HomeMy WebLinkAboutminutesNovember 3, 2011
ITEM NO.: 9
FILE NO
MSP11-01
Name: Master Street Plan Amendment — Replacing the Bicycle sections
Location: Entire Jurisdiction of the City
Reguest: To make some minor wording changes and adopt a new map for
Bicycle Paths, Lanes and Routes
Source: Bike Friendly Community Committee of the City of Little Rock
STAFF REPORT:
City Staff asked the Little Rock Bike Friendly Community Committee to review
the bicycle portion for the Master Street Plan. In 2009, they agreed to a review
the City of Little Rock's Master Bicycle Plan. In 2010 a sub -committee was
formed to work on development of a new map for bicycle routes within the Little
Rock Planning jurisdiction. After several meetings of putting lines on maps
based on routes that various individuals actually rode, a consensus map was
created of routes. Sub -committee members shared the map with other biking
groups. Feedback and open discussions by the sub -committee resulted in a
recommendation to the Bike Friendly Community Committee.
The recommended map was reviewed by City Staff (Public Works, Parks and
Planning Departments). It was also shared with the Plans Committee of the Little
Rock Planning Commission. Comments were returned to the Bike Friendly
Community Committee for their consideration. The Bike Friendly Community
Committee then revised the map based on these comments and has asked that
the City adopt it as the City's Master Bike Plan. At the October 20, 2011 Informal
meeting of the Planning Commission, representatives of the Bike Friendly
Community Committee reviewed the proposal with the Commission.
Section 4 of the Master Street Plan is the text of the Bicycle Plan. The only
change proposed is to clarify and strengthen the names for each class of
bikeway. A Class I Bikeway is a Bike Path (since it is a separate facility). A
Class II bikeway is a Bike Lane (since it is a portion of the pavement used for
bicycles only). A Class III Bikeway is a Bike Route (since it is a shared facility
with a sign indicating it is a bicycle route). Through out the text changes are
made to these designations — Bike Path, Bike Lane, Bike Route.
The current Bike Plan has many Class I Bikeways (Bike Paths) both along
roadways and in independent rights-of-way. The proposed map keeps the
'existing' Bike Paths. It also has Bike Paths proposed as recommended by the
Parks Master Plan: along the Arkansas River, Fourche Creek, through the ridges
to the west -along Rahling Road/West Loop, and along Fourche Bayou. A few
November 3, 2011
ITEM NO.: 9 Cont. FILE NO.: MSP11-01
Bike Paths remain along major Arterial streets: Chenal Parkway, Cantrell Road,
west of 1-430 or as connectors.
Both the current and proposed maps have a network of Class III Bikeways, Bike
Routes north of Interstate 630. This section of Little Rock has a grid street
network that allows for more connections. With a more dispersed traffic system
Bike Routes are a safer option due to volumes and speeds of vehicles being
somewhat less.
In the west and southwest section of the jurisdiction, the predominance is for
Class II bikeways, Bike Lanes. This is due in part to the lack of connecting
roadways. Since Arterials must be used in these sections, and with little other
options for either vehicles or bicycles, volumes and speeds are likely to be high.
Thus a separate lane on the roadway is recommended for the safety of the
bicycling community.
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMENTS:
Notices were sent to the Ordinance Amendment contact list and all
Neighborhood Associations.
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Approval.
PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION:
(NOVEMBER 3, 2011)
The item was placed on the consent agenda for approval. By a vote of 9 for and
0 against with 2 absent, the consent agenda was approved.
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