Here's how Columbia's plan to expand Forum Boulevard is progressing
An expansion of Forum Boulevard to four lanes across its entire corridor is in preparation for future increase in expected traffic. That was the message Ben Ross, vice president of Engineering Surveys and Service had Tuesday for the Columbia City Council.
While there was a public hearing Tuesday, preliminary construction design approval will come by the fall. Construction is not expected to start until 2026.
Plans for the roadway expansion started in late 2022 and have adapted as information was gathered, including surveying, public input and more, he said. It is areas southwest of Forum Boulevard that continue to grow that will have the greatest impact. Forum Boulevard from Chapel Hill Road to Woodrail Avenue is just about at its capacity limit as a two-lane road, Ross said.
A description of all the proposed upgrades, including intersection and pedestrian improvements, are listed in a staff memo to the council.
A big decision is at the Wilson's Fitness at 2902 Forum Blvd. and other businesses at this location for the council. The council has to decide whether to keep traffic flow here relatively the same, put a limit on how the property is accessed, construct an additional roundabout or create a right-in-right-out only turn, which is the recommended option, Ross said. The right-in-right-out reduces traffic delays, he added. Alternates on pedestrian traffic also were discussed, including bike paths, wider pedways for bikes and pedestrians with a concrete buffer or a pedway model with a grass strip as an additional pedestrian and vehicular traffic buffer.
From 2022: Surveying, aerial photography of Forum Boulevard expected in coming weeks for widening project
Comments from the public during Tuesday's hearing were against the right-in-right-out at Wilson's Fitness, in support of the local motion proposed 10-foot wide pedways along with concrete traffic buffers, concerns on tree canopy reduction, flooding concerns, a push for traffic calming, concerns on noise and property privacy and impacts on local business parking, particularly at a Forum Boulevard and Chapel Hill Road dental practice.
The council, when it finalized the public hearing and following its discussion, provided guidance to city staff and Engineering Surveys and Service to ideally include 10-foot pedways with a green space buffer, though if there are issues as planning progresses further discussions could happen. It also will move forward with the right-in-right-out plan at the Wilson's Fitness property and likely will be other work to lessen dentist office property impacts.
More: Here's how the widening of Forum Boulevard could aid traffic efficiency in Columbia
Charles Dunlap covers local government, community stories and other general subjects for the Tribune. You can reach him at cdunlap@columbiatribune.com or @CD_CDT on Twitter. Subscribe to support vital local journalism.
This article originally appeared on Columbia Daily Tribune: Forum Boulevard expansion plans receive Columbia City Council guidance
