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Vicinity Map
Little Fourche Route Extension
I
Case: MSP -03-03 N
Location: Generally Along City
Limits From South Loop
Alignment To Saline Co. Line
Ward: 7
PD: 15 0 250 500 Fw
CT: 41.05
TRS: T1SR13W14