title
Support Implementing Protected Bike Lanes on Cameron Avenue.
body
Staff:
Department:
Colleen Willger, Director
Planning
Bergen Watterson, Transportation Planning Manager
Overview: The Mobility and Connectivity Plan calls for protected bike lanes on Cameron Ave. between Merritt Mill Rd. and Pittsboro St. Cameron Avenue between Merritt Mill and Pittsboro will be resurfaced in fall of 2023, which provides an opportunity to greatly improve the existing bike lanes. There are 19 existing on-street parking spaces on the north side of the road that, if not removed, will limit the Town's ability to implement the Council-approved protected bike facility.
Recommendation(s):
That the Council adopt the resolution supporting implementing protected bike lanes on Cameron Ave. by directing staff to remove the 19 existing on-street parking spaces on the north side.
Key Issues:
* Pre-COVID, Cameron Ave. between Pittsboro and Merritt Mill would see 600 bikes a day and 16,000 a month, making it one of the highest traveled bike corridors in the region, if not the state.
* Staff receives frequent complaints and requests for improvement, which we have put off knowing that the upcoming resurfacing will provide opportunity for enhancement.
* A petition, calling the protected bike facilities on Cameron the "Extension of the Libba Cotten Bikeway" was presented to Transportation and Connectivity Advisory Board on September 27, 2022 and garnered support from the Board (see attached recommendation). Mayor and Council have received dozens of emails supporting the petition.
* The 19 on-street parking spaces will need to be removed if the Town wants to implement high-quality protected bike lanes. These 19 spaces:
o have been out-of-service due to the OWASA construction on Cameron since the spring
o have been under-utilized since COVID
o are primarily used by students who are late to class and on UNC game days, according to parking staff
* On September 8 a UNC student on his bike ...
Click here for full text