The Newport Commission is headed toward changes in infrastructure to support bicycle transportation in the city.
The commission voted unanimously to support Tri-State Trails’ bicycle transportation plan, which is being developed in collaboration with Covington. The bike plan was formally started in January 2023 to create a roadmap for a safe and connected bike network (for both Covington and Newport) that serves everyone regardless of age and ability.
Tri-State Trails aims to connect people and places with a regional trail and bikeway network to enhance vibrancy and equity in the community.
Tri-State Trails AICP Executive Director Wade Johnston presented to the commission in March, and Newport City Manager Tom Fromme says the plans have remained relatively the same.
During the bike plan presentation in March, it was said that the project’s steering committee identified the top goals under the plan: identify key gaps in the network to create a connected network between Covington and Newport, identify streets conducive to bike infrastructure and recommend practical and cost-effective implementation strategies.
“We appreciate the efforts of tri-state trails,” Fromme said. “This is a good program for us. Covington is on board with this as well.”
Fromme said Covington is set to vote on the item at its next city commission meeting.
“It did take two to tango with regard to this,” he said. “To have an adequate bike plan, you have to have both the sister cities here that are participants in it.”
Johnston said they are also working on making recommendations in the plan and implementing them with partner organizations, such as some potential route marking along what they have identified as priority routes in the plan.
The bike facility types that Tri-State Trails identified for various city streets were:
Shared-use paths: paved facilities, typically 10-14 feet wide, also known as a multi-use trail.
Conventional bike lane: designated for cyclists with striping, pavement markings and signage.
Two-way protected bike lane: physically separated bike lanes that allow bike movement in both directions on one side of the street.
Bicycle boulevard: streets with low traffic volumes and speeds designated and designed to give bicycle travel priority.
One-way protected bike lane: physically separated bike lanes that allow bike movement in one direction with traffic.
Green alley: residential alleys have low traffic with low or no vehicle traffic.
“This is a really good opportunity for us to join our river cities in an improvement that I believe will be positive and safe for both our pedestrians and folks on bikes,” Newport Commissioner Mike Radwanski said.
Johnston said Tri-State Trails will partner with the city to advance some infrastructure on the ground in the next funding cycle with the Ohio-Kentucky-Indiana Regional Council of Governments, also known as OKI, sometime next year.
“There’s no mandate here It’s an aspirational document or goals for the city,” Fromme said. “It really is relying on financing. So, nothing that we have to dip into our treasury for. Some of these are quite expensive.”
Newport Mayor Tom Guidugli Jr. said this will not take effect immediately due to the project’s capacity but will give them a path forward.
“The idea is that this is a heavy lift for any single city, even for two cities,” he said. “So, it’s going to take state agencies, federal agencies, quasi-governmental agencies like OneNKY, and private donors to achieve the scope of a plan as written.”