Learn more + Give feedback at a public meeting on August 8th

A major “streetscaping” enhancement project is coming to East Ohio Street on the Northside that will make the area more bikeable, walkable, and generally more enjoyable for everyone who spends time eating, shopping, and commuting there.

This project will improve bike infrastructure in the area, improve walkability, calm traffic, and overall create a more neighborhood friendly streetscape.  Although design for the project isn’t set to begin until 2025 with construction happening in 2026/2027, the Department of Mobility and Infrastructure (DOMI) already has a proposal for what the improvements will likely involve.

Northside’s bike and pedestrian advocacy group Walk Ride Northside held a meeting last week to go over the proposed plans, and they came away with a lot they like + some questions for planners. Read on for their takeaways, and please plan to attend a public meeting on August 8th, 6pm at Allegheny Center Alliance Church where the City will present their plans and ask for community input.

 What we like:

• Concrete and parking protected bike lanes between Madison & Chestnut
• Concrete protected intersection crossing and bike lanes at Cedar Ave.
• Curb bump outs that improve visibility, slow traffic, prevent illegal parking, and decrease crossing distances for walkers.
• A raised intersection at James St and raised crosswalk at Middle St to slow traffic and improve walking safety.
• Increased visibility & potential rerouting of one way on Nash Street
• A shared use path between East and Chestnut, which we have learned will be raised like a sidewalk to better separate bike riders and walkers from cars.
• We have also heard from DOMI that they are planning to place signage allowing bike riders to use pedestrian walk signals at Madison and Chestnut that will come on before drivers get the green light so they can safely get into the intersection before motorists.

 Some areas of concern:

• The large painted bump out at Madison and E Ohio westbound is painted instead of concrete, which could allow for bike riders to be hit by right turning drivers.
• The shape of the concrete islands on Cedar Ave should be adjusted to allow bike riders going West on E Ohio to enter the bike lanes more easily.
• The intersection at Chestnut St (16^th street bridge) is very large and dangerous, and we’d like to see this plan do more to address safety concerns there.
• We understand that adding bike lanes East St and Cedar is not feasible at this time due to parking needs for the businesses there, and the traffic calming should improve the biking experience there greatly. However, the transition from the bike lane to the shared lane at East St is concerning. We hope to see a Leading Pedestrian Interval for bikes like we will have at other intersections as well as a solution for safely merging into traffic during a green light while cars are already going.

What do you think?

Please attend a public meeting on August 8th, 6pm at Allegheny Center Alliance Church where the City will present their plans and ask for community input!

It is crucial that DOMI hears support for the improved biking and walking infrastructure they’re proposing during this meeting. Please plan to attend in person if you are able and share your support of safer biking and walking!

If you cannot attend in person, you can sign up to attend via Zoom or watch the presentation afterward on the project’s Engage Page. If you do, please leave your questions and comments via the survey at the bottom of that page.

Meeting Details

When: August 8^th at 6:00pm

Where: Allegheny Center Alliance Church, 250 E Ohio Street (enter from the park side of the building where you will be directed to the room the meeting will be held)

Sign up: Registration is encouraged, but not required, and helps the City plan for attendees. Register for the meeting here.

Get Involved With Walk Ride Northside

Do you live, work, commute, or play in the Northside? If so, please consider getting involved with Walk Ride Northside! Join the group for a bike ride to Reggae at Riverview on 8/3 or their next meeting on 8/28 at 6pm! See details on Instagram, or sign up for their email list to get updates.