Elkton Pedestrian Plan
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
July 2018 2 Elkton Pedestrian Plan Table of Contents Who is WILMAPCO? ..................................................................................................................................... 3 Executive Summary ...................................................................................................................................... 4 Background ................................................................................................................................................... 5 Transportation History of Elkton .............................................................................................................. 5 Purpose of the Study ................................................................................................................................. 6 Previous Studies Completed in Elkton ...................................................................................................... 7 Steering Committee and Timeline .......................................................................................................... 10 Pedestrian Prioritization ............................................................................................................................ 11 Methodology ........................................................................................................................................... 11 Results ..................................................................................................................................................... 12 ADA Evaluation ........................................................................................................................................... 14 Methodology ........................................................................................................................................... 14 Results ..................................................................................................................................................... 14 Public Survey and Outreach ....................................................................................................................... 16 Methodology ........................................................................................................................................... 16 Results ..................................................................................................................................................... 17 Student Outreach .................................................................................................................................... 18 Prioritized Recommendations ................................................................................................................... 21 Town-Wide Recommendations .............................................................................................................. 22 Road Improvements ................................................................................................................................ 25 Next Steps ................................................................................................................................................... 35 3 Elkton Pedestrian Plan Who is WILMAPCO? The Wilmington Area Planning Council (WILMAPCO) is a federally mandated Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) consisting of two counties; Cecil County, Maryland and New Castle County, Delaware. Our mission is to serve the residents and stakeholders of the Wilmington region by carrying out a comprehensive, continuing and cooperative regional transportation planning process consistent with federal transportation legislation. To that end, WILMAPCO informs and involves the public of transportation planning decisions, guides the investment of federal transportation funds, coordinates transportation investments with local land use decisions, and promotes the national transportation policy expressed in federal transportation law. WILMAPCO is responsible for the development of the best transportation plan for the region. The implementation of that transportation plan is carried out by WILMAPCO's member agencies. We collect, analyze and evaluate demographic, land use and transportation-related data and seek public input to understand the transportation system requirements of the region. Understanding these requirements allows for the development of plans and programs and the implementation of a transportation system that provides for the efficient transport of people, goods and services. 4 Elkton Pedestrian Plan Executive Summary The Elkton Pedestrian Plan was requested by the Town of Elkton in order to identify necessary improvements to the town’s pedestrian network and support making Elkton a more walkable community. The Plan was guided by a steering committee, including representatives from the Town of Elkton, the Maryland State Highway Administration, and WILMAPCO. After collecting background data and conducting a thorough public outreach process, a list of recommendations was developed and prioritized. The recommendations include general, town-wide recommendations and specific improvements to roads, crossings, parks, and neighborhoods. Background research was conducted to better inform the public outreach process and the development of the recommendations presented in this Plan. Six previous studies were identified that have made recommendations for improving pedestrian infrastructure in Elkton, and these were incorporated in and continue to be supported by this Plan. An inventory of the town’s existing pedestrian network was collected, including the condition of all public sidewalks and curb ramps within the town’s borders. The pedestrian prioritization analysis identifies which geographic areas are likely to have high pedestrian activity and where improvements to pedestrian infrastructure may be needed. A thorough and extensive public outreach process was conducted to develop recommendations that best represent the community’s needs for becoming more walkable. Several outreach methods were utilized, including a public survey, outreach events, two public workshops, distributing flyers, a visit to Elkton Middle School, and promoting the plan via internet, mail, and radio. The results of the public survey and feedback were used to develop a list of recommendations, which were prioritized based on how frequently they were mentioned and their location in the pedestrian prioritization process. The recommendations presented in this Plan are organized into two categories: Town-Wide Recommendations and Road Improvements. Town-Wide Recommendations have benefits that extend beyond their immediate area, and they include completing sidewalks and curb ramps, marking crosswalks, improving lighting, resuming passenger service to the Elkton Train Station, and encouraging mixed-use and infill development. Road Improvements offer detailed enhancements to specific roads, crossings, and other locations, including Bridge Street, Howard Street, Delaware Avenue, Meadow Park, Big Elk Mall, Route 40, Elkton Heights, Elkton Road, Red Hill Road, Delancy Road, and Muddy Lane. These recommendations provide numerous benefits. They increase the safety of people walking, biking, driving, and taking transit in Elkton, improve access for those with disabilities, encourage more people to walk as a mode of transportation, and enhance public safety. These improvements can be implemented through coordination between the Town of Elkton, Cecil County, and the State of Maryland, which will help to ensure that the goals of the Elkton Pedestrian Plan are achieved. 5 Elkton Pedestrian Plan Background Transportation History of Elkton Elkton is the county seat of Cecil County, Maryland, located along the Elk River at the northern headwaters of the Chesapeake Bay, near the state’s eastern border with Delaware. As of 2010, the town had a population of 15,443. Prior to European settlement, the area was occupied by Native American tribes. The town was settled in 1694 by mariners and fishermen, who called their settlement Head of Elk due to its location at the head of navigation of the Elk River. The town was incorporated as Elkton and became the county seat in 1787. Starting in the early 19th century, the town served as a transfer point for travelers along the eastern seaboard of the United States. The Eagle, one of the first steamboats serving the Chesapeake Bay, was built in Philadelphia in 1813 and began serving Elkton in 1815. Travelers could board the Eagle in Baltimore, disembark in Elkton, and then take a stagecoach from Elkton to Wilmington, where they could board another ship heading towards Philadelphia. The railroad came to Elkton in 1831, when the New Castle and Frenchtown Railroad was built between Cecil County and Delaware. The railroad was initially created to connect industry to canals and ports. In 1837, the Philadelphia, Wilmington, and Baltimore Railroad was completed, including a stop in Elkton. Elkton Station officially opened to passengers on July 31, 1837. The current station was built nearly a century later in 1935, when the Pennsylvania Railroad moved the line north of the downtown area to ease the railroad’s tight curve A parade on Elkton's Main Street in the 1930s. (Source: Mike Dixon, Delmarva History) through the town center. After the construction of the Interstate Highway System, passenger rail service declined, and Elkton Station was closed in the mid-1960s due to low ridership. In 1978, service