City Council Minutes 2024 05 21 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

City Council Meeting Minutes May 21, 2024 Page 7 of 11 He stated many people say this feels like traffic calming but the goal of the project is better bike and pedestrian safety and comfort. He noted the goals of the 2019 Transportation Management Plan (TMP) including enhanced crosswalks, pedestrian refuges, and additional pavement for bike lanes. This also improves crossings for students going to Louisville Middle School. He added that the road is currently designed to take on average 35,000 cars per day; two lanes can handle on average 20,000 cars per day. Currently, Via Appia is averaging 9,000-10,000 cars per day. He cited streets in other communities that already have this type of street design and carry more traffic. He stated the new design will reduce speeds to about 38 mph. Director Kowar noted that the bike lanes are buffered but not fully protected. To keep the street wide enough for evacuation purposes the buffered lanes are preferred. The level of service for drivers will be just as good and people can turn onto Via Appia more easily as there are fewer lanes of traffic to cross. The bike level of service improves as does the pedestrian level of service with the two-lane design. He reviewed the public input they received and the main themes staff heard. He reviewed the option to stay at four lanes but reduce the lane width to increase the size of the bike lanes and reviewed the costs of each option. Mayor Pro Tern Dickinson stated there have been resident concerns about evacuation routes. He asked if restriping to one lane in each direction would limit evacuation routes. Director Kowar stated there were a lot of lessons learned from the Marshall Fire; this configuration does not change the capacity of the street for evacuation. Mayor Pro Tern Dickinson asked if the bus stops will block cars and hold up traffic. Director Kowar stated the bus will have a buffer and be completely out of traffic. Mayor Pro Tern Dickinson stated there are concerns that people will cut through on side roads to avoid Via Appia putting more traffic in neighborhoods. Director Kowar stated staff does not anticipate this given the layout and timing. Mayor Pro Tern Dickinson asked why acceleration lanes were not included in places other than the Rec Center. Director Kowar stated staff evaluated the options all along the corridor and there is not enough width in every location to do that and if there is a crosswalk at an intersection adding that lane affects the safety of the crosswalk. There are places an acceleration lane could be added later if needed. Mayor Pro Tern Dickinson asked why a traffic signal is not being considered for Via Appia and Pine Street. Director Kowar stated the wait time for a traffic signal is actually