Complete Streets - Brief Report - INCOMPLETE DRAFT 2008/04/17 2:38 PM

Complete Streets favor walking, biking, public transit and compact development. Communities with complete streets are vibrant and sustainable, promote healthier citizens and reduce traffic congestion and parking problems. Senator Harkin recently introduced Federal legislation to make complete streets a central part of national transportation policy. Consultants Michael Ronkin, and Michael Moule and city officials will discuss current plans and future policies. The public is invited to bring questions, concerns and suggestions.

After an intensive 3 day visit in Oxford and Meetings with City, State and University Officials, MR and MM were very supportive of our current achievements and future plans. The thrust of their recommendations (complete recommendations will be presented in their report in a few months) was that we should think about moving beyond the concept of separate "Pathways" and incorporate pedestrian and bicycle access wherever possible across the city. The comprehensive plan was good but the vision of the Comp Plan often not adequately represented in the land use code.

Some highlights from the week

• The general outlines of our bike plan and specifically phase 2 are good.
• The Comprehensive Plan is good on transportation issues.
• Towns the size of Oxford Rarely have a separate Bike and Ped plan
• The land use code does not adequately reflect the spirit of the Comp. plan.
• "Pathways" is misleading as a name for our group and engineering projects
  • Denotes "mixed-use paths" in Ped/Bike (PB) parlance
  • In fact most of our improvements will be in:
    • Bike lanes
    • Side walks
    • Signed Bike Routes
    • Potentially "Bike Boulevards" or "Bicycle Priority Streets"

Phase 2 - My impressions of discussions on the tour Tues and Wed

• North Lamar may have more walkers than bikers at present
  • Wide shoulders/bike lanes will serve both Peds and Bikes
• N.Lamar & M.Barr (Three-Way Intersection) should be fitted w/ Ped signals
• M.Barr/MS-30 at OES and Park Drive is an intersection that generates concern
• Manor Drive is wide and quiet and route signage should be
• Sisk Avenue at the MS-7 ramps would be safer with right angle intersections instead of sweeping turns
• Bike lane on Sisk near Conf. Ctr. and DDS is built right (concrete curbs) but lacks connectivity
• Depot Trail is thin on the edges and already deteriorating
  • Fed. Infrastructure $ should be used to build to very high standards
  • Maintenance funds are not generally available
  • Bike lanes should be built to roadway standards, not as a sub-standard add-on
• OTR Bridge crossing will be challenging due to width of ramps from MS-6
  • Narrower ramps will slow traffic and make crossing easier
  • Roundabouts may allow easier PB crossings and allow one ped bridge instead of 2
• Trail at Whirlpool Drive results in confusing and unsafe choices at OTR
  • Inbound bikes must ride or walk against traffic to the light, no ped accomodations
• Roundabouts at S. Lamar would work better with highly visible centerpieces
• Access, Frontage, S. 18th all look OK for Phase 2 loop

Thurs Meetings with Ian Banner and Syd Spain

• Campus

Thurs Mar 27 Completing the Streets of Oxford - Public Meeting - 5:30 pm in City Hall

• Complete Streets Connectivity Principles
• Discussion of University Avenue Road Diets

MDOT meeting

• Funding for bike lanes on College Hill Road will not be available for the forseeable future
• Hilgard Cut retaining wall took a substantial chunk of TEA money
• OTR roundabout/bridge studies - may be safety funds available
• Roundabouts may be able to replace one bridge