Today marks the first of four public meeting dates to be held over the course of this year regarding an update of Ann Arbor's
2007 Non-Motorized Transportation Plan. Officials are looking to obtain public feedback on areas needing more investment, on the city's progress to date in the non-motorized transport realm, and on other options, such as bike boulevards and bike sharing (an idea that U-M is batting around), that could be incorporated into the plan update, according to Eli Cooper, Ann Arbor's transportation program manager.
"One of our goals is to make sure that the work in our non-motorized area is as contemporary as it can be, and so in addition to making sure we're on target, is making sure the industry, or the area, hasn't passed us on by," Cooper says.
He points to the convergence of Jackson Ave. with Huron Street and on into the downtown, a very narrow four-lane road on the city's west side that carries a high volume of traffic, for example. "This is the reason for a bicycle boulevard."
The road is too narrow to add bike lanes, but less-traveled Washington Ave., one block south and immediately parallel to this corridor, is an alternative for cyclists to access an east-west route. However, Washington currently lacks bike route signage and other traffic-calming devices.
"We look forward to hearing what the feelings or what the sentiments of the community are relative to what we've accomplished, relative to the resources that have been made available for achieving such objectives, and how much, if any, additional resources ought to be committed to advancing this work further and faster," Cooper says.
Thus far the city has over 38 miles of in-road bike lanes and 3.8 miles of shared roadway segments in the downtown and in areas too narrow for full-width bike lanes. Shared roadways have signage and pavement symbol markings encouraging cyclists and motorists to respect each other's presence in the street. About two more miles of bike lanes will be added this year, along Dexter Ave. east of Maple Road and E. Stadium Blvd. east of Packard Street. Other possible segments are undergoing design review, according to Cooper.
City staff are also evaluating mid-block crossings along Packard, State Street, and Liberty Street, to name a few. Additional rectangular rapid flash beacons and countdown signals will be installed at to-be-determined locations.
The first public sessions will be held today in City Council Chambers at Larcom City Hall, from 3:00-4:30 p.m. and from 6:00-7:30 p.m.
Source: Eli Cooper, transportation program manager, city of Ann Arbor
Writer: Tanya Muzumdar
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