HomeMy WebLinkAboutemail Malone Levy with information for board of directorsMalone, Walter
From: Malone, Walter
Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2015 3:51 PM
To: elevy@cromwell.com'
Subject: RE: Bike Plan amendment package
Attachments: MSP14-04 Bike Plan Amend ment- East. pdf; MSP14-04 Bike Plan Amendment-West.pdf,
Ordinance for MSP14-04.doc; Write -Up for MSP14-04 .pdf
This is what will be provided to the Board.
Walter
From: elevy0)cromwell.com [majlto:elevy@cromwell.com]
Sent: Tuesday, July 07, 2015 3:43 PM
To: Malone, Walter
Subject: Re: Bike Plan amendment package
Can you please send me a pdf of the final amended plan so I can study it and be prepared for the meeting?
Ed
edwin cromwell levy, aia, leed ap
director, architectural
elevyigcromwe IL cora!
501.372.2900 w
501.960.6145 c
101 south spring street
little rock, ar 72201
From: "Malone, Walter" -Wtaaln_eCr lit!lerock.or�>
To: "eclevvCotcromwell.com" <eclevv , cromwell.com>
Date: 07/07/2015 03:31 PM
Subject: Bike Plan amendment package
The Bike Plan amendment package to the Master Street Plan, heard at the Planning Commission meeting July 24, 2014 has been
forwarded to the Board of Directors for a hearing. This is to inform you that the item will be heard at the Monday July 21, 2015
Little Rock City Board of Directors meeting. The Board of Directors meets on the second floor of City Hall, 500 West Markham
Street, and the meeting starts at 6:00 P.M. This is a public meeting, and you are encouraged to attend. Other interested parties are
allowed to speak in favor or opposition to the proposed Master Street Plan amendment to the Bike Plan. Please be prepared to
answer questions if they arise.
Walter Malone, AICP
Planning Manager
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FILE NO.: MSP14-04
Name: Master Street Plan Amendment — Bicycle Plan Map Update
Location: Jurisdiction wide
Request: To upgrade and add 8 Bike Lanes, 2 Bike Paths and several Bike Routes
Sou rce: Staff
PROPOSAL / REQUEST:
To amend the Master Street Plan, Bike Plan Sections to upgrade LaMarche Drive,
Taylor Loop Road, Main Street (6th to Roosevelt), 7th Street (Rock to Woodrow) to Bike
Lanes (Class II) and add Louisiana and Center (Markham to 1-630), Chester (Roosevelt
to Daisy Bates Drive), 91" Street (1-30 to Main) as Bike Lanes (Class 11) and to add
Coleman Creek (19'h to Lee Avenue), Rail Road alignment (3'd Street to 65th Street) and
Rose Creek (3rd Street to River Trail) as Bike Paths (Class 1) and to add State Street
(1-630 to River Trail), Commerce (Daisy Bates to 9th Street), Sherman (91h Street to 6th
Street) as Bike Routes (Class III).
ANALYSIS:
At the end of 2013, the Bike Friendly Committee of Little Rock recommended a package
of changes to the Little Rock Bike Plan. Staff reviewed the requests and set a series of
public meetings to discuss the Bike Lane and Path changes proposed by the
Committee. These meetings were held in February and March 2014. Written
comments were received prior, during and after these meetings. Based on these
comments received as well as those expressed at the meetings, a final package of
changes was developed to present for amendment.
New proposed Class I — Bike Paths are suggested along two creeks and a railroad
right-of-way. (These routes are separate bicycle only facilities.) There are three
segments proposed. The longest is along the former railroad right-of-way from
Interstate Park around the State Fair grounds to 7th Street where the existing proposed
Bike Path is shown. This is part of a multi -county bike path that has been proposed
from Little Rock to Hot Springs (the `Southwest Trail'). The remaining portions for that
Path within Little Rock's jurisdiction are already represented on the Little Rock Bike
Master Plan. A second segment would continue along Rose Creek from 3rd Street
(where the existing proposed Path ends) to the River Trail. This has been reviewed by
the Little Rock Parks Department and advocated by the Capitol View Stifft Station
Neighborhood organization for several years. The remaining new Bice Route is along
Coleman Creek from 20th Street (where a proposed Bike Route ends from UALR) to Lee
Avenue in Hillcrest. This proposal would make a north —south connection from Hillcrest
to the Fourche Bottoms via the UALR campus. Due to development along Coleman
Creek, the actual alignment of the 'Path' may follow existing streets and street right-of-
FILE NO.: MSP14-04 (Cont.
way parallel to the creek itself. (The Creek is in a concrete `U' box with development to
the open box from 201h to 12th Streets.) This amendment places a corridor on the Plan
as a north -south bicycle route through central Little Rock.
The Class II — Bike Lane proposals are along streets with the majority of the changes
are in the downtown area. These changes are either an upgrade of a proposed Class
III - Bike Route to Class II - Bike Lane or the addition of a Class II — Bike Lane. The
proposal is not to enlarge any of these streets but rather to add a bicycle lane on the
existing street using either a 'road diet' (changing from four lanes to three) or removal of
parking on one -side. The decision on how the bike lanes would be implemented will be
made at the time a street is re -surfaced or re -constructed.
There are six new proposed Class II (Bike Lane) shown in central/downtown Little Rock.
Four are north -south lanes and two are east -west lanes. Main Street has been
re -striped with Bike Lanes from 7th Street to Roosevelt Road. This amendment
recognizes the already implemented Class II —Bike Lanes. Part of this Bike Lane is new
Class II (south 17th Street) and part is upgraded from a Class III (north of 17th Street)
on the Plan Map. Main Street was re -striped with a `road diet' when it was re -surfaced.
Chester is proposed to be added as a Class II — Bike Lane. The Bike Lane passes
Philander Smith College, Dunbar Recreation Center, Dunbar Middle, Gibbs Elementary
and Williams Library. Chester had an average -daily -volume of 7900 in 2012 at 11"
Street. The street is primarily residential single-family south of Wright Avenue and is
mixed institutional -residential uses between Daisy Gatson Bates Drive and Wright
Avenue. Chester is a four -lane street with no parking, at the current volumes Chester is
a good candidate for a `Street Diet', conversion to a three -lane road with parking or bike
lanes. At such time as Chester is re -surfaced or reconstructed, a `road diet' will be
considered. After public input as part of the resurfacing project of Chester, re -stripping
from four -lanes to three -lanes may be implemented.
Both Center and Louisiana, north of Interstate 630 are one-way streets with on -street
parking allowed along much of the roads. Both have two travel -lanes and have a
volume of 3900 and 2400 respectively near Capitol. As part of the City re -surfacing
program or if either street is re -constructed the City will have a meeting to review the
implementation of a Bike Lane on these roads - either a 'Street Diet', the reduction of
on -street parking or other method of implementation will be determined. (The two-way
portion of Louisiana would be a Class III — Bike Route, due in part to the limitations of
the road with two-way traffic, access to adjacent property, parking, etc.).
The two east -west roads proposed for Bike Lane designations are 9th Street and 7th
Street. 91h Street, east of Main Street is three lanes for the first three blocks and then
four lanes to Interstate 30. East 9th Street through this corridor is less than 40 -feet in
width, making four -lanes almost unusable as four separate lanes. MacArthur Park and
a private school can be found along this segment of 91h Street as well as homes and a
fire station. At the time of re -surfacing or reconstruction of East 9th Street, the design of
bicycle facilities will be included. It may be necessary for sharrows rather than Bike
Lanes along 9th Street due to limitations on widening the street. 7th Street is currently
FILE NO.: MSP14-04 (Cont.
shown on the Plan as a Class III Bike Route. The proposed map change is west of
Main Street upgrading to a Class II — Bike Lanes. Since the road currently is two
vehicular lanes with parking on both sides for much of its length (Main to Woodrow),
the proposal would be to have a Bike Lane in one -direction and a Bike Route (sharrows)
in the other so as not to impact parking on both sides of the road. Traffic volumes range
from 11,000 at the State Capitol to 3800 at the railroad underpass. West of the Capitol
Complex, there might be room for Bike Lanes in both directions. At the time of
reconstruction or resurfacing design decisions would be made.
In west Little Rock, LaMarche Drive (Chenal Drive to Taylor Loop Road) and Taylor
Loop Road (LaMarche Drive to Rahling Road) are proposed to be upgraded from
Class III to Class II — Bike Lanes in both directions. Both roads are proposed to be
constructed as 36 -foot wide roads (with or without bicycle facilities). The proposal
for each road is to continue to have a vehicular travel -lane in each direction with no
parking on the road (as is the case today). The City of Little Rock is constructing the
connection for LaMarche Drive at this time and is scheduled to widen Taylor Loop
Road. As part of the construction projects, the City intends to 'mark' both roads with
Bike Lanes and two -lanes of vehicular traffic.
The Class III — Bike Routes proposed to be added to the Bike Plan are all in the
downtown (MacArthur Park Neighborhood) area. They are Commerce from
17th Street to 9th Street, Sherman from 9th Street to 6th Street, 7th Street from
Cumberland to Sherman and State 1-630 to River Trail. Commerce Street would
connect the neighborhoods south of the Interstate to MacArthur Park and on to the
River Trail. Sherman takes on north of MacArthur Park to the existing bike network at
Capital Avenue (and on to the River Trail). The East 7th Street route continues that
route from Main Street on to Sherman.
NEIGHBORHOOD COMMENTS:
Notices were sent to the City's contact list for ordinance amendments. This list
includes engineers, developers and neighborhood organizations. In addition the
following neighborhood associations were notified: Capitol View/Stiff Station, Central
High, Downtown, Downtown Little Rock Partnership, Hillcrest, MacArthur Park POA,
Oak Forest, Pettaway, South End, Southend Coalition, Whitmore Circle, and Wright
Avenue. Over 260 property owners adjacent to proposed Class I or II bike routes
received letters informing them of the change and meeting. Staff has received several
contacts as a result of the mailing. Most of the comments are related to the possible
loss of parking in downtown.
STAFF RECOMMENDATIONS:
Staff believes the change is appropriate.
3
FILE NO.: MSP14-04 (Cont.)
PLANNING COMMISSION ACTION: (JULY 24, 2014)
Walter Malone, Planning Staff reviewed the proposed changes starting with the Class I
— Bike Paths, then Class II- Bike Lanes and Class III — Bike Routes. Jeremy Lewno,
Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator for the City, indicated he was available to answer any
question and also indicated bicycling was becoming more than just recreational use
and the City needed to help provide safer routes for bicycles for both recreational and
transportation related trips. The goal is to make all streets safer for all modes of
transportation.
Chris East, Studio Main and live/work downtown, expressed support for the Bike Plan
changes. Each of the roads have 60 -foot right-of-ways and it is possible to have streets
with bike lanes on such roads. The proposal for 7th Street has been tested with a
`Pop-up' in 2013. Temporary Bike Lanes were used. With Bike Lanes, cars know to
look for bicycles which increases safety for bicycles. When bicyclists know there are
safe places to travel, more people will bike.
Mason Ellis, biker and downtown worker/resident, stated that the downtown environment
had been built as a multifunctional transportation system (walking, horses, bikes, etc).
Now it has been limited to just cars. As a resident of downtown he looks for walking and
bicycle options. The addition of these proposals to the plan adds a good amenity for
downtown. It is Mr. Ellis hope that the plan is what we can come to for Little Rock.
Ed Sergeant, SOMA Board and Governor Mansion District resident, advocated
alternative forms on Chester and 9``' Streets. These changes will `calm' the streets to
make them easier to cross by pedestrians. Supports of these changes are Gibbs
School, Dunbar Middle School, Dunbar Recreation Center, William Library, Art Study,
Quapaw Quarter Association along Chester, and St Edwards School and Little Rock
Parks along 9" Street.
Dale Aclin, Stephens Building, expressed concern about the Bike Lanes on Center and
Louisiana in the two blocks south of Markham. There is a lot of traffic on these roads
and it would not connect to anything else for bicyclists. He also expressed concern
with the hotel related traffic along Markham and non -local drivers.
Mr. Malone indicated that Louisiana from 4th Street to Markham is two-way and in this
section Sharrows would be used rather than Bike Lanes. Staff would amend the
package to show a Class II along Louisiana from 4th to Markham.
Commissioner Nunnley, stated that Staff needed to explain to the residents what was
happening and the advantages. If the local residents' concerns and issues are not
addressed, there will be a 'firestorm'. There needs to be discussions and meetings
with the local residents and education efforts made.
Commissioner Berry indicated that there had been some meetings to talk with residents
and owners. There was some discussion about traffic and parking issues and the
need for education moving forward so that the City understands the concerns and
residents/owners understand the impacts and advantages.
2
FILE NO.: MSP14-04 Cont.
Tony Bozynski, Director of Planning & Development, indicated there had been meetings
on the package of changes and with the 3/8 cent funded projects there would be an
additional meeting with residents before any work was done. (This would be true for
Chester Street).
Commissioner May reminded the Commission of the `Denver Plan' traffic signal system
in downtown Little Rock and how that had made it easier for pedestrians. Education is
key, people always have concerns when change is involved.
Chairman Fountain asked the speakers who worked downtown how they were about to
bike to work and wear a suit for work. There was some discussion about lockers and
shower facilities.
A motion was made to approve the package as amended without Center Street. By a
vote of 10 for 0 against and 1 absent the motion was approved. A motion was made
to approve the Bike Lane on Center Street, by a vote of 9 for, 0 against, 1 recusal and
1 absent the motion was approved.
5