Smart Streets

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Smart Streets Appleton

Our streets serve as essential connectors in our city. They enable transportation, commerce, and social interactions. Streets are dynamic and can be transformed to meet the needs of a growing and thriving city.

College Avenue Lane Reconfiguration, Downtown Appleton

2023 College Avenue Lane Reconfiguration Project

The City of Appleton’s College Ave Reconfiguration Project aims to improve street safety and access for everyone in our community.

The new roadway design will develop a multimodal corridor that:

enhances the outdoor experience
supports local businesses
bolsters a welcoming downtown

The corridor will feature two travel lanes, a center turn lane, and dedicated bike lanes creating a more pedestrian and bicycle-friendly environment.

Project benefits include safety, access and downtown growth.

Smart Streets – Project Benefits

Our community will experience improvements in safety and access to College Avenue due to this project. This project will help transform the downtown into a destination vibrant with activity and commerce.

Safety

Expected reduction in the number of vehicle accidents and motor-related conflicts
Improved pedestrian cross-lane experience, reducing crashes
Smoother traffic flow, reducing the risk of aggressive speeding
Improved visibility when making a left or right turn

Access

New, dedicated bicycle lanes for cyclists, scooters, and other wheeled vehicles
No loss of curbside, on-street parking
Improved pedestrian sidewalk experience

Growth

Creation of a livable, pleasant neighborhood environment
Slower speeds and improved sightlines allow motorists to see what the downtown has to offer
Attraction of bicycle and pedestrian groups downtown to spend money in shops and restaurants
National studies show a street redesign boosts economic growth and property values

Smart Streets Appleton

Project Metrics:

Reporting Period #1: (July 2023 – January 2024) Presentation

2024 Smart Streets Project Metrics

Reporting Period #2: (August 2023 – July 2024) Presentation

FAQ:

How do I safely turn right?

Always be aware of your surroundings. As you approach a green light to make your right turn, take a moment to glance over your right shoulder. Once you've reached the green signal and you are ready to make that right turn, remember that cyclists in the bike lane have the right of way. Yield to them before proceeding.

When you are stopped at a red light behind other stopped cars, waiting to make that right turn, it might be tempting to move into the bike lane to get ahead, but that is not permitted. Keep the bike lane clear and wait your turn behind the other vehicles

By eliminating the travel lane on College Avenue, won’t travel congestion increase?

Road diets generally don't lead to longer travel times or traffic congestion; in fact, they often alleviate issues. Instead of causing delays due to left-turning vehicles clogging up travel lanes, road diets can improve overall traffic flow.

On four-lane roads, drivers commonly use the outer lanes to avoid being held up by vehicles making left turns, which can lead to slowdowns and stops in the inner lanes. Introducing a dedicated turn lane helps promote smoother and more efficient traffic movement.

Will this cause my daily commute to be longer?

Is it legal to park in a bike lane?

Will this reduce the number of parking stalls downtown?

Will this hurt the downtown businesses?

Research indicates that road diets can positively impact business sales and property values. They transform a corridor from a place that people “drive-through” to one that they “drive-to.” Replacing vehicle travel lanes with on-street parking options, walking areas and bicycle lanes can make the street a more attractive “park once” area. It’s been noted that more people on foot are better for downtown businesses.