On Samis Road N.E., The City is proposing a new road design that includes dedicated space for pedestrians and cyclists. Currently, Samis Road N.E. is a two-way road for vehicles with no pedestrian lanes and an unmarked on-street bikeway. This road is used by pedestrians and cyclists on a daily basis, connecting the Crescent Heights community with the Centre City, via the sidewalks on the Centre Street Bridge, and further west to McHugh Bluff.
The proposed design for Samis Road intends to complement the pedestrian connections through Rotary Park between Centre Street N. and 1 Avenue N.E.
Public Engagement and Online Survey
Following initial discussions with Crescent Heights’ residents and the Crescent Heights Community Association, The City developed two different road design options. You can find and download these options in the Drawings and Design section below. Once you review the designs, and if you live near Samis Road N.E. (or use it regularly), The City encourages you to participate in an online survey. The survey gives you an opportunity to pick your preferred choice of the two Samis Road designs. The City will use the results in deciding on the final roadway design.
Drawings and Design
- Eliminate the westbound (downhill) travel lane for motor vehicles.
- Provide a westbound bike lane and a shared eastbound bike and car lane. A designated cycling lane is appropriate because the road is designated as an on-street bikeway.
- Provide a painted designated pedestrian lane. A designated pedestrian space is appropriate because the number of daily pedestrians outnumbers the westbound motor vehicles.
- This option includes roadway repair to improve the walking and cycling surface.
Option 2 – Samis Road N.E. becomes a pedestrian and cyclist only zone
- Permanently remove motor vehicles from Samis Road N.E., due to the low vehicle volumes and the high pedestrian volumes.
- The closest motor vehicle access is 7 Avenue N.E., which connects Centre Street N. and First Street N.E.
- Closing Samis Road N.E. would affect westbound-to-northbound vehicles and northbound-to-eastbound motor vehicles.
- Emergency access gates at the top and bottom of the hill would allow Fire and EMS to use Samis Road N.E. in the event of an emergency.
- The City would continue to maintain snow & ice control on Samis Road N.E.
Comments
Too steep
Submitted by DD on
Compared with Centre St., the grade up Samis Rd. is too steep for most people to comfortably cycle. There is already a pathway running parallel to Samis Rd. on its north side, it is narrow and in disrepair but could be improved to provide a non-stair option to get to Rotary Park. Even better would be doubling the width of the sidewalk on the east side of Centre St. and designating it as a path (as it is across the bridge to Samis Rd.), given the much friendlier grade up Centre St N.