The City Council hosted a presentation and public discussion April 13 to inform residents about potential pedestrian improvements along Forest Avenue between Apawamis and Manursing avenues.
The City Council hosted a presentation and public discussion April 13 to inform residents about potential pedestrian improvements along Forest Avenue between Apawamis and Manursing avenues. The Council stressed that this “early stage” meeting was intended to seek resident input about the different options and that no decisions would be made at this time.
Tom Hammerberg and Jennifer Waldron of Stantec Consulting Services presented four options for pedestrian improvements along this corridor, including the potential impact to existing infrastructure and vegetation from each option. Hammerberg stressed that these options are preliminary findings, and further details — including the cost of each, the impact on traffic flow, and drainage issues — would be presented to the Council and the public at a later date.
Option 1: Add a 3- to 6-foot concrete sidewalk along one side of Forest and down Manursing to Davis Avenue. In order to avoid existing utility poles, the sidewalk would begin on the west side of the intersection at Forest and Apawamis, and switch to the east side somewhere between Hook Road and Fieldstone Road. A crosswalk would be placed at the latter location, and the current bike sharrows would remain in place. This option would have minimal impact to existing infrastructure and vegetation.
Option 2: Add a sidewalk on both sides of Forest and Manursing (same parameters as Option 1). This option would cause more significant impact, as some utility poles and retaining walls would need to be moved.
Option 3: Add an off-road multi-use pedestrian pathway (4 to 8 feet wide) which would be level with the road. “Rumble strips” can be added to alert drivers crossing over into the path. This path would also switch sides on Forest Avenue to avoid existing utility poles. With this option, bikers would share the path with pedestrians. Again, there would be minimal impact to existing infrastructure and vegetation.
Option 4: Add a multi-use pathway on both sides of the street (same parameters as Option 3), with more significant impact on existing infrastructure (poles and retaining walls) and vegetation.
Visit the City website (ryeny.gov) for more details on the Forest Avenue Pedestrian Improvement Study.
— Gretchen Althoff Snyder
