Emerson Avenue Pedestrian/Bicycle Safety Improvements Project
Safe Routes to School Project
This project is identified as the City’s top priority in their Local Roads Safety Plan due to the crash rate within the project area involving non-motorized users.
Project includes:
Construction of shared-use path on north side of Emerson Avenue (SR 109)
Improvements to the intersection of US 101 and 6th Avenue to reduce vehicle speeds
Adding protected pedestrian crossing to the existing traffic signal at US 101/5th Avenue
Construction of curb extensions that shorten pedestrian crossing distances
Improvements to non-compliant ADA curb ramps
Lane reduction on Emerson Avenue between Simpson Avenue and US 101
The Problem
This project is identified as the City’s top priority in their Local Roads Safety Plan due to the crash rate within the project area involving non-motorized users.
Gaps in the pedestrian and bicycle facilities have contributed to the crash rate within the project area.
Lack of continuous pedestrian or bicycle routes requires non-motorized users to enter the roadway where drivers are not expecting them.
Roadways are wider than needed at the intersections which increases the pedestrian’s exposure time in the roadway.
The Project
Funding Sources: Safe Routes to School (state funds) and Transportation Improvement Board (state funds)
Current Status: design phase, and permitting
Construction expected 2023
Budget:
Design/Permitting/Right-of-way…$198,000
Construction estimate…$1,650,000
The Impact
The project intends to:
Construct a combined use path on the north side of Emerson Avenue between Levee Street and Emerson Elementary School
Reduce lane width on Emerson Avenue (from 12-ft to 11-ft wide)
Reduce the number of lanes on Emerson Avenue between Levee Street and Simpson Avenue
Add a protected pedestrian crossing at the existing traffic signal at 5th Street/Levee Street
Improve non-motorized facilities between the Riverside Bridge and the Central Playground
Improve the intersection of Levee Street/6th Street to reduce pedestrian crossing widths and slow vehicle speeds