Title
RESOLUTION CALLING FOR A DOWNTOWN BIKE FACILITY ON MICHIGAN STREET OR FIRST STREET
Body
CITY PROPOSAL:
WHEREAS, the city of Duluth wishes to encourage bicycling as an alternate mode of transportation; and
WHEREAS, the city adopted a Bikeways Plan in 2013 that indicated Superior Street as a location for on-street bike lanes; and
WHEREAS, the Superior Street reconstruction project’s preliminary design phase has studied Superior Street as a location for an on-street bike facility and found that such facility would reduce parking and desired amenity spaces; and
WHEREAS, a Downtown bikeways study was conducted that included a public meeting, a survey with 640 responses, and meetings with stakeholders, and showed that priorities along Superior Street include pedestrian space and on-street parking, with support for bike facilities instead along adjacent downtown streets; and
WHEREAS, the Downtown bikeways study showed that Michigan Street was the preferred alternative for a bike facility Downtown.
THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the 2013 bikeways plan be amended to change Superior Street from “on road - bike lane” to “on-road bike route” from Sixth Avenue West to Tenth Avenue East.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that the city of Duluth dedicate resources to plan and design bike lanes on Michigan Street with the following features:
1. The bike lanes will be located on Michigan Street from Sixth Avenue West to Fourth Avenue East;
2. The bike lanes will be two way;
3. The bike lanes will be designated by a painted or patterned surface, or both; and
4. The bike lanes will include a bumper, barrier, cone or other physical demarcation system.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that Michigan Street from Third Avenue East to Fourth Avenue East will be signed as a delivery and loading zone only and closed to all motorized traffic not engaged in delivery or loading.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that a usage study be conducted to assess the feasibility and likelihood of ridership on Michigan Street.
BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that if such a study finds the Michigan Street alternative to be infeasible, the city of Duluth will dedicate resources to design and construct physically separated bike lanes on First Street.
Statement of Purpose
STATEMENT OF PURPOSE: The purpose of this resolution is to allow for the Superior Street reconstruction project to proceed without the inclusion of on-street bike lanes, focusing on providing attractive pedestrian spaces and amenities, adequate on-street parking, and bike amenities such as bike racks, while supporting design of bike facilities on Michigan Street, if feasible, or if Michigan Street is not feasible, on First Street.