By the numbers
$119,000: Cost of the South Limestone Street corridor study.
5: The number of lanes on South Limestone Street between Leffel Lane and Spring Street.
3: The number of lanes being suggested for South Limestone Street between John and Spring Streets.
Complete coverage
The Springfield News-Sun provides unmatched coverage of transportation issues in Clark and Champaign counties, including recent stories on efforts to widen I-70 and how to distribute federal transportation funding.
Several scenarios are being considered for the long-term improvement of the South Limestone Street corridor — including wider sidewalks, additional crosswalks and a roundabout at Grand Avenue — to improve safety in the area.
Earlier this year, the Clark County-Springfield Transportation Coordination Committee hired a consulting firm to develop a plan for a two-mile stretch of the major corridor from Leffel Lane to Spring Street.
The purpose of the study is to identify problems and needs for the corridor, as well as a vision for a cost-effective plan for the future.
A public meeting Thursday evening showed residents several options under consideration, including shared bicycle/automobile lanes, landscaping and possible driveway and access changes to improve traffic flow and safety.
“We want to come up with something people are on board with,” said Steve Thieken, a senior transportation planner for Burgess and Niple, a consulting firm hired to conduct the $119,000 study.
>>PREVIOUS COVERAGE: Improvements sought for major gateway into Springfield
>>RELATED: Springfield seeks to spur south side development
The first scenario includes increasing the right-of-way three feet on each side of South Limestone Street between Leffel Lane and Auburn Avenue, including adding a buffer zone between the sidewalk and the roadway and new marked crosswalks. It would also change the intersection at Leffel Lane, adding turn lanes to allow more access to Interstate 70.
That scenario also includes reducing the street from four lanes to three lanes between John Street and Grand Avenue to add wider walking paths, which Thieken said could improve safety. It also includes a roundabout at Grand Avenue to slow traffic, he said, and a reconfiguration of the intersection at Selma Road and Spring Street to encourage traffic downtown.
The second scenario would widen lanes to include bike lanes between Leffel Lane and Auburn Avenue, as well as removing access to businesses from Limestone Street. It would also widen the intersection at Leffel Lane and Limestone Street. It would add five foot sidewalks and trees north of John Street, but keep five lanes to Spring Street.
Residents have expressed concerns about traffic driving too fast in previous corridor meetings, Thieken said. Some residents believed the roundabout will slow down traffic, while others said more traffic lights are needed to reduce speeds.
The roundabout will beautify the areas around it and could spur investment near Interstate 70, Chamber of Greater Springfield President and CEO Mike McDorman said. He’s in favor of adding a roundabout at Limestone Street and John Street.
“We’re trying to make this premiere entryway into our community,” McDorman said.
At this point, the possible improvements are simply ideas and a combination of both scenarios could be proposed moving forward, Thieken said.
Springfield Mayor Warren Copeland is most concerned about creating some space between the streets and the sidewalks, he said.
The study is long-term and not something that’s going to happen soon, Mayor Warren Copeland said. It all depends on state and federal funding, he said.
A previous study completed 10 to 15 years ago never came fruition, Copeland said.
“It’s the first step in a long process,” he said.
Earlier this year, Springfield leaders rejected a proposed roundabout at Bechtle Avenue and St. Paris Connector. Copeland was in favor of that roundabout, but said he voted against it due to the community outcry opposing the project.
“It’s a good idea, but if the community’s not ready for it, we can’t make people do it,” he said. “I wouldn’t want it to get in the way of the other things we’re looking at.”
It’s a great idea to beautify the corridor, Springfield resident David Hoagland said, but he doesn’t support some of the suggestions, including the roundabout.
“You want visitors to come in and then they’re going to have to contend with something like that … Everyone understands traffic lights,” he said.
Many of the suggestions make sense and could increase foot traffic, especially the buffers between the road and the sidewalk, Southern Gateway Neighborhood Association President Brian Keith said.
“There’s not a lot of foot traffic because it’s a pretty dangerous street,” Keith said.
The TCC is accepting public comments about the suggested improvements until Sept. 30. For more information, log on to clarktcc.com/SoLimestoneCorridorStudy.htm.
About the Author
