Prince Avenue Pilot Project
Welcome to the StoryMap for the Prince Avenue Pilot Project! The purpose of the Prince Avenue Pilot Project is to test and study the feasibility and safety benefits for all roadway users (pedestrians, bicyclists, transit riders, and drivers) of an alternative street design. The Pilot Project spans approximately half a mile from just east of N. Milledge Avenue to Pulaski Street and is part of a larger effort to increase safety and update infrastructure along Prince Avenue.
Scroll down to move through each section or use the tabs above to skip ahead to the Project Overview, Background Information, Design Intent, Design Features, Materials, Study Period Process, or Feedback.
Feedback
Thank you so much for your feedback. The survey is now closed.
Project Extents
Overview
The Prince Avenue Pilot Project involves installing and studying street design elements that have a track record of increasing safety for all roadway users by calming traffic and providing physically separated spaces for bicyclists and pedestrians.
The long-term feasibility of the street configuration created by the Pilot Project will be analyzed in terms of benefits and impacts to all roadway users and properties within the study area. Existing conditions data has already been collected. Once installed, a 60-day study period will begin. Results from the Pilot Project will be summarized after the study period is complete. Analysis of travel behavior and of feedback received through public engagement will be presented to the Prince Avenue User Group and the ACC Mayor and Commission later this fall.
The Athens-Clarke County Mayor and Commission approved up to $350,000 for the Pilot Project. The Pilot is part of a future effort by the Georgia Department of Transportation (GDOT) to update infrastructure on a longer portion of Prince Avenue.
Background Information
Prince Avenue Corridor Improvements Project
The Pilot is part of this larger-scale project to update multimodal infrastructure on Prince Avenue from Sunset Drive to Pulaski Street. This project builds on the results of studies over the last 15 years and includes $4 million in funds for updates to the corridor. More information is available on the project page and corresponding StoryMap for the Prince Avenue Corridor Improvement Project.
TSPLOST
The Prince Avenue Corridor Improvements project is one of 19 projects receiving funding through the 2018 Transportation Special Purpose Local Option Sales Tax (TSPLOST). This program funds specific transportation projects approved by voter referendum.
Prince Avenue User Group
An appointed community advisory committee is helping guide the Prince Avenue Pilot Project. Input from the User Group guided goals for the Pilot Project, design decisions, and efforts to hear from the public throughout the study period. Prince Avenue User Group meeting agendas, minutes, and videos are available on the Prince Avenue Corridor Improvements project page .
Athens in Motion
The Prince Avenue Pilot Project is one of numerous bicycle and pedestrian projects sponsored by Athens-Clarke County. Most of these projects are identified in the Athens in Motion Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan . The Athens in Motion (AiM) Plan outlines a strategy for short- and long-term projects that will result in a safe, connected, and equitable bicycle and pedestrian network for Athens-Clarke County.
The AiM Plan identifies Prince Avenue as a critical corridor for bicycle and pedestrian mobility. On page 68, the Plan recommends implementing separated bike lanes on Prince Avenue in collaboration with GDOT.
Design Intent
This segment of Prince Avenue is a bustling area with people who use various modes travel to move through and along the corridor. Many local businesses, institutions, and historic buildings are located on the corridor and serve as destinations for a broad spectrum of people. Prince Avenue is also a primary east-west route connecting Loop 10 to downtown. As the existing cross sections show, Prince Avenue is a four-lane road with two vehicle lanes in each direction. Sidewalks are present on both sides of the street and three ACC transit routes provide service on the corridor.
- Scroll down to explore the existing corridor.
- Click each cross section to see a larger version of the graphic.
Milledge Avenue to Barber Street
Barber Street to Pulaski Street
The cross sections below and the dynamic map to the right show how the Pilot Project will repurpose the existing space on roadway to provide a safer and more comfortable travel experience for all users - motorists, bicyclists, pedestrians, and transit riders.
The Pilot Project uses durable materials that can be installed rapidly and provide an alternative to more expensive, time-consuming and complex construction. Keep scrolling to learn about specific design features and construction materials.
- Use the slider to see Prince Avenue transformed by the Pilot Project (Transit stops are represented on the map by a bus icon inside a blue circle).
- Click on each cross section to see a larger version of the graphic.
- Download the design for the entire corridor by clicking on this link .
Materials
White, yellow, and green roadway paint is use to restripe the corridor and establish bicycle lanes.
Vertical Delineators
Vertical delineators are materials that are mounted to the roadway to provide physical separation of the bike lane. A combination of Zicla Zippers, TranSafe flex posts, and TreeTop Turn wedges are used in the Pilot.
Zicla Zippers
This type of vertical delineator is modular and can be arranged in various configurations. For this corridor, Zippers are placed in the middle of buffers and inside the white line of curb extensions. Learn more about Zippers on the Zicla website .
Flex Posts
This type of vertical delineator is used in many applications ranging from highways to neighborhood streets. The post is 3’ tall and has reflective tape. Learn more about the flex post on the TranSafe website .
TreeTop Corner Wedges
A corner wedge is like a miniature speed bump that helps reinforce striped curb extensions. Safety benefits include slowing turning vehicles and increasing separation between vehicles and nonmotorized users. Vehicles can drive over corner wedges, if necessary, but most will choose to avoid it. Learn more on the Treetop Products website .
Design Features
Use the slider in each map vignette to see how the Pilot Project increases safety through specific street design elements.
Directional Separated Bicycle Lanes & Conflict Markings
The proposed cross sections above show how removing one vehicle lane allows for the creation of directional, separated bike lanes. These bike lanes provide a dedicated space for bicyclists to move along the corridor. A painted 1-3’ striped buffer and vertical delineators provide physical separation from vehicles. A 1' buffer is maintained even where space is limited with wider buffers and on-street parking where space allows. Conflict markings for the bike lanes are shown with green paint to indicate areas where vehicles and bicyclists will cross paths. Conflict markings are used at intersections, driveways, and transit stops.
Vertical delineators https://www.zicla.com/en/
Conflict markings
Curb Extensions
Curb extensions, also known as bulb outs, are used at intersections to increase safety by making wide corners tighter, reducing crossing distances, and giving bicyclists space to wait. Each curb extension is outlined with a 5” wide painted edge. Where space is available, a vertical delineator or corner wedge is also used.
Protected Intersections
Protected intersections are proposed at all intersecting streets throughout the corridor to enhance the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists. Protected intersections include a buffer between vehicles, bicyclists, and pedestrians all the way up to the intersection. This prevents bicyclists from having to merge into mixed traffic with vehicles in order to pass through the intersection.
By providing a dedicated path of travel through the intersection for all users, protected intersections increase visibility and shorten crossing distances.
Mid-Block Crossings
The study area along Prince Avenue already has three mid-block crossings. These crossings are located between intersections and, in two locations, include a landscaped median refuge island.
The Pilot Project integrates existing mid-block crossings with the new center turn lane. It also shifts the mid-block crossing near Newton Street slightly west. Currently, this mid-block crossing ties into the sidewalk at a commercial driveway.
The new location provides a safer entry/exit point for pedestrians seeking to cross the street, shortens the crossing distance, and provides queueing space for left turning vehicles accessing the new 100 Prince development.
High-Visibility Crosswalks
High-visibility crosswalks will be added to intersections to provide clearly marked pedestrian crossings over Prince Avenue and intersecting streets. The Pilot Project adds this design element where many of the side streets do not currently have marked crosswalks.
On-Street Parking
Where space allows, the Pilot Project includes on-street parking spaces on the south side of the street. These parking spaces provide an additional degree of separation between through traffic and the separated bike lane.
To avoid conflicts with opening vehicle doors, a wider buffer is provided between the parking space and the bike lane. Parking is restricted near intersections and mid-block crosswalks. This helps maintain sightlines so motorists can see pedestrians and bicyclists.
On-street parking also helps provide traffic calming as parked cars visually narrow the width of the street, which encourages motorists to drive slower.
Study Period Process
This Pilot Project is intended to collect data and user feedback to understand the benefits and impacts and assess the long-term feasibility of design elements focused on user safety. Existing conditions data regarding travel behavior has been collected and will be compared to data collected during the 60-day study period.
Analysis of travel behavior and of feedback received through public engagement will be presented to the Prince Avenue User Group and ACCGov later this fall. If the Pilot Project is successful, ACCGov may choose to allow the design features to remain in place.
Before and after data being collected and analyzed includes:
- Traffic counts of vehicles, pedestrians, and bicyclists (on Prince Avenue and surrounding streets)
- Travel speed of vehicles (on Prince Avenue and surrounding streets)
- Time it takes for vehicles to travel the corridor
- 24-hour video data at 3 key intersections to understand crossing behaviors and potential conflicts between roadway users that pose a risk for crashes or near-misses
Feedback
Thank you so much for your feedback. The survey is now closed.
Contact
For more information, contact the SPLOST / TSPLOST Program Management Office at 706-613-3025, email tsplost@accgov.com , or visit www.accgov.com/tsplost .
