Bike Front Concept Plan
The Bike Front concept is a conceptual pilot project designed to test out the functionality of a two-way cycle track on Front St along with the required north-south connections to integrate into the existing bike network and TART bayfront trail by utilizing the existing road surface, sidewalks, and traffic signals.
The images shown are proposed conceptual visual renderings - not completed engineered plans.
The purpose of the Bike Front concept is to begin conversations around what could be and allow people to visualize and experience potential options for how the existing street could be used differently.
Front Street
The existing one-way section of Front Street between Pine St and Boardman Ave would be modified to:
Add a two-way cycle track on the north side of the street
Remove one vehicle travel lane
Move the existing northside on-street parking lane toward the center of the road
The sidewalks, crosswalks, traffic signals, and existing asphalt would remain the same. The modifications would be made with quick-build materials such as paint and flexible posts.
Boardman Ave Intersection
The eastern edge of the project would begin where Front St currently goes from a two-way to one-way street at Boardman Ave.
The two-way cycle track would integrate with the existing bike lanes on E Front St. at this intersection.
Park St Intersection
Park St has a traffic signal at Grandview Parkway that allows TART trail users to cross and enter downtown. Due to the geometry, this is the shortest section of street between the parkway and Front St.
While the existing turn lanes and bridge width limit available space for protected bike lanes at the intersection with Grandview Pkwy, reconfiguring the intersection at Front St could allow for protected bike lanes entering and exiting the two-way cycle track along Front St.
Cass St Intersection
The Clinch Park Tunnel is one of the most popular entry points from the bay into downtown, which leads directly onto Cass St.
Due to this already being an existing safe and popular connection, it provides a great opportunity to complete the connection by creating protected bike lanes from the tunnel to Front St. This could be accomplished by modifying this small section of Cass St into a southbound one-way street.
Not only would this provide the lowest stress north-south connection, but it would also improve vehicle safety by reducing unprotected turns onto Grandview Parkway. This is especially true for left turns from Cass St onto Grandview Parkway which is currently a high-risk conflict point.
Traffic exiting Lot B could still utilize this access point to Grandview Parkway while traffic on Front St would use the signal-controlled intersections on Park or Union St to access Grandview Parkway instead. Traffic turning south from Grandview Parkway toward downtown would not be affected.
Union St Intersection
The Union St intersection with Grandview Parkway is another popular crossing point between the bay and downtown.
The existing 4 lane setup provides the space to create a protected bike lane on both sides of the street along with maintaining one vehicle travel lane in each direction and a dedicated left turn lane at the intersection of Grandview Parkway.
Pine St Intersection
The Pine St intersection is the western edge of where the Front St two-way cycle track would end and transition into either the pedestrian bridge across the Boardman River or onto the existing bike lanes on W Front St.
Hall St
Utilizing the Boardman River pedestrian bridge, Lot X, and a small section of Hall St provides an additional opportunity to create a safe, low-stress connection between the Front St two-way cycle track and the TART trail.
Trail users could continue on the trail that runs along the south side of Grandview Parkway or use the existing HAWK signal at Hall St to cross Grandview Parkway.
