Posted: May 5, 2009

Pedestrian signals at a busy intersection. Bike lanes on a major street. Sidewalks to help foot traffic.

Those are some of the many improvements that are proposed as part of a master bicycle and pedestrian plan for the city of Greenfield.

The plan, if adopted by the Common Council, would mainly serve as a guide to city officials as they make future decisions impacting bike and pedestrian transportation over time.

The city could refer to the plan, for example, when planning for new development.

"It's nice to have a standard for us to look at to see what direction we can go," said Alderman Karl Kastner, who was part of the committee that helped draft the document.

Specifically, the plan proposes bike routes - streets marked with signage to help guide bicyclists - and bike lanes where possible on most of the city's busiest streets.

Multi-use trails to connect schools with residential areas, bike racks at new commercial developments and a multi-modular trail bisecting the city from east to west are among the many plan elements.

Combined, the improvements would cost between $4.5 million and $6 million, according to the plan, with grant funds one likely source of revenue.

Officials spent several months interviewing groups such as the Greenfield and Whitnall school districts, We Energies and Greenfield Police Department in putting together the plan.

Jeff Knutson of Crispell-Snyder, the consultant the city hired to write the plan, said the city is already nice for bicyclists and walkers with many bike-friendly roadways, such as Cold Spring Road and Edgerton Avenue.

"A plan like this will help reinforce that the city is interested in a bike and pedestrian friendly environment," he said.

A copy of the draft can be viewed on the city's Web site, www.greenfieldwi.us.

 

Mark Schaaf can be reached at (262) 446-6605.