Letter to the Editor: Just making Dike Road 4 feet wider won't help walkers

(The following is a Letter to the Editor submitted by Decorah resident Aaron Detter, AICP):

"The complete reconstruction of a large segment of Luther's Dike Road is the kind of project that happens only once every several decades, if not once in a lifetime. This route forms part of a corridor between Luther College and Decorah's paved trail system and sees high traffic from people walking and bicycling, both recreationally and for utilitarian purposes (same as motorists). Luther College is the ultimate destination for many if not most people traveling this corridor. Safe walking facilities are critical between Riverview Drive and Luther's athletic facilities and fields. The route from the 5th Avenue bridge north on Riverview Drive and continuing on Dike Road is shamefully deficient in safe facilities for walking (and bicycling); and this is a route that sees, in all likelihood, the highest pedestrian and bicycle traffic numbers in the entire city outside of Downtown.

Based on the information provided to decorahnews.com by Luther College's Eric Runestad, it seems the reconstructed roadway will be about four feet wider than before. Constructing a wider roadway without additional facilities for pedestrians will not provide a safer experience for walkers. In fact, it will do the exact opposite. Wider traffic lanes are associated with increases in vehicle speeds and other dangerous driver behaviors. A wider roadway that lacks pedestrian facilities will further endanger walkers along this route.

Enhanced facilities for people walking could include (in order of descending desirability and appropriateness) a separated, paved trail forming part of a future full trail extension to the 5th Avenue Bridge, minimum 10 feet wide; a separated, paved sidewalk, minimum five feet wide; minimum four-feet-wide shoulders with physical barriers such as extruded curb or delineator posts; or minimum four-feet-wide paved shoulders with enhanced pedestrian pavement markings.

For Luther to undertake this once-in-a-lifetime road reconstruction in a way that ignores the heavy walking traffic the road sees, and the potential for a tremendous active-transportation corridor enhancement, would be a tragic missed opportunity for the entire Decorah community."