Urbana City Council will discuss approval for the completion of the two-mile Florida Avenue bike path, connecting downtown Urbana to campustown, at its meeting Monday.

The bike path is just one of many paths that are part of the Bicycle Master Plan, Urbana’s city plan to implement safe and sustainable bike travel through a network of routes, which will take residents anywhere in the city.

Alderman Dennis Roberts, Ward 5, said the Traffic Commission is working street by street to approve areas for the paths. For the paths to be implemented, the commission re-evaluated and prohibited parking in some areas.

“We have been contacting the residents who live (on Florida Avenue) to inform them there will be a bike route signage along their street,” he said. “Especially where (signs) are being added, people will be facing parking restrictions along the street.”

Roberts said criteria for determining where the commission will keep street parking depends the width of the street. He said lines for the bike path and parking will be painted in spring 2013.

The city is also increasing awareness efforts to inform the community that the new bike paths will be available for their use. In 2010, city staff developed a video educating the community on how to share the road with bicyclists.

Since the video was broadcast on Urbana Public TV, Alderman Brandon Bowersox-Johnson, Ward 4, said the city has been putting together events to spread the awareness about the increased use of bikes in town and on campus.

“In the last six or seven years there has been a ramp up of the biking community,” he said. “There is education and awareness in programs. There are now many certified biking instructors some for kids and some for adults.”

Bowersox said the Florida Avenue path is a very important east-west connection for people who travel to school or downtown to shop.

City council members will also view a presentation by the Urbana Public Works department about the Windsor Road Corridor analysis.

William Gray, public works director, will give a second presentation concerning two road construction studies on Windsor Road. Although the original presentation was given at a November meeting, the council requested it be given again so absent council members would have the opportunity to ask questions.

The two main objectives of the study were to investigate whether a roundabout at the corner of Race and Windsor roads would be effective and if Windsor Road could be converted into a three-lane road between Philo Road and Race Street.

“It is not recommended to do either of those items,” Gray said. “The main reason is there would be long delays, congestion and operation problems. During the busy times in the morning and evening cars would be waiting an unacceptable amount of time.

Gray said public works is looking for the city council to accept the study results and authorize his staff to further evaluate the reconstruction of Windsor Road.

“The pavement condition is failing and we are having a lot of pavement degradation,” he said. “We need to find a good course of action to address this issue.”

Corinne can be reached at [email protected].