Explanation
1. BACKGROUND
Columbus City Code anticipates the potential for shared use paths in the public right-of-way serving pedestrians and bicyclists. Shared use paths can be composed of asphlat, concrete or bricks, and are typically 8 feet to 12 feet wide. Columbus City Code further anticipates the need to designate shared use paths as such, to allow their use by pedestrians and bicyclists without fear of violating the City's prohibition of riding bicycles on sidewalks.
Columbus has a bike trail system that has been developed primarily along north-south river corridors. However, there is a deficiency in east-west bikeway routes which connect these systems. One of the high priority projects identified in the Columbus Bicentennial Bikeways Plan is an east-west connector through the downtown, connecting the Scioto Trail to the shared use path along I-670.
This bikeway project, now known as the Scioto-Alum Creek Connector (formerly named Downtown Bikeway Connector) is in the final stages of design development. In order to complete this project it is necessary to designate portions of existing sidewalk at two locations as shared-use path. Those locations consist of the existing 12-foot wide sidewalk along the east side of Neil Avenue from Long Street to Nationwide Boulevard; and the existing 8-foot wide sidewalk along the west side of Cleveland Avenue from McCoy Street to Jack Gibbs Boulevard.
2. FISCAL IMPACT
None
3. EMERGENCY DESIGNATION
Emergency action is requested to have these portions of sidewalk designated as shared use path to concide with the scheduled completion of the Scioto-Alum Creek Connector on or around October 31, 2010.
Title
To designate portions of sidewalk as shared-use path on Neil Avenue from Long Street to Nationwide Boulevard and Cleveland Avenue from McCoy Street to Jack Gibbs Boulevard.
Body
WHEREAS, the City has an established system of north-south shared-use paths which primarily follow north-south river corridors; and
WHEREAS, the City lacks sufficient east-west bicycle facilities that connect to these systems; and
WHEREAS, this Scioto-Alum Creek Connector project is identified as a high priority in the Columbus Bicentennial Bikeways Plan; and
WHEREAS, the City desires to establish a bicycle facility in the downtown area to complete a connection from the Scioto Trail to the Alum Creek Trail; and
WHEREAS, a portion of this facility has been designed to accommodate bicycles on sidewalks; and
WHEREAS, City code 2173.10 prohibits riding a bicycle on the sidewalk except for children's non-motorized vehicles as defined in section 2173.015(A)(2), and at locations that Columbus city council designates as bikeways or shared-use paths; and
WHEREAS, in order to complete this project it is necessary to designate portions of sidewalk at two locations as shared-use path.; and
WHEREAS, the sidewalk on the east side of Neil Avenue north of Long Street and south of Nationwide Boulevard is 12 feet wide and suitable for riding a bicycle; and
WHEREAS, the sidewalk on the west side of Cleveland Avenue north of McCoy Street and south of Jack Gibbs Boulevard is 8 feet wide and suitable for riding a bicycle; and
WHEREAS, the aforementioned project is scheduled to be completed by October 31, 2010; and
WHEREAS, an emergency exists in the usual daily operation of the Division of Mobility Options, Department of Public Service, in that it is immediately necessary to designate the above described sidewalks as shared use paths prior to the completion of the Scioto-Alum Creek Connector prior to the completion of that project, thereby preserving the public health, peace, property, safety and welfare; now therefore,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLUMBUS:
SECTION 1. That the sidewalk on the east side of Neil Avenue, north of Long Street and south of Nationwide Boulevard is hereby designated as a shared-use path.
SECTION 2. That the sidewalk on the west side of Cleveland Avenue, north of McCoy Street and south of Jack Gibbs Boulevard. is hereby designated as a shared-use path.
SECTION 3. That for the reasons stated in the preamble hereto, which is hereby made a part hereof, this ordinance is hereby declared to be an emergency measure and shall take effect and be in force from and after its passage and approval by the mayor or ten (10) days after passage if the Mayor neither approves nor vetoes the same.