We Need Your Input
We had our second community meeting last night (February 20). A variety for options were presented as potential solutions to the concerns raised at the first community meeting. We want to hear from you about which options you prefer. Please use this survey link to provide your thoughts and comments. The survey will be open until February 28th. We look forward to hearing from you!
Happy New Year!
We had an impressive turnout at our community workshop last October! Based on your input, we have been developing potential traffic calming solutions for the Blackmore Road Study Area. We need your input once again to understand which solutions you support most. Please join us at this month’s open house to learn more about the different alternatives and speak with the project team. The meeting will include a brief presentation at 5:30, followed by an open house until 8:30 where you will have plenty of time to ask questions and provide input, but no commitment to stay for the full 3 hours.
Wednesday, February 20th
5:30 – 8:30 pm
Evansville Community Center
71 Curtis Street
Evansville, WY 82636
If you can’t make it, you can still give us your input online. We will post meeting materials for your comment on this website prior to the meeting.
The Blackmore Road Study is well underway! The project team met with the MPO Policy/Technical Committee as well as the Project Advisory Committee on Tuesday, November 13th to report on existing conditions in the study area, traffic calming toolbox, and principles of roadway network planning.
Existing Conditions
While the public has expressed diverging opinions on the use of Blackmore Road and potential new connections, several key locations have been identified for improvement. A roadway capacity analysis has confirmed public concerns regarding traffic flow along Blackmore Road between Wyoming Boulevard and Donegal Road. To read the existing conditions report, CLICK HERE.
Traffic Calming Toolbox
To effectively calm traffic and realize the benefits, an accurate understanding of the problems is required. While speed control may be a high priority in certain locations, volume control may be a more pressing issue in others. Once problems are identified, appropriate traffic calming tools (speed humps, narrowings, etc.) can be considered for implementation. The project team presented each tool and discussed the pros and cons of each with the MPO Policy/Technical Committee and the Project Advisory Committee. Using keypad polling, meeting attendees ranked their preferred solutions for consideration in the toolbox. In general, the committee supported traffic calming devices that also enhanced the pedestrian environment, such as raised crosswalks, neckdowns, and center island narrowings. Median barriers and non-physical measures were also supported by the group. CLICK HERE to see the traffic calming toolbox.
Principles of Roadway Network Planning
Transportation operates inherently as a system. A single street or highway in the Blackmore Road Sub Area has no function without the connection to, and support of, the rest of the system. Areas of the Blackmore Road Sub Area, particularly on the eastern side, are currently undeveloped, providing an opportunity to plan new roadways to effectively accommodate future land uses and traffic. The project team presented on the principles of roadway network planning that will be used to develop guidelines for future roadways. The purpose of the guidelines is to ensure that each incremental improvement will contribute to a complete roadway network that provides safe and efficient circulation for all users. CLICK HERE to read about the principles of roadway network planning.
The next public meeting is scheduled for February. Check back soon for more details and project updates. Until then, we want to hear your thoughts about traffic calming and future roadways in the study area! Please submit your comments HERE.
Community Kick-Off
Last Saturday, October 6th, the project team set up a community workshop in the Eastridge Mall to hear your thoughts on transportation in the Blackmore Road Sub Area.
We brought comment sheets and a huge map to capture ideas and concerns throughout the dialogue. This information will be instrumental as we develop tailored transportation solutions.
Thanks to everyone who came out and shared with us! If you couldn’t make it or have other thoughts, please submit your comments HERE. We look forward to continuing the conversation with you and collectively coming up with recommendations.
Upcoming Community Workshop – Saturday October 6th
How do you move around the Blackmore Road Sub Area (click HERE for a map of the study area)? Where should new roadway connections be considered? What does your ideal street look like? What traffic and transportation issues are you experiencing in the area?
Next month, we’re bringing markers, a floor aerial, maps, and boards to transform the Eastridge Mall into a community workshop. We’ll discuss critical questions and explore ideas to improve transportation and safety in the community. Stop by to meet the project team, learn more about the project, and share your thoughts on issues and opportunities in the Blackmore Road Sub Area.
Saturday, October 6th
11 am – 2 pm
Eastridge Mall
601 SE Wyoming Blvd
Casper, Wyoming 82609
If you can’t make the workshop you can still give us your input HERE.
Project Kick-Off!
On July 26, 2012, the Blackmore Road Sub Area Traffic Planning Study launched with brainstorming sessions focused on the project goals and measures of success. The project team met with the Casper Metropolitan Planning Organization Policy and Technical Committee and some members of the Blackmore Road Project Advisory Committee to map out ideas, issues, and opportunities that will help to:
- Identify Community Traffic Concerns
- Identify Appropriate Traffic Calming Strategies
- Identify Appropriate Roadway Network Completion Strategies
- Create a Phased list of Projects with Cost Estimates
View the meeting materials by clicking HERE.
A major outcome of the meetings was defining measures of success for the Blackmore Road Sub Area Traffic Planning Study. The committees generated the following measures:
- Community involvement, ownership and implementation
- Community understanding for complete roadway networks
- Long-term effectiveness of plan and projects
- Traffic signals are not the only solution
- Drainage, views, and bus stops should be considered
- Traffic cannot be redirected solely to the state highway system
- Efficient traffic operations at intersections
- Plan is implemented and it works
- The committees and Community endorse the plan
- Consultant delivers a quality product
- The plan recognizes cohesion with the communities bordering the project area
- Identification of perception vs. reality – i.e. speeding, cut-thru, etc.
We want to hear from you! What would you add to this list? How will we know when this project is successful? If you are a resident or business owner in the study area and would like to serve on the Advisory Committee click please email Sally Kerpchar at skerpchar@cityofcasperwy.com. Click HERE to tell us what you think.
Welcome!
Welcome to the Blackmore Study project page! Over the next nine months, the Casper Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) will embark on a series of conversations about the future of transportation, neighborhood traffic, and roadway expansion in our community. New development can cause increased traffic volumes and travel speeds. This project will evaluate how new development is affecting Blackmore Road and surrounding neighborhoods.
The goal of this study is to respond to concerns with tailored solutions that will improve the safety of Blackmore Road area residents. We encourage you to join the area wide dialogue by sharing your opinions on critical issues, expressing your priorities, and giving your best ideas for improving travel in the study area and network connectivity. Check back often for updates as the project moves forward. We look forward to hearing from you!
