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2.4.4c Historic downtown <br />The historic commercial core of Ellensburg has been targeted for pedestrian <br />friendly improvements for many years. Brick pavers, period lighting, and sidewalk <br />bulbs at intersections were installed decades ago. Two to three story historic <br />buildings set against the sidewalk (zero lot line) with interesting window displays <br />add comfort and interest to the pedestrian. The City's Comprehensive Plan <br />includes goals to maintain and increase pedestrian circulation downtown with <br />increased housing density, a parking plan, and improved University Way crossing. <br />Main Street remains difficult to cross at times due to the high volume of motor <br />vehicle traffic. It is a major north -south arterial, a truck route, and a freeway by- <br />pass route. Signals are timed to maximize traffic flow. East -west travelers <br />crossing Main Street often have to wait several moments. <br />Future downtown development, particularly infill, should reinforce the pedestrian <br />focus of Downtown with buildings built to and oriented to the sidewalk. Parking <br />lots adjacent to the sidewalk interrupt the building lines and sense of enclosure. <br />There are no off-street parking requirements in the Central Commercial zone. <br />Recommendation 2.4.4c: Maintain pedestrian focus of historic <br />downtown. <br />1. Sign by-pass route to encourage truck and auto traffic to use <br />Water Street rather than Main Street as a preferred north -south <br />route. <br />2. Discourage parking lots abutting the sidewalk in the Central <br />Commercial zone. <br />2.4.4d River to Rodeo Trail <br />The River to Rodeo Trail was identified in the 1997 Nonmotorized Plan. The goal <br />of the "trail' is to link the trail system at Rotary and Irene Rinehart Riverfront Parks <br />on the west to the fairgrounds and John Wayne Trail on the east through <br />downtown on Fifth Avenue (see Figure 3a route #12). The corridor should be <br />identifiable so that trail users can find their way from one trail system to the other <br />safely and efficiently. It should be designed to accommodate both pedestrians <br />and bicyclists. While many equestrians utilize the John Wayne trail and rodeo <br />grounds, it is not anticipated that the River to Rodeo Trail would be designed to <br />accommodate horse travel. <br />The route passes through industrial, commercial and residential land uses. A trail <br />under 1-90 connecting Irene Rinehart Riverfront Park to Rotary Park is funded by a <br />State grant and is scheduled for completion in 2009. An asphalt trail within Rotary <br />Park from the freeway to the entrance is completed. Sidewalks are complete <br />along most of the route, except a section on the north side from Railroad Avenue <br />to Wenas Street. Some additional curb -cuts are needed on the north side. <br />December 2008 City of Ellensburg Nonmotorized Transportation Plan Page 2-30 <br />