Abstract Manager

This presentation will share lessons learned on how to retrofit existing corridors to include active transportation facilities where none may exist now. The key intent of the presentation is to showcase techniques that will permit municipalities to incorporate active transportation without extensive capital costs. The presentation will go over current active transportation facility types and discuss design domains that will be used during the selection of an appropriate facility depending on the context of the project.

Two case studies will show how active transportation facilities can be added to existing roadway corridors without extensive removals and reconstruction. McArthur Avenue, in the City of Ottawa, was a four-lane undivided arterial that was retrofitted using “quick-build” principles to remove one lane of traffic to permit the addition of protected on-road bike lanes. The roadway was converted to a three-lane cross section with opposing left turn lanes at existing signalized intersections. Heron Road, in the City of Ottawa, is a four-lane divided arterial road with existing tree-lined boulevard and offset sidewalk. Cycle tracks were added in existing boulevards without the need for tree removal, which was crucial for community buy-in to the project. While signalized intersection modifications were required as part of this project, removal of auxiliary turn lanes permitted the addition of a new signal plant without extensive utility relocations. Further roadway reconstruction was also mitigated by the elimination of auxiliary lanes. These two locations provide similar characteristics and site needs, however, use the differing application heuristics to achieve the stated goal of providing safe active transportation facilities for users.

The final part of the presentation will close on the accommodation of transit facilities for each case study and how each facility type can be modified to safely include transit without impacting level of service for the new active transportation facility.