Letter of Support - Denver Vision Zero Coalition · We are writing on behalf of the Denver Vision...
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December 12, 2017 Karen Good 201 W. Colfax Dept. 509 Denver, CO 80202 Dear Karen, VISI CDN ZERCD SAFE SPEEDS FOR DENVER We are writing on behalf of the Denver Vision Zero Coalition to express conditional support for the shared bicycle and pedestrian facility design for the Washington Street GO Bond project currently proposed by the Denver Public Works Project Team and Matrix Design Group. The initial "30% design" concept of an off-street facility is a fit with the community needs expressed during the public process and with Globeville's Neighborhood Plan. Ensuring that the final design adequately accommodates both bicyclists and pedestrians will require a high standard of safety and comfort treatments and innovations new to Denver, which we have outlined below. Without these, the project will fail to meet the standards Denver has set to become a Vision Zero leader and will fail to capture the interest of the local community as a true amenity that brings a "Main Street" feel to Washington Street. Attached are examples of the elements we are recommending that are in common use in other municipalities. Further, we recommend that Denver Public Works move away from the description of the facility as a "shared sidewalk." Instead, the facility should be identified as side-by-side facilities of a 6-foot sidewalk and a 6-foot off-street elevated cycletrack or protected bike lane. Specifically, we are identifying these critical, desired, and recommended elements: 1. Critical Elements for the side-by-side facilities (these elements are the basis for our preliminary indication of support): • 6 or more feet of space each for both bicycles and pedestrians (i.e., 12+ feet total), on both sides of the street • Differentiation in concrete pavement color for bike and pedestrian space (Bannock Street in front of the City and County Building is a nice example that could be greatly improved by choosing a brighter color for the bike lane) • Consistent color markings demarcating the elevated protected bicycle facility that runs through intersection crossings • Marked crossings for both bike and pedestrian traffic at every intersection in each direction (north/south/east/west), with automatic pedestrian and bicycle phases included at signalized intersections • Curb extensions at intersections to shorten crossing distances, reduce turning vehicle speed, increase the vehicle turning angle, and provide adequate space for people to safely get on and off transit without conflicting with bicycle and pedestrian through traffic.
Transcript of Letter of Support - Denver Vision Zero Coalition · We are writing on behalf of the Denver Vision...
December 12, 2017
Karen Good 201 W. Colfax Dept. 509 Denver, CO 80202
Dear Karen,
VISICDN ZERCD SAFE SPEEDS FOR DENVER
We are writing on behalf of the Denver Vision Zero Coalition to express conditional support for the shared bicycle and pedestrian facility design for the Washington Street GO Bond project currently proposed by the Denver Public Works Project Team and Matrix Design Group.
The initial "30% design" concept of an off-street facility is a fit with the community needs expressed during the public process and with Globeville's Neighborhood Plan. Ensuring that the final design adequately accommodates both bicyclists and pedestrians will require a high standard of safety and comfort treatments and innovations new to Denver, which we have outlined below. Without these, the project will fail to meet the standards Denver has set to become a Vision Zero leader and will fail to capture the interest of the local community as a true amenity that brings a "Main Street" feel to Washington Street. Attached are examples of the elements we are recommending that are in common use in other municipalities.
Further, we recommend that Denver Public Works move away from the description of the facility as a "shared sidewalk." Instead, the facility should be identified as side-by-side facilities of a 6-foot sidewalk and a 6-foot off-street elevated cycletrack or protected bike lane.
Specifically, we are identifying these critical, desired, and recommended elements:
1. Critical Elements for the side-by-side facilities (these elements are the basis for our preliminary indication of support):
• 6 or more feet of space each for both bicycles and pedestrians (i.e., 12+ feet total), on both sides of the street
• Differentiation in concrete pavement color for bike and pedestrian space (Bannock Street in front of the City and County Building is a nice example that could be greatly improved by choosing a brighter color for the bike lane)
• Consistent color markings demarcating the elevated protected bicycle facility that runs through intersection crossings
• Marked crossings for both bike and pedestrian traffic at every intersection in each direction (north/south/east/west), with automatic pedestrian and bicycle phases included at signalized intersections
• Curb extensions at intersections to shorten crossing distances, reduce turning vehicle speed, increase the vehicle turning angle, and provide adequate space for people to safely get on and off transit without conflicting with bicycle and pedestrian through traffic.
VISION ZERO SAFE SPEEDS FOR DENVER
2. Desired Elements that will ensure a high-quality facility and leading design for side-by-side facilities (the design can serve as a new model for other areas of the city):
• Bike-ped crossing signage and/or pavement markings to alert drivers to the presence of people bicycling and walking
• Unobstructed visibility at intersections with an emphasis on no parking that impedes visibility • Lowered speed limit along the corridor • Pedestrian and bicyclist oriented wayfinding • Buffer between the side by side facilities and the street with trees and pedestrian-scale lighting • Shelters, seating, lighting and trash cans at bus stops • Raised crosswalks at 1-70 on- and off-ramps • Safety lighting for through-travelers on the parallel South Platte Trail
3. Recommended Elements to ensure community buy-in, ease-of-use and comfort: • Protected Intersections (htt(:!s://vimeo.com/86721046) • Roadway sharrow markings for on-street bike traffic
We applaud the efforts of the project team to-date and look forward to working with them on the inclusion of these critical and other design elements that will make the bicycle and pedestrian facility on Washington Street a success.
Jill Locantore Associate Director, WalkDenver
James Waddell Executive Director, BikeDenver
Piep van Heuven Denver Director, Bicycle Colorado
Joel Noble INC Transportation Co-Chair
Katie McKenna Mayor's Bicycle Advisory Committee
Cliff Lind Mayor's Pedestrian Advisory Committee
Cc: Executive Director of Public Works Eulois Cleckley, Director of Transportation Crissy Fanganello Director of Policy Planning and Sustainability Emily Gloeckner Urban Mobility Manager Emily Snyder Senior City Planner Rachael Bronson Senior City Planner Dan Raine Senior City Planner David Pulsipher Jason Rutt, Matrix Design Group
