100% construction map for Park and Grant
10% Construction map for Mountain and Grant (Phase 5)
MOUNTAIN AND GRANT: Bike safety - Questions "asked" and "answered"
Q and A 2/19/16 from Kylie Walzak, Program manager, Living Streets Alliance ([email protected]) Question: Best practice for intersections?
This is such a tricky intersection. As far as “best practices” I know many across the U.S. are excited about “Dutch Intersections”. Davis, CA installed the first one in the U.S. followed quickly by Salt Lake City. Check it out:
http://www.peopleforbikes.org/blog/entry/americas-first-protected-intersection-is-open-in-davis-and-working-like-a-c
http://usa.streetsblog.org/2015/10/15/salt-lake-citys-groundbreaking-new-protected-intersection-is-open/
I don’t think a dedicated right turn lane (for cars) on Mountain Ave. is a good idea because it forces a point of negotiating contact between cars and bicyclists. We see this all over town. The cyclist wants to continue straight but the right-turning traffic wants to get in to the turn lane and the two have to negotiate the space. It doesn’t always work out well. I know the City is planning to install flexible delineators, like we see on St. Mary’s Rd. and the Bike HAWK on 9th Ave at Speedway among others, at Mountain and Grant soon — like in the next month — and I think that’s the way to go, separate the cars from bicycles. I think the delineators will help keep cars out of the bike lane on both sides of the intersection and potentially help reduce conflict points.
This is such a tricky intersection. As far as “best practices” I know many across the U.S. are excited about “Dutch Intersections”. Davis, CA installed the first one in the U.S. followed quickly by Salt Lake City. Check it out:
http://www.peopleforbikes.org/blog/entry/americas-first-protected-intersection-is-open-in-davis-and-working-like-a-c
http://usa.streetsblog.org/2015/10/15/salt-lake-citys-groundbreaking-new-protected-intersection-is-open/
I don’t think a dedicated right turn lane (for cars) on Mountain Ave. is a good idea because it forces a point of negotiating contact between cars and bicyclists. We see this all over town. The cyclist wants to continue straight but the right-turning traffic wants to get in to the turn lane and the two have to negotiate the space. It doesn’t always work out well. I know the City is planning to install flexible delineators, like we see on St. Mary’s Rd. and the Bike HAWK on 9th Ave at Speedway among others, at Mountain and Grant soon — like in the next month — and I think that’s the way to go, separate the cars from bicycles. I think the delineators will help keep cars out of the bike lane on both sides of the intersection and potentially help reduce conflict points.
Q and A 2/2/2016 from Beth Abramovitz,Grant Road Project Engineer, Beth Abramovitz, Phase 2, [email protected], 201 N. Stone, 3rd Floor, T/A (85701), 837-6656
The coalition understands that the Phase 5 plans are not completed. We understand that the engineers have not been hired to work on the 30% plans. So it seems that we can only speak to a few of the elements.
1) Will flexible poles be installed temporarily until Phase 5 If so, when can they be expected? Safety enhancements at this intersection have been on-going. To date we have added signage and green paint materials at the southbound approach to match what is there on the northbound approach. Ann Chaneka is currently working on a layout for flexible delineators. Once finalized the delineators must be ordered. When they are received they will be installed.
UPDATE: Delineators in place February 2016
2) At what point in the process can we expect to have a discussion about the bike facility at mtn and grant?
During the design of Phases 5 and 6, currently anticipated to begin design in approximately 2019.
3) Am I correct in not seeing a dedicated right turn lane in this 10% version? And if so, can that be a possibility in the consideration of subsequent plans. The right turn arrow at the southwest corner of the intersection indicates a dedicated right turn lane. Same for north east corner of the intersection. (i.e. no dedicated right turn lane off mountain onto Grant)
Q and A TURNING RIGHT OFF MOUNTAIN ONTO GRANT...2/2/2016 From Ann Chaneka Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Manager, City of Tucson Dept of Transportation, 520-837-669
In the case of Mountain Ave, the correct way for cars to turn right is for cars to yield to bicycles and to turn right when it is safe to do and they will not conflict with a bicyclist. The flexible delineators will not change that, it will hopefully just slow down the right turning cars down. You can see there are painted blobs where the posts will be anchored into the ground on the northbound approach. I will be putting painted blobs out there tomorrow for the southbound approach. I am hoping they will be installed in the next few weeks.
The coalition understands that the Phase 5 plans are not completed. We understand that the engineers have not been hired to work on the 30% plans. So it seems that we can only speak to a few of the elements.
1) Will flexible poles be installed temporarily until Phase 5 If so, when can they be expected? Safety enhancements at this intersection have been on-going. To date we have added signage and green paint materials at the southbound approach to match what is there on the northbound approach. Ann Chaneka is currently working on a layout for flexible delineators. Once finalized the delineators must be ordered. When they are received they will be installed.
UPDATE: Delineators in place February 2016
2) At what point in the process can we expect to have a discussion about the bike facility at mtn and grant?
During the design of Phases 5 and 6, currently anticipated to begin design in approximately 2019.
3) Am I correct in not seeing a dedicated right turn lane in this 10% version? And if so, can that be a possibility in the consideration of subsequent plans. The right turn arrow at the southwest corner of the intersection indicates a dedicated right turn lane. Same for north east corner of the intersection. (i.e. no dedicated right turn lane off mountain onto Grant)
Q and A TURNING RIGHT OFF MOUNTAIN ONTO GRANT...2/2/2016 From Ann Chaneka Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Manager, City of Tucson Dept of Transportation, 520-837-669
In the case of Mountain Ave, the correct way for cars to turn right is for cars to yield to bicycles and to turn right when it is safe to do and they will not conflict with a bicyclist. The flexible delineators will not change that, it will hopefully just slow down the right turning cars down. You can see there are painted blobs where the posts will be anchored into the ground on the northbound approach. I will be putting painted blobs out there tomorrow for the southbound approach. I am hoping they will be installed in the next few weeks.
Q and A 2/2/2016 From Ann Chaneka 2/216- Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Manager, City of Tucson Department of Transportation, 520-837-6691
1) Do you have stats that show that dedicated right turn lanes are/or are not safer than this bike box arrangement? I now see that there are many places where there are dedicated right turn lanes.
As to the research, this is the website that serves as a database for research on different types of traffic safety information: http://www.cmfclearinghouse.org/
Yes, we looked at the research/statistics. To summarize, there is no conclusive evidence that a right turn lane is safer in terms of reducing crashes and several studies show there was an increase in bike crashes when I right turn lane was added. Similarly, we looked at whether it would be safer to try to squeeze a mixing zone like California does. Again, no conclusive evidence.
The Safety Coordinator at PAG looked at research on both adding an exclusive right turn lane AND adding a shared bike lane / right turn lane (like what they do in California). Through the analysis he found:
2) Also, do you know why the speed limit on Mountain is 30mph near the U where the bike traffic is denser and changes to 25mph at Ft. Lowell where the bike traffic is considerably less? As to the speed limits - I don't have that answer but I'm cc'ing Diahn Swartz who is in charge of signing which includes Speed Limit signs.
Q Feb 4: (After searching the recommended website) Apparently the PAG based its findings on a single study done in New Zealand and Australian "Turner et al." in 2011. It has an extremely low validity due to a very small sample. Where I am finding Best Practices in Portland and Eugene Oregon (see attached) . I will keep looking. There is only one study listed in the clearinghouse http://www.cmfclearinghouse.org/ and it matches the #'s you sent.
1) Do you have stats that show that dedicated right turn lanes are/or are not safer than this bike box arrangement? I now see that there are many places where there are dedicated right turn lanes.
As to the research, this is the website that serves as a database for research on different types of traffic safety information: http://www.cmfclearinghouse.org/
Yes, we looked at the research/statistics. To summarize, there is no conclusive evidence that a right turn lane is safer in terms of reducing crashes and several studies show there was an increase in bike crashes when I right turn lane was added. Similarly, we looked at whether it would be safer to try to squeeze a mixing zone like California does. Again, no conclusive evidence.
The Safety Coordinator at PAG looked at research on both adding an exclusive right turn lane AND adding a shared bike lane / right turn lane (like what they do in California). Through the analysis he found:
- - In adding a right turn lane, the research shows there’s either a 36% INCREASE in vehicle/bike crashes or a 3% DECREASE. Inconclusive, but leaning toward an increase with the installation of a RTL.
- - For shared bike lane/RTLs the research shows there’s either a 40% INCREASE in vehicle/bike crashes or a 40% DECREASE. Again, inconclusive.
2) Also, do you know why the speed limit on Mountain is 30mph near the U where the bike traffic is denser and changes to 25mph at Ft. Lowell where the bike traffic is considerably less? As to the speed limits - I don't have that answer but I'm cc'ing Diahn Swartz who is in charge of signing which includes Speed Limit signs.
Q Feb 4: (After searching the recommended website) Apparently the PAG based its findings on a single study done in New Zealand and Australian "Turner et al." in 2011. It has an extremely low validity due to a very small sample. Where I am finding Best Practices in Portland and Eugene Oregon (see attached) . I will keep looking. There is only one study listed in the clearinghouse http://www.cmfclearinghouse.org/ and it matches the #'s you sent.
PARK AND GRANT: Bike safety - Questions "asked" and "answered"
Note: Reading the map: Yellow is sidewalk. Dark black line is the curb. Dark blue hatched line is the TEP utility lines
Note: Reading the map: Yellow is sidewalk. Dark black line is the curb. Dark blue hatched line is the TEP utility lines
Q and A 2/2/2016 from Beth Abramovitz,Grant Road Project Engineer, Beth Abramovitz, Phase 2[email protected], 201 N. Stone, 3rd Floor, T/A (85701), 837-6656
1) How wide are the bike lanes on both sides of Park? The bike lanes on Park Avenue are 5' in width.
2) How wide are the bike lanes on Grant? and is there any separation with something like bollards..a thin medium? The bike lanes on Grant are typically 5' in CLEAR width with an additional +/- two foot painted stripe between the bike lane and the traffic lane.
3) Are there bike lanes in both sides of Park? Yes
RIGHT TURNS ON GRANT GOING NORTH
1) Is that a right turn lane on Park going north? There is not a right turn lane on Park going north. That's the sidewalk. The thick black line is the curb.
2) There is no right turn lane going south? No right turn lane going south on Park.
3) The cut-outs in the yellow on the southeast side are presumably for handicapped (the small ones) and the larger one is for bus? Again, the thick black line is the curb. Going north on Park there is a landscaped area immediately behind the curb then the sidewalk.
5) Are there green bike boxes painted on the road? (going north and going south) Map does not show that. Bike boxes will be installed at a number of intersections in Phase 2.
6) Will there be a flexible pole system? No
7) It appears a bicyclist has the option to ride through the intersection like a car with the light, or walk his/her bike on what appears to be (light blue) crosswalks. Is there a "button" in the median for people who get stuck in the middle? There is no button in the center. The distance of this intersection and the timing of the ped signal includes enough time to completely cross the intersection.
8) The speed limit on Grant road will be 35mph. Speed limit on Park is 30mph. There is no proposed change to the speed limit on Park.
9) To what does the dark blue 60 degree angle hatched line refer? TEP utility lines
10) We see no dedicated right turn planned at this time on Mountain turning on to Grant (SE corner)? As previously discussed, Mountain and Grant improvements will be completed with Phases 5 and 6. No additional turning lanes are being constructed at this time
1) How wide are the bike lanes on both sides of Park? The bike lanes on Park Avenue are 5' in width.
2) How wide are the bike lanes on Grant? and is there any separation with something like bollards..a thin medium? The bike lanes on Grant are typically 5' in CLEAR width with an additional +/- two foot painted stripe between the bike lane and the traffic lane.
3) Are there bike lanes in both sides of Park? Yes
RIGHT TURNS ON GRANT GOING NORTH
1) Is that a right turn lane on Park going north? There is not a right turn lane on Park going north. That's the sidewalk. The thick black line is the curb.
2) There is no right turn lane going south? No right turn lane going south on Park.
3) The cut-outs in the yellow on the southeast side are presumably for handicapped (the small ones) and the larger one is for bus? Again, the thick black line is the curb. Going north on Park there is a landscaped area immediately behind the curb then the sidewalk.
- There is no bus pull-out on the south side of Grant at Park.
- Why no bus pull out on north west side of Park? The north west side of Park is outside the project limits. Additionally, ridership did not warrant the addition of a pullout at this location per discussions with SunTran.
5) Are there green bike boxes painted on the road? (going north and going south) Map does not show that. Bike boxes will be installed at a number of intersections in Phase 2.
6) Will there be a flexible pole system? No
7) It appears a bicyclist has the option to ride through the intersection like a car with the light, or walk his/her bike on what appears to be (light blue) crosswalks. Is there a "button" in the median for people who get stuck in the middle? There is no button in the center. The distance of this intersection and the timing of the ped signal includes enough time to completely cross the intersection.
8) The speed limit on Grant road will be 35mph. Speed limit on Park is 30mph. There is no proposed change to the speed limit on Park.
9) To what does the dark blue 60 degree angle hatched line refer? TEP utility lines
10) We see no dedicated right turn planned at this time on Mountain turning on to Grant (SE corner)? As previously discussed, Mountain and Grant improvements will be completed with Phases 5 and 6. No additional turning lanes are being constructed at this time