TITLE: Title
Report on Pathway Drive - Sharrows/Bike Boulevard Concept, Feasibility of On-Street Parking and Necessity for Bike Lanes
PURPOSE: The purpose of this item is to seek Board input on a conceptual design to modify the cross section of Pathway Drive to better accommodate travel for all modes, while allowing on-street parking.
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DEPARTMENT: Planning
CONTACT INFORMATION: Christina Moon - 919-918-7325, Patricia McGuire - 919-918-7327, Josh Dalton, 919-859-2243 ext. 201
INFORMATION: At the June 6, 2017 Board of Aldermen meeting, staff presented a series of Town Code amendments designed to update and clarify provisions for bike lanes and on-street parking. Resident input for proposed amendments relating to bike lanes along Pathway Drive lead to a broader discussion of the overall design of the street and whether an updated cross section might improve the travel experience for all modes. Subsequent discussions, such as citizen interest for bike boulevards along certain local streets with low vehicular traffic and the exploration of using landscaping and stormwater management devices for traffic calming at the entrance of Tallyho Trail, have provided an impetus and vision that may offer potential for Pathway Drive.
Pathway Drive was constructed to collector road standards with bike lanes and sidewalks. The residential street forms the backbone for a number of neighborhoods and, extending roughly parallel to Hillsborough Road, provides an alternative route for much of that corridor. Long and meandering with vertical as well as horizontal curves, the design of the road creates an attractive streetscape but also one where drivers may have limited visibility of bike-ped users at intersections and along specific segments that are in shade during certain times of the day.
Residents of Pathway Drive have expressed a desire to retain areas of on-street parking that can be used, without limitation, in locations that would not infringe on the designated path for cyclists. The proposed concept plan (Attachment), shows opportunities for the installation of landscaped bump-outs-chokers and curb extensions--that would provide locations for on-street parking, while maintaining clearance for cyclists and thereby reducing the number of potential conflict points. The bump-outs could include vegetation for stormwater management or at least attractive plantings. Sharrow pavement markers could be added to the travel lanes to serve as a visual cue, reminding drivers to be alert of bicyclists. Sharrows can also serve as a traffic calming measure which creates an environment where cyclists feel more comfortable on the road.
Staff is seeking board feedback on the concept in general as well as specific input at key intersections, which could be incorporated into a more finalized design.
FISCAL & STAFF IMPACT: There are no fiscal impacts with the discussion of this item. Future budgetary impacts and staff time would be required to implement the modification of Pathway Drive should a design be selected.
RECOMMENDATION:r Staff recommends that the Board discuss the conceptual design and provide direction for potential next steps.