15th Street Bike Facility Mayors Bicycle Advisory Committee

February 7, 2013

Project Goals

• Complete key link in bike network • Dedicated on-street space for cyclists • Meet schedule and budget commitments • Not preclude future improvements

Project Schedule Jan ‘11

Spring‘13

Feb ‘11

Mar ‘11

Jan ‘13

Project Initiation Outreach

– Stakeholder group, MBAC Design Alternatives

RTD Outreach Stakeholder Meeting DDP TDC MBAC, Bike Denver Council 1-1s, LUTI Final Design Implementation, Phase I

Implementation, Phase II

Dec ‘12

Summer ‘11-’12 perform full traffic analysis of 15th St

Feb ‘13

Summer‘13 Spring‘14

Existing Conditions (for project limits)

• 50’ curb-to-curb • Bike

– ~100 peak hour – Using all lanes and

sidewalks • Bus

– 60+ peak hour – 9 stops on right side

• X,Y, Z pattern • Automobile

– ~800-1000 peak hour – Alleys/driveways

• 11 right side • 15 left side

– 1 blk inset parking (L) – 52 parking spaces

Proposed Changes • Introduce left-side bike

facility to define operating space – 7’ bikeway, 3’ buffer

• Reduce bus weaving

• Maintain access to adjacent businesses

• Maintain 3 travel lanes, slight decrease in operations

• Remove 28 parking spaces

Limits • Cleveland to Larimer

– Logical bicycle network connections

• Bannock bike lanes • 16th Ave/Cleveland

Connections • Cherry Creek Trail

Entrance • Need for bicyclist to

move to right prior to Blake and conflict with turning movements

Cleveland Entry

• Bike box treatment from Cleveland Pl – Position cyclists to

move to L side – Webb building

loading dock • Considering striping

path along Colfax from Bannock St – RTD bus stop

•

Larimer Transition

• Leading Bicycle Interval – Create a head start for bicycles to enter into the

intersection – Provide time for bicyclists to transition to the right

side – Wayfinding signage

Green Markings

• Recommended by MBAC

• Considering use in high conflict areas – Mixing zones and

intersections – Not recommended

for alleys and driveways

Access Markings

• Recommended by MBAC • Indicate to drivers using major access points to

expect crossing bicycle traffic.

Intersection Treatments • Recommended by MBAC • Shared travel lane for bikes &

turn lane for cars – Addresses “left hook” conflicts – Equal opportunity to establish

position and visibility

• Guidance through the intersection

• Potential two-stage turn queue boxes – Assist right turns from left side – Intersections with crossing bike

lanes

Buffer Area • By summer 2013, Public

Works will implement enhanced buffer.

• By spring 2014, Public

Works will implement vertical protection. • Still need to determine

appropriate “product.”

Next Steps

• Complete final design by May • Implement enhanced buffered bikeway in

mid-Summer 2013. – Will restripe all of 15th Street at that time.

• Perform additional design and material procurement for protected bikeway.

• Implement protected bikeway Spring 2014. • Continual evaluation of operations.