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Update on Current Safe Roads Issues In 2008, the Safe Roads Coalition (SRC) has worked with the City of Durango staff to address a number of Bicycle and Pedestrian issues - most prominent among these efforts have been (i) submission of a draft Comprehensive Bicycle Plan, (ii) suggested infrastructure accommodations on the proposed plans for the rebuilding of Florida Road, and (iii) suggestions for improvements to the intersection of East 2nd Avenue and East 15th Street. We would like to applaud the City of Durango for their interest, enthusiasm, and cooperation in all of these efforts - with special thanks to Jack Rogers (Director of Public Works), Gregg Boysen (City Engineer), Ron LeBlanc (City Manager), and the entire City Council. SRC would also like to recognize the efforts of coalition members Healthy Lifestyles La Plata, Trails 2000, the Iron Horse Bicycle Classic and the Bicycle Friendly Durango Task Force for their long-term commitment to improving Bicycle and Pedestrian safety in our community. The following is a report on these efforts. Comprehensive Bicycling Plan In May of 2008 we presented to Jack Rogers and Gregg Boysen a Draft-Copy of a Comprehensive Bicycle Plan for the Durango. This plan delineated existing and proposed cycling routes to fully connect all regions of the city. Specific content included (i) bicycle routes in the City of Durango and (ii) a discussion of intersection issues related to safe passage for cyclists and pedestrians. The City Comprehensive Plan – Chapter 8 – Transportation Element – provides a starting point for our thinking on these topics: “As Durango seeks to meet the mobility needs of future residents, employees and visitors, it will strive to provide transportation choices that are affordable and accessible for all segments of the community. In addition, Durango will pursue a transportation system that is built and operated in a sustainable fashion. The future transportation system should provide choices between alternative modes, including: automobile, transit, cycling and pedestrian travel.” The Draft Comprehensive Bicycle Plan was intended to foster discussion and lead to additional collaboration with the City in order to: -- Identify actions that will allow pedestrians and cyclists to safely travel along roadways, particularly along routes that link neighborhoods one-to-another and to existing schools, activity centers, recreational facilities, key employment centers, parks, trail systems, and transit stops. -- Identify key bicycling and pedestrian routes. -- Identify “gaps” in existing network of routes for bicyclists and pedestrians. -- Identify locations for improved facilities for cyclists and pedestrians. We took an overall view to create Bike Routes that move cyclists in the safest possible manner across and throughout the City. We have tried to connect key destinations including: downtown, the transit center, the Recreation Center, the Library, Fort Lewis College, elementary, middle and high schools, the Tech center, Bodo Industrial Park, Grandview, Mercy Hospital, Chapman Hill, trailheads, parks, and bus stops. To this end we identified: -- 14 Primary Bike Routes within the City Limits, and -- 24 Connectors, which are shorter sections of roadway that tie together the longer, more continuous Bike Routes. Our eventual goal would be to create conditions on these key routes so that relatively inexperienced riders (e.g., unaccompanied middle-school-aged cyclists) could comfortably ride to and from various destinations in the city. Naturally, even better conditions will be needed on those routes and route segments that form Safe Routes to Schools. There are a number of “troublesome” areas that we have not fully addressed and which need further interaction with the City. These include: (i) bike flow in the downtown area, (ii) access to downtown, such as from the intersection of Roosa and 9th Street and points along the River Trail, (iii) routes south from downtown along the 160/550 corridor to Grandview, (iv) North Main Ave, (v) College Drive, and (vi) East 3rd Avenue. We have some thoughts about these areas; however, although we have made preliminary identification of route possibilities, we acknowledge there are some very difficult issues to be resolved. We are now in the preliminary stages of increasing the scope of this document to include recommendations for striping and signage along these Bike Routes to enhance cycling safety by ensuring safe bike lanes, protected turn lanes, cyclist-activated signals, signs to inform motorists of the presence of cyclists along these routes, and network connectivity. In 2009, we look forward to meeting and working with the City of Durango's soon-to-be hired Multi-modal Coordinator on the expansion and implementation of this Plan. Click LINK for the full document. Click LINK for the rough draft map. Florida Road The SRC was asked by Jack Rogers to review the 2001 Design Plan for Florida Road to help identify additional features to improve the plans for Florida Road with concern to bicycle and pedestrian safety. We reviewed the plans that were in place, attended public meetings and offered a number of suggestions that we felt would improve the road for cycling and pedestrian users. Most important of these were: 1. Including safety enhancements for crosswalks such as safety islands within extended medians and/or future pedestrian-activated lights. The following locations were identified as the most critical: -- · A pedestrian crossing near Oak Dr and Aspen Dr to allow student access to Riverview School from Oak Dr, Elm Pl and Maple Dr., which we deem to be the most important crossing. -- Repositioning the Riverview/Chapman Hill pedestrian crossing to allow better line-of-sights for pedestrians and motorists. -- A need for a pedestrian crossing at/or near Colorado Ave, if planned development necessitates that, and/or if the intersection is ever signalized. -- A traffic light and realignment to create a four-way intersection at N. College Drive, with pedestrian and bicycle accommodations. 2. Reducing the speed limit, most likely to 30mph, to allow for the safe passage and crossing of bicycles and pedestrians. The use of traffic calming techniques to slow traffic could include medians where applicable, the use of landscaping, and enforcement. 3. Bicycle accommodations were also identified and included: -- Roadside and on-street signage that would safely allow cyclists to proceed straight where “Right Turn Only” slip lanes occur. -- Signage to show that cyclists will be “Sharing” Left Turn Lanes where necessary. -- Signalized left turns at any future activated signals should allow easy activation by cyclists. Thank you to the citizens of Durango who Voted YES on Ballot Measure 2A, approving the bonding for the rebuilding of Florida Road. There will be a few more Public Meetings to fine tune the details of the project and we encourage all interested parties to stay involved. Depending on the Municipal Bond Markets, construction is slated to begin in 2009 and take two years to complete. Intersection of E. 2nd Ave and E. 15th Street As currently configured, the intersection of E. 15th Street and E. 2nd Ave is an important crossing point for both cyclists and pedestrians, and it is considered dangerous by both of these user groups. This intersection is a primary route connecting downtown to and from Florida Road for bikes (and cars), and to and from the Animas River trail for cyclists. Current problems are the distance required to cross 4 lanes of arterial traffic on E. 15th St, a diagonal and “in-need-of repair” railroad crossing, shorter-than-desired lines of sight, and a steep grade on 15th St between E. 2nd Ave and E. 3rd Ave. Our discussions for improvements with City representatives included: 1. Creating one primary north-south crossing that would allow for separate and distinct crossings of the road and tracks. 2. Reducing traffic to one lane in each direction between N. Main Av and E. 2nd Av to shorten the crossing distance and create space for a refuge in the middle of the road. Enhanced options would be a landscaped median, a raised and/or “colored” crosswalk, and bulb-outs from the sidewalks. This would also allow for adequate bicycle lanes on E. 15th St and the aforementioned median could transition into a shared “Left Turn Only” middle lane towards the western portion of this block. 3. Improving the railroad crossing to make it smoother and safer. 4. Reducing the speed limit on East 15th Street to 25mph. By design, reducing lanes and their widths, installing medians and creating bike lanes should serve to calm traffic and make enforcement less necessary. Currently, the City Manager's (Ron Leblanc) proposed operating budget for 2009 includes $110,000 for both a median and replacement of the railroad track approaches. However, this is a tough budget year due to declining revenues and the City Council is not done with making cuts. If you feel this intersection needs these improvements, please let your favorite City Councilor(s) know as soon as possible so this budget item is not cut. Click LINK for the full document. This article was written by Drew Bourey, SRC founding member who can be contacted for any Safe Roads Coalition issues at drew@boure.com. |
