Northwest/Elm/Dupont Project Update

Last time we checked in with the project to add bike lanes and pedestrian enhancements to Northwest/Elm/Dupont corridor between Whatcom Creek and I-5, it was going out to bid (project page). Well, the bids came in and Colacurcio Brothers got the contract.

And work has begun!
They're starting on Dupont with new curbs and improved accessible sidewalk ramps. The intersections all had accessible ramps before, but maybe they weren't good enough?
At F St. and Dupont it looks like they're installing curb-bulbs -- and apparently are taking away the turn lanes on F. I'm not sure how I feel about that. I sure wish the project page had some information about it....
And in a recent blog post, the City let slip that the street is going to be resurfaced. There are certainly spots that need it.
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Update 6/17

Half of the curb-bulb curbs are in at the F St/Dupont St intersection, and now it does not look like they're taking nearly as much of the roadway. Maybe the turn lanes are staying?

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One aspect of the project I have to give Colacurico Brothers credit for is maintaining pedestrian access during construction. When they've removed sections of sidewalks, they've been really good about putting in temporary fill to help walkers through the area. And when they started pouring concrete this week, they set up temporary walking paths in the streets, set off with construction pylons. Like so:

It's a step in the right direction. Maybe in the future they'll move on to including pedestrian detour signage as well, just to ensure there's no confusion.

Northwest/Elm/Dupont Bike Lanes: Going to Bid This Month

At the Feb. 27, 2012 Bellingham City Council meeting, Project Engineer Craig Mueller gave an update to the Council on the project to add bike lanes on Northwest/Elm/Dupont from McLeod Rd. to Whatcom Creek (project page). Council had asked staff to go forward with designing the project back in May of 2011 (see post), and apparently that work was nearing completion.

Staff were asking for approval on the final design, and permission to put the project out the bid. Council agreed on both parts.

The project is actually a bit more than just bike lanes. According to the information provided to Council, "Elm and Dupont Streets will receive an overlay as well as ADA complaint pedestrian ramps prior to restriping. Light bases will be installed at the Alderwood Avenue intersection in preparation for an enhanced crossing. Curb extensions will be installed on the east side of the Connecticut Avenue intersection per the Fountain District Urban Village Plan."

As for funding: "The estimated budget is $420,000 for TBD [Transportation Benefit District] (Non-Motorized) funds to be utilized for bike lane improvements. TBD (Overlay Funds) will be used for the overlay portion of the project."

Construction is expected this year.

This is what I'd like to see on Northwest Ave.: a 'cycle track'

Bikeportland notes that the City of Portland recently completed a 0.6 mile-long separated bike lane, their first example of a physically separate, bike-only, on-street cycle track. It's the kind of thing Copenhagen is known for.

(Photo © J. Maus)

Key features:

• Made of concrete to contrast with the asphalt street
• Raised above the street like a sidewalk
• Parking area between the street and the track as a buffer
• Cycle track is for bikes only; pedestrians get their own sidewalk

The Bikeportland article also notes the importance of the pavement markings for clarity on how to use the thing.

With the project to add bike lanes and other enhancements to Northwest/Elm/Dupont being designed this summer, I hope Bellingham's engineers can incorporate these great ideas into their final plans.

(Via Seattle Bike Blog)

Urban Bikeway Design Guide

Last week at the National Bike Summit the National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) released the NACTO Urban Bikeway Design Guide. It's a web-based compilation of ideas that city planners and transportation officials can use to design and build safe cycling infrastructure. NACTO is a big-city organization, but I'm certain that their cycling problems, and the solutions they've discovered, are not entirely out-of-scope for situations here in Bellingham.

It's great to see collaboration like NACTO, and it's even better to see knowledge shared. I bet there are ideas in the UBDG that could help bicyclists here. If you find any good ones, please do share!

A Great Idea: Parking Buffer Zone

If you go to that bike lane open house at Shuksan Middle School this next Wednesday, maybe you could advocate for not just bike lanes, but floating parking (away from the curb) with a buffer zone (the anti-dooring zone). It's safer for everybody, at the cost of some driving space.


"Floating Parking" & Bike Buffer Zone in Separated Bike Lanes from Streetfilms on Vimeo.

I tend to think the trade-off would be worth it.
Updated -- I had the week wrong.
Cycle Safe!