Ayres Knowledge Center Implement Intersection and Bike Lane Game Changers | Page 3

EARLY STEPS TO SUCCESS ON
INTERSECTION/BIKE LANE PROJECTS
It’s easy for officials and designers to skip right to ideas and solutions
without confirming what the problems are. Before explaining cross-
section design alternatives to the public, it is very important to have
sound traffic data to evaluate the need for certain design features and
what the trade-offs are for traffic operation and safety. Early steps to
make sure you have the lay of the land include:
• Review traffic data from previous planning studies.
• Collect peak-hour intersection turning movement counts at
select intersections.
• Conduct a traffic speed study if speeding is an issue.
• Obtain and analyze the most recent five-year traffic crash data.
• Obtain topographic survey and/or aerial imagery to complete
conceptual designs.
LEAD THOROUGH PUBLIC OUTREACH AND
INVOLVEMENT
Next you need the public to be engaged in the process of sorting
out what the streets should ultimately look like. Successful public
engagement is all about listening and providing timely feedback to
stakeholders on what was heard and what design refinements are
proposed to resolve any concerns. It is important to provide design
facts in response to concerns posed by the public. While it’s critical to
get across the principles of pedestrian/bicycle-friendly urban design,
it is also important that the information be understandable to all
stakeholders and not lost in technical jargon. Here are important public
information steps:
1. Form a project steering committee, which will provide a
sounding board on street design issues, alternative designs,
and community communication. The committee also serves
as a conduit between the project and residents and allows the
community to have a stake in the success of the project.
“I’ve sat through numerous
engineering-focused technical
discussions, which can be very dry and
hard to follow. But Ayres really took
the time to explain the likely outcome
for each potential street modification.
And they also made some important
recommendations.”
– Ed Haydin, local resident and former member
of East Tosa Alliance, regarding Wauwatosa,
Wisconsin, East North Avenue Bike Lane Plan and
Traffic Signals projects
2. Prepare and evaluate conceptual designs.
3. Hold an early public engagement meeting to discuss the
purpose of the design study and the schedule for the
project and to gather feedback on impactful design features
being considered, such as bike lanes, road narrowing, and
signalization changes.
4. Hold a public engagement meeting after the preferred design
option is chosen. Gather input.
5. Hold one-on-one interviews with key stakeholders, including
businesses and neighborhood groups.
6. Present the preferred design option to public officials.
7. Facilitate public information and interaction with a project
website, social media, and/or a blog that invites commentary.
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