Northwest Pine Street Corridor Study

Our Croy team studied approximately 1.6 miles of Northwest Pine Street in Florence, Ala. from the downtown area northward through the University of North Alabama (UNA) campus. The study was sponsored by the North Alabama Council of Local Governments (NACOLG) in partnership with UNA and the City of Florence. Its primary goal was to improve pedestrian safety and accessibility throughout the corridor without compromising vehicular mobility.

The study analyzed existing conditions in detail. This effort included volume, speed, and crash experience data collection, as well as a month-long online survey for public involvement (which garnered approximately 300 individual responses in the midst of the Covid-19 pandemic quarantine). Efforts also included a walkability audit with stakeholders to inventory perceived issues and develop preliminary recommendations. These recommendations included:

• A “road diet” along the length of the corridor to improve safety and allow for bicycle and pedestrian facilities
• Multiple mid-block pedestrian crossings
• A new sidewalk or shared-use path for the dense residential area north of the UNA campus
• ADA accessibility improvements
• Landscaping and streetscaping to enhance pedestrian activity and catalyze redevelopment
• Intersection improvements, including the addition of a roundabout