By JAN LARSON McLAUGHLIN
BG Independent News
Streetlights, bike lanes and a multi-use path to the community center were traveled once again by the Bowling Green City Council’s Transportation and Safety Committee.
A sidewalk-bicycle path to the community center from Bowling Green High School has been talked about for years. Monday evening, committee chairman Bill Herald proposed that money be included in the city’s 2021 budget for an engineering study for the multi-use pathway – with construction then possibly following in 2022.
Herald suggested that the pathway also go to Cogan’s Crossing, a housing development north of Bishop Road. City Council’s priority, stated earlier this year, is a pathway to the community center at the corner of Haskins and Newton roads.
The multi-use path would likely follow a route starting at the high school/middle school, heading north on Fairview Avenue, then west on Newton Road.
Municipal Administrator Lori Tretter said preliminary efforts have been made to secure right-of-way for the multi-use pathway to the community center. The city does not have a cost estimate for the engineering, and Tretter said it may have to be conducted by an outside firm.
Committee member Mark Hollenbaugh said he was reluctant to vote for the engineering study without an estimate of the cost. And member Neocles Leontis asked that connectivity to other bike routes in the city be considered.
All three members voted for the 2021 budget to include funding for engineering costs for the path to the community center and Cogan’s Crossing.
Also discussed was the addition of streetlights to “The Village” area of the city, which is bounded by the high school on the east, Poe Road on the south, Brim Road on the west, and Ashbury Hills on the north.
Herald proposed that the city produce a plan detailing the placement of streetlights and the costs involved. He also suggested that residents of The Village be surveyed for their preferences of streetlights.
Tretter said an electric rebuild is being planned for The Village area, so the timing is good for adding streetlights.
Also Monday evening, the Transportation and Safety Committee revisited the issue of bike accommodations on city streets.
Leontis repeated Mayor Mike Aspacher’s encouragement for a new mindset for streets – looking from the Complete Streets perspective, that streets are not just for motor vehicles.
“I hope our committee can approach these traffic issues as holistically as possible,” Leontis said.
During an October meeting, the committee discussed the possibility of bike sharrows on Maple and Clay streets. However, because the placement of sharrows would mean the end to on-street parking, no action was taken.
City Council member John Zanfardino said Maple Street is a high usage route for bicyclists. He expressed disappointment that some type of bicycling accommodation is not being considered.
“If we don’t address Maple Street, we aren’t going to address them anywhere in Bowling Green,” he said.
But the options are limited – the least costly is the posting of signs along streets stating that “Bicyclists may use full lane.” Sharrows, which are the decals on the street surface, in many cases would mean the removal of street parking. And bike lanes could require two-way streets to become one-way to allow for the dedicated bike lane.
Zanfardino noted that the Bicycle Safety Commission would like to revisit the prioritizing of streets for sharrows and bike lanes.
Hollenbaugh suggested that another meeting be scheduled to discuss recommendations for Maple Street, which provides a link between City Park and the Slippery Elm Trail.
Herald suggested that the committee at least rule out sharrows for Clay Street. But Hollenbaugh said he would like to review the entire Complete Streets plan before making any decisions.
