City of Johnston Pioneer Parkway Trail

Background

As originally constructed, Pioneer Parkway was a four-lane boulevard connecting NW 62nd Avenue and Merle Hay Road that focused solely on efficient traffic movement with no consideration for pedestrian movement. After nearly two decades of unsuccessful attempts to initiate a plan to address this growing problem, the City of Johnston entrusted Foth to help them achieve their goal. We began a study and public involvement process that brought various committees and key stakeholders together to determine the best type of facility to accommodate a wide range of users and an alignment that limited impacts to the existing environment.

Approach

Multiple concepts were developed with a diverse blend of users in mind. We developed concepts for traditional solutions, such as on-street bike lanes, separated bike lanes, and offset trails and sidewalks, as well as nontraditional solutions, such as dedicating two lanes of the four-lane boulevard to a promenade for pedestrians and bicyclists only. Following public meetings and small group discussions, a nontraditional approach to the design was taken, with affected property owners being asked to flag the preferred trail alignment through their property.

This approach allowed each owner to determine which trees and existing features would be impacted and what easements, if any, would be needed. We used this information to create an alignment, applied the required engineering principals, and developed the final detailed design. The final plans included a diverse reforestation plan for the corridor and had 100% property owner support.