Frazier Avenue redesign focuses on pedestrians, reduces lanes
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. (WDEF) — The City of Chattanooga announced its final plan for a Frazier Avenue upgrade after a car fatally struck two pedestrians last year.
The city previously announced two options to choose from. The city had originally preferred Option A, but many bikers preferred Option B.
Option A would have prioritized on-street parking and directed pedestrians through Coolidge Park for their safety. Frazier Avenue already has very limited parking, but the city said it will be implementing Option B.
Frazier Avenue redesign visual. City of Chattanooga
Option B creates a new “multi-modal” lane just for pedestrians and bikers. This lane will “accommodate pedestrians, cyclists, and wheelchair users.”
The reason they chose this option is that the redesign is meant to focus on pedestrian safety.
The city said this option will create “safer sidewalks” as well. It will also add a new crosswalk at the CARTA parking garage, at 345 Frazier Avenue.
Frazier Avenue currently has four lanes, two in each direction. But the new redesign will bring that down to two total driving lanes, one in each direction.
The people who live in this district and in neighborhoods surrounding the Northshore preferred Option B, according to City Council District Two Representative and Council Vice Chair Jenny Hill.
“As an elected representative, I was thrilled with the public engagement around this issue. We have gotten meaningful feedback from so many people in District 2, in the neighborhoods surrounding Frazier, and around the city. Option B was the clear preference, and I look forward to how we take this and learn from it to ensure that Frazier Avenue is a delightful place to live and visit. I want to say a big thank you to the Kelly Administration, the Public Works team, and the Regional Planning Agency for all their hard work.”
But will this create issues for those traveling into the Northshore by car? Will there be sufficient parking? Will traffic worsen?
Mayor Tim Kelly believes the plan will allow automotive traffic to move smoothly.
Here is what he had to say:
“Whether it’s dining, shopping, or having fun, there’s something for everyone on Frazier. So it’s fitting that the new protected lane on Frazier will provide space for everyone who isn’t in a car to more easily and safely enjoy everything Frazier has to offer, while moving automotive traffic through the area smoothly,” said Chattanooga Mayor Tim Kelly. “By adding a multi-modal protected lane, we will give pedestrians, cyclists, and Chattanoogans with disabilities a new shared space to get around, adjacent to the stores along Frazier. I want to thank Councilwoman Jenny Hill and the people of Chattanooga for their interest and participation in this process. Thanks to their rigorous engagement, I think we’ve solved this goldilocks problem with a ‘just right’ solution.”
Chattanooga officials plan to start implementing this design in late spring 2024.
