Introduction
Circulation throughout a town is very important.
The Mitchell Vision Plan aims to improve circulation through multiple
approaches:
- Improving the roads and sidewalks to enhance the quality of life
throughout the city.
- Enhance the main corridors of Mitchell.
- Encourage a more diverse range of transportation options.
- Help reduce the division of the town from the major rail corridors.
Developed corridors that represent the town bring people
off the "by-pass" and into the community. Other modes of
transportation are also great for a town. Adding a trail system inside
the town and connecting to other trails will make a community walkable and
enhance the quality of life. Other issues in Mitchell are the multiple
railroad tracks throughout the community. Some actions need to take
place to improve the rail system so it is easier to drive over them and they
will not divide the city. These goals will help Mitchell improve
circulation and bring the community together.
Downtown Pedestrian Circulation
Goal
Improve walkability and make Main Street more pedestrian friendly.
Recommendations
- Visually improve Main Street through beautification efforts to
encourage use.
- Provide outdoor seating and pedestrian gathering spaces throughout
downtown.
- Design and construct informational kiosks along Main Street to
promote commercial activity and upcoming events.
- Introduce traffic calming efforts to increase safety and encourage
pedestrian use.
- Develop landscaping plan for Main Street.
Roads and Railroads
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Example of an improved road |
Roads are important to a city because they are in
constant use. If the road system is in poor condition, it presents a
negative image of the town to citizens and visitors.
Goal
Improve roads and railroad crossing to improve
circulation into and throughout Mitchell.
Recommendations
- Improve physical features on the road and sidewalks.
- Improve railroad crossings
- Increase vegetation along roads
- Improve signage
Major Corridors
Each corridor should be looked at as an individual corridor
because the roads serve different purposes. Each will have its own
characteristics and guidelines. The corridors of concern are State
Road 37, Main Street, and State Road 60.
Goal
Enhance the characteristics of the major corridor and
establish unique guidelines for each
Recommendations
- Implement a Corridor Management policy which
encompasses right-of-way preservation, advance acquisition, and access
management techniques
- Establish and improve gateways into Mitchell
- Improve physical attributes of the streets
- Create special developments in each corridor
- Create zoning and guidelines for the land around the
streets
Trail System
Goal
Develop a trail system/corridor that provides a
connection between parks.
Recommendations
- Put into action the current five year parks plan trail system
- Link the trails to Spring Mill Park and the Grove of Honor
- Provide easy access to trails for those in the community
- Make trails easy to use for non-vehicular traffic
- Connect parks to trail system
Signage
Goal
Implement sign controls that limit the amount of nuisances that signs
create.
Recommendations
- Allow clubs to adopt gateway sites and pay for the building and
upkeep of gateway signs.
- Set standards of color and size that will allow visitors to easily
find their way around the town.
- Adopt three different signage control codes for the SR 37 commercial
corridor, SR 60 rural corridor, and downtown.
Sidewalks and Curbs
Goal
Improve the quality of pedestrian circulation by continuing the
installation and improvement of sidewalks and curbs.
Recommendations
- Evaluate Mitchell's condition of sidewalks and curbs and its current
replacement pattern.
- Begin replacing sidewalks and curbs where safety is a concern
- Adopt a non-vehicular transportation improvement plan that allows
the building and maintenance of new sidewalks
- Develop an on-going fund-raiser to meet the improvements needs of
the non-vehicular transportation improvement plan.
- Continue improvements as needed and as called for in the plan.
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