Redesign plans aim to make East Street more pedestrian, bike friendly

May 27—A final report on the potential reimagining of East Street is expected by the end of June, the next step in redesigning the key Frederick corridor.

The study will reinforce the vision of East Street as an urban corridor with mixed-use development and various modes of transportation, as well as enhance the street for pedestrian, bicycle and transit facilities, Aditya Inamdar, an urban planning and design consultant with Kittelson & Associates, said Thursday evening at a meeting about the project.

The city is working with Kittelson & Associates to analyze the East Street corridor for a study funded through a $60,000 grant from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments.

A preliminary plan would fill in gaps in sidewalks along the corridor, including on the west side of East Street between Laboring Sons Alley to 9th Street and from 16th Street to Market Street, and would extend a shared use path on the east side of the street between Fourth Street and North Market Street.

Bob Robey, of the group East Frederick Rising, noted that some of the current sidewalks are very narrow and asked if the city would consider widening them.

It's possible in some places, but widening some areas would include doing expensive curb and gutter work, said Dave Edmondson, a transportation planner with the city.

The plan would also improve areas for pedestrians to cross the street by:

—upgrading current crossings to high-visibility crosswalks

—adding or upgrading pedestrian ramps to make them compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act

—adding automated pedestrian crossing signals at Eighth Street, Delaware Road, and Peter's Lane

—adding full traffic signals at All Saints Street, Seventh Street, and North Market Street.

The plan would add bus stops with shelters and other amenities at the MARC train station and transit center, Church Street, Seventh Street, Ninth Street, Delaware Road, Peter's Lane, and 16th Street.

The East Street corridor offers lots of opportunities to create unique areas for people to gather and to add development, such as the area around Carroll Creek, the stretch from Church to 4th streets, and the Monocacy Village Shopping Center, said Ron Sessoms, an urban designer with Rhodeside & Harwell who is also working on the project.

He emphasized that the plan is a long-term vision for the area.

"You have to have that vision for that to occur over time," he said.

Follow Ryan Marshall on Twitter: @RMarshallFNP