CANAL STREET BIKELANES STUDY
Salem, Massachusetts
C&C recently completed a feasibility study of a proposal to provide bicycle lanes on both sides of Canal Street to connect the area of Salem State College with the MBTA Commuter Rail Station in Downtown Salem.
Our study utilized the recently developed GIS mapping and aerial photographs, backed up with on-the-ground street width measurements as a basis for design. As a part of the suggested design, we suggested various driveway modifications that would reduce the exposure of bicyclists to cross-path vehicles movements.
Nine different typical sections will be required for the streets within the project area. For all sections, the bicycle lanes would remain at a constant width of five feet to account for proximity to raised curbing and parked cars. The minimum vehicular lane widths would be eleven feet, except several turn lanes, which would be ten feet. We used the MHD design standards for lane widths to assure future funding eligibility, and completed a reconnaissance of the existing streets to determine the effects of drainage structures and the like.
Client: Salem Planning Department