Warm Springs Avenue Concept Study
Avenue C to Windsong Drive
Welcome
Welcome to the Warm Springs Avenue, Avenue C to Windsong Drive Concept Study Online Meeting. Thank you for your interest in this important study.
Please scroll down to view the information.
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The Ada County Highway District (ACHD) has been working with the public since 2023 to identify and recommend pedestrian and bike facility improvements along Warm Springs Avenue from Avenue C to Windsong Drive.
The study was prompted by neighborhood concerns about vehicle speeds and needed improvements to pedestrian and bike facilities in the study area.
Recognizing the unique character of different sections of Warm Springs Avenue, the study area was divided into three segments.
- Avenue C to Coston Street
- Coston Street to Old Penitentiary Road
- Old Penitentiary Road to Windsong Drive
Open House
ACHD is hosting a neighborhood open house on January 30, 2025, at Roosevelt Elementary School, 908 E. Jefferson Street, to share the study’s refined alternative. Please plan to attend any time between 5:30 and 7:30 p.m. The meeting format will be a self-guided open house. No presentation will be given.
If you have specific concerns about possible impacts to your property, please email projects@achdidaho.org or call Edinson Bautista at 208-387-6100.
We Heard You
The concept alternative presented here reflects what we heard from the public throughout the study, including the online survey and public meeting held in February 2024.
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For more information, view a full summary of what we heard during our early 2024 public outreach.
The Refined Alternative
The refined alternative is a combination of the three concept alternatives presented at the second public information meeting held in early 2024.
What changed since the second public outreach meeting?
- South side bulb-outs were added between Avenue C and Mobley Drive to prevent eastbound vehicles from using bike and parking lanes to bypass left-turning vehicles.
- Per request from Valley Regional Transit:
- Vehicle lanes from Avenue C to Old Penitentiary Road were widened from 10 to 10.5 feet.
- Future north side transit stops were added between Avenue C and Coston Street.
- Straughan Avenue is proposed as a raised intersection for added traffic calming.
- Protected bike lanes were changed to buffered bike lanes between Old Penitentiary Road and Windsong Drive due to the presence of the Greenbelt to the south.
- Minor adjustments were made to the roundabout at Old Penitentiary Road to better accommodate large trucks that access the Idaho Department of Agriculture.
- A rectangular rapid flashing beacon (RRFB) was removed at Walling Court due to low pedestrian demand at that location.
The refined alternative was selected based on costs, public input (meetings and surveys), and analysis of how well each feature addressed users’ needs.
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Bundles
The refined alternative was subsequently separated into five “bundles” to make future funding and implementation more feasible. The bundles were divided by study segment, given the unique character of each, and finally by type of improvements. The improvements proposed in each bundle are described and shown below.
Bundle A: Avenue C – Coston Street Intersection Improvements
The intersection improvements add traffic calming along Warm Springs Avenue while also improving the ease and safety of pedestrians and cyclists who would like to cross Warm Springs Avenue. Bike facilities were left as-is along this segment due to the presence of parallel low stress bike bacilities, the Bannock Street Bikeway one block to the north, and the Boise River Greenbelt to the south.
Bundle A:
- Adds bulb-outs at public intersections.
- Bulb-outs prevent vehicles from using the bike and parking lanes to pass left-turning vehicles.
- Maintains existing 10.5-foot-wide vehicle lanes.
- Maintains existing on-street bike lanes on both sides of the road.
- Adds RRFBs at Straughn Avenue and Coston Street.
- Adds raised intersection at Straughan Avenue.
- Improves all pedestrian ramps and driveways to be compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
Consistent with feedback from the second public outreach regarding Warm Springs Avenue and Walnut Street, we have narrowed the options to two alternatives for public consideration.
These alternatives are:
- Option 1: A raised intersection with RRFBs on the east and west sides of the intersection, as well as bike push buttons for cyclists traveling northbound and southbound.
- Option 2: A traffic signal with left turn lanes on both legs of Warm Springs Avenue.
Bundle B: Coston Street – Marden Lane Low Stress Bikeway Improvements
Bundle B encompasses the segment of Warm Springs Avenue that coincides with the Bannock Street Bikeway. Proposed improvements would create facilities to be used comfortably by all users traveling along the bikeway.
Bundle B:
- Maintains existing 10.5-foot-wide vehicle lanes.
- Maintains existing on-street bike lane on the south side of the road from Coston Street to Mobley Drive.
- Adds multi-use pathway on the north side of the road to provide low-stress travel along the Bannock Street Bikeway.
- The Bannock Street Bikeway follows Warm Springs Avenue from Coston Street to Marden Lane.
- Adds multi-use pathway on the south side of the road between Mobley Drive and Marden Lane.
- Adds crossing at Mobley Drive, which includes bulb-outs and ADA-compliant ramps.
- Improves all pedestrian ramps and driveways to be ADA compliant.
Bundle C: Marden Lane – Old Penitentiary Road Safe Route to School Improvements
Access to Adams Elementary School, M&W Market, the Natatorium Pool and two Boise River Greenbelt spurs is provided along Warm Springs Avenue within Bundle C. Low stress facilities are proposed on both sides of Warm Spring Avenue to provide a safe route to school for students and comfortable access to commercial and recreational facilities and the Greenbelt Spurs at Marden Avenue and Old Penitentiary Road.
Bundle C:
- Maintains existing 10.5-foot-wide vehicle lanes.
- Adds multi-use pathways to the north and south sides of the road.
- Connects Boise River Greenbelt spurs at Marden Lane and Granite Way.
- Replaces pedestrian signal in front of Adams Elementary School with Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon (PHB).
- Intended to be used by students, local residents, and users of the Bannock Street Bikeway.
- Improvements also include bulb-outs and a raised crosswalk.
- Proposes new south side parking east of Homestead Drive.
- Improves all pedestrian ramps and driveways to be ADA compliant.
Bundle D: Warm Springs Avenue & Old Penitentiary Road Roundabout
Bundle D proposes the construction of a single lane roundabout at Old Penitentiary Road.
Bundle D:
- Adds gateway to Old Penitentiary, residential section of Warm Springs Avenue to the west.
- Provides transition where 25 mph and 35 mph speed zones along Warm Springs Avenue meet.
- Adds RRFBs to all four legs of the roundabout.
- Maintains connection between Greenbelt spur and Table Rock trail access.
- Provides multi-use pathways along the perimeter of the roundabout.
Bundle E: Old Penitentiary Road – Windsong Drive Pedestrian & Bike Facility Improvements
Bundle E contains the segment of the study corridor that is more rural in nature. This segment currently lacks facilities for cyclists, and has only some intermittent sidewalk. Improvements within this bundle are focused on providing connectivity for cyclists and pedestrians to the Greenbelt, trails, and beyond.
Bundle E:
- Maintains existing 11-foot-wide vehicle lanes.
- Constructs bike lanes between Old Penitentiary Road and Windsong Drive.
- Buffered bike lanes between Old Penitentiary Road and Soaring Eagle Lane.
- Adds multi-use pathway connecting Tram Trail to the Boise River Greenbelt.
- Adds RRFBs at existing crossing of Warm Springs Avenue that connects the two facilities.
- Improves all pedestrian ramps and driveways to be ADA compliant.
The Refined Alternative Cost Estimate
The overall cost estimate of the refined alternative is $12.2M–$12.6M, dependent on which Walnut Street option is selected. The breakdown by bundle is as follows.
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Key Features
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Raised Intersections
Traffic calming measures that improve safety at intersections.
- Constructed with a slight elevation compared to the surrounding road.
- Raised portions are visible to drivers and pedestrians.
- The raised road surface acts as a natural speed bump, encouraging drivers to slow down.
- The raised platform extends across the entire intersection, including the crosswalk, which encourages drivers to yield to pedestrians.
- The elevation helps make pedestrians more visible to drivers.
Benefits
- Slows traffic.
- Improves pedestrian safety.
- Increases pedestrian visibility.
- Recommended in residential areas and school zones.
Disadvantages
- More difficult for emergency service vehicles (fire, police, paramedics) to navigate quickly.
- More costly to design and build than a traditional intersection.
- Roadway design is more complex and requires additional drainage improvements.
Where are these proposed?
Located at Straughan Avenue, and the crossing at Adams Elementary School, and potentially Walnut Street.
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Roundabouts
Roundabouts typically eliminate the most severe intersection accidents, which are T-bones and head-on collisions. They have fewer vehicle conflict points than a traditional intersection, which results in fewer injury and fatal crashes than signalized intersections.
Benefits
- Roundabouts help drivers transition from higher to lower speeds.
- Improves traffic flow and reduces delay when compared to more conventional intersections.
- Less maintenance costs over time compared to a standard traffic signal.
Disadvantages
- Requires a larger footprint (land/space) than a traditional intersection.
- More expensive to construct compared to a standard traffic signal.
Where are these proposed?
Located at Old Penitentiary Road.
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Bulb-outs
Bulb-outs, also called curb extensions, extend the sidewalk into the travel lane to narrow the roadway and provide additional pedestrian space. They can be used at corners and mid-block. Curb extensions can be used to create public spaces, landscaped areas, or transit waiting areas.
Benefits
- Increases the visibility of pedestrians.
- Calms traffic and slows vehicles.
- Encourages pedestrians to cross at designated locations.
- Shortens the distance needed to cross the street.
Disadvantages
- More costly to design and build.
- Roadway design is more complex and requires additional drainage improvements.
Where are these proposed?
Located throughout the Warm Springs corridor west of Old Penitentiary Road.
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Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFBs)
RRFBs are pedestrian-activated flashing LED lights, typically mounted on existing crosswalk signage, which signal to drivers that a pedestrian is about to enter a crosswalk.
Benefits
- Increases pedestrian safety by focusing driver’s attention on pedestrians crossing the roadway.
- Gives motorists a clear message to stop when a pedestrian is crossing.
- Flashing lights are brighter, have more intensity, and flash at a much faster rate than a regular traditional crossing beacon, which makes them more visible to drivers.
- Highly effective at getting drivers to stop for crossing pedestrians when speed limits are lower than 40 mph.
- Cost-effective measure that can be added to existing crossing signage.
Disadvantages
- Less effective at getting motorists to stop/yield than a traditional traffic signal.
Where are these proposed?
Located at Avenue C, Straughan Avenue, Coston Street, Old Penitentiary Road, the entrance to Warm Springs Golf Course, and potentially Walnut Street.
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Pedestrian Hybrid Beacons (PHBs)
Like RRFBs, PHBs are pedestrian-activated lights that flash to alert drivers of pedestrian crossings.
Unlike RRFBs, PHBs are mounted on mast arms above the crosswalk, much like a traffic light at an intersection. This makes them easier to see from a distance but increases costs.
Benefits
- Significantly increases pedestrian safety when the PHB is activated by alerting drivers to pedestrians crossing the road.
- Pedestrians can notify traffic that they want to cross by activating the PHB. This sends a clear message to motorists to stop.
- When not in use, the PHB turns off and motorists can drive as usual, which keeps traffic flowing.
- Greater visiblity than RRFBs.
Disadvantages
- Can be confusing to some motorists.
- More expensive than RRFBs.
Where are these proposed?
Located at the crossing at Adams Elementary School.
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Multi-use Pathways
Multi-use pathways are paved pathways that serve bicycling, walking, and other active modes in both directions. A minimum 10-foot multi-use pathway could be constructed in lieu of sidewalks and on-street bike lanes.
Benefits
- Separates pedestrians and cyclists from traffic.
- Reduces the risk of motor vehicle crashes with pedestrians and cyclists.
Disadvantages
- Cyclists and pedestrians are using the same space, which could cause conflicts.
Where are these proposed?
- North Side of Warm Springs Avenue:
- Short segment east of Avenue C.
- Coston Street to Old Penitentiary Road.
- Tram Trail to Warm Springs Golf Course Entrance.
- South Side of Warm Springs Avenue:
- Mobley Drive to Old Penitentiary Road.
Comments
What do you think? | ACHD Engage
Schedule/Next Steps
June 22, 2023
Public Outreach Meeting / Workshops
July – Late Fall 2023
Concept Alternatives Development
February 8, 2024
Second Public Outreach Meeting
Spring —Winter 2024
Refined Alternative Development
January 30, 2025
Third Public Outreach Meeting WE ARE HERE
Spring 2025
Commission Hearing / Adoption
Stay Informed
Sign up for study notifications at the study webpage.
For questions or more information, contact:
Edinson Bautista, ACHD Senior Transportation Planner
(208) 387-6100 or TTY: 1-800-377-3529 projects@achdidaho.org
To arrange for a translator or other accommodation, contact ACHD at (208) 387-6100 | TTY 1-800-377-3529 | projects@achdidaho.org.
Se recomienda a las personas que necesiten un intérprete u otras acomodaciones que se pongan en contacto con ACHD at number de telefono (208) 387-6100 | TTY 1-800-377-3529 | projects@achdidaho.org.
