Public input sought on Northbrook's first 'bike boulevard'

Northbrook is building a bike boulevard this year, and the village is seeking public input on its design.

Project manager Aram Beladi and Matt Farmer of Northbrook's Engineering Division, and Tim Gustafson, a senior planner of Chicago-based consulting firm Epstein, offered an introduction to the proposed Farnsworth-Koepke Bicycle Boulevard during a recent virtual meeting.

As part of Northbrook's Master Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, which was accepted by the village in July 2018, the affected roadways will be Miller, Koepke and Birch roads and Farnsworth Lane, from near Landwehr Road on the west to Shermer Road to the east.

Farnsworth-Koepke was chosen to kick off the long-term project because it's a solid link between popular destinations, it's in a residential area and it's a cost-effective way to piggyback on patching work to be done on Farnsworth this summer - one of the master plan's considerations, according to the plan.

Bike boulevards, Gustafson said, are "local streets that accommodate all modes of travel but they're designed in such a way to be inviting and attractive for bicycling." So the design must include using directional signs and street markings, and also keep vehicle traffic and volumes comfortable for cyclists to share the road without needing to create dedicated bike lanes or widening the road.

The planners shared a number of options from a "design toolbox" that addressed both factors.

Curb extensions, speed humps or tables, small roundabouts and chicanes - a subtle curve in the road - help reduce traffic speed by restricting turns at some intersections and partially or fully closing streets handle the volume.

"If you want to encourage comfortable bicycling, you want to do what you can to make sure that (automobiles) are actually traveling at the posted speed of 20 or 25 and it's very difficult to actually go much faster than that," Gustafson said.

The planners strongly encouraged residents to comment or suggest their views on the various tools on an interactive aerial map available by visiting the website, northbrook.il.us/farnsworthbb.

Beladi also is accepting input at Aram.Beladi@northbrook.il.us. or (847) 664-4133. Comments will be accepted through July 31.

"How much or how little do you think is needed in order to get that kind of a bike boulevard treatment," Gustafson said. "It could be very robust, it could be a very light touch."

Street parking won't need to be changed, he said.

"The typical treatments that are being used on a bike boulevard that I live on actually involve a speed hump or two - usually one every block or so - every now and then you might see a miniature traffic circle ... but generally that's really all that's been going into these, with the exception of a couple of pavement markings and the occasional sign," Gustafson said. "Not all of these treatments are used at any one time. And not all of these treatments need to be installed in order to get speeds and volumes where you want them."

The Farnsworth-Koepke project will be unveiled after the open feedback period from residents has ended.