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Draft ONE Bike Ped Stormwater Concept Plans

Please share your feedback on these concepts by 9/30.

The City of Burlington is working with the public to identify options for low stress bicycle and pedestrian connections in the southwest section of the Old North End. With your help, the project team will recommend streetscape and intersection improvements to increase safety and provide a more comfortable environment for people walking and riding bikes. We will also identify opportunities to address stormwater management and incorporate green stormwater infrastructure into Burlington’s streets. Please review these draft concepts and use the tools to add your comments and suggestions – click anywhere in the document to add your feedback, and note there are 9 slides. For more project details and contact information, visit the project website: http://bit.ly/ONE-bike-ped-stormwater

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Suggestion
Although I am a cyclist and am interested in making Burlington bicycle-friendly, I believe that removing the left turn lane at the corner of North Ave and North St. is a mistake in light of the fact that there will be a significant increase in traffic in the near future from the 1,000 or so Cambrian Rise apartments and condos that are currently being built on North Ave.
0 replies
Not a good idea to reduce street parking here. Patrons and visitors to nearby businesses and services need this- people going to the Park, the Police station, Sara Holbrook or visiting friends in neighborhood need these spaces)
0 replies
Probably NOT a good idea to remove any more parking spaces along North street, because then folks will park on residential side streets. I think small businesses (Opportunities, Draker, the bar, visitors) appreciate having parking spaces on commercial street.
0 replies
This has got to be the most awkward intersection in all of Burlington. Perhaps a "mini roundabout" would work well here, especially if Park Street were every returned to two-way traffic.
0 replies
in reply to Allegra Williams's comment
Well said, I agree. As a ONE resident (who bikes 50% of time) I concur the PRIMARY East-West route for bicyclists is (and will remain) North Street. In good weather and during "rush hour" continual stream of bicyclists on North Street. Any BTV biker knows "the further north, the flatter the hill." Bicyclists will not likely use Sherman Street because they're avoiding Battery Street and Pearl Street... where are they coming from or going to? No need for a 2-way bike lane along Sherman Street.
0 replies
in reply to Martha M Dallas's comment
I agree with Martha, not a big fan of the two-way bike lane. When I'm on a bicycle, I'd always rather be travelling in the same direction as the other bikes and cars along side me. It's not intuitive to have another bicyclist coming right at me.
0 replies
in reply to Rob Ostrander's comment
okay true confessions: When I walk westward along the north side of North Street sidewalk (by Brians) and my destination is the Waterfront (via Depot Street), I often don't use any of the crosswalks. Instead, human nature- I walk diagonally across the intersection whenever possible because the shortest distance between two points is a straight line. LOL.
0 replies
If you bump out the north-east corner of this sidewalk, will GMT buses (or long commercial trucks) coming from North Street be able to turn right (north) onto North Ave?
0 replies
yes on tree grates, anything to get more water to the roots of all the trees on north street it good.
0 replies
in reply to Quinn Salinder's comment
Hmmm. Not hopeful that cars will take 127. They're more likely to cut through residential streets like Strong, Drew, Blodgett to get onto eastbound North Street.
0 replies
Suggestion
Not in favor of removing left-turning lane from soutbound North Ave to eastbound North Street.. Many cars travelling from NNE are making a left turn onto North Street (they don't use 127). I fear that drivers will find a "work around" that being they'll cut through residential streets of Ward, Strong, Drew and Blodgett to traverse over to North Street and avoid a single-stackup of cars at the intersection.
0 replies
in reply to Erica S's comment
and P.S. the condition of the sidewalks on Front St (both west and east sides) is appalling. I knows it's just one tiny street with few residences but it is a major pedestrian thoroughfare especially when there are events at Battery Park (and attendees park cars in ONE then walk to Battery) and especially when the sidewalk in front of Sara Holbrook Center was closed off for a year.
0 replies
As a (sometimes) bicyclist, I'm not a big fan of curb extensions as they force bicyclist to funnel into the moving traffic lane. (Unless this proposal is combined with allowing bicyclists to travel on sidewalk along North Street)
0 replies
Answer
I agree that a better cross-walk to connect Blodgett to Front Street for pedestrians would be ideal. As I walk from Blodget towards downtown (or to bus stop in front of Rays Seafood), there's always an awkward DIAGANOL crossing on foot to scurry across North Street..
1 reply
Suggestion
agree with other commenter that the street trees along North Street are always under stress so any solutions should/could address the need for more soil and water infiltration around each tree.
0 replies
Suggestion
Why is it considered necessary to continue the bike path along this busy intersection when cyclists are encouraged by large green arrows to turn from North Avenue onto Berry Street and Lakeview Terrace Greenway? The route down Lakeview Terrace leads through the parking lot at COTS down to Depot Street and back on to North Avenue, without having to cross the North Avenue / North Street intersection. This route avoids the North Avenue to North Street intersection, which is a popular left turn for cars, school buses, regular buses, and construction and delivery vehicles. Eliminating the left turn would result in hold ups for cars coming from the New North End (and Cambrian Heights). To avoid these hold ups, the cars turn onto Berry Street and travel down Lakeview Terrace through COTS parking lot causing a potential hazard to residents, walkers, and cyclists on Lakeview Terrace and the parking lot and sabotaging the whole purpose of a Greenway.
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Suggestion
What about making a more explicit way for cyclists through the park? A schematic connecting the Sherman/Front/North Ave. intersection with this intersection could show how bikes could flow north and south through/around the park.
0 replies
Suggestion
I don't think this is necessary. You can direct people via green paint if needed. It's a small, open park. The design itself should communicate clearly to cyclists where they can go.
0 replies
Suggestion
The multiple lanes for vehicles, combined with the straightness of the road signal that it's okay to accelerate, reducing safety for pedestrians trying to get from Battery Park across to Simon's or residential neighborhoods. Multiple measures should be taken for pedestrian safety, including flashing lights and raised walkway (which might double as a speed bump). Could some sort of mirror be installed to aid pedestrians' visibility?
0 replies
As a cyclist, having both ways side-by-side on the same side of the street makes me feel nervous and is counter-intuitive. Going east would feel scary: riding against oncoming vehicular traffic, and it would take very little for cars or especially plows to tear up the bollards. I think the eastbound bikeway should be on the south side of the street.
1 reply
Suggestion
Have you considered one crosswalk, rather than two, to go from the east side of North Ave over to Battery park? This would concentrate cyclists and pedestrians, rather than spreading them across two crossings. One crosswalk could go directly from the green space at the end of Front St., to the entrance to Battery Park. The change would be akin to what was done at the intersection of Church and Pearl several years ago, removing two crosswalks, and replacing them with one wider one. It seems vehicular traffic could manage this better. I suspect most people coming from Front St. are headed to Battery Park, and not the Police Station, so that crosswalk seems less necessary.
0 replies
I support this. As i look at the whole proposal, what I see is infrastructure changes which will enhance safe travel for pedestrians and cyclists moving through this juncture of NNE, ONE, and downtown. It will also strengthen the message to motorists to slow down and move with more care, as there is a greater density of pedestrians and cyclists moving about.
0 replies
in reply to Allegra Williams's comment
Suggestion
We don't need just a sidewalk extension, we need sidewalks that are accessible to everyone. Our sidewalks especially in this area need a lot of work.
0 replies
in reply to Jonathon Weber's comment
Suggestion
I agree! I often cross this street and a light to indicate to incoming traffic that this is happening would be very beneficial.
0 replies
I support this idea, especially if Front St. is developed to better support cyclists and pedestrians. Cars turning from North Ave onto North St sometimes pick up speed as they enter North St.
0 replies
Removing the left-turn lane here would likely make what already seems like an eternal drive from the NNE even longer as cars wanting to continue straight will end up having to wait behind those wanting to turn left. No thanks.
0 replies
Suggestion
Eliminating the left turn lane at North and North is not wise. Those wanting to turn left there will hold up the thru traffic. This would, also, create hazardous conditions for bikers as car drivers will pull into the bike lane at random and with speed as they try to navigate going around the left turning vehicle holding up traffic.
0 replies
Suggestion
Eliminating the left turn lane at North and North is not wise. Those wanting to turn left there will hold up the thru traffic. This would, also, create hazardous conditions for bikers as car drivers will pull into the bike lane at random and with speed as they try to navigate going around the left turning vehicle holding up traffic.
0 replies
Suggestion
Hi, My office is at 95 North Ave and I use this intersection on weekdays. I also overlook the intersection and see it in action, even as I write my observations and opinions: *Adding a bike lane in this one block stretch in southbound lane here that does not connect to any other bike lane in the southbound makes no sense. *Elimination of a turning lane here will cause major backup in the southbound lane, especially during morning work commute. *Bikers would do better to share the travel lane and the left turn lane - drivers will not honor the presence of a biker who is attempting to make a left turn onto North Street in the proposed shared straight/turn lane and go around them, swerving into the proposed bike lane. *Pedestrian crossing here is of greater importance; straightening of the cross walks is a good idea. *Can bikers coming up Depot be encouraged to cross at the pedestrian walkway and then choose to go north on North Ave or east on North Street? *The 25 mph speed limit is not observed between the police department and Canfield Street. Perhaps raised crosswalks in the North and North intersection would help? Thank you
0 replies
Answer
I make a left turn at North & North at least 2X a day. Without the left turn lane North Ave would back up and cars would be waiting for 2-3 light changes to go straight. Not sure how this would help bikers and it would back traffic up further than it already is on busy hours
0 replies
Suggestion
I am a resident of Lakeview Terrace, an avid biker, a HUGE proponent of bike lanes (thank you for all your great work on this!). AND I am extremely concerned about the plan to eliminate the left turn car lane at North & North. The back ups will become huge - especially with the added population at Cambrian Rise - and may cause some drivers to get impatient, leading them to either pull into the new bike lane to get around a car waiting to turn left, or to use Lakeview Terrace and the COTS parking lot as a way to bypass the light. SUGGESTION: Could the current greenway on Lakeview Ter continue through the COTS lot instead of turning down Haswell? That way it could avoid the North/North intersection AND it could connect easily to Depot?
0 replies
in reply to Damon Lane's comment
Answer
moving the crosswalk to where the button for the walk sign is would be a HUGE improvement.
1 reply
Suggestion
This idea will increase time delays at the light and reduce safety for those travelling southbound and trying to turn left. It will however increase safety for bikers - which I am one of - but the costs overwhelm the benefit I think. Some of the lane solutions around town are too clever by half imho. Another concern is folks travelling sought from the NNE may begin using Lakeview Terrace > COTS/Lakeslide Apts. parking lot > return to North Ave south of the light. This will create increased traffic on our little street, hurried non-local traffic that is dangerous and unwanted. Proof again that leaving LVT open to the COTS/Apartments parking lot was a wrong and inflexible decision that completely disregarded the desires of those of us who live here. Not a fan over all, there has to be a better solution. Really what good is forcing a bike lane solution on an intersection where there is NO bike lane before or after the intersection? What is the point?
0 replies
Suggestion
I'm skeptical about this particular idea. According to a FHWA report "… adding a single left-turn lane at an approach that currently has shared through and left-turn movements is one the most common approaches to improve the safety and reduce delay." (link, page 11-3). This proposal would actually remove the left-turn lane. The same FHWA report notes that: - "Left-turning vehicles stopped in traffic while waiting for a gap in opposing traffic are prone to rear-end crashes. Separate left-turn lanes provide a refuge while waiting for a gap." - "A left-turn lane provides left-turning vehicles space to safely decelerate away from through traffic. Reducing this conflict directly impacts rear end collisions." - "Left-turn lanes can help improve signals' efficiency. Separating through movements from left turning vehicles can decrease the headway between vehicles and improve the flow rate through the signal for both movements." Are there other options that could address the need?
0 replies
Suggestion
Correct me if I’m wrong, but I don’t see a reference to the traffic light signal in the North Ave/North St plan. I’m in favor of going to one lane, Southbound on North Ave at the intersection of North St. BUT as someone who, on a daily basis, has traversed this intersection for 3 decades (pedestrian/bike/car) it’s imperative southbound traffic have a green light to either turn left on North St. or continue South while the northbound lane wait at a red light. If for some reason the left turning lane remains, I hope you realize your traffic pattern findings indicate that intersection needs a left turn “green arrow” added to the traffic light. Again, while the northbound lane waits at a red light.
0 replies
Suggestion
I think a round about or keep the left hand turn. A round about is a circle the car goes around to keep traffic flowing. It's really smooth, Just turn off at your street.
0 replies
Suggestion
Andrea makes sound points about the issues at this intersection.
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Suggestion
I agree with others that a southbound bike lane is needed coming out of this intersection.
0 replies
Suggestion
An RRFB and/or raised crosswalk would be helpful, but a road diet would be even more helpful.
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Suggestion
Please don't waste time and money on this.
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Suggestion
Who is the user of a two way facility on Sherman? Where are they coming from and going to?
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Suggestion
Nowhere else to add this comment, but it is related to SRTS, and school travel planning at the Sustainability Academy, as is this slide, indirectly. N. Champlain St between Pearl and North St needs to be a focus for stormwater management. Right by the parking lot entrance to the school the sidewalk and street become flooded in winter months and it is difficult to travel along the street on foot.
1 reply
Suggestion
This stretch between the police station and intersection with Park/Monroe should feel and be designed more like a shared space, creating easier access between the park, neighborhood, and downtown. Love the idea of a Master Plan for Battery Park. It is needed, along with a broader master plan for the ONE neighborhood (not just looped in half-heartedly with a plan for the downtown and waterfront). Consider transforming this intersection into a mini roundabout in the longer term, to coincide with returning Park St and N. Champlain (as well as Elmwood and N. Winooski) to two-way traffic. These changes would address several safety and connectivity issues simultaneously, while helping achieve the goals of this study. If North/N Champlain and North/Park were converted to 4 way stops instead of traffic lights in conjunction with other changes, this would further improve safety, flow and connectivity. Most people are going to take the path of least resistance. Most cyclists are going to take North St as their east-west route even though it will never have bike lanes, because it is most direct but also because it already functions as a slow street. Look at the bike count study data to see how much use it gets relative to other streets. Many people are not going to go out of their way to get on the ONE greenway or Lakeview Terrace Greenway. Provide people on bikes with more options though the ONE neighborhood instead of forcing them between North Ave and the ONE greenway. Currently Park St, N Champlain, Elmwood and N Winooski are not hospitable for bikes, and a two way protected bike facility on N Champlain further complicates, not simplifies the situation. With a little city leadership, this whole network could be much more easily traversed for everyone's sake. Please don't assume that the changes proposed in this plan are going to get more people using the ONE greenway. If that's the problem this study is trying to solve, it's not the right problem. People are not going to use the Front Street extension. Those that are going to use it already use it now via the sidewalk. Solve the bigger problems, and the little problems will resolve themselves. Manhattan Drive should be part of this discussion as well.
1 reply
Suggestion
As part of this study's purpose is to connect the Depot Greenway from the waterfront bike path to the ONE, please take a look at what can be done to improve the Lake Street crossing between the bike path and the bottom of Depot St. Cars go very fast through this intersection (right by the Sailing Center and skate park). There are poor sight lines crossing the railroad tracks. No stop signs or other cues for drivers. It's a no man's land and someone is going to get hurt there.
0 replies
Suggestion
Just south of this intersection, and north of the parking lot by the police station there is a severe need for stormwater management. The sidewalk along this stretch of North Ave is very difficult to use as a pedestrian in the winter months due to flooding.
0 replies
Suggestion
Why have the green sharrows on Lakeview Terrace not been continued through the parking area by the new Redstone building to connect that greenway with the proposed Depot Greenway and North Ave, North Street and Battery Park, Downtown and beyond? Take a look at the bike count footage from last year. Many people biking use this entrance as a crossing point between Depot/Lakeview Terrace to North Street. Instead of routing cyclists that don't feel comfortable traveling southbound on North Ave without a bike lane back onto North Ave from Lakeview via Haswell, have them route through the Redstone/COTS parking lot so they have better sight lines if turning right onto North Ave, and an easier time crossing North Ave if heading onto North St. Many people opt for this route vs. turning from Haswell. Hopefully, we will eventually have bike lanes in both directions on North Ave, but even when we do, the left turn lane onto North St should not be eliminated. Bikes can share the lane through this intersection, and merge into the left lane if turning without difficulty. It's unclear why some left turn lanes are added arbitrarily at private driveways that are hardly used (Winooski Ave UPS turn) and others that are heavily used are removed without question, when the city says it is concerned about disrupting the grid that does exist. It's hard to understand these as data-driven decisions, particularly given the new development going in at Cambrian Rise just north of the study area, and anticipated increases in traffic volume. The benefits of removing the left turn lane in this case do not outweigh the positives and I would urge you to reconsider this. The Police Station seems the main impediment to bike lanes on both sides of North Ave, given their use of on-street parking for officers and city business at the station. This, though, gets into other issues related to repurposing the police budget (including why many SUVs that sit there are unused, and so on). These off-street parking spaces could be better used for guests of the station, or those visiting the park, etc.
0 replies
Suggestion
I support the idea of a raised intersection and other changes. It would be helpful to bring this concept into the planning process for the School Travel Plan update at SA and involve more of the school community in these and other proposed changes to the area before making any final design decisions.
0 replies
Suggestion
Consider a mini round about for this intersection in longer-term to improve safety and circulation for all road users, help make the case for a road diet on Battery sooner than later, make the park more accessible, and beautify this entry point to downtown and view of the lake.
0 replies
See comments on previous slides about providing accommodation for southbound cyclists here.
0 replies
We should avoid mixing cyclists and pedestrians as much as possible, which is why I prefer a modified version of option 1 over options 3 and 4. With these two, cyclists will ride on the sidewalk to get to the 2-way PBL.
0 replies