Complete Streets proposal adopted by Vincennes City Council

Committee chairman Chuck Sebring, after reviewing the legislation thoroughly, said he was comfortable moving forward with the ordinance because its language doesn't force the issue — it merely makes the addition of sidewalks and bike lanes to all new and major street-renovation projects a priority.

“With the assurance that [those amenities] would be looked at only in feasible situations,” Sebring told the council, “well, with that in mind, the committee gave [the legislation] a favorable recommendation.”

Councilman Tim Salters, too, had concerns about whether the ordinance would place a financial burden on the on the city, but city attorney Dave Roellgen assured council members that the intent of the legislation wasn't to break the bank.

The ordinance, Roellgen said, is merely a “mission statement” in regards to the kind of road development the city would like to see.

“We're just putting people on notice of the city's intent to leap forward,” he said. “We hope we can do this, but if we can't afford it or there is some reason not to, then we don't.

“This is a check list. Not every item will be approved. Developers may have good reasons not to implement it. There might be traffic constraint, citizen issues.”

And the ordinance, Roellgen added, isn't a carte blanche for the city to go out and paint bike lanes on every single street. But as the city looks at major projects, these kinds of “quality of life issues,” he said, place the city in a better position when it comes to applying for grant dollars.

“So we're just making a commitment to look at the feasibility of these things?” Salters asked.

“Yes,” Roellgen answered.

Mayor Joe Yochum, who did not attend Monday's council meeting, proposed the Complete Streets ordinance in September. It asks city officials now and in the future — as well as private developers — to add proper sidewalks, curbs, curb ramps compliant with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act standards, and a bike lane to any new street project as well as some repaving projects, at least those deemed appropriate for such amenities by the city engineer.

Any exception to the ordinance would require approval from the Board of Works.

Exceptions that would be considered, per the ordinance, include streets where the bicyclists and pedestrians are prohibited, such as state highways; if the builder can adequately demonstrate a lack of need for such transportation options; where there are already “reasonable” options nearby; or if it becomes cost-prohibitive to meet the requirements of the ordinance.

The mayor made a promise about a year ago to dedicate more time and resources to making sure every new street project done within city limits included bike lanes and adequate sidewalks. The emergence of a new organization, Keep Vincennes Rolling, aimed at making Knox County more bicycle-friendly, has led to recent discussions over the addition of lanes, where possible, all over the city.

City officials on Friday celebrated the opening of Second Street, a prime example of what the mayor says Complete Streets is meant to do.

Second Street, after a year of work, was resurfaced and new sidewalks added as well as a bike lane and new lighting from Main to Hart streets.