Capitol Boulevard Concept

Vista Avenue to Greenbelt

WELCOME

Thank you for visiting the Capitol Boulevard Concept Virtual Open House. ACHD is working with the City of Boise, Boise State University, and other area stakeholders to identify changes to the corridor that will improve conditions for people walking and biking on Capitol Boulevard from Vista Avenue to the Greenbelt. Here you will find information about the project background, what we’ve heard from the community so far, and the preliminary preferred concept for the corridor. At the end of the Virtual Open House, you will be able to provide feedback on the concept.

You can continue scrolling down to browse through the full content of the website or toggle to different sections using the navigation bar above. If you need printed materials mailed to you or need to make other arrangements to answer your questions, please call 208-387-6100 | TTY 00-377-3529 and we will be happy to help you.

This open house will be open through October 27, 2022.

PROJECT BACKGROUND

Study Area

This project includes Capitol Boulevard and 9th Street from the Greenbelt on the south side of the Boise River to the Rose Hill Street/Vista Avenue intersection. Crescent Rim Drive between Capitol Boulevard and Peasley Street is included in the study area to connect to the Shoshone Street Bikeway. Federal Way between Capitol Boulevard and Bass Street is included in the study area to connect to the Federal Way Pathway.

Project Objectives

Objectives for the project were defined by ACHD and partner agencies with input from the public:

  • Improve comfort, accessibility, mobility, and safety for people walking and biking on Capitol Boulevard.
  • Improve connections for people walking and biking between Boise State University, the Greenbelt, Shoshone Street Bikeway, Federal Way Pathway, and the Lusk District, Downtown, and Bench neighborhoods.
  • Maintain access to local businesses.
  • Minimize impacts to motor vehicle operations.

Timeline

WHAT WE'VE HEARD SO FAR

We heard from the public about the study area through a series of outreach efforts in 2015 that included public involvement meetings and online surveys. Over 1,300 comments were received from the public through these outreach efforts. Key themes from this feedback included:

  • Improve the Capitol Boulevard/University Drive pedestrian crossing
  • Reduce conflicts between people driving and those walking or biking
  • Desire for more opportunities to cross Capitol Boulevard
  • Provide designated space for people biking
  • Provide better connections to the Bench and Federal Way for people walking and biking
  • Approximately 60 percent of respondents supported the shared-use path concept (the most of any of the concepts)

In addition, Boise State University, the City of Boise, Capital City Development Corporation (CCDC), and the Southeast Neighborhood Association were asked to provide their top priorities for the project, these included:

  • Incorporate ACHD’s Bicycle and Pedestrian Level-of-Traffic Stress guidance in the analysis of alternatives
  • Improve the connection between the Bench and Downtown
  • Relate the project to Boise State University’s University Drive Concept

CONCEPT DEVELOPMENT

In 2015, four alternatives were developed for community review. Based on public feedback and evaluation criteria, two alternatives were moved forward for further evaluation:

  • One-way protected bike lanes concept
  • Shared-use path concept

The one-way protected bike lanes concept would have required removing a southbound vehicle travel lane, which was determined to have adverse effects on vehicle travel times on the Capitol Boulevard corridor. There was also concern regarding the length and amount crossings required for people biking to access the one-way bike lanes and that some people might ride the wrong-way in the one-way bike lanes. Therefore, the shared-use path concept was identified as the preferred concept and moved forward for further refinement.

SHARED-USE PATH CONCEPT

The figure below shows the high-level components of the shared-use path concept.

Continue scrolling to learn more about each section of the concept. The figures below will begin at the northern extents of the study area (at the Greenbelt) and end at the southern extents (at the Vista Avenue/Rose Hill Street intersection).

Greenbelt to Island Avenue

  • Adds a 10’ pathway on the west side of 9th Street-Capitol Boulevard
  • Reconfigures Cesar Chavez as T-intersection (long-term improvement that would be constructed by Boise State University and is not directly a part of this project)

Island Avenue to University Drive

  • Adds a 10’ pathway on west side of corridor
  • Adds a 12’ pathway on east side of corridor (south of University Drive)
  • Adds a crossing on the north leg of the Capitol Boulevard/University Drive intersection
  • Relocates the northbound right-turn from Boise Avenue onto University Drive from the University Drive/Capitol Boulevard intersection to the existing Boise Avenue/Capitol Boulevard intersection to provide an expanded refuge island for people crossing Capitol Boulevard

University Drive-Boise Avenue-Ann Morrison Park Drive Intersection

  • Adds a crossing on the north leg of the Capitol Boulevard/University Drive intersection
  • Relocates the northbound right-turn from Boise Avenue onto University Drive from the University Drive/Capitol Boulevard intersection to the existing Boise Avenue Capitol Boulevard intersection to provide an expanded refuge island for people crossing Capitol Boulevard

University Drive to Boise Avenue

  • Adds a 12’ pathway on both sides of corridor
  • Adds raised crossings on Boise Avenue and Yale Lane

Boise Avenue to Crescent Rim Drive

  • Adds a 12’ pathway on west side of corridor (north of Crescent Rim Drive)
  • Adds a 12’ pathway on east side of corridor
  • Realigns Crescent Rim Drive intersection to lower speeds for motor vehicles turning on or off Crescent Rim Drive, reducing the potential for crashes with people walking and biking
  • Removes the southbound right-turn lane onto Rose Hill Street. The space is repurposed for additional pathway and buffer space and to add a curb bulb-out to reduce the potential for a crash between people crossing Rose Hill Street and vehicles turning onto Rose Hill Street.

Crescent Rim Drive to Rose Hill Street

  • Adds a 12’ pathway on west side of corridor (south of Eastover Terrace)
  • Adds a 12’ pathway on northeast side of corridor to connect to Federal Way pathway
  • Consolidates eastbound approach to Federal Way to one lane to provide space for extending the existing Federal Way pathway to Capitol Boulevard
    • Removing this second lane has limited effect on motor vehicle operations as there is only storage for 3-4 vehicles today.
  • Provides a pedestrian hybrid beacon crossing across Capitol Boulevard south of Federal Way
  • Removes the southbound right-turn lane from the Capitol Boulevard/Rose Hill Street intersection and adds a curb bulb-out to reduce the potential for a crash between people crossing Rose Hill Street and vehicles turning onto Rose Hill Street. The extra space also allows for installing buffer space between the pathway and travel lanes.

Rose Hill Street Intersection

  • Removes the southbound right-turn lane from the Capitol Boulevard/Rose Hill Street intersection and adds a curb bulb-out to reduce the potential for a crash between people crossing Rose Hill Street and vehicles truning onto Rose Hill Street. The extra space also allows for installing buffer space between the pathway and travel lanes.

Federal Way Pathway

  • Extends the existing pathway on Federal Way to Capitol Boulevard
  • Federal Way is reduced to one lane in the eastbound direction for the length of the new pathway.
    • It widens back out to two lanes in advance of any major intersections.

 SURVEY

Please fill out the survey below to provide your feedback on the Shared-Use Path Concept.

Capitol Boulevard - Vista Avenue to Greenbelt

NEXT STEPS

The Shared-Use Path Concept will be refined based on feedback received from the public and other stakeholders. The refined concept is expected to be presented to the ACHD Commission for adoption in Winter 2022-2023. The expected construction date for the project has not been determined.

ACHD contact information

Brooke Green, ACHD Senior Transportation Planner 208.387.6100 TTY: 1.800.377.3529   projects@achdidaho.org   www.achdidaho.org