Bundaberg Regional Council Multi Modal Pathway Strategy Connecting our Region February 2012 Contents 1. Study Background 1 2. Study Objectives 2 3. Purpose of a Multi Modal Pathway Network 3 3.1 How do we define ‘multi modal’ 3 3.2 Community Benefits of a Multi Modal Network 3 3.3 What Characteristics Should a Multi Modal Network Reflect? 4 3.4 Generators of Trips 5 3.5 Criteria for Ascertaining Location of Proposed Paths 6 4. Review of Previous Multi Modal Pathway Strategy Plans 8 4.1 Bundaberg City Council Interim Integrated Open Space and Multi Modal Pathway Network Study 2006 8 4.2 Burnett Shire Walk and Cycle Plan – For a Mobile Community 2004 9 4.3 Bundaberg – Burnett Regional Sport and Recreation Strategy 2006 9 4.4 Kolan Shire Sport and Recreation Plan 2004 10 4.5 Bundaberg Region Social Plan 2006 10 4.6 Woodgate Recreational Trail 10 5. Proposed Multi Modal Pathway Strategy 11 5.1 Overall Outcomes of the Multi-Modal Pathway Network 11 5.2 Hierarchy Classification 11 5.3 Design and Construction Standards 13 5.4 Weighting Criteria for Locating Pathways and Prioritising Path Construction 14 5.5 Pathway Network for the Former Bundaberg City Council Local Government Area 17 5.6 Pathway Network for the former Burnett Shire Council Local Government Area 18 5.7 Pathway Network for the former Isis Shire Council Local Government Area 20 5.8 Pathway Network for the Former Kolan Shire Council Local Government Area 21 5.9 Integration with Planning Schemes 21 5.10 Other Pathway Opportunities 22 6. References 23 Table Index Table 1 Shared Path Widths 13 Table 2 Weighting Criteria for Locating Pathways and Prioritising Path Construction 15 Appendices A Former Bundaberg City Council Multi Modal Pathway Hierarchy and Staging Plans B Former Burnett Shire Council Multi Modal Pathway Hierarchy and Staging Plans C Former Isis Shire Council Multi Modal Pathway Hierarchy and Staging Plans D Former Kolan Shire Multi Modal Pathway Hierarchy and Staging Plans E Bauer Street and McCavanagh Street Pathway Comparison F Multi Modal Pathway Network Pathway Prioritisation Assessment Spreadsheets G Appendix A2 of Austroads ‘Guide to Road Design – Part 6A: Pedestrian and Cyclist Paths’ H ‘Opportunities’ portion of Section 4.4 of ‘Burnett Shire’s Walk and Cycle Plan – For a Mobile Community Strategy and Action Plan, August 2004’ 1. Study Background Bundaberg Regional Council was created in March 2008 by the amalgamation of the Isis Shire Council, Kolan Shire Council, Burnett Shire Council and Bundaberg City Council. The region covers approximately 6,500 square kilometres and is home to approximately 93,000 residents. The settlement pattern is characterised by the regional city of Bundaberg, coastal communities and rural townships. The attractive lifestyle opportunities offered by the Bundaberg area and the accelerated northward drift of people from South-East Queensland suggest that Bundaberg will experience continued, if not accelerated, population growth. This realisation, in concert with the then Integrated Planning Act 1997 imperatives in relation to trunk infrastructure provision, saw the former Council’s independently initiate studies which either directly or indirectly bore upon the location and design of pathway networks. Bundaberg Regional Council recognises that the local government area is blessed with a number of attributes conducive to walking and cycling. The warm climate, flat topography, wide road reserves and attractive surrounding rural and coastal landscapes combine to make walking and cycling a desirable and viable mode of social interaction, recreation and transport. In concert with the higher proportion of older residents, the lower average income of households and the increasing numbers of tourists, opportunity exists to encourage more non-motorised trips by developing a coherent multi modal pathway system. In order to create an integrated multi modal network with standardised design and locational criteria, Council has engaged GHD to review and consolidate the previous planning strategies. The outcome of this work will be the production of a multi modal pathway network plan with recommended delivery priorities. 41/22361 6195 Multi Modal Pathway Strategy 1 Connecting our Region 2. Study Objectives This study has the following objectives- a. Define the purpose and characteristics of a multi modal pathway network. b. Review previous multi modal strategy plans in the context of the desired purpose and characteristics such a network should display. c. Assess the existing multi modal pathway network throughout the local authority area to identify opportunities for pathway upgrade. d. Develop a multi modal pathway strategy that addresses locational criteria, hierarchy characteristics and design and construction standards. e. Recommend a staging strategy for construction of paths. The Council Brief specifically limits the outputs of the study to multi modal pathways in urban and future growth areas and major links between urban areas along the coastal growth corridor. As such recreational paths such as bushwalking or mountain bike tracks and paths in rural areas were not studied as part of this project as they do not form part of the Multi Modal Pathway Network. The only codicil to this is the proposed Sharon Gorge Rail Trail (Bundaberg North to Sharon Gorge) and the Bundaberg to Bargara cycle/pathway which are considered important regional pathway links. 41/22361 6195 Multi Modal Pathway Strategy 2 Connecting our Region 3. Purpose of a Multi Modal Pathway Network 3.1 How do we define ‘multi modal’ The multi modal pathway network incorporates those paths that are designed and constructed to meet the needs of the broadest range of potential users. By being designated as such, there is an expectation that the network reflects those needs specific to mobility impaired persons, to able bodied persons of all ages and to people using wheeled recreational craft permitted by the Transport Operations (Road Use Management – Road Rules) Regulation 1999 to use a path. The promotion of a pathway network as being ‘multi modal’ therefore introduces a consideration of the needs and expectations of a raft of users, some of whose behaviour can be anticipated (eg. commuter) and some of whose behaviour can be more erratic (eg. school children). It also introduces a consideration of the raft of transportation tools or aids and their relative compatibility eg. bikes, walking frames, roller blades, motorised buggies, prams, skateboards, wheelchairs. A multi modal pathway network should therefore satisfy social, recreational, commuter, utility and school needs. 3.2 Community Benefits of a Multi Modal Network Walking and cycling are low-cost transportation modes available to the greater part of the community. Providing bikeways and/or walkways introduces a significant range of community and personal benefits, including: Reduced Transportation Costs: Maintaining and improving the road transport network involves high costs to local (and State) government. Reducing vehicle use will reduce road maintenance costs. Environmental Outcomes: Walking and cycling do not cause health-threatening impacts on air quality or residential amenity and are the most energy efficient and sustainable forms of transport. Street Activation: The number of people who feel comfortable walking or riding bicycles is a measure of the quality of life of a town. The presence of pedestrians and cyclists indicates that the sense of community is strong, people feel safe being outdoors and social interaction can happen openly. Increased Household Disposable Income: The cost of buying and maintaining a bike has been estimated at approximately 1% of the cost of buying and maintaining a car. Improved Health and Well-Being: As gentle and moderate intensity physical activities respectively, walking and cycling can contribute to the prevention of a number of physical and psychological illnesses including coronary heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and depression. 41/22361 6195 Multi Modal Pathway Strategy 3 Connecting our Region Social Equity: Walking and cycling are affordable, accessible and independent travel options for a large number of people, but particularly the ‘transportation disadvantaged’ – the unemployed, low income earners, the young and others who do not use a motor vehicle for a variety of reasons. 3.3 What Characteristics Should a Multi Modal Network Reflect? A multi modal network should seek to satisfy as many needs of the different user groups (generically categorised as cyclist and pedestrian) as possible. With respect to cyclists, there is wide acceptance that this user group can be categorised into seven broad sub-groups, each with distinct characteristics and needs that affect pathway planning and design. These sub-groups are: Primary school children – little knowledge of road traffic laws and undeveloped cognitive skills. Secondary school children – skill varies widely depending on age. Recreational cyclists – skill varies widely and they generally desire pleasant recreational experiences along off-road paths and local streets. Commuter cyclists – includes people who wish to reduce travel time regardless of traffic conditions and those who are willing to take a longer route to avoid high-stress environments. Usually, however, the commuter cyclist is best accommodated by on-road facilities because the road network more often offers the most direct route. Utility cyclists – those who ride for a variety of specific purposes such as shopping, visiting friends, travelling