4/1/2002

FACT SHEET

• The Bicycle Facilities Plan is the culmination of a six month study conducted by Hawkins Partners Inc. of Nashville, TN; RPM & Associates, of Nashville; and March Adams and Associates of Chattanooga.  Kim Hawkins of Hawkins Partners served as the lead consultant for the project.  All of the consultants were retained by the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Regional Planning Agency (RPA).

• The consultants crafted the plan based on the ongoing input of the Chattanooga Bicycle Task Force, four regional Bicycle Advisory Committees (BAC), regional government entities and RPA staff members.

• The plan that is being presented is regional in scope and includes all of Hamilton County and its municipalities and portions of North Georgia.

• During the planning process, more than 1000 miles of streets and roads were inventoried by Adams and Associates to determine the most feasible bike routes in the region.  Those roadways were accessed based on:
  • Travel lanes
  • Number of travel lanes
  • Presence of turn lanes
  • Presence of shoulders and their width
  • Presence of parallel parking and its width
  • Posted speed limits
  • Presence of curb and gutters
  • Presence of storm gates and bike friendliness
  • Presence of street lighting
  • Slope – level, moderate, steep
  • Presence of ditches  

The final plan is divided into multiple phases and recommends:

• Phase I—(to be completed over the next 3 years)
  
  • The construction and installation of bike lanes, bike routes and bike paths at strategic locations that will serve transportation and recreational purposes.  Areas targeted for this project include the Chestnut/ Carter/ Broad/ St. Elmo Corridor; McCallie /Bailey /MLK Street corridor; Orchard Knob/ Hickory St./ Clio St. corridor; and 20th St./ Market St./ Alton Park/ 38th St./ 37th St corridor.  Once completed these linked lanes, paths and routes will extend approximately 61 miles throughout the region, of which 32 miles will be in the City of Chattanooga.
  • Addition of bike racks on the 66 buses in the CARTA fleet.
  • Addition of bike racks in key downtown locations (40 bus shelters, 27 electric shuttle stops and 100 racks at public facilities).
  • Adding public showers at the Development Resource Center (one men’s and one women’s restroom)
  • Adding the position of “Bicycle Coordinator” to promote biking activities and assist in implementing the plan
  • Begin an aggressive bicycle public awareness campaign  

• Phase II—(to be completed in 4-10 years)
  
  • Add an additional 102 miles of bicycle facilities (lanes, routes, paths) throughout the region
  • Install 18 miles of paved multi-use paths at indicated locations

• Phase II—(to be completed in 4-10 years)
  
  • Complete all linkages indicated in the plan with the completion of the final 174 miles of bicycle facilities (lanes, routes and paths)
  • Install an additional 26 miles of paved multi-paths at indicated locations 
     
• The Chattanooga Urban Area Bicycle Facilities Plan will also be presented this evening, April 1, at a public meeting in the Bessie Smith Hall at 5:30 pm. During this meeting the recommendations of the plan will be shared with the public and the annual “Bike and Like It” program will be kicked off.

• A Bike Fair is planned from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on April 5, 2002 at the Waterhouse Pavilion, Miller Plaza.  The fair will include information about the Bike plan, area bike clubs, and various other items related to bicycle activities in the area.
  

For more information, contact Todd Womack, Communications Director, at 423-757-5168