• Transportation & Utilities
  • Quality of Life

Key Initiative

Continue to improve bicycle and pedestrian connectivity by filling key sidewalk gaps and expanding the trail and sidewalk network.

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SUMMARY

Connectivity and mobility in Lebanon are critical to maintaining the high quality of life of residents.  Bicycling and walking are health and recreational activities, but also sometimes the only means of transportation to work, the store, or school.

Throughout the comprehensive planning process, a series of survey questions was posted to the project website, and several of these questions related to bicycle and pedestrian facilities.  In response to evaluating existing City characteristics, 33% of the 340 respondents indicated that walkability was good, 43% stated walkability was fair, and 21reported poor walkability.  When asked how important it is for the City to develop improved bike and pedestrian facilities, 32% of the 323 respondents indicated that bicycle and pedestrian facilities were very important, whereas 46% responded important.   

Another survey question asked what the City’s role should be regarding improvements in residential areas in need of reinvestment.  Street and sidewalk repair was selected at the highest percentage, 72% of 365 responses, taking precedence over the following list of action items:  providing grants/low-interest loanshousing demolition and resale of lots; street trees and lighting; sewer and water improvements; reduce permitting/inspection; tax abatement; and doing nothing. Finally, when asked to rank the importance of several categories of transportation investments, improvements to pedestrian facilities (sidewalks and crosswalks) averaged the second most important behind only resurfacing existing roads. 

The results of these multiple survey responses reveal that there is broad support and desire to increase connectivity and enhance walkability in Lebanon. The City is gaining momentum in working with developers to create more destinations for walking and biking. As the City continues to invest in sidewalks, bike lanes and multi-use trails, the opportunity exists for all residents to take better advantage of this bicycle-pedestrian network as a mode of travel to and from various destinations.   

The City, in partnership with Butler, Fairman & Seufert, completed the City of Lebanon Bike & Pedestrian Plan in 2015. The plan makes recommendations for future bicycle and pedestrian improvements, including shared use paths, bike lanes, shared roadways, cycle tracks, and sidewalks across the City. The plan identified and prioritized the following bike and pedestrian routes:  

  • East Street:  bicycle boulevard & cycle track 
  • Elm Swamp Road – Elizaville Road – Ulen Drivebike lanes 
  • Anderson Lanebike lanes & shared-use path 
  • Sidewalk Improvement Plancitywide sidewalk repairs 
  • Frontier Drive – Garfield Streetbike lanes & shared roadway 
  • Indianapolis Avenueshared-use path 
  • Grant Streetbike lanes, shared roadway, & sidewalk 
  • Main Streetbike lanes, shared roadway, & sidewalk 
  • Abner Longley Parkshared-use path 
  • Lebanon Street: shared-use path 
  • Big 4 Trail West: shared-use path 
  • Chicago Streetbicycle boulevard 
  • Lafayette Avenuebike lane & sidewalk 
  • Noble Street – Peterson Street: bike lane & sidewalk 
  • Essex Streetshared roadway 
  • Washington Streetshared roadway 
  • RR Underpass Trailshared-use path 
  • Railroad Trailshared-use path 
  • Park Streetshared roadway 
  • Millerwood Trailshared-use path 
  • Camp Streetbike lanes & sidewalk 
  • Witt Roadshared roadway 
  • Sam Ralston Roadshared-use path & shared roadway 
  • South Street – SR 32shared-use path 
  • Business Park Trailshared-use path 
  • Elizaville Roadshared roadway & sidewalk 
  • Fordice Road – Fordice Streetbike lanes, shared roadway, & sidewalk 

For more details about these recommendations, please see the complete Bike & Pedestrian Plan [LINK]. 

In 2018, the City contracted with HWC Engineering to conduct a sidewalk inventory of all sidewalks in the City.  The purpose of this study was to identify any gaps in the sidewalk network and evaluate all existing sidewalks on a scale of one to ten, with one meaning seriously deteriorated and ten being in the best condition.  Other items identified included barriers in the sidewalk, including mailboxes, vegetation, and vehicles that hindered access, as well as any tripping hazards.  

To help quickly repair sidewalks in Lebanon, in 2019 the City implemented a 50/50 Sidewalk Replacement Cost Share Program.  The purpose of this program is to assist residents in making improvements in their neighborhood while partnering with the City.  The property owner submits a request to the City for a partnership to replace a sidewalk.  The City obtains a cost estimate and provides it to the property owner.  If agreeable, the City will start construction once the property owner submits their portion of the payment.  This program is on a first come, first serve basis until the money runs out.  To find out more about the program, please see the City’s website [LINK] 

Additionally, opportunities may exist to incorporate new trails and sidewalk improvements into the design and construction of new developments. Updates to the UDO are needed in order to require developers of subdivisions, apartments, and mixed-use developments to incorporate these improvements into their design or to provide an easement for the City to construct improvements at a later date. 

The comprehensive plan identifies the extension of the Big 4 trail.  The extension includes the ongoing construction to connect the existing Big 4 trail on the west side of the City to Main Street.  The trail then extends along Main Street to East Street. The trail would continue north on East Street and connect to Washington Street.  From there it would extend from East Street to John-Bart Road, where it will turn south to utilize the old railroad right-of-way to continue east to the Midland Trace Trail in Westfield.

 

EXPECTED OUTCOMES

  • Increase in bike and pedestrian facilities. 
  • All sidewalk gaps are filled in. 
  • All sidewalks are considered to be in good condition because of repairs or replacement. 
  • Improved connections from neighborhoods to schools and parks.

 

SHORT-TERM ACTIONS

  1. Annually evaluate if and what projects to construct during that fiscal year.  Facilities close to or connected with schools or parks should be given priority.
  2. Review scheduled roadway improvements and incorporate bike and pedestrian improvements before its constructed. 
  3. Incorporate all projects into a new capital improvements plan. 
  4. Identify and place amenities along the City’s significant trails (i.e., lighting, benches, trash cans, water fountains, help call buttons, etc.). 
  5. Update the UDO to ensure that new developments have sidewalks on at least one side of the street. 
  6. Update the UDO to ensure that new development does one of the following: constructs trail connections through development; provides fees in lieu of construction; or dedicates easements to the City to continue proposed trails.

 

LONG-TERM ACTIONS

  1. Update the Bike and Pedestrian plan every 5 to 8 years. 
  2. Establish a dedicated annual budget line within the general budget dedicated to sidewalk repair, multi-use paths, trails, and bike lanes. 
  3. Continue the 2019 50/50 Sidewalk Replacement Shared Cost Program. 
  4. Work with Boone County and Westfield to connect the Big 4 Trail and Midland Trace Trail. 
  5. Continue to design and construct segments of the Big 4 Trail. 
  6. Seek state and federal funding for the Big 4 Trail.

 

RESOURCES / ORGANIZATIONS / IMPLEMENTERS

  • City Engineer 
  • Planning Department 
  • Plan Commission 
  • City Council 
  • Property Owners 
  • Developers 
  • Boone County Commissioners 
  • Hamilton County Commissioners 
  • Indiana Department of Transportation