Tri-State Trail Vision Request to Address Council
April 10, 2009
Mike Van Milligan
City Manager
Historic Federal Building
350 W. 6th St.
Dubuque, IA 5200]
RE: East West Corridor Study
Tri-State Trail Vision Comments and Concerns
Dear Mr. Van Milligan:
The Tri-State Trail Vision Board of Directors participated in a telephone meeting with
representatives of the consultant team for the East-West Corridor Study on December 22, 2009.
At the meeting, the consultant team provided information boards about the east-west roadways
under study and the project manager, Mr. Sharp, gave a detailed presentation about the status
of the work and the scope of the study. Tri-State Trail Vision members were primarily interested
in how the study was addressing the pedestrian, transit, and bicycling needs within our
community, and to ensure that any improvements recommended by the consultant team are
consistent with the Tri-State Integrated Walking, Biking, and Hikinq Plan.
Following the presentation by Mr. Sharp, there was extensive discussion by the Board
concerning the information presented. The Board would like to make the following comments
concerning the Corridor Study information that we received at the meeting:
The Board supports the concept of on-street bike lanes on Asbury Road from Clarke
Drive to the NW Arterial as the most practical and cost effective way to provide for
bicycles on this roadway segment.
The concept that the key bicycle route from downtown Dubuque to Asbury Road is
consistent with the Plan. To that end, the Board supports the concept of bicycle route
signage on Clarke Drive and West Locust University, as well as the development of on-
street bicycle lanes wherever possible along this route. In accordance with the Plan,
bicycle signage should direct bicyclists to use Foye and Almond Streets as a part of this
route.
Based on the information provided by the consultants, the East-West Corridor Study will
not evaluate options for improving the existing Delhi, University, or Asbury roadways
from, Grandview Avenue to Clarke Drive, because of a City Council directive to avoid
property acquisition, except at intersections. The Tri-State Integrated Walking, Biking,
Hiking Plan identifies these roadways as key links in one of the most significant bicycle
corridors in the City. With this directive to the consultants, the Tri-State Trail Vision
Board of Directors feels that consultant's "hands are tied" with regard to real solutions
for accommodating bicycles and vehicles in an area that is already unsafe during many
times of the day. The information presented by the consultants show that many areas
of University Avenue and Asbury Road are already over capacity and will only get more
congested as traffic continues to increase, causing even more unsafe conditions for
bicycles and pedestrians. The Board of Directors believes that the City should evaluate
and plan for roadway improvements where they are needed.
We encourage the City Council to direct the consultants to at least review solutions to relieve
existing vehicular congestion and unsafe, inadequate accommodations for bicycles, pedestrians
and transit. A review of possible alternatives for improvements should consider the acquisition
of property that is needed to increase capacity and to also provide for aesthetic improvements.
We suggest that the solutions should embrace the Complete Streets principles that are outlined
in the Tri-State Integrated Walking, Biking, Hiking Plan, providing for improvements for all forms
of transportation. We request that this Complete Streets alternative, with the impacts and costs
for Delhi, University Avenue, and Asbury Road improvements, be developed and presented to
the general public for review and comment, rather than not being analyzed at all.
Tri-State Trail Vision would like the opportunity to address this issue at a City Council meeting in
the near future. Please include us on your agenda at your earliest convenience.
Thank you for this opportunity to interact with the consultants and provide comment on the
work that is being done to improve the east-west flow of traffic in Dubuque. We look forward
to continuing opportunities to engage with the City with or common goal of making Dubuque a
more livable and sustainable community.
Sincerely,
.«
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Brian Walsh
President
CC: Will Sharp, HDR
Dubuque City Council Members
Mike Van Milligan, City Manager