Downtown On-Street Bikeway Project

Phase One

Despite the substantial number of bicyclists in the Downtown area, there is a lack of planned bikeways for this area of the City.

City staff is initiating this project to determine appropriate locations for additional bicycle access in the downtown area and to implement those improvements. Phase 1 will be comprised of bikeways that can be added to the existing street system without removal of any vehicle or parking lanes. Phase 2 will include conversion of one-way streets from three to two one-way lanes with both left and right side bike lanes. This phase also requires an environmental assessment of the reduction in travel lanes. The project purpose is to make downtown streets more complete by restriping the streets to add new on-street bikeways.

Phase Two

The Central City Two Way Conversion Project has an unobligated balance of $631,419. Approval of the transfer of local transportation funds (Fund 2001) in the amount of $629,000 from the Central City Two Way Conversion Project (T15008000) will be sufficient to plan, design and implement bicycle enhancements for Phases 1 and 2 in the downtown area.

City staff has recommend that the City Council approve the project and will be discussed this Tuesday the 12^th.

Bicycles on K Street

Next week the City Council will remove bicycle riding restrictions on portions of the K Street Pedestrian Mall from 12th Street to 7th Street. This will allow bicycle traffic throughout K Street with the exception of Westfield Downtown Plaza. Allowing bicycles on K Street will provide a safer environment for slower, more casual riders than the faster J and L Streets.

A stakeholder group was assembled who discussed at length the safety concerns associated with this project. The stakeholder group consisted of representatives from Regional Transit, the Police Department, a representative from the Disabilities Advisory Commission (DAC), Sacramento Area Bicycle Advocates and Economic Development. The stakeholder group identified several safety concerns when mixing light rail, bicycle and pedestrian traffic.

• The light rail tracks are a potential fall hazard for cyclists.
• Potential pedestrian/bicycle conflicts.
• Lack of signalized intersections for bicycle crossing.