If you missed our public input meeting for the Business Loop planning process, please take a few minutes to check out all the meeting documents. The consulting team of Great Rivers Engineering has done a great job of analyzing the current conditions of the street and putting together some streetscape options for everyone to review. Take a look and then take the survey!
The Business Loop today functions more as a fast moving route for people going across town rather than a destination or showcase for our businesses. There are limited sidewalks and bike lanes, although oddly there is also a lot of pavement. Landscaping is limited.
The sheer amount of pavement and other impervious surfaces means there's a lot of water runoff when it rains, creating flooding in low spots. As with any area with lots of cars and parking lots, much of that runoff contains motor oil and other contaminants which run straight into our streams. Fortunately, a good stormwater management plan will help address these problems while also adding attractive landscaping. Managing stormwater will also make it easier to redevelop vacant or underutilized lots and expand existing buildings.
It's important that The Loop have a strong visual look that is in keeping with the character of the street and that distinguishes it from other areas of town. This visual look will be seen in sidewalk amenities, public art, signage, landscaping, lighting, and more.
The Business Loop is divided into three sections, representing different activities and geographies. The pedestrian focus will be on the blocks surrounding Hickman High School, but all sections will have amenities, landscaping, and the like.
These options take desired streetscape elements—sidewalks, driving lanes, bike lanes, parking, sidewalk ameneties, landscaping—and mix them up in different ways to see which ones people like best.
Also, both a regular intersection option and a round-about option are under consideration for the Garth and Rangeline intersections.
Couple of caveats!
First, not every section of the street will be identical. Different areas have different needs and different space allocations so there will have to be variations along the corridor. However, the goal is to make sure every area has driving lanes, sidewalks, and bike lanes—at the very minimum.
Second, these are all options. The team will take all the input they receive, refine their designs, and present the refined version to everyone again.
Please take our survey! There are several questions that will help guide the planning team as they revise and improve these options. There is also a section at the end of the survey for open-ended comments.
If you would like to download copies of these images, add additional comments, or keep abreast of the planning process, visit the City of Columbia's BeHeard page.
