Connect Columbus

BACKGROUND

The City of Columbus continues to develop its multimodal thoroughfare plan through a planning effort called Connect Columbus. This purpose of the project is to improve safety, reduce congestion, promote equitable access to transportation, and foster economic development, public health, environmental responsibility, mode choice, and adaptability. The plan will shape the future of transportation in Columbus by creating a framework on how to enhance multiple modes of transportation. A community that is more pedestrian, bicycle and transit friendly is a more livable community.

Connect Columbus is the Citywide Transportation Policy Framework for the City of Columbus. The City envisions a future where walking, bicycling, shared mobility and using transit is easy and convenient, providing a variety of mobility choices that meet the needs of all residents, and Connect Columbus aims to guide the way toward that vision. Connect Columbus creates a framework for future transportation decisions and investments throughout the city by updating city operating procedures and developing a new, Multimodal Thoroughfare Plan.

Connect Columbus will be implemented in a phased approach:

Policy Framework

Multimodal Thoroughfare Plan



Update to Public Service Rules and Regulations

a. Design Guide - design best practices to support Complete Streets

b. Mobility Management Guidelines - traffic impact studies, transportation demand management, and access management updates



Code Updates – updates to Columbus City Codes to ensure all Connect Columbus policy and Multimodal Thoroughfare Plan recommendations are reflected in Columbus City Codes.

Multimodal Thoroughfare Plan

The Thoroughfare Plan includes a table and map of key transportation corridors designating necessary minimum right-of-way widths. The existing plan has become outdated and the Connect Columbus planning effort has focused on a new approach to classifying thoroughfare corridors, with the intent of accommodating greater design flexibility, multiple modes of transportation for varying contexts throughout the city, and identifying associated right-of-way needs.

A public hearing was held on July 24, 2019 prior to the adoption of the new Thoroughfare Plan. The view the PowerPoint presentation, click here. To view a recording of the hearing, click here.

Existing Thoroughfare Plan

The current legislated Columbus Thoroughfare Plan is based on an original plan developed in 1993, with amendments adopted by Council in 2004 and 2015.

The existing plan includes 10 distinct “Arterial” roadway classifications, each designating a planned lane configuration and associated minimum right-of-way width.

Thoroughfare designations are exclusively geared toward traditional vehicular lane configurations, and do not consider alternate modes beyond the provision of sidewalks.

Thoroughfare Plan Update

All corridors may serve multiple types of users, but with different emphasis on various modes, depending on mobility needs, land use context, and availability of right-of-way.

Design treatment for emphasized modes will be flexible and sensitive to variables such as location within the larger transportation network, surrounding development character, speed limit, and design feasibility.

Intent is to provide “One vision, but not one map” – alternate mode networks may overlap within certain corridors (e.g. Transit Priority Corridors, Low Stress Bicycle Network, etc.). This approach recognizes that many roadway corridors serve multiple modes, but each mode operates as its own network.

The new plan recognizes the connection between land use and multi-modal transportation function, and the potential for street designs to evolve as density, development, and transportation technology conditions change.

Why Update the Thoroughfare Plan

The existing plan has become outdated and the Connect Columbus planning effort has focused on a new approach to classifying thoroughfare corridors, with the intent of accommodating greater design flexibility, multiple modes of transportation for varying contexts throughout the city, and identifying associated right-of-way needs.

Considerations for Typical Right-of-Way Widths

Existing typical rights-of-way for each corridor (Includes R/W acquired through development, Capital Improvements Projects, utilities and signals work)

Existing and anticipated travel lane configurations based on transportation demands

Changes in expected development patterns since the 1993 Comprehensive Plan and Thoroughfare Plan

Consideration of physical constraints (e.g. building patterns, natural features, etc.)

Appropriate bike/pedestrian facility types based on design and speed of street

Need for increased sidewalk or transit amenities

Consideration of planning/engineering and roadway design best practices

Zoning/development patterns and associated setback requirements

Columbus Citywide Planning Policies (C2P2) encouraging more urban design considerations as a development guide

Multi-jurisdictional projects and plan coordination

Email: connect@columbus.gov

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