Project Milestone—Clark Dietz recently submitted a Draft of the Campus to Commons Trail Connectivity Study, with a Final Report to be issued in the coming months. The Campus to Commons Trail corridor, which connects the Meadowthorpe neighborhood of Lexington, KY with the University of Kentucky campus and crosses the Town Branch Trail, is a critical north-south connection in Lexington’s Recommended Bikeway Network. The existing bicycle facilities are insufficient and do not provide the level of protection required of major bikeways in the network. Additionally, portions of the corridor lack adequate sidewalks despite serving many pedestrians.
The Lexington Fayette Urban County Government (LFUCG) in coordination with the Lexington Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and the University of Kentucky (UK) desires to connect the University campus to the neighborhoods surrounding it to the west by way of a separated, multiuse trail. The City initiated the Campus to Commons Trail Connectivity Study to assess the feasibility of this trail.
The scope of the study is to evaluate options to build biking and walking infrastructure along Virginia Avenue, Red Mile Road, and South Forbes Road. The study includes four tasks: (1) identify a preferred trail alignment, (2) identify roadway and traffic-related improvements needed for greater multimodal safety in the vicinity of major intersections, (3) develop cost estimates for the recommended improvements, and (4) conduct public outreach efforts that will reach the diverse audiences within the areas that the new facilities will service.
Clark Dietz is leading the corridor study, teamed with two subconsultants: WSP and Wiser Strategies. The study has significant public outreach, including a project website, meetings with neighborhood associations, and a public survey which resulted in 500 responses concerning desired improvements for the corridor.
Clark Dietz is developing feasible options for protected bicycle facilities and safer pedestrian connections along the corridor and will provide the City of Lexington with a phasing plan for implementing the trail.
This trail will make an important connection between northwest Lexington and the area around the University of Kentucky campus. It will link many local businesses and residential areas, adding a much-needed route to a growing part of town. The Campus to Commons Trail will make it easier and safer for people of varying skill levels to bike and walk wherever they need to go.
