FOLEY – Better traffic flow and pedestrian access between downtown and nearby neighborhoods are some of the goals of street improvement projects being studied by Foley.

The city held a series of downtown neighborhood district streetscape study focus groups. The series concluded with an open house Friday, Aug. 9, to discuss the information provided in the focus groups.

In the meetings planners met with people living and working on streets near the downtown area. Participants discussed traffic, pedestrian access, beautification, linking residential and commercial areas and other issues.

“There seemed to be emphasis on outdoor dining, pedestrian safety, updated signage, parallel parking and street trees. These were some of the things that came out of our discussions with folks for pedestrian safety and traffic calming.” Christian Preus of Christian Preus Landscape Architects, a company working with Foley on the project, said at the open house.

The city held six focus groups for residents and businesses along Alston Street. West Orange Avenue, West Myrtle Avenue, West Jessamine Avenue, South Chicago Street and West Verbena Avenue.

“We had some really good participation from some of the streets. That was part of our getting input on the front end, before we really put pen to paper,” Preus said.

He said Foley’s downtown street design, laid out more than 100 years ago, includes many assets still useful today. The city has wide rights of way for streets and a downtown commercial area within a short walk of historic neighborhoods.

“Most cities that we work with don’t have those types of amenities all within one walkable district, which is a huge asset,” Preus said.

In a recent statement on the study, Mayor Ralph Hellmich said city officials are looking at ways to improve Foley.

“We’re looking at some of our side streets in regard to possibilities of upgrading them and making them more pedestrian friendly,” Hellmich said. 

 

The mayor said Foley’s original street plan laid out by founder John Foley, is still well suited to the needs of the city.

“Old Foley has what architects call good bones,” Hellmich said. “The way it was laid out in 1905 by Mr. Foley and his urban planner, is now really back in style, well planned with the small side streets and short blocks, some of them with wide right of ways of 100 feet. We’re looking at trying to enhance some of those areas with lighting and sidewalks and redoing some of the drainage.”

Some of the issues raised by residents at the meetings included speeding, pedestrian safety, alleys, continued facade improvements, bike lanes, parking and overhead utility lines, Preus said.

Alabama 59 and U.S. 98 run through downtown Foley. Preus said having major highways in the center of the city increases the need to use other roads for connectivity and walking. He said streets such as Alston, one block west of Alabama 59, can be improved to be used for access by residents, visitors and businesses.

“Having your main street be a highway currently really puts a lot of walkable opportunities on Alston as a walkable main street,” Preus said. “Doing things that calm traffic, organize the functions of the turn lanes, the intersections and all those things will help tremendously make this huge amenity and major cohort for economic development in the downtown.”

Some changes to improve traffic flow and access could include narrowing lanes in some areas and converting perpendicular parking to parallel parking to provide more space for pedestrians. Traffic often moves faster on wider streets and narrowing the lanes could improve safety, Preus said.

“When you have a wide street with higher speeds than intended, that creates a chasm in the urban landscape and requires some treatments in order to fix that, connectivity, traffic calming and pedestrian safety,” he said.

He said street improvements could enhance planned city projects.

South Chicago Street extends to the site where a new city library is planned. The location is also near the Foley Dog Park and post office. Improving pedestrian access could provide a walking area similar to the nearby Perry Wilbourne Rose Trail. 

Another upcoming city project is the new aquatics center planned on West Verbena Avenue. Preus said sidewalks and bicycle lanes could improve access to the center and nearby park.

West Jessamine Avenue is a wide street that can link residential areas and schools with city parks and the Centennial Clock Tower.

A report on the study will be presented to city officials when the project is completed.