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Wabash River Scenic Byway Corridor Management PlanPublic Information Meeting

April 23, 2013

INTRODUCTIONS

Wabash River Enhancement Corp.Stan Lambert

Consultant TeamMeg Storrow, SKAJohn Kinsella, SKAKate Zale, URSTom Sturmer, Transportation Solutions LLC

AGENDA5:00-5:30 Short Presentation5:30–6:00 Questions6:00-6:30 Review Graphics

Provide Your Comments

Where we are in the process

• Meeting One: Information gathering• Meeting Two: Establish direction• Meeting Three: Review draft recommendations

•July/August: final recommendations

West Lafayette

Lafayette

SCENIC BYWAY LOCATION

Wabash

River

Tippecanoe County

Presented at Public Meeting 1

The Byway Management Plan is a component of the overall Wabash River Corridor Enhancement initiative.

WREC (Wabash River Enhancement Corporation) was formed as a collaborative effort between Lafayette, West Lafayette, Tippecanoe County, and Purdue. It is the point agency for planning and implementing enhancement of the Wabash River corridor. Current projects include:

• Water quality improvement through watershed management • Developing urban and rural master plans for corridor vision• Finding funding for project implementation• Environmental cleanup• Byway Management Plan (this project)

Clarification of public right-of-way issues

Segments of River Road do not have platted right-of-way. A survey is in progress to establish a road centerline on North River Road. Goals from the Corridor Enhancement Plan are to:

• Retain the scenic quality of the Byway• Stabilize the Wabash River bank• Protect the floodplain• Develop a bike and pedestrian way along River Road• Achieve improved property values• A world-class riverfront (particularly urban section)

As funds become available, WREC may buy property from willing sellers to accomplish the above goals. After replatting the property, WREC will put property on the west side of the road back on the market.

What we heard from the first public meeting

• Retain natural and scenic beauty and tree canopy

• River Road is valued by the community

• Protect property rights – property will be acquired ONLY from willing sellers

• Support continuous separated trail from Ross Camp to I-65

• Improve access to river for boating and fishing

• Support telling the unique story and heritage of the Wabash River and Tippecanoe County

• Protect the quality of the Scenic Byway now!

• Keep it special! Make it a parkway! Use sensitive design standards to guide capital improvements throughout the corridor.

What we have learned in the planning process

• Relinquishment - the state will relinquish the highway portion of the Scenic Byway to local communities by end of 2013, allowing local control and flexible design standards.

• Momentum - the Scenic Byway has been a community goal for over 20 years – now seeing results in stewardship, protection, and infrastructure renewal.

• Timing - Many initiatives are in the planning and implementation stage - this Corridor Management Plan will guide them.

Relinquishment Opportunity to manage travel speeds to be compatible with pedestrians, bicycles and local traffic.

Ability to consider medians and other traffic calming means to introduce landscaping, in flexible and variable ways.

Flexibility to use a common streetscape approach to, over time, to create a “unique and sensitive character” for the Byway,

Local control can manage the inevitable change to River Road so it becomes its own place rather than an anywhere road.

Momentum Cooperation and partnerships are strong between Lafayette, West Lafayette, the County and Purdue

SR 231 relocation to move trucks away from River Road

Replace SR 52 bridge and include bike/ped facilities in new design

Purdue “ring road” planning – will be guided by Byway vision

Public wayfinding program will include Scenic Byway

Segments of the Byway trail are in place – need to find the best way to connect them

TimingRelinquishment

Community recognizies the competitive global market for jobs, workers, and quality of life

Growth of local heritage tourism

Local government cooperation in place

West Lafayette

Lafayette

SCENIC BYWAY LOCATION

Wabash

River

Tippecanoe County

SCENIC BYWAY INTRINSIC QUALITIES AND CHARACTER ZONES

SCENIC BYWAY TRANSPORTATION CONCEPTS

SCENIC BYWAY ECONOMY

SCENIC BYWAY SOUTH RIVER ROAD CHARACTER ZONE

SCENIC BYWAY WABASH RIVER FRONT CHARACTER ZONE

SCENIC BYWAY NORTH RIVER ROAD CHARACTER ZONE

SCENIC BYWAY FAR NORTH RIVER ROAD CHARACTER ZONE

Wabash River Enhancement Corporation

INTRINSIC QUALITY DATABASE

Help us identify intrinsic qualities on the Byway:• Scenic• Natural• Historic • Cultural• Archaeological• Recreational• Tourism Resources

WEBSITE

www.wabashriverscenicbyway.org

economic development and quality of life purpose & benefits

Attraction and retention of a quality work force

Destination Tourism

Reinforcement of Purdue University as world class institution in a livable region

Establishment of Tippecanoe County, Lafayette, and West Lafayette as world class region centered on its rich heritage and recreation resource

River Road State Scenic Byway Local Corridor Management PlanPublic Information Meeting, February 7, 2013

ACHIEVEMENTS1. USACE Hydraulic Study

2. River Road State Scenic Byway

3. Long Term USACE Partnership Development

4. Long Range Planning and Land Acquisition

5. Watershed Management Plan

6. US Army Corps of Engineers Reconnaissance Study

7. Corridor Master Plan: Phases 1 & 2

8. River Road Scenic Byway Designation

9. Corridor Management Plan grant

River Road State Scenic Byway Local Corridor Management PlanPublic Information Meeting, February 7, 2013

now it is your turn – please give us your thoughts and comments to help us prepare for our next steps

THANKS!Next meeting is in July/August

Public Meeting 1 ReviewThe River Road State Scenic Byway Corridor Management Plan is a local blueprint and strategy for managing, promoting, preserving and enhancing the Scenic Byway’s image and function as a distinctive place and experience within the Wabash River Corridor In Tippecanoe County.

The management plan will identify the Scenic Byway’s potential to enhance the region’s quality of life, the Byway’s intrinsic qualities: scenic, natural, historic, cultural, archaeological, and recreational, and the Byway’s accommodation of appropriate tourism resources.