East Boulevard Pedscape – Scott Avenue to Kings Drive

April 6, 2005

Issues to Discuss Tonight

1. Introduction2. East Blvd. Pedscape Background &

Status Update3. Why consider a 3-lane option?4. Review 3-lane traffic model5. Project Budget & Schedule (Proposed)6. Project Implementation7. Breakout Session and Questions

1) Introduction

• City of Charlotte staff:• CDOT – Dan Gallagher, Debbie Self,

Josh Saak

• CMPC – Kent Main

• Engineering – Eric Bilsky

2) East Boulevard Pedscape Plan Vision & Background

• Tree-lined avenue• Pedestrians activity sidewalks• Sidewalk cafés and public art• Comfortable for bikes, peds, transit

users and motorists• Pedestrian-oriented new development

mixed with historic fabric

East Boulevard Pedscape Plan Vision & Background

and Implementation

Segment

3 crashes: ped (2) bike (1)

11 crashes:ped (4) bike (7)

East Boulevard Pedscape Plan Vision & Background

What we know about this area…

• Current corridor is not consistent with vision

• Not pedestrian-friendly but lots of pedestrians

• High travel speeds – wide range of speeds (44 mph)

• 21,400 vpd….lots of slaloming• Difficult to cross street• High level of bike/pedestrian accidents• Minimal congestion (few traffic signals)

Will occur over time…

East Boulevard Pedscape Plan Vision & Background

East Boulevard Pedscape Plan Vision & Background

Are the “original” Pedestrian Islands with 4-lane East Boulevard the best that we can do?

• Only 2 islands (Floral/Fountain View and at Cumberland/Garden Terrace)

• Requires costly ROW because 4-lanes• Eliminates planting strip (exchanges one ped

element for another)• Will block some driveways• Will not reduce high travel speeds• Cannot include ped-refuge islands east of

Cumberland Avenue - (Freedom Park)

3) How can we accommodate your vision….with a 3-lane option for this segment?

• More consistent with corridor vision• Better utilization of roadway space, is more

compatible with adjacent land uses and can include better/more pedestrian islands.

• Will accommodate East Boulevard traffic and maintain “Dilworth friendly” travel speeds

• Should reduce accidents and severity of accidents

Video description

Why consider a 3-lane option for this segment cont’d?

• Eliminates higher speed, aggressive travel and “slaloming” down the street.

• Will provide more locations for pedestrian refuge islands (up to 5)

• Will reduce impacts on adjacent properties (no ROW, no driveways blocked)

• Can be implemented more quickly than original proposal because 3-laning can be done within the existing curbs.

Why consider a 3-lane section now?

• Provides a near-term opportunity to “re-think” the 4-lane section.

• Proposed 4-lane section with ped refuge islands will not fully accomplish the desired vision.

• Moderate travel speeds in near-term…most prudent driver….and on Dilworth’s terms.

• Bike lanes in the near term provides benefits to motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians.

Can the 3-lane section include ped-refuge islands?

• Yes, and they can be wider, landscaped and create a more desirable pedestrian treatment….and more of them.

Note: Landscaping will not include annuals

Conversion with ped-refuge island

Conversion with ped-refuge island