Bike Facilities

BETA has been involved in a number of bicycle facility designs within the City of Hartford. The City had a number of roadways repaved following extensive subterranean utility work. The City determined that during the roadway restoration process, these roadways could incorporate a modified striping plan to accommodate bike facilities. Additionally, the Connecticut Department of Transportation proposed a bike facility along Sigourney Street, which BETA reviewed on behalf of both the City and a significant local stakeholder. The review included conceptual design alternatives to improve safety and enhance the cyclists’ experience.

A three-quarter mile section of Wethersfield Avenue, located within Hartford’s South End, was provided with bike lanes. BETA designed a six- to eight-foot wide bike path along each side of the street. To accommodate the bike path, on-street parking along one side of the street was removed; however, in the event that on-street parking must be restored, the eight-foot wide bike lane can be modified to its former on-street parking lane configuration.

Fairfield Avenue was designed in two sections. The southern section was outfitted with shared lane markings, or sharrows. These markings permitted the street to maintain the much needed on-street parking along both sides. The northern section incorporated designated bike lanes in each direction.

Farmington Avenue is a major arterial that carries heavy commuter traffic into Hartford form West Hartford, and vice versa. The newly paved 5-block section that originates from the Hartford/West Hartford city limits was designed to provide a designated bike lane in each direction. It is the City’s hope that future roadway work will serve as the catalyst to continue the bike facility further into the heart of the downtown. This section is the beginning of what will someday be a key connection between the bike-friendly West Hartford community and the Central Business District of the State’s capitol.

A half-mile section of Sigourney Street was originally designed to have one bike lane in each direction. BETA reviewed this design prepared by the CTDOT and recommended a separated bike path, or cycletrack. BETA’s design avoids unsafe conflicts with ramps to/from Interstate 84 and a busy private driveway. To provide order to the one side-street crossing within the area, the use of bike signals were recommended for and increased, intuitive control method. Construction of BETA’s design would be the first to occur in the State of Connecticut.