Page 54 - Michigan City, IN US Highway 421 Corridor Plan

$ 3.3 Corridor Redevelopment Goals, Principles and Strategies

for drivers and pedestrians alike. In order to accommodate
G. Provide a Supporting Local Street System access to existing and future development in a safe and 2. Connect parking lots and relocate driveways to promote
and On-Site Circulation Systems (INDOT) efficient manner, INDOT actively implements a series of access efficient and effective access.
management objectives, the intent of which is to manage the
location, design, and type of property access in order to:
Interconnected local street systems and on-site circulation C. Within the Michigan City Code of
systems provide alternative routes for bicyclists, pedestrians, — Reduce traffic congestion; Ordinances, amend Article 06, Design
and drivers alike. — Preserve the flow of traffic; Standards, Section 06.04, Streets, Table
— Improve traffic safety and reduce the frequency of crashes; 06.04 (d), Minimum Right-of-Way and Street
H. Provide a Variety of Transportation Alternatives. — Preserve existing road capacity; Width to include the following additional

The physical organization of transportation systems within — Support economic growth; commercial and residential street types:
the 421 Gateway District should be supported by a framework — Improve access to businesses and homes;
of transportation alternatives. Plan for a pedestrian-friendly — Maintain or improve property values; and Actions and Initiatives
environment with appropriate signalization and crosswalks along — Preserve the public investment in the transportation As discussed within Chapter 4, Redevelopment Scenarios, five
the arterial and secondary streets; make sure sidewalks are infrastructure. additional street types are proposed to be included within key
wide enough for outdoor cafés. Public transit, pedestrian, and redevelopment areas. These street types include:
bicycle systems should be developed to maximize access and Thoroughfare efficiency and convenience can be ensured Driveways and access to commercial in the corridor is not efficient 1. Commercial Access Road.
mobility throughout the area while reducing dependence upon through adoption and enforcement of specific access and causes traffic problems. Source: KKC
the automobile. management regulations. 2. Residential Local Street with Bike Lanes and On-Street
Parking.
Strategies Actions and Initiatives 3. Commercial Collector Street with Angled On-Street Parking.
1. Consolidate driveways and interconnect parcels so that » if there is a change in ownership of said property;
automobile and pedestrian movement are possible without » if there is a zoning change or re-platting; 4. Single Lane Boulevard with On-Street Bike Lanes.
going out onto the arterial highway. Studies indicate that 5. Single Lane Boulevard with on-Street Bike Lanes and On-
A. Develop an access management plan to halving the number of access points results in about a 30 » if the property owner applies for a development
ensure safe and efficient vehicular circulation percent decrease in the accident rate. application or building permit to expand a building by Street Parking.
throughout the 421 Gateway District. 2. Regulate the design and spacing of driveways. Locate 30 to 70 percent of the gross floor area, or increase the D. Consider extending Ohio Street south of CR
parking requirements by 20 percent;
driveways away from intersections.
Convenient access can make or break a commercial corridor. contingent on there being a minimum of two points of access / W 400 N and (signalization) improvements to
The primary benefit of having an access management plan 3. Design intersections and access points to simplify and egress remaining after the recommended access point closure. the CR W 400 N / Ohio Street intersection.
is that it lays the foundation for correcting existing access coordinate signal sequences and to minimize congestion.
management problems and preventing others from occurring 4. Limit curb cuts to avoid excessive turning motions that snarl B. Implement the US Highway 421 Access Actions and Initiatives
in the future. Too many curb cuts are inefficient and dangerous traffic; manage this process through zoning ordinances, Road Plan.
design requirements, or comprehensive codes. 1. Consider Michigan City Redevelopment Commission capital
participation in design and construction costs associated
5. Install innovative turning solutions to accommodate left turns Design an internal system of supporting access / frontage roads with Ohio Street extended.
and U-turns by looping from the right median to alleviate for the 421 Gateway District that adheres to the existing street
clogged intersections. grid system and existing signalized intersections, and enables 2. Consider Michigan City Redevelopment Commission capital
provide opportunities for parallel movement along the corridor. participation in the signalization of the CR W 400 N / Ohio
6. Integrate medians and appropriate median breaks to limit Street intersection, striped pedestrian crosswalks and
potential conflicts. Create a secondary street pattern where appropriate, and modify
setback requirements to pull retail and restaurant facilities close sidewalk improvements.
7. Protect the Interstate 94 interchange. To maintain the to the arterial and secondary streets. Access, parking & service-
functional integrity of the I-94 interchange, access points related functions would be organized to the rear of the parcel. 3. Upon annexation, consider Michigan City Redevelopment
should be located as far away from interchange ramps as Commission capital participation in the construction
possible (INDOT requirement: 1,250 feet from interchange). Actions and Initiatives of sidewalks along CR W 400 N as well as access
management-related improvements.
8. Within the Michigan City Appendix C, Joint Zoning Ordinance, 1. In partnership with the City of Michigan City and others,
amend Section 18.04, Driveway Access Management consider Michigan City Redevelopment Commission capital
to require property owners of developed parcels along participation in the preparation of construction documents,
US Highway 421 / S. Franklin Street, to comply with specifications, cost estimates and project schedules for
recommended access point closures, based on the following access roads proposed within the 421 Gateway District, as
triggers:
Businesses along US Highways 421 and 20 are stand alone with per Figure 4.X, Access Road Plan.
their own parking areas and driveways. Source: KKC
3-04

3.0 Envision 421 Gateway District Adopted: August 16, 2016