Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning
Vivian Coleman’s focus over the past three decades has been to advance more walkable, bikeable and transit friendly communities. Whether leading the planning for the signature Cross Charlotte Trail project or negotiating with private developers for more direct, safer and more comfortable connectivity between land uses, Vivian promotes quality design with innovative ideas and integral collaboration. By offering pedestrian and bicycle planning and design services, Vivid Earth Design will work with clients to build an integrated mobility process to advance and encourage transportation choices.
Cross Charlotte Trail
Vivian Coleman, Vivid Earth Design’s founder, presents at the Cross Charlotte Trail Charlotte City Council and Executive Leadership Team Tour 2016
Showcasing Charlotte’s bicycle facilities on a tour with Janette Sadik-Khan, former Commissioner of the New York City Department of Transportation. The Charlotte DOT is a leader in complete streets and Vivian played a critical role in implementing many projects. (Photo credit: Charlotte, NC DOT)
The City of Charlotte is partnering with Mecklenburg County to create a 30+ mile trail and greenway facility that will stretch from the City of Pineville through Center City and on to the UNC Charlotte campus and Cabarrus County line. Once completed, the Cross Charlotte Trail will allow residents to travel seamlessly from one end of Charlotte to the other. Approximately 140,000 residents and 130,000 jobs will be within walking distance of the proposed trail and the adjacent greenways that connect to it.
Vivian Coleman served as Trail Planning Manager to ensure completion of the Cross Charlotte Trail Master Plan and oversaw the Master Plan public engagement process, the Public Art Strategic Plan, and design teams for various segments of trail planning and design. Pop-Up meetings were heavily used for public outreach.
Uptown Connects Study - Bike Network Plan
Vivian Coleman served as Project Manager for this City of Charlotte study which identified challenges to bicycling in Uptown Charlotte and provided recommendations to make cycling more comfortable and safer. The final report recommended connections to link existing and future greenways/urban trail facilities and destinations through Uptown. The Uptown Connects Study resulted in recommendations for a more comprehensive bicycle network in the city’s downtown core. A number of those recommendations have been implemented over the past two years with protected bike lanes installed on 5th/6th Street, Davidson Street, and MLK Jr Boulevard.
The project included a data-driven planning and design process, substantial public and stakeholder engagement, and evaluation of concepts and design options.
Uptown Charlotte - 6th Street Cycletrack Opening Day Ribbon Cutting. A major accomplishment for new bicycle facilities in the downtown core.
6th Street Cycletrack Community Meeting - Alignment Input (Photo Credits Charlotte DOT)
Seam Trail Advancement Study
In 2023, Vivid Earth Design will begin work in partnership with LandDesign, Alta Planning, Bolton & Menk- ColeJenest, and Stone and STV to develop the Seam Trail Advancement Study. This study has been funded in partnership with NCDOT and local jurisdictions to advance the implementation of the adopted Mooresville to Charlotte Trail and expand the trail alignment from Statesville, NC to the South Carolina Stateline. This regional trail will increase from 30 miles to over 50 miles contiguous trail, making it the longest regional trail in the area. Vivian Coleman, PLA, AICP with Vivid Earth Design will serve as Public Involvement Lead on the Project Team.
Map Credit: Alta Planning & Parsons Brinkerhof