[BikeLongmont] CO 119 bike lanes
Nick_Wolfrum@ci.longmont.co.us
Nick_Wolfrum@ci.longmont.co.us
Wed, 3 Dec 2003 13:29:30 -0700
Richard -
Regarding the bike lanes/shoulders on the new SH 119/Ken Pratt Boulevard
Extension, you are correct, bicycles were being considered in the design
when the cross-section of the road was planned and the wide shoulders were
included. The City and the Colorado Department of Transportation (CDOT)
worked jointly on this project. As development occurs adjacent to the new
highway, there are limited access points that will made. We went ahead and
constructed most of the acceleration and deceleration lanes as part of the
project so that we would not have construction impacting traffic in the
future. The CDOT design standards for the acceleration/deceleration lanes
make the lanes very long and actually in most cases the acceleration lane
actually extends into the next deceleration lane creating what becomes a
continuous lane. During the design phase there was a great deal of
discussion of how that would work in the future with bike lanes and whether
to stripe them separately. Our intention is to watch this in the future as
those access points are opened and see how they operate and how best to
handle future striping. The City will be working with CDOT on that in the
future.
Regarding the St. Vrain Greenway, the City Parks and Open Space Division is
currently out to bid with the construction of the next phase of the
Greenway that will extend the trail from S. Pratt Parkway to Lefthand
Creek. That will connect in with the Lefthand Creek Greenway at the SH 119
Bridge over Lefthand Creek. Future phases will extend the trail to County
Line Road (scheduled for construction in 2005) and from there to Sandstone
Ranch (scheduled for 2006 and 2007 construction). How those trails will
connect in with the development that occurs along the north side of the new
highway will be detailed out when those developments are designed by the
land owners, but connections between the greenway and the future
development are important and are planned to occur.
I hope that helps answer some of your questions.
Nick Wolfrum
Longmont City Engineer
Nick Wolfrum
Public Works Engineering
408 Third Avenue
Longmont, CO 80501
303-651-8307
Nick.Wolfrum@ci.longmont.co.us
"Richard Masoner"
<Richard.Masoner@ns To: "'bike@bicyclelongmont.org'" <bike@bicyclelongmont.org>
c.com> cc:
Sent by: Subject: [BikeLongmont] CO 119 bike lanes
bike-admin@bicyclel
ongmont.org
12/03/2003 10:23 AM
Something I forgot to mention in my earlier summary of riding on the new
119 bypass: The striped shoulder area appears to be a bike lane. I'm not
sure if that's the intent -- there aren't any bike lane markings or
signs -- but that's certainly going to be the perception of anybody who
rides or drivers on this highway.
My concern is that this bike lane is to the *right* of all right turn
lanes on 119. Right now this isn't important because traffic is light
and the right turns don't actually go anywhere. When all of the
anticipated commercial development comes in, however, straight-through
bikes directed to the right of right-turning traffic is a hazard. I know
the Greenway will probably be available by the time the stores come in,
but when I'm commuting I don't always want to take a meandering
creekside trail.
I realize 119 is a state-maintained highway. Does anybody know who to
contact regarding this concern?
Also, will there be easy access from the Greenway into commercial
developments? I know there's some provision in the city code for
pedestrian access, but I'm curious what that means in terms of getting
to Best Buy (or whatever) from the Greenway. A sporting goods store
would be perfect there, I think, especially if Longmont is able to get
its recreational water diversion and build the proposed St. Vrain Kayak
Park.
RFM
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