APPENDIX E Summary of Comments on January 2014 Draft Plan
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APPENDIX E Summary of Comments on January 2014 Draft Plan SAINT PAUL BICYCLE PLAN DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS Rich Lallier, Director CITY OF SAINT PAUL 1500 City Hall Annex Fax: 651-266-6222 25 W. Fourth Street Christopher B. Coleman, Mayor Saint Paul, MN 55102-1660 MEMORANDUM FROM: Reuben Collins P.E., Department of Public Works DATE: 5/19/2014 SUBJECT: Saint Paul Bikeways Plan – Summary of Public Comments This Memorandum presents a summary of the public statements received on the draft Saint Paul Bikeways Plan as released on 1/21/2014. The full text of all written statements received is attached at the end of this Memorandum. An announcement of the release of the draft Bikeways Plan was publicized through a city press release and through city social media channels (twitter, facebook). An announcement was also sent by city staff to nearly 1800 subscribers to the city’s Bicycling Saint Paul newsletter. The release of the draft received substantial media coverage across multiple media platforms. Announcement of the release of the draft included print and/or online articles in the Pioneer Press, StarTribune, East Side Review (LillieNews.com), and the Highland Villager. Evening television news reports were included on KARE 11 and KSTP 5. Online news outlets that covered the release included MinnPost and the Twin Cities Daily Planet. An interview with city staff was also broadcast on Minnesota Public Radio’s The Daily Circuit program. Notification of the draft Plan was sent via email to all executive directors of the District Councils, along with an offer for city staff to attend upcoming district council meetings. City staff met directly with representatives of 14 of the 17 District Councils. Staff also met directly with local downtown business groups. Four Open House events were held in February at four locations throughout the city to present information about the draft Bikeways Plan and encourage participants to provide written comments on the plan. A total of 229 people were recorded on sign-in sheets to the Open House events. ORGANIZATION & GROUP STATEMENTS City staff received formal resolutions or letters from 10 District Councils. The statements ranged from short letters of support for the plan, to more detailed recommendations about particular routes within each District. Formal statements were received from the following District Councils: • District 1 – District 1 Community Council • District 4 – Dayton’s Bluff Community Council • District 5 – Payne Phalen District 5 Planning Council • District 9 – Fort Road Federation An Affirmative Action Equal Opportunity Employer • District 10 – Como Community Council • District 11 – Hamline Midway Coalition • District 12 – Saint Anthony Park Community Council • District 13 – Union Park District Council • District 14 – Macalester-Groveland Community Council • District 15 – Highland District Council City staff received written statements from nine organizations or groups, including representatives of the downtown business community. Each of these organizations or groups offered support for the draft Bikeways Plan while offering recommendations for improvements. Statements were received from the following groups or organizations: • Desnoyer Park Improvement Association • Friends of the Parks and Trails • Hayden Heights Block Club • Lafeyette Park Commuter Team • Macalester College • Saint Paul Smart-Trips / Women on Bikes • Saint Paul Area Chamber of Commerce (SPACC), Building Owners and Managers Association (BOMA), & Wabasha Partners (joint statement) • Sprockets • Town and Country Club Of particular note was the joint statement submitted by SPACC, BOMA, and Wabasha Partners, which collectively represent a significant portion of business interests in downtown Saint Paul. The statement offers a strong voice of support for the “Loop” trail concept presented for the downtown area. The statement also contained an encouragement to clarify the economic development potential of the downtown trail concept and to consider alternative alignments for the trail, particularly to assess the feasibility of developing a trails along Wabasha Street and 4th Street. This message was echoed in the statement from Saint Paul Smart-Trips / Women on Bikes. INDIVIDUAL STATEMENTS City Staff received a total of 377 written statements from individuals in the following channels: • Written statements from Open House events (60 statements) • Emails received by city staff (144 statements) • Statements received on Open Saint Paul (173 statements) The majority of the written statements received from individuals (not including organizational or group statements) were in favor of the draft Bikeways Plan, with many statements offering recommendations for ways to improve the plan. Each of the written statements was placed into one of the following four categories indicating the general reaction to the plan. The approximate number of statements that fit into each of these categories is also shown. It should be noted that the total number of statements received includes multiple statements from some individuals, as well as a small number of duplicate statements. Some individuals submitted multiple comments through more than one channel (e.g. an individual may have left written feedback at an Open House, sent staff an email, and left comments on Open Saint Paul). Saint Paul Bikeways Plan – Summary of Public Comments Page 2 Number of Percent of Written Characterization of the Statement Total Statements Statements Received Support the draft Bikeways Plan as is. No 106 28% recommendations or concerns were stated. Support the draft Bikeways Plan, but offered recommendations for improvement or 223 59% expressed a concern. Did not specifically state support or opposition to draft Bikeways Plan, but offered 35 9% recommendations or expressed a concern. Opposed to draft Bikeways Plan. 13 3% TOTAL INDIVIDUAL STATEMENTS 377 - MAJOR THEMES The statements received from individuals were reviewed to identify major themes. These identified themes are presented below. In addition to the major themes identified here, there were many recommendations regarding specific route alignments shown in the draft Bikeways Plan. These major themes address bikeway system needs and priorities: • Complete the Grand Round. (92 statements, 60 specific to Pelham Blvd, 7 specific to Mississippi River Blvd, and 6 Specific to Wheelock Pkwy) • Improve bicycle connections to and through downtown to promote safety, connectivity, ridership, and economic activity. (91 statements) • Facilitate / prioritize safe bicycle access across physical barriers - Railroad corridors/trenches, I-94 and I-35E, and major roadways. – (31 statements) • Develop better bicycle facilities to and through the East Side. (23 statements, 12 specific to Maryland Avenue, 8 specific to East 7th) • Close / connect the gaps in the existing bikeway system. (22 statements) • Implement more / improved north – south bikeways throughout the city. (18 statements) • Prioritize off-street Paths / protected bicycle facilities over other treatments. (16 statements) • Implement / prioritize bicycle facilities in underserved or low income areas and communities of color. (12 statements) • Implement / prioritize conversion of the CP Rail Spur for trail use. (8 statements) • Improve access and connections to schools. (7 statements) • Bicycle facilities should integrate with existing transportation or transit system. (8 statements) These major themes address the facility type groups identified in the draft Bikeways Plan: • Off-street Paths / protected bicycle facilities are more desirable than other treatments. (17 statements) • Sharrows / enhanced shared lanes are inadequate / do not promote safe bicycling. (15 statements) Saint Paul Bikeways Plan – Summary of Public Comments Page 3 These major themes address implementation timeline and strategies: • Take advantage of street resurfacing or other construction projects to implement bicycle facilities. (8 statements) • A 20-year timeframe too long for the scope of recommendations proposed in the draft Bikeways Plan. (8 statements) These major themes address general citywide concerns with the draft Bikeways Plan. • Opposed to plan / waste of tax payer money. (9 statements) • Concern about implications of loss of on-street parking. (8 statements) These statements address the scope of the draft Bikeways Plan. • Commit to / promote the maintenance of bicycle facilities. Improve maintenance of existing facilities. (26 statements) • Develop, encourage, and emphasize education and enforcement procedures and materials. (21 statements) • Wayfinding or other identification signage needed / should be a component of the plan. (11 statements) • More bicycle parking is needed / should be a component of the plan. (12 statements) NEXT STEPS City staff will carefully consider each of the statements received while continuing progress on developing a final draft of the Bikeways Plan. A final draft of the Bikeways Plan is anticipated for City Council adoption in 2014. Attachments Original text or transcription of all written statements received by city staff. Saint Paul Bikeways Plan – Summary of Public Comments Page 4 DISTRICT COUNCIL STATEMENTS The District 1 Community Council greatly appreciates the efforts that have gone into developing the Bikeways Plan. Bikeways are an important part of our city’s infrastructure and have gone underdeveloped for far too long. We submit the following comments to highlight important parts of the plan and to recommend improvements to the