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North Main Street Safety Improvements
MOT-North Main Road Diet
MOT-48-1381, PID 114813
Why is a project needed? The project corridor is heavily used by pedestrians. The corridor’s crash history includes a higher than average incidence of injury and fatality crashes, including pedestrian-involved crashes. During the study period (2015-2017), 4% (36) of reported crashes within the corridor involved pedestrians. Of the seven fatalities reported during this period, 5 were pedestrians. Additionally, since the study period (2018 to most recently available crash reports), there have been 40 additional crashes involving pedestrians, including 3 fatalities.
This project is necessary to improve mobility and safety for the many pedestrians that use this corridor, by reducing impediments to pedestrian access, including non-ADA compliant curb ramps, deteriorated sidewalks, inadequate crosswalk spacing, and lack of crossing refuges at un-signalized crossings.
What does this project involve? The City of Dayton and the Ohio Department of Transportation propose to implement safety improvements on State Route 48, from the Great Miami Boulevard in the City of Dayton to Shoup Mill/Turner Road in Harrison Township. Improvements will include:
- A road diet will be implemented along the corridor, reducing the number of vehicle travel lanes from four 10-foot lanes to two 11-foot through lanes and an 11-foot center left turn lane. (The five-lane approach to Shoup Mill/Turner Road will be retained, tapering to three lanes at Greenhill Road.)
- An 8-foot wide parking lane will be installed for portions of the roadway from Great Miami Blvd to Norman Avenue. The side of the roadway on which parking is provided varies and was selected based on adjacent land use and stakeholder input.
- Improved pedestrian crossings with high visibility pavement markings and curb extensions (bump-outs) to shorten pedestrian crosswalks at select intersections.
- Increased separation between vehicle and pedestrian traffic through increased curb lawn, parking lanes, and marked shoulders.
- Repair or replacement of sidewalk and non-compliant curb ramps, as needed.
- Bike lanes will be provided from Castlewood Avenue to Forest Park Drive.
- Provision of bus pull-offs.
- Modify traffic signal phasing for improved operations.
How much will this project cost and how is it funded? The project will be constructed with Federal Highway Safety Improvement Funds, Federal System Preservation Funds and local funding through the City of Dayton. The current estimated project cost, including right-of-way and construction, is approximately $6.4-million.
How does a “road diet” improve safety? Road diets are documented to improve corridor safety for motorists by calming traffic, removing left-turning vehicles from the travel lane, reducing conflict points, and improving access from side streets. Studies indicate that road diets reduce vehicle-to-vehicle accidents by 19 to 47 percent. The provision of bike lanes not only removes cyclists from the motor vehicle travel lanes, but also provides a buffer between pedestrians and motor vehicles. (Additional information is available in the FHWA Road Diet Information Guide.)
Won’t the loss of lanes interfere with emergency services and bus service? Actually, road diets can improve emergency response times. With only one through lane in each direction, drivers are better able to pull over to the edge of the road. Additionally, the center left turn may be used by the emergency vehicles.
How will the loss of through lanes affect congestion in the corridor? The traffic analysis completed for the proposed improvements indicated that the project will cause a small increase in travel delay (1 to 3 seconds) for some vehicle movements within the corridor. All intersections will continue to operate acceptably.
Did the City and ODOT consider converting intersections to roundabouts? The project team did consider roundabouts. However, roundabouts would have required the acquisition of private property and the loss of existing buildings. Due to their impacts, roundabouts were dismissed from further consideration.
How will the roadway cross-section change? The existing roadway cross section provides for two through lanes in each direction. The new cross section will provide one through lane in each direction and a center left-turn lane. Some areas will include on-street parking or bike lanes.
Why isn’t the project providing bike lanes for the full length of the corridor? As noted, this project is intended to improve safety for pedestrians on this corridor that has a history of frequent and severe pedestrian crashes. Cyclists were considered and, where space was available, bike lanes were provided. However, including bike lanes throughout the corridor would substantially increase project costs and impacts to private properties.
What acquisition is required for this project? The project will require up to 0.15-acre of new permanent right-of-way to allow for the proposed improvements and up to 0.3-acre for construction access and final grading/seeding.
Will property access/driveway configurations be affected? No changes to existing access points or driveway configurations are expected under this project.
Will any on-street parking be eliminated under this project? No! In fact, the project will provide additional on street parking (approximately 195 spaces) within the corridor. The City of Dayton has worked with areas businesses and other stakeholders to determine the best placement of the new parking spaces.
Will the mid-block crossings include Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB)? What is an RRFB? RRFBs will be installed at the median crossings. The RRFB is a user-actuated amber LED light that supplements warning signs at unsignalized intersections or midblock crossings. RRFBs have been shown to increase driver yielding behavior.
How will the project affect pedestrian access and RTA stops during construction? Pedestrian access will be maintained on at least one side of the road during construction, by phasing construction. Access to RTA transit stops within the corridor will be maintained, either at the current locations or at nearby temporary locations established in coordination with RTA.
How will road traffic be maintained during construction? Will traffic on cross-streets be maintained? Traffic on State Route 48 roadway will be maintained, although lane closures/shifts will be required to protect workers and the public. Cross-street traffic will be maintained during of construction. Traffic will be encouraged to use the alternate route of Riverside Drive to avoid any congestion caused by construction.
Will the project affect historic resources? There are several known and potential historic properties within the corridor. An evaluation of the corridor to determine the effect on historic resources is currently underway. Given the limited scope of the project, the project is unlikely to adversely affect historic properties. If the project is found to adversely affect historic resources, the project team will consider avoid, minimize, or mitigate for those effects.
If you are concerned that the project will affect historic properties and would like to have an opportunity to comment on decision-making regarding historic properties, please contact Tricia Bishop with the Ohio Department of Transportation, at 937-497-6721 or tricia.bishop@dot.ohio.gov.
Will the project include work in waterways or wetlands? Will the project include tree removals? There are no wetlands or waterways within the proposed construction limits. No trees will be removed under this project.
Will the project include any amenities, such as plantings or benches? Currently, no amenities are proposed for the project.
Will the project be ADA-compliant? Yes. All pedestrian facilities within the corridor will be evaluated and upgraded as needed for ADA-compliance.
Why can’t these moneys be used elsewhere, on more urgently needed improvements? The federal funds have been awarded to this specific project. These funds cannot be transferred to another project, but must either be utilized on the funded project or be forfeited.
How will utilities be impacted by this project? When will utility relocations occur? Minor utility impacts (relocations) will be required. The utilities being affected will include storm, electric for street lighting, and adjusting water valves to grade. If private utilities are found to require relocation, these relocations may occur several months prior to the actual project start.
What is the schedule for the project? The project is currently in preliminary design. Final plans are expected to be completed in December 2023. Based on the current schedule, the project will be awarded to a contractor for construction in March 2024. The project is expected to begin in Spring 2024 and require up to nine months to construct.
Why can’t the project be undertaken sooner? Many factors go into developing a schedule for construction of a federal-aid project of this size. In addition to providing time for data collection, project design and quality control review, the schedule must also provide for public involvement, environmental review, environmental permitting, right-of-way negotiations, and utility relocations.
What is the current status of decision-making on this project? No final decisions regarding any proposed improvements have been made at this time. We are seeking public input, in order to ensure the best possible decisions are made for our community. We welcome your input and encourage you to provide comments.
How can I submit comments? To provide comments, you may call, email or write either of the individuals listed at the end of this document. Please reference “MOT-48 North Main” in any emails or letters. Comments are requested no later than May 31, 2022. Comments may also be left on the ODOT Project Page for PID 114813.