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Laying the Foundation for Complete Streets

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Laying the Foundation for Complete Streets Nov. 26, 2013 Progress Report: Laying the Foundation for Complete Streets - Houston Workshop, April 17, 2013 Workshop co-sponsored by: City of Houston –Mayor’s Office of Sustainability and Museum Park Super Neighborhood Made possible through: Environmental Protection Agency Building Blocks for Sustainable Communities Technical Assistance Grant through Smart Growth America, with support of the National Complete Streets Coalition. Submitted by: Lisa Lin, City of Houston Mayor’s Office of Sustainability; Kathleen O’Reilly, Museum Park Super Neighborhood VP Significant progress has been made in Houston since the April 17 Complete Streets Workshop (Workshop). The workshop included City and County leadership, and though focused on the Museum Park Super Neighborhood, the results have been widespread. Museum Park is an excellent case study to demonstrate the potential and need for more walkable, bicycle- and transit-friendly destinations in Houston. In light of recent progress, Houston may soon be a model for Complete Streets implementation throughout the United States. Activities held throughout the week of the workshop shed light on existing conditions through pedestrian and bike audits. These audits proved to be valuable tools to help guide Complete Street policy development. Key points from the April 25, 2013 SGA-Complete Streets Coalition Report are summarized below for completeness. At the time of the Workshop Mayor Annise Parker was working on an executive order regarding Complete Streets. This was a very deliberate process by the Mayor which resulted in a more sustentative and meaningful policy. Progress towards Complete Streets Current Quarter • October 10, 2013 – Draft Complete Streets Policy. The draft policy was announced by Mayor Parker at the site of Texas' first certified GreenRoads project, Bagby Street in Midtown. This project received a Silver Rating for its design and construction sustainability efforts. The press release may be found at: https://www.greenroads.org/files/2290.pdf • Oct. 21, 2013 – Complete Streets Executive Order. Presentation to the Transportation, Technology & Infrastructure Committee by City of Houston Planning and Development; Public Works and Engineering Departments. The presentation may be found at: http://www.houstontx.gov/planning/docs_pdfs/Complete_Streets_TTI_Counci_%20Committee.pdf • Nov. 1, 2013 - Executive Order No. 1-15 approved – Houston Complete Streets and Transportation Plan. Improvements will be achieved over time as improvements to existing roadways and redevelopment occurs. Houston is the third City in Texas to implement these transformative ideas. 1 of 8 Previous Quarter • May 2013 Safe Passage Ordinance designed to protect Houston’s cyclists and other vulnerable road users was unanimously approved by City Council, and was immediately effective. This ordinance requires cars and other motor vehicles to keep a separation of more than three feet while passing, and trucks or commercial vehicles. This success is largely credited to the Mayor’s Office of Sustainability, Houston Tomorrow, Bike Houston and Bike Texas. April Workshop - Updates to Targeted Policies/Ideas/Strategies With respect to key topics and next steps discussed at the Workshop, the conversation is ongoing but critical progress has been made, as described above. Steps forward: o Given the density of activity in the Museum Park neighborhood, the presence of light rail transit and the well- connected network of streets, there are significant opportunities to make this area a model for Complete Streets. - Museum Park has negotiated pedestrian entrances into the Cherie flores Centennial Gardens and safe passage areas around Mecom fountain Grand Gateway. This will clearly benefit the many visitors to the northwest and northern Hermann Park entrances. o Implementation of Complete Streets would benefit from a more robust public process in which City staff engages community members early in any transportation project. Similarly, participants felt that it was important that different City departments and agencies coordinate more directly on Complete Streets implementation. – The Complete Streets Policy institutionalizes engagement using existing transportation plans and tool in use within the City, including the City of Houston Mobility Plan, the Infrastructure Design Guidance Manual and other appropriate tools available through the Planning and/or Public Works Departments, as well as METRO. o Research what other parking organizations have done to enable complete streets. - Parking Management continues to move forward with strategic planning and is engaging community leaders to develop neighborhood specific parking strategies. A goal of using parking as a service rather than a revenue source is being incorporated. o Public Works design manual allows Complete Streets strategies to be applied on a case-by-case basis but does not make it the default project. Community members felt that the design manual should not make it harder to do Complete Streets but instead should help facilitate implementation. - This discussion continues; the City of Houston Design manual will incorporate the recently signed Executive Order No. 1-15 into the City of Houston Design Manual. o Community members expressed concern that the current street design standards used by the City are too rigid and that there is reluctance to use lane widths narrower than 12 feet. There should be a balanced approach when applying design standards. Several advances will influence this thinking: 2 of 8 - Houston Tomorrow has initiated a goal of a Neighborhood Greenway program. This will help facilitate connection of the recently approved Bayou Greenways Initiative’s hike and bike trails throughout surface streets, and through neighborhoods. - The Houston Parks Board has begun implementing the Bayou Greenways projects approved by voters in the bond measure in November, according to video of Houston City Council. The Houston Parks Board has raised $70 million of the $105 million pledge to match the bonds approved by voters. o Push sidewalk maintenance ideas with public works. - Houston Council Members Melissa Noriega and Ed Gonzalez successfully inserted a new program into the 2014 budget to streamline fixing sidewalks for residents and businesses, Attachments: Oct. 10, 2013 - City of Houston Complete Street Policy Press Release Nov. 1, 2013 – Houston Complete Streets and Transportation Plan Executive Order – Mayor Annise Parker Press Release Mayor Annise Parker Announces Visionary Complete Streets Policy For Houston October 10, 2013 -- At the site of Texas' first certified GreenRoads projects in Midtown, Mayor Annise Parker today unveiled a transformative new approach for Houston streets that will accommodate the needs of all users, not just those behind the wheel. The mayor’s Complete Streets and Transportation Plan is meant to provide safe, accessible and convenient use by motorists, public transit riders, pedestrians, people of all abilities and bicyclists. The new policy, detailed in a draft executive order from the mayor, will be achieved over time as improvements to existing roadways and redevelopment occur. “This executive order is a major first step forward,” said Mayor Parker. “Many groups have worked hard to get us to this point, including The Complete Streets Coalition, Scenic Houston, AARP and BikeHouston. I am thankful for their input and steadfast commitment. Houston is a city that embraces its diversity. This Complete Streets policy applies the same approach to our mobility system by meeting the diverse needs of all Houstonians while also creating more accessible and attractive connections to residential areas, parks, businesses, restaurants, schools and employment centers. The Complete Streets and Transportation Plan recognizes that all streets are different. The function of the road, current and projected adjacent land use and travel demands, availability of right-of-way, community input and the level of vehicular, pedestrian and bicycle traffic must all be considered in decisions regarding enhancements. The ultimate goal, where appropriate, is walkable and bike-friendly neighborhoods with amenities such as trees and landscaping, public art and street furniture. “As we work to build a healthier community, it is more important than ever to reimagine our approach to streets, sidewalks, pedestrian crossings, public transit, bike trails and lanes,” said Mayor Parker. Mayor Parker intends to sign the executive order following a City Council briefing on the plan. Houston is joining other cities that are already utilizing a Complete Streets approach including Chicago, Baltimore, San Antonio, San Diego, Sacramento, Seattle, Portland, San Francisco and New Orleans as well as the U.S. Department of Transportation and numerous state transportation agencies. The Plan will build upon and utilize tools such as the city’s Mobility Planning already underway. It will create new definitions found in the city’s Major Thoroughfare and Freeway Plan Policy Statement and the Infrastructure Design Manual. The city’s Rebuild Houston program will also ensure that all future roadway construction utilizes the principals contained in the mayor’s Complete Streets Executive Order. The City of Houston’s Planning and Development Department, Public Works and Engineering Department and METRO will be responsible for administration of the plan. There will be annual reporting to City Council to ensure transparency and accountability. 3 of 8 Houston’s transportation infrastructure spans 640 square miles and consists of 6,000 center lane miles of streets, 1,100,000 traffic signs, 2,450 signalized LED intersections, 1,600 school zone flashers, 180,000 streetlights and 1,800 freeway lights. 4 of 8 5 of 8 6 of 8 7 of 8 8 of 8 9 of 8 .
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