Uptown Transportation Study - OKI

Planning Study ReportPart B: Interstate 71 Access Improvement Study, PID 77628Uptown Shuttle – A new public Uptown Shuttle will be established to connect majordestinations and parking facilities and to provide improved internal circulationopportunities.Pedestrian/Bicycle Improvements – The design of all roadway improvements willinclude provisions for pedestrian and bicycle circulation and will seek to enhance thepedestrian environment.Roadway Improvements – A number of roadway improvement projects arerecommended to address specific areas of congestion and to improve theconnectivity of the local street system.The recommended roadway improvements result in additional capacity andoperational efficiency on the arterial network in the Uptown area, in part, to supportimproved I-71 access at Taft/McMillan, as well as new access at ML King Drive.While the final location and nature of interstate access remains to be determined, theimplementation of the Part A recommendations are a necessary step precedingmodification of the existing I-71 access. There are several improvementsrecommended for corridors along WH Taft Road, McMillan Street, ML King Drive,Reading Road and Burnet Avenue. Additionally, operational improvements such assignal optimization and parking restrictions will serve as a basis to allow for sufficientarterial capacity to effectively distribute the traffic volumes resulting from changes inthe I-71 access in Uptown. See Section 9 for the location and description of the PartA recommendations.Of particular importance is the recommendation for a comprehensive study of the ML KingDrive corridor to ascertain the need for capacity improvements to accommodate new accessat I-71 and improved access at I-75. This study is estimated to cost approximately $1.5million and should be conducted concurrently with, the following recommendations.7.3. Primary RecommendationsThe following alternatives for improving I-71 access in the Uptown area have beendeveloped by the consultant team in coordination with the Implementation Partners forrefinement during future steps of ODOT’s PDP.7.3.1. No Build AlternativeThis alternative would not make any significant capacity revisions to the existing I-71 accesspoints within the study area. Traffic signal optimization, parking restrictions, and otherroadway, wayfinding, travel demand management, transit and parking recommendationsincorporated into the Part A recommendations of the Uptown Study would be implemented.Proposed improvements include revisions to interstate guide signs and alteration to thepavement markings for the I-71 southbound ramp to WH Taft Road to provide two lanes orone standard-width lane so that lane positioning is less confusing to divers approaching theTaft/Essex intersection. Additionally, consideration could be given for elimination of thepedestrian walk and bus stop located at Taft/Essex along with revised signal phasing.These improvements will provide some benefit by simplifying wayfinding and marginallyreducing congestion in the vicinity of the I-71 southbound ramp to WH Taft Road.Uptown Transportation Study 70URS CorporationNovember 2006