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YouTubeThat is one trail I would use since it would probably be quicker to reach stretches of W Broad rather than going all the way down High to W Broad, not to mention the long highway interchange.
Columbus Underground Messageboard » General Columbus Discussion » Transit
Bike Lanes in the Hilltop but none on High St?
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Columbusite
Minneapolis
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Posted 2 years ago # -
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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Columbusite wrote >>
That is one trail I would use since it would probably be quicker to reach stretches of W Broad rather than going all the way down High to W Broad, not to mention the long highway interchange.Of the high priority demonstration projects, only Sullivant Avenue and the Hilltop Connector are on the list for the Hilltop.
The money for the road resurfacing and potential bike lanes can't, obviously, be used for another project. Of note, however, is that the Federal guidelines don't specify what facilities need to be used to qualify. Only an emphasis on surface transportation and not recreation. Of the 12 (don't quote me) types of projects that can be funded through the specific program being referenced, second on the list is bike education. Which begs the same question echoed through out this thread: why the insistence on bike lanes? Seems the funding would still be available with a share the road type campaign similar to High Street.
The BBP doesn't even seem to strongly recommend bike lanes, it seems it's merely a suggestion.
West Broad Street, from the city boundary to downtown, forms a key corridor for bike improvements. Not only is the west side of Columbus underserved by bike/ped facilities, there
exists a six-lane cross section through this area which could be reconfigured to include bike lanes in
conjunction with fewer travel lanes, center turn lanes, or medians and landscaping.The BBP also shows W. Broad as part of Phase 2, 2013-2018. Why the rush?
Posted 2 years ago # -
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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Funny how this stuff gets buried. Just found the state contract from early December awarding the Hilltop Connector to a company. [PDF]
Posted 2 years ago # -
johnwirtz
Evanston, IL
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johnwirtz
Evanston, IL
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lifeontwowheels wrote >>
The BBP also shows W. Broad as part of Phase 2, 2013-2018. Why the rush?Because they are resurfacing Broad this year and changing the striping configuration adds almost no cost if you do it in conjunction with resurfacing.
This is probably the first time I've heard anyone complain about things getting done too fast in Columbus.
Posted 2 years ago # -
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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johnwirtz wrote >>
lifeontwowheels wrote >>
The BBP also shows W. Broad as part of Phase 2, 2013-2018. Why the rush?Because they are resurfacing Broad this year and changing the striping configuration adds almost no cost if you do it in conjunction with resurfacing.
This is probably the first time I've heard anyone complain about things getting done too fast in Columbus.When it results in a poor decision, yes. And if the Hilltop Connector is being done, we have an alternative within the next few years for Broad Street commuters that also serves recreational riders by providing access to 20 some miles of trail ways.
Posted 2 years ago # -
johnwirtz
Evanston, IL
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lifeontwowheels wrote >>
johnwirtz wrote >>
lifeontwowheels wrote >>
The BBP also shows W. Broad as part of Phase 2, 2013-2018. Why the rush?Because they are resurfacing Broad this year and changing the striping configuration adds almost no cost if you do it in conjunction with resurfacing.
This is probably the first time I've heard anyone complain about things getting done too fast in Columbus.When it results in a poor decision, yes. And if the Hilltop Connector is being done, we have an alternative within the next few years for Broad Street commuters that also serves recreational riders by providing access to 20 some miles of trail ways.
Has there been a final decision yet?
Posted 2 years ago # -
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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I'm looking at the website on the Federal dollars. There is no indication that this project has to be done now, or we lose the funding.
TE projects may be enhancements added to larger Federal-aid highway projects, or may be independent projects unrelated to highway projects. TE funds may not substitute for other Federal-aid highway funds for project elements or mitigation that normally would be required in a regular highway project.
The site doesn't make a provision for a specific type of facility either:
1. Provision of facilities for pedestrians and bicycles.
New or reconstructed sidewalks, walkways, or curb ramps; wide paved shoulders for nonmotorized use, bike lane striping, bike parking, and bus racks; construction or major rehabilitation of off-road shared use paths (nonmotorized transportation trails); trailside and trailhead facilities for shared use paths; bridges and underpasses for pedestrians and bicyclists and for trails.2. Provision of safety and educational activities for pedestrians and bicyclists.
Educational activities to encourage safe walking and bicycling.as well as:
Preservation of abandoned railway corridors (including the conversion and use of the corridors for pedestrian or bicycle trails). Acquiring railroad rights-of-way; planning, designing, and constructing multiuse trails; developing rail-with-trail projects.
Posted 2 years ago # -
adrock
Grandview Heights
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you said in your post on yay bikes that drugs, prostitution, and a lack of law enforcement are problems off of broad street. what will stop the hilltop connector from just becoming another avenue for that? i don't even feel safe on parts of the olentangy trail, what would stop the hilltop connector from becoming a murder/drug/whore safe haven?
Posted 2 years ago # -
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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johnwirtz wrote >>
lifeontwowheels wrote >>
johnwirtz wrote >>
lifeontwowheels wrote >>
The BBP also shows W. Broad as part of Phase 2, 2013-2018. Why the rush?Because they are resurfacing Broad this year and changing the striping configuration adds almost no cost if you do it in conjunction with resurfacing.
This is probably the first time I've heard anyone complain about things getting done too fast in Columbus.When it results in a poor decision, yes. And if the Hilltop Connector is being done, we have an alternative within the next few years for Broad Street commuters that also serves recreational riders by providing access to 20 some miles of trail ways.
Has there been a final decision yet?
I plan on asking the TP&C members tomorrow. By all appearances, the contract has been awarded (linked above). It may be in the final stages of approval.
Posted 2 years ago # -
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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adrock wrote >>
you said in your post on yay bikes that drugs, prostitution, and a lack of law enforcement are problems off of broad street. what will stop the hilltop connector from just becoming another avenue for that? i don't even feel safe on parts of the olentangy trail, what would stop the hilltop connector from becoming a murder/drug/whore safe haven?Broadmeadows Bridge. Very simple answer, but that was a similar claim when the Broadmeadows Bridge was constructed and those claims haven't materialized. The connector would be in the northern part of Highland West, coming first through Valley View and into the neighborhood. The residents working towards change there are very active in community block watches as well as working with CPD.
Posted 2 years ago # -
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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johnwirtz wrote >>
^^I meant a decision on how to configure W Broad St.
I agree that the Hilltop Connector seems to be a done deal based on that contract. I guess it's time to get the "bike advocates" out to stymie progress on bike lanes.As of now, the GHAC passed the greater part of the HMP and voted against the planned bike lanes and parking cuts. The article is here.
My understanding is that GHAC has made their recommendation, it's in TP&C's hands now to make a recommendation to council.
I get the impression that if the steering committee had listened to concerns from the beginning, looked at the Bikeways Plan as a more open guideline and sought alternatives that could be funded in the same manner as the bikeways you would probably see some type of bikeway on Broad in the next year.
Posted 2 years ago # -
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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I guess it's time to get the "bike advocates" out to stymie progress on bike lanes.
I won't try to read into anything here but it largely ignores the complexity of opinions that exist around bike advocacy. I believe very strongly that we need to strive to be community partners. Ignoring the comments of one part of the community for our gain doesn't accomplish that and works to alienate us in future communities as we see more bikeway planning.
Posted 2 years ago # -
Columbusite
Minneapolis
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lifeontwowheels wrote >>
adrock wrote >>
you said in your post on yay bikes that drugs, prostitution, and a lack of law enforcement are problems off of broad street. what will stop the hilltop connector from just becoming another avenue for that? i don't even feel safe on parts of the olentangy trail, what would stop the hilltop connector from becoming a murder/drug/whore safe haven?Broadmeadows Bridge. Very simple answer, but that was a similar claim when the Broadmeadows Bridge was constructed and those claims haven't materialized. The connector would be in the northern part of Highland West, coming first through Valley View and into the neighborhood. The residents working towards change there are very active in community block watches as well as working with CPD.
I would hope there is some lighting, since biking in the dark is still challenging even with a good bright light.
Posted 2 years ago # -
johnwirtz
Evanston, IL
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lifeontwowheels wrote >>
I guess it's time to get the "bike advocates" out to stymie progress on bike lanes.
I won't try to read into anything here but it largely ignores the complexity of opinions that exist around bike advocacy. I believe very strongly that we need to strive to be community partners. Ignoring the comments of one part of the community for our gain doesn't accomplish that and works to alienate us in future communities as we see more bikeway planning.Yeah, I was feeling snarky, but I am generally pro-bike lane (assuming the design is done right).
Posted 2 years ago # -
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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johnwirtz wrote >>
lifeontwowheels wrote >>
I guess it's time to get the "bike advocates" out to stymie progress on bike lanes.
I won't try to read into anything here but it largely ignores the complexity of opinions that exist around bike advocacy. I believe very strongly that we need to strive to be community partners. Ignoring the comments of one part of the community for our gain doesn't accomplish that and works to alienate us in future communities as we see more bikeway planning.Yeah, I was feeling snarky, but I am generally pro-bike lane (assuming the design is done right).
Which is why (design) I am not entirely convinced on this project. It's a pretty short stretch, with both ends dumping cyclists into the same high traffic mess and a freeway on/off ramp. How that will accomplish the goal of encouraging cyclists and keeping them safe is beyond me.
I am open to bike lanes where the design works, provided we listen to the entire community. I am much more favorable to building out our trail networks and calming secondary, largely residential streets where you will have a greater likely hood of cyclists. Commuters still benefit.
Posted 2 years ago # -
adrock
Grandview Heights
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lifeontwowheels wrote >>
Broadmeadows Bridge. Very simple answer, but that was a similar claim when the Broadmeadows Bridge was constructed and those claims haven't materialized. The connector would be in the northern part of Highland West, coming first through Valley View and into the neighborhood. The residents working towards change there are very active in community block watches as well as working with CPD.i'm not familiar with that bridge, but looking at a map i'd assume it's around antrim park/broadmeadows park? i'm not nearly as familiar with that area as i am with the west side, but it looks like it's right next to thomas worthington high school which is just about as different from the west side as you can possibly get besides UA or bexley.
Posted 2 years ago # -
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
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adrock wrote >>
lifeontwowheels wrote >>
Broadmeadows Bridge. Very simple answer, but that was a similar claim when the Broadmeadows Bridge was constructed and those claims haven't materialized. The connector would be in the northern part of Highland West, coming first through Valley View and into the neighborhood. The residents working towards change there are very active in community block watches as well as working with CPD.i'm not familiar with that bridge, but looking at a map i'd assume it's around antrim park/broadmeadows park? i'm not nearly as familiar with that area as i am with the west side, but it looks like it's right next to thomas worthington high school which is just about as different from the west side as you can possibly get besides UA or bexley.
It's a different environment, no argument there. The same type of concern was expressed, though, about all the scary people by connecting 2 previously unconnected areas. Those concerns haven't materialized there.
I think you really have to visit the area and talk to the people working to make the changes. My point in describing the current crime activity in the alleys adjacent to Broad was to highlight the difficulties in converting the few parking lots to public use space. It's one of many logistical issues that some of the proponents are all too willing to gloss over for the sake of trying to prove their point.
These issues shouldn't prevent us from considering what changes can be made to provide better access. Increased tourism as the Hilltop Connector and Camp Chase Rail Trail are completed provide new markets for current or new businesses in the area. The increased commercial activity, overall, can help make the area much safer with more eyes in the neighborhood.
Posted 2 years ago #
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