Gold Level Bicycle Friendly Community Invites Public Comment on Updated Bike Plan
The draft 2015 City of Urbana Bicycle Master Plan (UBMP) is available for review through February 1st.
Urbana, Illinois is recognized by the League of American Bicyclists (LAB) as a Gold Level Bicycle Friendly Community (BFC). This plan, updated by the Champaign County Regional Planning Commission (CCRPC), proposes recommendations to not only maintain its Gold BFC status, but to move toward a Platinum BFC.
The plan can be viewed at the following locations:
- Online: http://cuuats.org/ubmp/documents
- City of Urbana Community Development Department: 400 South Vine Street
- City of Urbana Public Works Department: 706 South Glover Avenue
- CCRPC Office: 1776 East Washington Street
- Urbana Free Library: 210 West Green Street
Comments can be written and left with the plan at the above locations, or submitted to Mr. Gabe Lewis, CCRPC Transportation Planner, by email at glewis@ccrpc.org, or by phone at (217) 328-3313.
Bikeway recommendations can be summarized in 13 major concepts: the Urbana Green Loop trail, connecting all of Urbana’s parks; the MCORE Project, connecting the University of Illinois to Downtown Urbana; Safe Routes to Schools; Rail-Trails; Bikeway Access in Low-Income Neighborhoods; Bikeway Access to Employers; Northern Access Across I-74; Future Development; Arterial Road accommodations; Stream Corridor trails; Loop Trails between Parks; and Fitness Trails. Additional recommendations are provided for bike parking and initiatives to improve education, encouragement, enforcement, evaluation, and equity.
While this plan is visionary, projects proposed in the next five years that are the sole responsibility of the City of Urbana fall within the existing budget for UBMP implementation. CCRPC had the unique opportunity to develop a Trail Master Plan for the Urbana Park District in conjunction with the UBMP, so certain recommendations will be achieved by working with the Urbana Park District and other community partners.