The Newport Commission is considering changes in infrastructure to support bicycle transportation in the city.
Tri-State Trails presented a study on infrastructure recommendations, funding strategies and ideas for bike path implementation to the commission Monday evening.
The study has been a year in the making, but comes after approximately five years’ worth of discussion in the city.
Tri-State Trails aims to connect people and places with a regional trail and bikeway network to enhance vibrancy and equity in the community. Tri-State Trails AICP Executive Director Wade Johnston gave the presentation to the commission at its caucus meeting on Monday, March 11. Since it was a caucus meeting, no action was taken.
The bike plan was formally started in January 2023 to create a roadmap for a safe and connected bike network (for both Covington and Newport) that serves everyone regardless of age and ability.
The project’s steering committee identified the top goals under the plan: identify key gaps in the network to create a connected network between Covington and Newport, identify streets conducive to bike infrastructure and recommend practical and cost-effective implementation strategies.
Johnston said they also tried to preserve on-street parking as they thought about the plan because he said it is a top concern for the city.
The bike plan was created through multiple rounds of public input, surveys, focus groups and open houses.
The bike facility types that Tri-State Trails identified for various city streets were:
Shared-use paths: paved facilities, typically 10-14 feet wide, also known as a multi-use trail.
Conventional bike lane: designated for cyclists with striping, pavement markings and signage.
Two-way protected bike lane: physically separated bike lanes that allow bike movement in both directions on one side of the street.
Bicycle boulevard: streets with low traffic volumes and speeds designated and designed to give bicycle travel priority.
One-way protected bike lane: physically separated bike lanes that allow bike movement in one direction with traffic.
Green alley: residential alleys have low traffic with low or no vehicle traffic.
“I do like the idea of using some of our non-main thoroughfares, such as the alleyways that more or less help us make sure that folks are safe while they’re on their bikes,” Newport Commissioner Mike Radwanski said.
The plan then has recommendations for the city, separated into short-, medium-, and long-term recommendations. Short-term recommendations are blue, medium-term recommendations are green, and long-term recommendations are yellow.
“You can see that ultimately, in the short-term priorities, we’re trying to come down the center right off the Purple People Bridge and force some east/west connections in the southern part of the city, and then along Fifth Street to tie into the 4th Street Bridge,” Johnston said.
He said the Purple People Bridge is the most highly used trail corridor in the region and would be a logical starting point to build off of to extend the connection to where people live and make it easier for folks to use.
The plan also takes advantage of the 4th Street Bridge being rebuilt.
“We know the 4th Street Bridge is going to be rebuilt, connect that momentum into the city connect it to the Purple People Bridge ties to where people live,” Johnston said. “Then, along 10th Street, you can see an east-west route that is intended to tie into the 11th Street Bridge and all the way up to the pavilion where we’ve identified this route.”
In the medium term, the plans show 7th and 8th Street as east/west corridors, which Johnston said could minimize the parking impacts of traditional bike lanes. He said they also looked at the alleys and said the city could elevate them to a higher priority and do it with signage.
Some long-term priorities included additional connectivity to Fort Thomas, Southgate and the Newport Pavilion. Johnston said Kentucky Nine already has a bike lane, but they would like to see a protected bike lane.
“Overwhelmingly, the biggest piece of feedback we heard from the public was that bridges are the most challenging pinch points right now and the biggest area of need,” Johnston said. “Unfortunately, those are the most expensive things to fix.”
Non-infrastructure policy recommendations from Tri-State Trails:
- Complete streets policy: anytime a roadway is being repaved or rebuilt, or a new roadway is being planned, the city would consider all modes of transportation in the design of that Street.
- Vision Zero policy: a commitment to trying to end traffic fatalities through the design of city streets.
- Tactical urbanism policy: the city commits to flexibility in materials that could be used to build bike infrastructure.
- Policy for reducing speed limits
- Policy for developing a detour when there’s roadway or other construction projects.
“The speed limit is one of the most important factors in ensuring the safety of people walking and biking and also the comfort level for people to ride their bike without bike infrastructure,” Johnston said.
Non- infrastructure program recommendations from Tri-State Trails:
- Commit to funding it: creating a line item in the city’s budget to support bike infrastructure.
- Expand Red Bike share program
- Expand bike parking program
- Partnering with the school districts to create safe routes
- Apply to become a bicycle-friendly community
- Supporting engagement and education programs.
“These are not so tangible things that you can do that help make a big difference in visibility,” Johnston said.
How would the infrastructure be funded?
Johnston said funding could come from the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments, also known as OKI, the state, federal money and private fundraising. Grants typically require an 80/20 match.
Johnston said the next step is to hire an engineering firm for cost estimates. He also encouraged the city to adopt the plan, so it is formally on record.
“I participated in a Safe Streets For All that’s through the federal transportation—that whole process is just getting started so we couldn’t be in a better place to explore grant programs,” Radwanski said. “I think Detroit got something like $25 million from their presentation that they shared. So we’re really in a good place if you really want to take this seriously and go forward with it.”
Newport City Manager Tom Fromme said Newport is a small city and will rely on funding regardless of the source.
“It’s just a matter of finding out what’s available now and who we can partner with, whether it’s OKI or a corporate partner,” Newport Commissioner Beth Fennell said. “They love partnerships. There are ways to get things done. I think there’s a variety of funding sources available; it’s just picking and choosing what would be the most advantageous to the city and to the residents and bikers.”
Newport Mayor Tom Guidugli Jr. said there is more money out there than there has ever been for projects like this.
“This is the time to take that opportunity and amplify those dollars because once this is gone, we don’t know if it’s going to come back in this way,” Guidugli said.
