CHATTANOOGA — The Tennessee Department of Transportation (TDOT) and the city of Chattanooga announced an updated striping plan for Main Street between Broad Street and Market Street. This plan will maintain on-street parking but will not include dedicated bicycle lanes in that section.

The updated design will convert the existing bike lane into a 3.5-foot buffer between the travel lane and parked vehicles. Shared-lane markings, known as "sharrows," will be added in the travel lanes to make drivers more aware of bicyclists. The plan also includes 11-foot travel lanes and improvements to crosswalks to enhance pedestrian safety.

TDOT and the city of Chattanooga collaborated to review the corridor and develop a striping plan that addresses travel lanes, bicycle accommodations, pedestrian activity, and on-street parking, according to a TDOT spokesperson. The city developed the proposed configuration, and TDOT reviewed it to ensure it met current design standards and safety requirements, the spokesperson said.

Between Broad Street and Market Street, the existing pavement width is too limited for a dedicated, buffered bicycle lane that meets today's standards, a TDOT spokesperson stated. The spokesperson clarified that the current bike lane in this block is directly beside on-street parking without a buffer, which does not align with current safety guidance and can create potential conflicts when cyclists encounter opening car doors. Functionally, the corridor will largely operate as it does currently, but bicycle markings will be in the travel lane instead of the narrow space next to parked cars.

Alternative designs that would have allowed a fully buffered, dedicated bike lane would have required removing on-street parking. The city determined this option would create challenges for nearby residents and businesses, a TDOT spokesperson said. Some cyclists have objected to the decision to exclude dedicated bicycle lanes and have started an online petition.