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Published: Thursday, 15 September 2022 14:33

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South Anthony

Details

Published: Thursday, 15 September 2022 14:32

The South Anthony project was identified as a priority for future roadway improvements in the Transportation & Infrastructure section of the Southeast Strategy Update adopted in 2021. 

Project Overview

South Anthony Boulevard is a north-south through street that bisects much of Southeast Fort Wayne connecting neighborhoods, parks, schools, and businesses. The street, in its current form, is prone to vehicles traveling at high speeds with wider than necessary lane widths, no bicycle facilities, and very few places for pedestrians to safely and comfortably cross. Many of these concerns were expressed in the community engagement process that was used to develop the Southeast Strategy Update. Residents and businesses expressed that South Anthony can often feel like a freeway that does not match the needs of the adjacent neighborhoods. 

The South Anthony Boulevard project is focused on redesigning and rebuilding the street in order to support the needs of the community. 

Project Goals 

• Address current vehicular, pedestrian, and transit needs (including safety & access for all abilities, and walkability)
• Enhance the quality of life for adjacent neighborhoods and land uses
• Enhance aesthetics
• Increase property values
• Foster economic development
• Adopt complete streets and sustainable design concepts
• Reduce Urban Heat Island effect
• Create on-site stormwater treatment (green infrastructure) to reduce flooding and run-off
• Decrease noise level
• Discourage racing

Project Location

Project Community Input

To ensure that this project best reflects the needs of the neighborhoods on South Anthony Boulevard, we are encouraging residents and businesses to share their input at in-person open house events or online. 

OPEN HOUSE EVENTS

ON-LINE SURVEY AND MAP TOOL

Share your input on the future of South Anthony Boulevard by filling out a short 5-minute survey. Information gathered from this survey will guide us in the design and development process for South Anthony.	Use this new interactive map to tell us what is most important for you and the future of South Anthony Boulevard. It's easy to use, just drop the pin on the map and share your input.
Nos gustaría conocer su opinión. Por favor complete esta breve encuesta para hacernos saber sus ideas y cómo podemos ser de ayuda.

Project Objectives

• Partner with residents and businesses to prioritize improvements and make design decisions
• Calm traffic and improve travel for all users 
• Right-size the vehicle travel lanes for an 'Urban Street' 
• Enhance safety for pedestrians and bicyclists (especially youth and kids who cross South Anthony to access parks and schools)  

Project Research

How can a redesigned South Anthony Boulevard be safer for residents? 

According to the Federal Highway Administration, when redesigning a street much like South Anthony, it can have the potential to improve safety, convenience, and the overall quality of life for all road users. Through redesigning the street, we will likely see a reduction in vehicle-to-vehicle conflicts that contribute to rear-end, left-turn, and sideswipe crashes. Improvements could also reduce the overall speed differential, which reduces the number and severity of crashes as well as interactions with pedestrians. 

Based on South Anthony's current conditions, nearly 70% of all drivers will likely travel faster than the posted legal speed limit. This behavior of disregarding the posted speed limit often makes other users (including those in an automobile) feel the street is unsafe and highly unlivable which has a direct impact on the surrounding neighborhoods. The current speed limit on South Anthony Boulevard between US 27 and Paulding Road is 40 MPH. The current speed limit on South Anthony Boulevard north of Paulding Road is 35 MPH. 

A study by Brian Tefft, a Senior Research Associate at the AAA Foundation for Traffic Safety found that the "average risk of severe injury for a pedestrian struck by a vehicle reaches 10% at an impact speed of 16 mph, 25% at 23 mph, 50% at 31 mph, 75% at 39 mph, and 90% at 46 mph. The average risk of death for a pedestrian reaches 10% at an impact speed of 23 mph, 25% at 32 mph, 50% at 42 mph, 75% at 50 mph, and 90% at 58 mph" (2011, p.1). 

How can a redesigned South Anthony Boulevard be better for businesses? 

According to the Federal Highway Administration, roadway improvements that enhance travel for all users (pedestrians, bicyclists, automobiles) can have a positive impact on business sales by changing the corridor from a place where people 'drive through' to a place where people 'drive to.' Often it is argued that implementing street design projects can have a negative impact on the surrounding local economy, however, there is little substantial proof to support such a concern. Corridors that facilitate high speeds allow a motorist to drive faster and pay less attention to their surroundings (pedestrians, bicyclists, and stores), while a corridor that is calmer, slower, safer, and more attractive is likely to require motorists to be more attentive to their surroundings. 

In San Diego, a section of a busy street, similar to South Anthony was redesigned using the same goals. Once enhancements were included for pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit users, retail sales on the street climbed to much higher levels, while reducing overall street noise. An economic study, which featured a similar-sized street to South Anthony Boulevard was completed in Los Angeles and found that sales tax revenues were higher on the redesigned section, versus the section that remained as-is. While an increase in sales is never guaranteed, several economic impact studies from various cities across the country show slight to moderate growth. 

Won't a redesigned South Anthony Boulevard just lead to more congestion? 

Congestion is often an argument that is made against redesigning streets, especially at business and neighborhood entrances. However, studies continue to show that projects, such as a redesigned South Anthony Boulevard, which experiences less than 23,000 daily auto trips, will generally not worsen traffic congestion (Huang, Stewart, and Zegeer, 2004). This is due to efficiencies made in the overall street redesign, such as a left-only turn lane removing the turning vehicle from the through traffic lane; and allowing residents to use alternative modes of travel for short trips.  

Project Timeline

2022

• Gather community input for the future of South Anthony Boulevard

2023

• Create a plan for the future of South Anthony Boulevard

• Apply for Safe Streets and Roads for All and/or RAISE grant through JOBS Act for 2023

2024 or 2025

• Possible start of construction in late 2024 or 2025 pending grant approval and environmental documentation and permitting

Project Team

Public Works

• Shan Gunawardena, Director - Public Works
• Matt Gray, Manager of Transportation Engineering Services - Public Works
• Nick Jarrell, Manager of Right of Way - Public Works
• Dan Shaw, Project Manager - Public Works
• Kyle Winling, Traffic Engineer - Public Works
• Patrick Zaharako, City Engineer - Public Works

Community Development

• Nancy Townsend, Director - Community Development
• Dan Baisden, Neighborhood Planner - Community Development
• Réna Bradley, Neighborhood Planner - Community Development
• Josh Campbell, Neighborhood Planner - Community Development 
• Bernadette Fellows, Community Engagement Planner - Community Development 

Plan Alignment 

Southeast Strategy Update Adopted in 2021 Transportation & Infrastructure One: Build and maintain high-quality and aesthetically pleasing public infrastructure Two: A variety of transportation options should be available to all residents

All In Allen Comprehensive Plan (DRAFT) To Be Adopted Transportation & Mobility Goal One: Support high-quality infrastructure and systems for all transportation modes that align with community needs and facilitate economic development Goal Three: Increase safe, attractive, multimodal transportation opportunities across the entire Allen County area

Project Metrics

• Vehicle speeds before and after improvements
• Number of vehicle-related accidents before and after improvements
• Surveys on level of comfortability in crossing South Anthony before and after improvements
• Private investment on South Anthony Boulevard both before and after improvements

Project Budget

To Be Determined

Project Funding

To Be Determined

Southeast Grocery

Details

Published: Thursday, 15 September 2022 14:32

The Pontiac Street Market project in the Renaissance Pointe and Oxford neighborhoods was identified as a priority project from the 2021 Southeast Strategy Update. Residents expressed the desire to see additional grocery and food services in areas that are designated a food desert.

Follow Pontiac Street Market on Social Media

Project Overview

The Pontiac Street Market is a full-service grocery that will provide fresh, healthy, and affordable food within walking distance of 25,000 residents. The project arose through community input and will improve food access in a USDA-designated Food Desert. The store, which is based on a proven model and operated by a nationally-renowned service provider, will be approximately 10,000 sq. ft. and will be located at the corner of Pontiac and John streets representing an investment of nearly $4 million. 

CURRENT RENDERINGS OF THE PONTIAC STREET MARKET

Community Engagement Opportunities

The City of Fort Wayne’s Community Development Neighborhood Planning and Activation Workgroup provided residents of the adjacent neighborhoods an opportunity to provide feedback on preferred products and services offered at the Pontiac Street Market. 

Staff interviewed several dozen people through one-on-one conversations, and hosted three community open house events in the Renaissance Pointe, LaRez, and Oxford neighborhoods for the public. 

Pontiac Streetscape

Details

Published: Thursday, 15 September 2022 14:30

The Pontiac Streetscape project in both the Renaissance Pointe and Oxford neighborhoods was identified as a corridor that needed to be prioritized for improvements in the Economic Development & Revitalization section of the Southeast Strategy Update adopted in 2021. 

Project Overview

Pontiac Street was identified as a corridor that needed improvement through the Southeast Strategy.  This area of Pontiac Street historically served as a primary commercial corridor for the Renaissance Pointe and Oxford Neighborhoods. However, in the late 1980s, and 1990’s businesses along Pontiac slowly declined with the closing of the International Harvester plant in 1983 serving as a contributing factor to the area’s declining economy.  A few businesses still remain along the corridor but, the streetscape does not allow for easy pedestrian access to these businesses due to the fact that areas of the sidewalk are not ADA accessible and drivers speed down the road.  Over the past few years reinvestment in commercial and residential properties has been happening in this area with the Bottle Works Lofts and infill housing.  The goal of this project is to help continue this spur of reinvesting throughout the whole corridor and help it become the active streetscape that it once was. Other goals of this project include streetscape beautification by adding street trees and planter beds, incorporating green infrastructure into the streetscape, and making the sidewalks more ADA-accessible and pedestrian-friendly by implementing traffic calming techniques.

Phase one of this project will go from Hanna Street to Oliver Street.  Future phases will continue down to Anthony Boulevard.

PHOTOS OF PONTIAC STREET (BEFORE)

PHOTOS OF PONTIAC STREET (TACTICAL URBANISM EVENT)

 PONTIAC STREET CONCEPT RENDERING

Project Goals and Objectives

GOAL ONE: ADA Accessibility

• Objective 1: Wider Sidewalks
• Objective 2: More light poles to allow for ADA clearance
• Objective 3: Add new traffic light with pedestrian push buttons

GOAL TWO: Traffic Calming and Safety

• Objective 1: Narrow drive lanes
• Objective 2: Add shift in lanes

GOAL THREE: Green Infrastructure and Beautification

• Objective 1: Provide additional street trees
• Objective 2: Install new planting areas that double as stormwater retention areas

Project Timeline

August 2021

• Request for proposals (RFP) was opened for design firms

October 2021

• TSW and VS Engineering were selected as the design team

November 2021

• Design team presented the City with design concepts

January 2022

• Design team presents the final schematic design

February 2022 - July 2022

• Design team completed the construction documents

August 2022

• Phase I of the project was submitted to bid

October 2022 - November 2022

• Bids were due
• City Council approved a contract with Mallott Contracting for Phase I of the Pontiac Streetscape project

Spring 2023

• Phase I of the project construction will begin 

Project Team

Community Development

• Nancy Townsend, Director - Community Development
• Stacy Haviland, Landscape Architect, and Administrator - Redevelopment
• Holly Petzak, Community Development Manager - Redevelopment
• Hayley Bondi, Urban Designer, and Landscape Architect - Redevelopment

Design Team

• Taylor Siefker Williams Design Group
• VS Engineering
• Apex Consulting

Contractor

• Malott Contracting, Kendallville

Plan Alignment 

Southeast Strategy Update Adopted in 2021 Economic Development & Revitalization One: Build and maintain high-quality and aesthetically pleasing public infrastructure Two: A variety of transportation options should be available to all residents

All In Allen Comprehensive Plan (DRAFT) To Be Adopted Transportation & Mobility Goal One: Support high-quality infrastructure and systems for all transportation modes that align with community needs and facilitate economic development Goal Three: Increase safe, attractive, multimodal transportation opportunities across the entire Allen County area

Project Metrics

• Vehicle speeds before and after improvements
• Number of vehicle-related accidents before and after improvements
• Surveys on level of comfortability in crossing Pontiac before and after improvements
• Private investment on Pontiac both before and after improvements

Project Budget

• $2,850,000

Pontiac Rezoning

Details

Published: Thursday, 15 September 2022 14:29

The Pontiac Street Rezoning project will be the first proactive zoning project completed as outlined in Community & Pride from the Southeast Strategy Update.  

Project Overview

The City of Fort Wayne Community Development Staff collaborate with neighborhood and community leaders to develop neighborhood and sub-area plans.  Often these plans include recommendations to rezone areas or corridors to a more appropriate zoning district for the actual land uses, or to encourage more compatible land uses and development patterns for the neighborhood.  The Southeast Strategy Update (2021) is an example of a recent plan that includes recommendations for specific areas, including the rezoning of portions of the East Pontiac corridor.

Community Development Staff and Department of Planning Services Staff are collaborating as the Proactive Rezoning Work Group.  We are working on this rezoning initiative, as well as other areas that would benefit from stabilization and redevelopment.  In the past, a neighborhood was responsible for gathering property owner signatures of support to request a zoning change, which is a challenging task for any group.  This collaborative effort will eliminate the need for signatures, and the team will present the request for rezoning to the Plan Commission instead.

A rezoning request is filed with the Department of Planning Services, to be placed on the Fort Wayne Plan Commission Public Hearing Agenda.  Staff will process the request, placing a public notice in the Fort Wayne newspaper, sending courtesy notice letters to surrounding property owners as well as the neighborhood associations, and placing public hearing signs in the neighborhood.  Staff also creates zoning maps and prepares a staff report which will be sent to the Plan Commission members and is available for viewing on the DPS website https://www.allencounty.us/department-of-planning-services.

The public hearing is held for review of the request, at which time property owners and the public can give input and ask questions.  Letters and emails can also be sent to DPS ahead of the public hearing.  One week later the Plan Commission will meet to make a recommendation to send to City Council.  Council usually meets a few weeks later to make their final decision.

Staff can be reached during any phase of this process by calling 260-449-7607 or emailing This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..  Fort Wayne Community Development staff can also be reached at 260-427-2181.

(Click here or on the image above to zoom in.)

Project Team

Russ Garriott, Senior Planner - Planning & Policy

Sherese Fortriede, Senior Planner - Planning & Policy

Michelle Wood, Senior Planner - Department of Planning Services

Nathan Law, Planner II - Planning & Policy

Nathan Schall, Associate Planner - Department of Planning Services

Project Objectives

1. Implement the Southeast Strategy Update goal as outlined in Community & Pride by providing more appropriate zoning for the actual land use. 
2. Encourage more compatible land uses and development patterns that support the adjacent neighborhoods. 
3. Support future development along the Pontiac Street corridor. 

Project Schedule

Project Consistent with Plans

Southeast Strategy Update

All In Allen Comprehensive Plan (pending adoption) 

Project Metrics

Project Budget

Project Community Engagement and Feedback