View the final study!

Creating a safer and more comfortable experience for pedestrians and bicyclists along Forbes Road, Red Mile Road, and Virginia Avenue requires thoughtful planning and innovative solutions. The Campus to Commons Trail Connectivity Study explores the best designs to achieve this goal and outlines a roadmap for implementing the solutions. The MPO has prioritized the safety for all users along this route – each segment is currently included in the long-range Metropolitan Transportation Plan (MTP).

The Campus to Commons Trail Study accomplished 4 objectives:

Find the best fit.

Where should the trail go? This study explored and assessed options for putting a trail along the corridor. The study recommends a preferred alignment based on feasibility, public input, and project team feedback. Sometimes this means a separated shared-use path, sometimes it means a protected bike lane in the roadway.

Improve intersections safety.

How can street crossings be better? This study identifies design interventions needed to make all modes of travel safer and more comfortable. Recommendations focus on the major intersections along the corridor. A variety of innovative designs are proposed that enhance safety for all road users – like restricted crossing U-turns (RCUTs) and roundabouts.

Make a realistic, usable plan.

What happens next? This study includes cost estimates for design, changes to right-of-way, relocating utilities, and construction. It also recommends how best to phase all the steps. All three ‘sections’ of the study corridor (Virginia Avenue, Red Mile, and Forbes Road) are included in the MPO’s Metropolitan Transportation Plan as priority improvements by the year 2050.

Connect with community.

Who will this impact? Everyone! This study effort involved reaching out to key stakeholders, local residents, and the wider community. The study team used digital and in-person strategies to get the input we need to make a plan that works well for the most people.