Main St. Striping Update
The City of Roanoke’s Transportation Division is moving forward with the proposed Main Street Striping Project to add bicycle lanes along Main Street between Howbert Avenue and Windsor Avenue. This recommendation comes as a result of both traffic analysis and community input sought during the past eight months. The bike lanes would just be implemented between Howbert Ave and Windsor Ave and would not impact store-front parking along Main St.
Why Bike Lanes?
- This effort is consistent with the City of Roanoke’s Complete Streets Policy, which encourages lower vehicle speeds, enhances pedestrian crossings, and provides accommodations for community members who travel by bicycle.
- Establish a neighborhood street character to Main Street.
- Bike lanes reduce the effective street crossing distance for pedestrians.
- Parking restrictions near intersections improve sight lines for pedestrians and vehicles.
- Everyone benefits from a safer street with more orderly traffic.
- Bike lanes help to keep bikes off the sidewalk and make bicyclists more predictable for drivers.
- Main Street is a commuter corridor with primary access to the greenway.
Greenway Access
Main St. crosses over Wasena Park and the Roanoke River Greenway, serving as an important access corridor for runners, walkers, and bicyclists who use the Greenways. Bike lanes improve bike and pedestrian accessibility to a popular community asset. When the Wasena Bridge is replaced in the next few years, bike lanes will also be included on the bridge.
Public Feedback
The public survey to provide comments for this project has been closed.
- 278 people completed the survey
- 87% of those who completed the survey are in favor of adding bike lanes to the corridor
- 50% of the respondents identified themselves as living along Main Street. About 80% of this group are in favor of the project
You can find a complete summary of the survey on this link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/stories/SM-RJSRN6S/
Neighborhood Support
The Transportation Division presented the survey results at the Wasena Neighborhood Forum’s monthly meeting on Thursday, Dec. 6, and received their support for the project.
What would change on Main Street?
The proposed project simply includes paving and striping – no street widening. This means that in order to make enough room for bike lanes, on-street parking on Main Street between Howbert Ave. and Sherwood Ave. would no longer be available. Based on Transportation assessment data, parking utilization along Main Street is currently very minimal and is isolated to a few households.
The orange line above denotes the area of Main St. that will be repaved in 2019. The solid orange line is the area where bike lanes are proposed.
What would the street look like?
Have a question?
Please contact the Transportation Division
While you’re here…
We are currently seeking community feedback for the following projects. Please take a minute and share your ideas!
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