There are drainage problems that need to be fixed:

We circled each puddle in chalk and the chalk remained visible during the week of Oct 12th. We also mapped each area of standing water using Ride with GPS. That map is here.

The City of Asheville has responded and the contractor is aware of at least some of these problems

We wrote to City staff to explain what we found and ask that the contractor be required to fix these issues before the project closes out. You can read our letter here. Staff responded, in part:

The standing water has been identified by the contractor and paving subcontractor and they have plans in the works to address these issues.

The final inspection and closeout process for this project is going to be lengthy and very detailed.  Once the contractor completes their work (which they have not), there will be an in-depth inspection process conducted by the engineering team, independent inspectors and owner’s representatives.

If you would like to create an archive of drainage problems and report them to the City, you can do so by using the Asheville App on your cell phone – just download the app, then use it to take a photo and upload it so the City can build the list of examples to show the contractor.

Standing water is significant safety concern in Asheville where our weather includes:

• Average Days With Rain: 128
• Average Number Days Freezing: 77
• Average Annual Snow: 10.2 inches
• Average Annual Rain: 44 inches

The post Update: City to have contractor fix water drainage problems in RADTIP appeared first on Asheville On Bikes.

Ride along the Hominy Creek Greenway connection to the RADTIP, with Marc Hunt and Mike Sule.

Some of the advocacy work that went into this project started 10 years ago! Here are a few of the highlights as the project played out:

• 2015 Asheville on Bikes presentation re: the need to change the design to include a cycle track, aka protected bike lane.
• 2015 City Council minutes from the meeting where they adopted the design change to include the two way protected Cycle track.
• 2016 – 2018 AoB advocates for construction of the project, specifically that it include the protected bike infrastructure even when a 2017 budget overrun threatened to halt or delay that portion of the project.

Successful projects take time and diligent oversight. When you support Asheville on Bikes, you’re investing in the next transportation facility and helping us to advocate for the next 5 miles.

Thank you to all who worked hard to get this project built, including City Staff, City Council, RAD business owners, Connect Buncombe, Riverlink, and the many volunteers working in support of the project. It is a pleasure to ride along the river and we look forward to many more miles of protected bike lanes and greenways in our future!

The post Marc Hunt and Mike Sule tour the new RADTIP bike connections appeared first on Asheville On Bikes.

Following the City’s decision to divide approval and construction into phases, the Mountain Xpress asked director Mike Sule for a statement. Here’s what he said:

“AoB leadership remains cautious in embracing the phased approach because no one can predict future priorities and future city leadership support for completion of the RADTIP elements as currently proposed.”

Read the full article here.

The post Mountain XPress Quotes AoB Director Mike Sule on RADTIP Progress appeared first on Asheville On Bikes.

Dear Asheville City Council,

On behalf of the Asheville on Bikes Board of Directors, I’m writing to express our support for the original RADTIP design and urge council and staff to prioritize and accelerate the funding and completion of the Lyman St segment from the planned roundabout to the Amboy bridge which includes a two-way protected cycle track, sidewalks, and greenway.

AoB’s leadership appreciates council and staff’s willingness to explore alternative options following funding shortfalls. After review of the proposed alternatives, it’s evident that the best treatment for Lyman St continues to be the original design which includes a two-way protected cycle track, sidewalks, and greenway.

AoB’s position is that the Lyman St corridor, from the planned roundabout to Amboy bridge, is critical to Asheville’s future active transportation network because this segment provides essential connectivity and sets a precedent for future active transportation facilities along our river corridor. Lyman St is the hub that will one day connect Swannanoa, East Asheville, South Asheville, West Asheville, Kenilworth, Biltmore Village, Woodfin, Weaverville, and Marshall. Our community would greatly benefit from protected bicycle facilities and pedestrian infrastructure along Amboy Rd, Meadow Rd, and Riverside Dr as they would enable community members traveling by a variety of modes to connect to many different destinations safely. We urge city council and staff to prioritize funding and accelerate the completion of this critical segment of RADTIP so that future users can safely travel throughout our community.

AoB appreciates the robust community support for RADTIP completion and acknowledges that the need to phase construction is a disappointment to many in and beyond the AoB community. We acknowledge that a phased implementation approach for the project as a whole is necessary given budgetary constraints. However, we do not believe improvements to any particular section of the project should be phased. Building an active transportation network through the RAD has long term economic benefits, but it also imposes short term economic impacts on local businesses during construction. Completing Lyman St, including a two-way protected cycle track, sidewalks, and greenway, in a single phase minimizes impacts on RAD businesses and also reduces overall project costs by eliminating the need to update treatments in preparation for later phases. Further, AoB leadership remains cautious in embracing the phased approach because no one can predict future priorities and future city leadership support for completion of all RADTIP elements as currently planned.

As a step toward a more certain future, AoB requests that city council pass a resolution prioritizing funding and accelerating the completion of Lyman St from the planned roundabout to Amboy bridge with the inclusion of protected bicycle facilities, sidewalk, and greenway. The inclusion of these elements along Lyman St sets a precedent for future infrastructure projects, and a resolution prioritizing the completion of Lyman St sends a clear statement of support to future council for continued investment in active transportation on this critical corridor. Please find a draft of the resolution enclosed.

Respectfully,
Mike Sule

Executive Director, Asheville on Bikes

enc: Draft Resolution for Asheville City Council

Related Content: Click here for more posts about RADTIP.

The post AoB letter of support for original Lyman St segment design appeared first on Asheville On Bikes.

Survey URL: https://www.peakdemocracy.com/portals/239/Issue_5249/

The city of Asheville has identified three concept options for public comment.  Concept 1 and 3 include protected bicycle facilities. Concept 2 does not. Please share in your public comment that Concept 2 is unsatisfactory because traditional bike lanes are inadequate for Lyman St and the River Arts District.

Concept 2 – Includes traditional bike facilities which are not appropriate for Lynam St and RAD

Concept 1 and 3 are prefered but each has particular set of concerns. Concept 1 includes a dedicated two-way cycletrack which separates motor vehicles and bicycles. This design is the original design AoB fought to include in the RADTIP several years ago, and it is also the one the City has “paused” because of the RADTIP funding problem.. There is no guarantee that the city can or will secure the additional funds to complete the protected facilities.

Concept 1 – Includes two-way protected cycle track but funding is unsecured.

Concept 3 includes a 12’-16’ greenway which is designed to accommodate bicycles and pedestrians and would be built during the first phase of construction. The challenge of this design are the costs. The city anticipates that a 12’-16 wide greenway would cost between 2 and 2.5 million dollars. This cost would likely have an impact on other active transportation facilities.

Concept 3 – Includes 12’-16’ greenway wide enough to accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians but would cost 2 – 2.5 million dollars.

Asheville on Bikes asks that you respond to public input via Open City Hall and share:

1. Concept 2: Traditional bike lanes are not appropriate for Lyman St and RADTIP. Research shows that bike lanes are not recommended when vehicle speeds exceed 25 mph.
2. Concept 1: This approach is acceptable if city council votes in August to elevate the buildout of Lyman St to the highest priority as the next project to be done. The risk is that if only a 10’ greenway is constructed, the greenway will be will not be able to safely accommodate the anticipated numbers of users. Funding the two-way cycletrack must be of the highest priority.
3. Concept 3: If the city is not able to prioritize funding of Concept 1’s two-way protected cycletrack, then Concept 3 should be selected as its design provides adequate capacity and safety for bicyclists and pedestrians.

Related Content: Click here for more posts about RADTIP.

The post Provide RADTIP Input, Prioritize Protected Bicycle Facilities appeared first on Asheville On Bikes.

Attend at least one city input session and carry the message that a 16’ wide multi-use path with lane markings is essential to the RADTIP re-design. Let city leadership and staff know that bike / ped facilities are a priority and must be implemented in the first phasing of RADTIP.

At the June city council meeting, city staff was directed to consider the inclusion of a 16’ wide multi-use path with lane markings to separate users and to host a series of public input sessions on the issue. It’s critical that your support for robust bicycle facilities is heard at these input sessions. Help us carry this message and improve active transportation and recreation options in the River Arts District.

Some people argue that a 16’ wide multi-use path with lane markings to separate users isn’t necessary because the city can plan for a future protected bike lane and sidewalk, but AoB disagrees with this position because it is subject to changes in future funding opportunities, future city leadership, and future priorities. Instead, we strongly believe that the time is now!  

Attend an upcoming public input session and voice your support for 16’ wide multi-use trail. This is the best option because:

• Public safety is the primary criterion. Bicycle and pedestrian facilities must be prioritized in the RADTIP. To delay implementation of bike / ped facilities is to de-prioritize them.
• A 16’ wide multi-use path with lane markings to separate users complies with Federal Highway Association standards given the anticipated use. RAD is a critical bicycle corridor. The Swamp Rabbit and American Tobacco trails see 500,000+ users annually. RADTIP can anticipate similarly heavy use.Asheville needs to build for future use.
• Vocal support for the 16’ wide multi-use path today supports future investment in active transportation facilities. Let city staff and leadership know that you support prioritizing robust bike / ped facilities. What we show for today, we ride tomorrow.

There are six opportunities to share your support for a 16’ wide multi-use path and safe railroad crossing with city staff and leadership:

• Friday, July 28th 3pm – 5pm at 14 Riverside Dr.
• Friday, July 28th 5pm – 7pm at 14 Riverside Dr.
• Saturday, July 29th 10am – 12pm at 14 Riverside Dr. (Morning of Summer Cycle)
• Saturday, July 29th 12pm – 2pm at 14 Riverside Dr. (Afternoon of Summer Cycle)
• Thursday, Aug. 3rd 3pm – 5pm at First Floor North Conference Room, Asheville City Hall, 70  Court Plaza
• Thursday, Aug. 10th 4pm – 5:30pm at 14 Riverside Dr.

Please attend at least one public input session and voice your support for 16’ wide path with with lane markings to separate users. Let staff know that you’re not willing to wait for future funding. Now is the time to build bike / ped facilities in the RADTIP.

We have a real and rare opportunity to advance Asheville’s active transportation network. Time is of the essence and your voice is critical to our future safer streets.

Related Content: Click here for more posts about RADTIP.

The post AoB Urges Participation at RADTIP Input Sessions appeared first on Asheville On Bikes.

Several Asheville on Bikes board members attended (6-29-17) Tuesday’s council meeting, including Matt Fusco, who  spoke on behalf of our organization. Matt explained AoB’s position regarding the upcoming changes to RADTIP now that it is over budget. Matt advised council that:

1. We want council to direct staff to widen the greenway to 16 feet, with lane markings for cycling and walking, following FHWA standards; if that were impossible, we want to build the safest and best possible multi-use  infrastructure suitable for a high-use corridor. The  section along Lyman will one day have both nearby walking traffic and through traffic from Swannanoa, East Asheville, South Asheville, West Asheville, Kenilworth, Biltmore Village, Woodfin, Weaverville, and Marshall. All of those people will converge on what is currently described as a 10 foot wide asphalt walking path. Our position is that this multi-use facility needs a change order as part of phase 1 in order to make it both useful and safe.
2. Phase 1 must also include safety improvements to make the Riverside Drive rail crossing safe for cyclists.
3. This project sets important precedents for future bicycle and pedestrian facilities. It is being closely watched locally, regionally, and nationally.

You can watch Matt speak at 02:17:00 in the recorded version of the meeting.

City council voted unanimously in support of  two critical components of the RADTIP project which address the safety of bicyclists. Council directed city staff to 1) explore safety improvements to the rail crossing on Riverside Rd and 2) prioritize re-engineering of the Lyman St multi-use path. City Council Action Items from the meeting state:

• Regarding TIGER VI, staff directed to work with Norfolk Southern to make changes to the scope of work within the existing construction agreement, to modify the northern railroad crossing to ensure safe bicycle accessibility through the at grade crossing.  

• Regarding TIGER VI, staff directed to commit to planning a community engagement effort which will prioritize the future phasing of greenway projects and prioritize re-engineering the multi-use path between the old 12 Bones and Amboy Road to accommodate an appropriate width to compensate for the loss of the protected bike lane, with said process being completed within 60 days.

I encourage all of you who reached out to city leadership regarding the RADTIP re-design to send a quick letter of thanks to council and staff for responding promptly. A letter of thanks is important.

Asheville on Bikes is committed to continuing to advocate for our position in the first phase of the project. We believe 16’ multi-use path along Lyman St  and safe rail crossing on Riverside Rd  are essential. We appreciate council and staff’s support  of our position.

I greatly appreciate AoB’s board of directors who devoted time and talent to make sure the voice of Asheville’s cycling community was heard. Thank you all for working to make Asheville a better place to bike. Please continue to follow and stay engaged with AoB as we continue to work toward better biking facilities for all.

Vice-Mayor Gwen Wisler has asked that AoB reach out to the cycling community to learn more about the people who have been injured or who have fallen without injury at the rail crossing on Riverside Rd. Please share AoB’s Riverside Rail Crossing Injury / Incident Report  with your circles as we’re working to inform staff and Norfolk Southern of the existing hazard.

AoB is committed to advocating for strong infrastructure throughout our community now more than ever.  As we’ve learned through our efforts in the RADTIP, even the best laid plans can come undone and continued engagement with local governments and other stakeholders is crucial to ensure our city is safe for all modes.  Thanks again for your support with this effort! I encourage you to take a minute to learn about our other programs or support our work by visiting our website and join us for Summer Cycle on Saturday, July 29th.

When you show, we grow.

Respectfully

Mike Sule

Related Content: Click here for more posts about RADTIP.

The post RADTIP: Thank You & Next Steps appeared first on Asheville On Bikes.

On Tuesday 6/27/2017 City Council voted to move forward with a modified RADTIP, and we are writing this post in order to summarize that meeting and the path forward, from our AoB point of view as advocates for bicycles, pedestrians, and transit users.

Asheville on Bikes sent several board members to the city council meeting, including Matt Fusco, who spoke on behalf of our organization. Matt explained AoB’s position regarding the upcoming changes to RADTIP now that it is over budget. Matt advised council that:

We want council to direct staff to widen the multi-use trail to 16 feet, with lane markings for cycling and walking, following FHWA standards; if that were impossible, we want to build the safest and best possible bicycle and pedestrian facilities suitable for a high-use corridor. This multi-use trail along Lyman will one day have both nearby walking traffic and through traffic from Swannanoa, East Asheville, South Asheville, West Asheville, Kenilworth, Biltmore Village, Woodfin, Weaverville, and Marshall. All of those people will converge on what is currently described as a 10 foot wide asphalt walking path. Our position is that this multi-use trail needs a change order as part of phase 1 in order to make it both useful and safe.
Phase 1 must also include safety improvements to make the Riverside drive rail crossing safe for cyclists.
This project sets important precedents for future bicycle and pedestrian facilities. It is being closely watched locally, regionally, and nationally.

You can watch Matt speak at 02:17:00 in the recorded version of the meeting.

Mark Hunt also advocated for this same greenway change and you can watch him speak and show illustrations of the proposed 16 foot wide greenway design at 02:13:00 in the meeting.

City Council voted to proceed with the RADTIP phase 1 as currently designed, with the omission of the Lyman Street bike lane and roadway improvements as well as the omission of other greenways and street changes that were in later phases of the project. You can read about some of the changes in the Citizen Times story that ran today. As you can see in the video of the council meeting, council had little room to vote otherwise because the project had to break ground by August 1st in order to keep Federal and Tourism Development Authority funds that make up a significant portion of the project funding. This is a reasonable way to proceed.

City Council also voted for staff to evaluate widening the Lyman St multi-use trail and to do so within a 60 day time limit. We appreciate this extra motion that requires staff to study the width of the Lyman St multi-use trail and consider our 16 ft wide proposal. We also note that this change is not quite “done” and we will continue to advocate for active transportation improvements until we see them built out.

Link to Citizen Times article summarizing the Council Meeting

Link to Mountain Xpress article

Link to the beginning of the RADTIP discussion during the council meeting. To watch the whole RADTIP discussion, watch from 01:24:00 – 02:40:00 (an hour and 20 minutes long):

Related Content: Click here for more posts about RADTIP.

The post AOB Summary of City Council Meeting & RADTIP Re-design appeared first on Asheville On Bikes.

FROM: Mike Sule on behalf of Asheville On Bikes

CC:

Council and Staff –

I learned yesterday that the RADTIP project must be modified because of budget concerns and that you are considering the postponement of plans to build several critical pieces of infrastructure, including the protected bike lane along Lyman Street and the modifications to the railroad crossing near Smoky Park Supper Club. While disappointed, we recognize that some multi-modal facilities have to be cut. We hope the city will reaffirm its commitment to active transportation infrastructure in the future. AoB affirms that  public safety is paramount to any RADTIP adjustments.

As you adjust priorities, public safety must be your primary criterion. The two pieces of infrastructure I just mentioned are vital to the future of the city and to public safety. If the Lyman Street bike lane and western sidewalk are removed, Asheville On Bikes (AOB) urges you to replace them with a multi-use path at least 16 feet in width, and lane markings to separate users. This design complies with FHWA standards, increases safety, and will support a high volume of bike and pedestrian traffic. Lyman St  needs the best possible bike and pedestrian infrastructure that we can afford because it lies at the very heart of our future grid of connected greenways and bike lanes. The city should build active transportation infrastructure to standards that anticipate future use. The Swamp Rabbit and American Tobacco trails see 500,000+ users annually. RADTIP can anticipate similarly heavy use. Make it safe for all users and do not neglect this part of the plan. Frankly, it should have been built first

Similarly, the railroad crossing near Smoky Park Supper Club is unsafe, it is a known hazard, and the city is failing to act to make it safe. It injures people every year. When you think about re-arranging funds, it is unconscionable to our membership that you would spend money anywhere in RADTIP without addressing these railroad tracks which are responsible for so many broken bones, concussions, and other injuries to your citizens. Addressing the public safety issue of this unsafe rail crossing cannot be delayed.  Please make sure that a public safety fix which allows for safe cycling over or around the railroad crossing is included in your re-prioritization. Asheville on Bikes is a willing partner and is eager to assist the city as you address these concerns.

Sincerely,

Mike Sule

Related Content: Click here for more posts about RADTIP.

The post AoB’s Public Statement on RADTIP Re-Design appeared first on Asheville On Bikes.