Pictured, from left, Warsaw resident and local business owner Michael Suhany and Consultant Jonathan Mooney of Lochmueller Group discuss proposed ideas for the redevelopment of Market Street.

WARSAW — Approximately 30 community members attended a draft presentation and discussion at Warsaw City Hall last night, Jan. 25. This presentation was related to plans for the development of Market Street with a goal of making the area safer for bicyclists and pedestrians.

Consultant Jonathan Mooney of Lochmueller Group led the presentation, showing slides of different options. Ideally, the project would feature a two-way cycle track along Market Street, which would be located on one side of the roadway.

“In theory a cycle track is a bicycle-specific transportation mode, but you would still obviously have your road and your sidewalk for pedestrians,” Mooney explained.

He discussed two types of cycle tracks: a street level track with a barrier between the cycle track and the motor vehicle travel lane, and a sidewalk level track, which is a raised cycle track and provides vertical separation from the adjacent motor vehicle lane.

Mooney reported that after obtaining input from the public at Monday night’s workshop meeting, a strong preference was shown for a street level cycle track, with 76 percent of the total votes going toward that option.

The top three amenities desired by community members were reported as functional bike racks, more plantings to assist in greening up the area and additional opportunities for seating.

Mooney stated, “As part of the plan, we are proposing that we eliminate left turn lanes at High, Indiana, Buffalo, Lake and Washington streets. We are not eliminating left turn movement, just dedicated left turn lanes. This will give us space for the bicycle facility. In preliminary meetings we asked people if they would prefer to eliminate left turn lanes or parking, and parking was a no-go pretty much across the board.”

“We are potentially recommending that the left turn lane and left turn movement be eliminated from Market Street southbound on Detroit Street or SR 15.”

“Nothing I talk about tonight is final. We are in the draft stages,” Mooney stressed. “After tonight we will take the additional feedback we receive and refine the concept and budget, finalize the traffic report based on the final concept and produce a plan and determine how to implement this.”

“Safety is obviously priority number one for this – safety for the bicyclists, the motorists and the pedestrians,” said Mooney.

When asked if he could name any towns similar in size to Warsaw that have embraced the concept of cycle tracks, Mooney responded that cycle tracks are not as common as multi-use paths or other options.

“I’m sure we could come up with a list,” Mooney replied, “And there is also something to be said about being a pioneer. It’s good to be ahead of the pack.”

“This opens up possibilities. It’s a matter of looking at what we want as a community – otherwise people are going to look elsewhere for these amenities,” said Greg Demopoulos, president of Kosciusko County Velo Club and co-founder of the annual Fat & Skinny Tire Festival. “This will produce economic, social, health and environmental benefits.”