Supporters of a pedestrian-bicycle bridge over Omaha Street hope a strong showing during tonight's state Department of Transportation planning meeting will persuade state officials to contribute funding for a long-desired safe crossing of the major thoroughfare.
The DOT has scheduled a public meeting at 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 30, at Rushmore Plaza Civic Center to discuss its tentative five-year plan for projects to include in its Statewide Transportation Improvement Program.
"That crossing is dangerous. Not only is it dangerous, it's hard to find because it's not at an intersection," John Brewer, a representative of Destination Rapid City, said.
Destination Rapid City is a newly formed nonprofit group of downtown business and property owners focused on revitalizing downtown. Part of the group's focus is to create a safe place for pedestrians to cross Omaha, which will also provide a connection between downtown and the civic center, Memorial Park and other amenities on the north side of the street.
Brewer said a 1990 downtown master plan completed in preparation for rebuilding Main and St. Joseph streets identified the need for a pedestrian bridge across Omaha. But when the Omaha expansion project was planned about 1997, there was no advocacy from the city for the bridge.
As a result, the bridge was omitted, and instead, a mid-block crossing was built in the median of the six-lane road.
Tall grasses planted at the crossing make it difficult for people to be seen by high-speed traffic. In addition, there currently is no natural connecting point to the civic center. Brewer said more than 1 million people visit the civic center each year, and the number will increase when the new addition is completed later this year.
"We think to have a bridge that connects the bike path … makes immense sense, and it should be at Sixth Street," he said. "There should be a safe crossing there that connects the civic center, the school, the hotel, the bike path to downtown."
But Destination Rapid City isn't going to the DOT with hat in hand, begging for the state to put up all of the money. Brewer said the group understands it needs to raise money in the community, and it has set a $250,000 goal to provide a local match.
"We think if the community supports it and says this is something we really need and really want, and we're prepared to put our own money into it, then they should find some money to put into it," Brewer said.
Steve McCarthy, a strong supporter of Destination Rapid City and the president of the Friends of Rapid City Parks group, said the connection is an important remedy to Omaha's impediment between downtown and the park.
"I'm a bike rider, but I'm not going to take my bike across Omaha. You really take your life in your hands," he said.
McCarthy believes raising $250,000 locally is "doable".
"I really think it will change the dynamic down there," he said.
Some preliminary designs have been made for the proposal. The estimated cost ranges between $1.2 million and $1.75 million. Brewer said the estimates are "all over the board" right now.
"Some people see it as crossing Omaha ought to be a gateway to our city. Others say we can build it and make it attractive enough, but we can do it for $1 million," he said.
But the bridge's look is secondary to its main purpose of providing a safe connecting point over Omaha, he said.
Citizens will have the opportunity to ask questions about the state Department of Transportation's five-year plan tonight.
This five-year plan lists highway projects developed through the cooperation of the DOT, Transportation Commission, state and federal agencies, local and tribal governments, metropolitan planning organizations, public agencies, transportation providers, citizens and other interested parties, improvement program coordinator Duane Heermann said.
Heermann said this is a chance for individuals to ask questions of DOT officials about the projects.
"We encourage people who are on these routes to come in and ask questions," he said.
From previous meetings, DOT officials have gained insights into issues specific to certain projects, Heermann said.
Those who attend the meeting will be asked to sign in and provide contact information. If they have questions about a particular project, the DOT will send them a letter in response.
The entire meeting will be recorded and can be accessed on the DOT's Web site at www.sddot.com/pe/projdev/planning_stip.asp.
Contact Scott Aust at 394-8415 or scott.aust@rapidcityjournal.com
If you go
What: South Dakota DOT STIP meeting
When: 7 p.m. Wednesday, July 30
Where: Rushmore Plaza Civic Center, Rapid City
More: To view meeting information and a list of projects for the Rapid City area, visit http://www.sddot.com/pe/projdev/planning_stip.asp
Contact Scott Aust at 394-8415 or scott.aust@rapidcityjournal.com
