Altoona council endorses Bartlett Avenue reconstruction
Thursday, October 12, 2017
Chris Vetter | Leader-Telegram
Project includes path to school | City Council gives go ahead
The city of Altoona is moving forward on plans to reconstruct Bartlett Avenue, which would include a bike path extension to Altoona Elementary School.
Plans for the road, also known as Highway KB, include adding utilities, storm water ponds and the bike path.
City planner Joshua Clements said the entire project could cost about $2.3 million but added the county would pick up a portion of that cost for part of the road considered to be Highway KB.
"We're trying to decide how this road should be designed now," Clements said. "It's a fairly significant project for Altoona. It's a primary corridor for the city and the town of Washington. We're seeing traffic counts increase, and we expect that to continue."
On Thursday night, the City Council directed city staff to move forward on the project, including a trail from the school to Third Street East. However, specific design details are still to be determined, Clements said.
Upgrading the corridor was first discussed in 2014, and a feasibility study conducted by engineering firm Short Elliott Hendrickson was completed in 2016. The council heard the design alternatives two weeks ago.
"It's about a 1¼-mile stretch," Clements said. "Because it's a county road, it has to be constructed to their county standards."
The city has contracted with an engineer to design a sidewalk or walking trail along that corridor. Clements said it could be a 10-foot-wide paved path, or it could be marked as bike lanes on the sides of the highway.
"Right now, there is no sidewalk or shoulder - there is less than two feet of shoulder," he said. "We are taking a serious look at how we can improve safety for bikers and walkers. The location of the elementary school forces the issue."
Altoona schools Superintendent Connie Biedron said the district has worked with the county on a "safe routes to school" program, and they've told city officials in the past they would like to see a path installed.
"We're very excited about the possibility," Biedron said. "We've talked about it for a while. It would be safer for everyone, not just students, but people who are exercising and going to the lake."
The corridor is adjacent to a nearly 40-acre parcel that is in the town of Washington.
"We anticipate it becoming developed at some point in the not-too-distance future," Clements said.
That development is being factored into how to redesign the road, the addition of a bike path or bike lanes, and the added costs of putting in the storm water ponds and utilities.
"In this case, they are co-required," Clements said.
Contact: 715-723-0303, chris.vetter@ecpc.com Read more about this article »
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