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Utah  &Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide

Ack nowledgments

Prepared by:

Shaunna K. Burbidge, PhD, Project Manager

In Association with:

Maria Vyas, AICP, Julie Bjornstad, AICP, Meghan Mitman

Project Task Force: Brett McIff, Physical Activity, Nutrition, and Obesity Program, Utah Department of Health

Evelyn Tuddenham, Utah Department of Transportation

Jory Johner, Wasatch Front Regional Council

Cherissa Wood, Safe Routes to School Program, Utah Department of Transportation

Keri Gibson, Utah Highway Safety Office, Department of Public Safety

Julianne Sibula, Utah Transit Authority

Hal Johnson, Utah Transit Authority

Kevin Condra, Violence and Injury Prevention Program, Salt Lake Valley Health Department

Focus Group Participants: Scott Messel, Kaysville City; Dave Olson, City of Moab; Tom Dansie, City of Springdale; Jim Price, Mountainland Association of Governments; Paul Goodrich, Orem City; John Taylor, Taylorsville City; Tim Rose, Utah Department of Transportation; Doni Pack, Five County Association of Governments; Amy Peters, Southeastern Utah Association of Governments; Arthur LeBaron, Hurricane City; Brad Woods, MadDog Cycles; George Shaw, City of South Jordan; Colin Smith, Salt Lake County; Scott Lyttle, Bike Utah; and Isaac Pantone, Bikers’ Edge

Production Support:

This guide was made possible by funding from the Department of Health and Human Ser- vices and the Utah Department of Health.

TableofContents

1 Introduction ...... 1

2 Identifying Goals and Objectives ...... 7

3 Inventory of Existing Conditions ...... 21

4 Public Involvement...... 47

5 Analysis and Site Selection...... 63

6 Planning and Design Components...... 77

7 Project Selection and Prioritization...... 137

8 Implementation ...... 151

9 Monitoring ...... 167

10 Recognition Programs ...... 177

Appendix: Commonly Used Acronyms, Glossary of Technical Terms, Sample Master Plan Outline, Walkability and Bikeability Checklists. . . . . 189

1

Introduction: Why Plan for Pedestrians and Cyclists?

01 Why Plan for Pedestrians and Cyclists?

There are many reasons to plan for and . The goal of a transportation system is to provide access to goods, services, and activities. Supporting active modes gives users important transportation choices, whether it be to make trips entirely by walking or cycling, or to access public transit. Often in urban areas, walking and cycling are the fastest and most efficient ways to perform short trips. Safe and convenient non- motorized travel provides many benefits, including reduced traf- fic congestion, user savings, road and parking facility savings, economic development, and a better environment.

Nonmotorized travel contributes to the local economy by sup- porting tourism and quality development. Pedestrian-friendly conditions improve the commercial and cultural vibrancy of communities. Increased pedestrian traffic helps create a safer and more pleasant environment. Once visitors arrive in a com- munity, they often explore it by walking or cycling. A good walk- ing environment can enhance a visitor’s experience. Addition- ally, some trail networks are destination tourist attractions in and of themselves, bringing hundreds or thousands of visitors, and thousands or millions of dollars to a community each year.

Walking and cycling are not only effective modes of transporta- tion, they are enjoyable and healthful activities. Both are con- sistently cited as the most popular forms of recreation. Public health officials increasingly recognize the importance of fre- quent aerobic and regular physical activity. Evidence has shown that transportation systems, development patterns, and community design and planning decisions can all have profound effects on the amount of physical activity residents accumulate. People can lead healthier, more active lives if communities are built to facilitate safe walking and biking.

Planning for and constructing accommodations for bicycling and walking, and improving safety, education, and enforce-

Introduction: Why Plan for Pedestrians and Cyclists? 3 ment programs are critical to increasing mobility work, and play in environments that facilitate such for pedestrians and bicyclists. Few improvements activities. will ever be implemented without a plan. Good planning can reduce the cost of improvements How to Use this Guide by allowing non-motorized improvements to be This document is designed to walk users step-by- incorporated into scheduled road projects. Addi- step through the process of creating a Bicycle and tionally, external funding is often available for non- Pedestrian Master Plan. Each chapter outlines the motorized projects and programs, but obtaining unique situations faced by individual jurisdictions this support requires that a community have a plan by providing a variety of options within a consistent identifying and prioritizing projects and programs. framework. The following topics are covered in detail: The purpose of this document is to assist users in developing a Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan • Identifying Goals and Objectives to guide the implementation of a network of quality • Conducting an Inventory of Existing Conditions bicycle and pedestrian facilities for both transpor- • Public Involvement tation and recreation in their community. Increas- ing accommodations for cyclists and pedestrians • Analysis and Site Selection will improve quality of life by providing transporta- • Planning and Design tion options and creating a reality where all Utahns • Project Selection and Prioritization can be physically active because they will live,

4 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide • Implementation and may require users to redo specific tasks, or

• Monitoring result in analysis problems.

• Recognition Programs This document is intended to be thorough and comprehensive; however, users are encouraged Each chapter is set up to allow users to choose to utilize as many resources as possible to maxi- their level of expertise on any given topic. Tasks mize planning efforts. References for sources are organized and categorized based on their level described in the guide are cited at the end of each of difficulty and the experience needed to com- chapter and links to other helpful resources are plete them. Difficulty levels are indicated using the provided throughout the text. Additionally, a list of same characterization scheme as the world class frequently used acronyms and a glossary of techni- ski slopes Utah is known for. cal terms are provided at the end of the document to help prevent any ambiguity or confusion. BASIC level tasks are indicated by a green dot. These tasks should be completed by all No matter your motivation for creating a Bicycle users. This could be referred to as the “easy and Pedestrian Master Plan or current level of way down” in terms of bicycle and pedestrian expertise, as this guide was designed to provide planning. all the resources necessary for beginners, experts, INTERMEDIATE level tasks are indicated by and everyone in between, including planners, a blue square. These tasks are more compli- engineers, politicians, advocates, and concerned cated and complex and will require additional citizens. Before beginning the planning process, resources in terms of time and expertise. Some it may be helpful to take some time and browse of the intermediate tasks may require the assis- through the entire guide. This will provide a more tance of an outside consultant. comprehensive idea of the time and resources that will be needed and will allow users to develop a ADVANCED level tasks are indicated by a better idea of the level of planning that will be black diamond symbol. These tasks will be appropriate for a given location. feasible only for highly technical agencies, large municipalities, or regional agencies, and will most likely require the assistance of a consul- /// CROSSING /// tant or specialist. Graphics, Sidebars, and Call-Outs Each level is cumulative; therefore, all Basic tasks While the main text outlines the process of creating should be completed before beginning the In- a Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, many helpful hints, local examples, and other useful pieces of termediate tasks, and all Basic and Intermediate information are provided as graphics, sidebars, tasks should be completed before moving on to and call-out boxes throughout the document. the Advanced tasks. Much of the information or For example, although an entire chapter is dedi- data needed for the Intermediate and Advanced cated to public involvement and outreach (Ch-4), tasks is acquired through completing the Basic each chapter contains “Public Involvement Alerts” to remind users of key times to involve citizens and tasks. other interest groups.

WARNING: Skipping to a higher level before com- pleting the prerequisite tasks is not recommended,

Introduction: Why Plan for Pedestrians and Cyclists? 5 Notes ach community will have a gen- eral or focused motivation for E creating a bicycle and pedes- trian master plan. This motivation will be unique depending on a number of factors including location (geo- graphic and urban/rural), population (including demographics), political will, staff availability, and technical expertise.

This chapter provides guidance for identifying 1) a purpose of the bicycle and pedestrian master plan, 2) goals 2 and objectives of the plan, and 3) methods for integrating this plan into the community’s existing planning structure. Identifying Goals and Objectives

02 Identifying Goals and Objectives

Identifying the Purpose of Your Plan

Think of the plan’s purpose serving as a mission statement for bicycle and pedestrian activity in the community. It should focus on where the community is headed or would like to be in the It is recommended that you long term. What problems is the community currently facing? gather broad-based support for What will having a bicycle and pedestrian master plan accom- your plan by including appropri- ate stakeholders from the begin- plish? Answering these questions can help clarify a vision prior ning. These individuals/groups to beginning the planning process. can serve as a kind of steer- ing committee as the planning Below, several possible motivating factors or sample plan process progresses, acting as a purposes are described in detail. While this list is intended to sounding board for ideas as well as providing valuable feedback cover the majority of potential motivators for creating a bicycle based on the experiences of and pedestrian master plan, it is not exhaustive. You may find their represented groups. that the reasons for creating a plan fall into more than one of the Who should be involved? Con- categories below. Or, perhaps the reasons do not fall into any of sider the following: the categories below. Feel free to expand upon these examples • Local K-12 PTSAs (or other school organizations) or even create a new one tailored to the specific needs of the • Senior/community centers community. • City Planner/Engineer/Parks Improve Public Health and Physical Activity and Rec. Dept. • Local cycling/ Walking and bicycling are two easy ways to be physically ac- advocacy groups and race tive. Research has shown that communities with higher rates organizers of walking and bicycling are healthier than those where people • Cycling and running equip- must rely on for travel. By providing infrastructure that ment vendors/stores allows people to travel using active modes, people begin to • Other local business owners integrate physical activity into their daily routine. This may • Community groups for minori- ties or citizens with disabilities reduce rates of obesity and its affiliated chronic diseases (e.g. • Economic development heart disease, diabetes, cancer, etc.). groups

Accommodate Recreation in the Community • Parents, city volunteer groups, healthy community coalitions Recreation is an essential part of human life and takes many dif- ferent forms, which are shaped by both individual interests the

Chapter 02: Identifying Goals and Objectives 9 10 economic businessvitality.Manyareasaredevel- Preservation andaestheticsgohand-in-handwith “Main Streets”weregreatlyaffectedbythistrend. from citycenters.Small-businessdistrictsand cent decades,manybusinesseshavemovedaway significant contributiontothelocaleconomy.Inre- Bicycle andpedestriantransportationcanmakea Development Economic Promote tion, fewertrafficjams,andimprovedairquality. vehicles ontheroad,whichmeanslessconges- crease inactivetransportationmeansfewermotor soil quality,andreductionsinbiodiversity.Anin- as climatechange,airquality,noise, increasingly linked to environmental problems such As aresult,thetransportationsectorisbecoming in increasedlevelsofmotorizationandcongestion. the growthintransportationdemandhasresulted bility demands for both passengers and freight, but The transportationsystemsupportsincreasingmo- System tation Transpor the of Impacts Environmental the Reduce forms ofrecreation. individuals participateinwalkingandbicyclingas surrounding environment.Alargepercentageof - tunities Utahcommunitieshavetooffer.Creating who seektoenjoytheoutdoorrecreationaloppor- cally canyielddividendsinattractingoutsiders amenities formountainbikersandhikersspecifi- Improving thequalityoflocalinfrastructureand the conceptofoutdooradventureandrecreation. Many citiesinUtahhavebecomesynonymouswith Tourism and Marketing listed above(http://travelwise.utah.gov/). quality, inadditiontoenhancingthecomponents tion, reducetrafficcongestionandimproveair strategies thatcanhelpreduceenergyconsump- Transportation hascreatedseveraltransportation enhance livabilityinUtah,theUtahDepartmentof sibilities. Inanefforttoimprovequalityoflifeand and cultural,entertainment,recreationpos- social stabilityandequity,educationalopportunity, and naturalenvironments,economicprosperity, community’s qualityoflife.Thisincludesthebuilt Livability isthesumoffactorsthatadduptoa Livability Promote economic development creating morewalkablecommunitiesthatattract oping plansforrevitalizingtheirMainStreetsby Utah Bicycle andPedestrian MasterPlan DesignGuide

Photo: S.K. Burbidge 11 http://www.ada.

workshops,

s_index.htm s_index.htm Surveys,

include:

tools

In determining the purpose of your plan, it is a is of purpose it the plan, determining In your important and values the identify to idea good determining By community. your facing issues more can you residents, your to matters what quality of plan to improve appropriately life wholive people the to matters what on based jurisdiction. your in Possible focus groups. focus dards for Accessible Design gov/2010ADAStandard (MUTCD) Complete Systems • Act (ADA) Stan- Americans with Disabilities • Control Devices Manual on Uniform Traffic • (UDOT) Utah Department of Transportation project developments. Walking and bicycling and bicycling Walking developments. project commu- more livable, family-friendly foster safer, and and health; physical activity nities; promote and fuel use. Legislation emissions reduce vehicle of the inclusion exist that require and regulations policies and projects into bicycle and pedestrian and project development. transportation plans and local communities are Transportation agencies beyond minimum design stan- encouraged to go to create safe, attractive, dards and requirements and convenient bicycling sustainable, accessible, This policy is based on and walking networks.” the United States Code (U.S.C.) various sections in (CFR) in Title and the Code of Federal Regulations and Title 23—Highways, Title 49—Transportation, 42—The Public Health and Welfare. facili- Providing adequate bicycle and pedestrian the following ties can also effect compliance with federal regulations: Improve Safety Safety Improve Improve Mobility and Connectivity, and Increase Increase and Connectivity, and Mobility Improve Options Transportation can provide The ability to safely bicycle and walk mobility to improved levels of accessibility and physically- everyone, including the young, elderly, may not disabled, low-income, and others who decreases trav- drive. Greater network connectivity creating el distances and increases route options, by allowing a more accessible and resilient system Increased more direct travel between destinations. and bicy- connectivity tends to improve walking paths provide cling conditions, particularly where relatively shortcuts, making walking and bicycling faster than driving (which serves as an incentive to substitute walking and biking for shorter trips). Well-designed, strategically-located bicycle and pedestrian facilities can also provide increased and safer access to transit. Regulations Federal with Comply On March 11, 2010, the U.S. Department of Trans- portation announced that “the establishment of well-connected walking and bicycling networks is an important component for livable communities, and their design should be a part of Federal-aid new and improving existing facilities and marketing marketing and facilities existing and improving new tourism and enhance can promote their presence towns in small development, especially economic areas. and rural Chapter 02: Identifying Goals and Objectives Photo: D Hutchinson Occasionally members of the steering com- goals or multiple divergent mittee may have making it difficult to identify a plan agendas, it may be easi- these situations For purpose. er to identify a broad theme that encompass- es the ideas of all committee members (i.e. quality ofimprove life) and then identify the sub-categories through the goal identification the steering committee Additionally, process. may choose to use feedback from the public to fine-tune the purpose of the plan. Master Plan Design Guide and Pedestrian Utah Bicycle Basic Purpose Identification Identify a simple purpose statement from the op- tions given above. For example, “improving mobil- ity and connectivity, and increasing transportation council, county government, etc.), members of the of the members etc.), government, county council, groups special interest/advocacy public, and/or It is in the process. a special interest may express are or local politicians elected officials likely that and topics of one of the aforementioned supportive of methods that can ac- are, therefore, supportive complish their goals. Recognition Receive a community to demonstrate its Recognition allows in providing valuable pedestrian accomplishments to residents and visitors. and bicycle infrastructure are a great way for commu- Recognition programs sustainability, nities to advertise their quality of life, while allowing and active transportation networks, work toward them to benchmark their progress and Recog- improving their infrastructure and policies. media in nition also offers the potential for earned which can local newspapers, television ads, etc., of a munici- draw attention to the accomplishments pality and provide free marketing. 12 In many cases, the motivation behind creating a bicycle and pedestrian master plan is political in nature. Specific elected officials (mayor, city Elected Officials/Interest Groups Integrating bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure Integrating bicycle and pedestrian to assist in into an existing area is a valuable way and streetscape beautification. Most pedestrian trees, large bicycle amenities (i.e., benches, street sidewalks, etc.) add to the aesthetic nature of a corridor and can help restore areas facing urban decay. Additionally, the presence of bicyclists and pedestrians adds energy to community centers, contributing to the sense of place a location ex- udes. Additionally, improved walkability has been proven to increase opportunities for social interac- tion. Interaction Beautify the Community and Improve Social Social Improve and Community the Beautify Each year pedestrian fatalities comprise about 12 about 12 comprise fatalities year pedestrian Each educa- Engineering, all traffic fatalities. percent of con- improve the safety enforcement can tion, and facilities. Addi- bicycle and pedestrian ditions of and pedestrian facilities bicycle tionally, improved to reduce crime. This happens have been proven walking means more people because more people open space, and watching over neighborhoods, increases visibility, which can main streets. This to criminal behavior. act as a deterrent

Photo: S.K. Burbidge Chapter 02:Identifying GoalsandObjectives may beselectedasthemes.Forplanswithavery vehicle emissions,andimprovingsocialinteraction health, thenincreasingphysicalactivity,reducing Or, ifthepurposeofplanistoimprovepublic as “themes”orareasoffocuswithinthepurpose. ized modes(transitandautomobiles)canbeused stand aloneaswellhowtheyrelatetomotor- how bicycleandpedestriantransportationmodes diversity oftransportationoptions,thenaddressing example, ifthepurposeofaplanistoprovide for aplanincorporatingseveralthemes.For Identify abroaderpurpose(ormultiplepurposes) larger commonthemeofimprovingpublichealth. ation inthecommunity.Thesecouldfallundera among thepopulation,andaccommodaterecre- vehicle emissions,increasephysicalactivity For example,thecommunitymaywanttodecrease be tiedtogetherunderacommonsingletheme. Identify oneormorepurposesfortheplanthatmay be usedastheplan’spurpose. ty seekstodo.Thereforethatonestatementcould options” mayencompasseverythingthecommuni- Advance Purpose Identification Identification Purpose Intermediate focus groups, etc. Possible toolsinclude: Surveys, workshops, the goalsintoafinalproduct. and cityofficialscanthenbeusedtofinetune ated for theplan.Technical inputfromstaff goalscanbecre- working setof preliminary a to easily distillcommonthemesfromwhich feedback, thesteeringcommitteemay beable time togettheminvolved. Based ontheir goal identification processwouldbetheideal for theplan, apurpose identification of thepublic wasnotactively involvedIf inthe local circumstances. developing uniquelanguage relatingspecificallyto eral PolicyStatementcanbeusedforguidancein the goalsandobjectivesofplan,orFed- bikeped/design.htm#d (available athttp://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/ on AccommodatingBicycleandPedestrianTravel The FederalHighwayAdministration’sGuidance for goals/objectivesofabike/pedmasterplan. FHWA, UDOT,MPO’s,andlocalmunicipalplans jectives foraplanistoreferdirectlyUSDOT, plan’s identifiedpurpose. identifying bothgoalsandobjectivesbasedonthe each theme.Thissectionexplainstheprocessof (described above),goalswillbeidentifiedfor the purposehasmultiplethemesorareasoffocus should relatedirectlytothepurposeofplan.If purpose priortobeginningthisexercise.Goals the plan’spurpose,soitiscriticaltoidentifyasolid objectives maydiffersignificantlydependingon tify specificgoalsandobjectives.The Pedestrian MasterPlan,thenextstepistoiden- After identifyingthepurpose(s)ofBicycleand implementable plan. objectives willbekeytocreatingafunctionaland broad purpose,identifyingaclearsetofgoalsand

The mostbasicwaytocreategoalsandob-

of thePlan Identifying theGoalsandObjectives 1 ) canbedirectlyadoptedas

13

Photo: Wikimedia.org To tailor the plan ness test reveals that more specifically to the /// CROSSING /// accomplishing each community, new goals The purpose of the Salt Lake City Bicycle goal would likely bring and objectives can be and Pedestrian Master Plan (2004, pp 1) is Salt Lake City closer to developed that reflect to “provide Salt Lake City Corporation with a achieving the purpose strong planning tool that will facilitate the con- the community’s long- tinued and orderly development of bicycle and of its plan. term vision. This pro- pedestrian facilities and implementation strate- It may take several itera- cess is described in the gies that encourage their use”. To accomplish this purpose, the city identified the following tions before a specific following sections. five goals: set of goals can be iden- 1. Incorporate bicycle and pedestrian mobil- tified. While there is no Identifying Goals ity and facility need into community plan- ning, land use planning, and development specific recommenda- After establishing the process. tion for how many goals purpose for the Bicycle 2. Expand the existing pedestrian and bicycle a plan should have, a and Pedestrian Master system and improve on-street bicycle travel between neighborhoods, within the city, good rule of thumb is no Plan, visualize the plan’s and to connecting intra-city locations. fewer than three (they long-term success. 3. Improve the quality of the existing system. may be too broad) and Think about what that 4. Promote safe bicycling and enhance pe- no more than six (they success looks like and destrian safety. may be too specific). what needs to happen 5. Maximize the use of available federal and state funding opportunities to support pe- Make sure that the goals in order for it to occur. destrian and bicycle programs and facility identify all key issues Planning involves set- development associated with the ting goals or targets for specific purpose of the achievement. The goals plan. Note: If your origi- of the plan will be the nal purpose was very broad, the goals will provide foci that get to the desired end. the basic framework to bring the concept down to Start by expressing each goal simply and state a manageable level. clearly what is to be achieved. Be specific and, if After identifying the overarching goals of the plan, necessary, use multiple goals rather than combin- the next step is to create a list of specific objec- ing several ideas into a single goal. One way to tives for accomplishing each goal. identify whether a goal is effective or not is to ask whether accomplishing the goal would bring you Identifying Objectives closer to accomplishing the purpose of the plan. If Objectives become the action plan for accom- the answer is yes, then you are on the right track. plishing the goals. Each goal should have several For example, the goals of Salt Lake City’s Bicycle measurable objectives. The objectives will become and Pedestrian Master Plan (shown in the call-out the building blocks that make achieving each goal box) each address a specific component relating possible. Objectives should outline the concrete to the plan’s purpose. They are active statements steps needed in order to accomplish each goal. that require some kind of execution or implemen- Each objective should be specific, measurable, tation. Putting these goals through the effective- attainable, realistic, and timely. For example: Goal #4 in the Salt Lake City Bicycle and Pedestrian

14 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Master Plan, “promote safe bicycling and enhance When using the comprehensive approach, some of pedestrian safety”, is very broad and could en- the identified objectives may seem a bit broad or compass a number of different things. Identifying difficult to implement. Each objective can then be objectives for that goal (shown in the call-out box further subdivided into specific strategies or “ac- below) allows clarification of exactly what will hap- tion items” that will be accomplished in the short pen to ensure that the goal is accomplished. term, medium term, or long term. This process could serve as a step-by-step outline of how each Identifying specific objectives creates a virtual objective on the list will be accomplished. It may “to-do list” for accomplishing each goal. If the also help to identify ways for specific organizations effectiveness test is once again applied to each or offices to play a role in carrying out the objec- objective, it is evident that accomplishing each one tives set forth in the plan. Assignments can often would progress toward be made based on accomplishing the these action items. goal itself, which also /// CROSSING /// contributes to suc- When working to identify The following objectives were identified for cessfully realizing the Goal #4 of the Salt Lake City Bicycle and the purpose, goals, and purpose of the plan. Pedestrian Master Plan, 2004, pp 28-29): objectives of the plan, it Objective 4.1: Provide clear signing and may be useful to create Once again, several pavement markings targeted to bicyclists, a flow chart or graphic iterations of objectives pedestrians and motorists. depicting each level of may need to be devel- Objective 4.2: Educate motorists, pedestri- specificity, similar to the oped before a final set ans, and bicyclists concerning bicyclists’ and pedestrians’ rights and obligations, as one shown in Figure 3.1 is identified for each well as about the city’s network of pedestri- on the following page. goal. As for objectives, an and bicycle systems and classifications. there is no appropriate Objective 4.3: Support police department It is important to take number to consider. participation in developing a school-chil- the time to clearly and Just make sure that all dren-based safety program. specifically identify the appropriate facets of Objective 4.4: Prepare and distribute an goals and objectives each applicable goal update to the City Bikeways Map approxi- for the plan, as this will mately once every three years. are addressed. Some serve as the structure Objective 4.5: Incorporate bicycle and goals will be more and framework for the pedestrian promotional activities into city- broad and complex sponsored events. remaining sections of requiring many objec- Objective 4.6: Initiate a citywide pilot project the plan. If a purpose tives, while others program to test alternative means of en- and goals are not will be more straight- couraging bicycle and pedestrian access clearly established up and use. forward and require front, it will be difficult fewer objectives. to later identify specific Going through several projects or implementa- drafts of the objectives tion schema. will allow the most important components of each goal to be extracted. Integrating the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan within Your Existing Plan Structure

Chapter 02: Identifying Goals and Objectives 15 /// CROSSING ///

The Sacramento, California Pedestrian Master 3. Increase pedestrian safety Plan clearly outlines each of its goals using a flow Sub-goals are identified in the blue diamond below chart (shown below). the goal, and objectives to achieve each goal are Purpose: To make Sacramento the “Walking shown in yellow circles. Capital” This format allows you to easily identify not the Goals: (Specifically address what needs to be main goals of your plan, but also clearly identify done to become the “walking capital”.) which objectives will be employed to achieve each goal. This format may be useful for both initial 1. To create a walkable pedestrian environment brainstorming as well as for presentation in the final throughout the City plan. The narrative portion of the plan would then 2. Improve awareness of the pedestrian mode go into more specific detail regarding each goal through education and objective.

Pedestrian Master Plan Goals

Improving Awareness Walkable Pedestrian Increased Through Education Environment Pedestrian Safety

Promote Coordinate Pedestrian Vehicle Pedestrian with Other Crossing Speed Awareness Agencies Travelway Context Safety Management Connectivity Character Character

Develop Provide Pedestrian Cohesive Continuous Crossings Mixed Pedestrian Land Site Building Friendly Pedestrian Network that are Design Design Auto Network Convenient Uses Parking

Street Design Design Multi- Sensitive to Functional Context Sidewalks

Figure 3.1 Sacramento Pedestrian Master Plan Goals and Objectives (City of Sacramento, 2006)

16 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide The most comprehensive approach to creating plishment of the original vision. a bicycle and pedestrian master plan would go Use the checklists below to determine whether beyond developing new goals, objectives, and you have identified all of the necessary compo- policies that reflect the vision of the community. nents. Therefore, additional steps can be taken to fully integrate the bicycle and pedestrian master plan into existing planning structure.  Identify a purpose or theme for your Bicycle This would include expanding upon the goals and and Pedestrian Master Plan (you may have objectives by linking them back to the community’s more than one) General Plan goals and policies. This may require  Identify 3-6 goals for your Bicycle and Pe- additional steps such as plan amendments, etc. destrian Master Plan based on your plan’s Integrating the bicycle and pedestrian plan can purpose or theme also be done by identifying specific action items relating to both new and existing policies. By listing the things that need to be accomplished,  Identify specific objectives or strategies for specific officials or departments can be held re- accomplishing each goal in your plan sponsible for accomplishing them.  Identify strategies for completion or “action Benchmarking items” for the more complex objectives The most effective way to ensure that your plan becomes fully integrated into the existing planning  Develop a plan for integrating your Bicycle structure is to set a timeline for accomplishing the and Pedestrian Master Plan into your com- specific goals listed within the plan. By placing a munity’s existing planning structure due date for completion on each individual objec- tive, individuals and departments can be held ac- Addtional Resources: countable for their fulfillment. This also allows, over Design Guidance Accommodating Bicycle and time, for the creation of new goals and objectives as existing ones are completed. Chapter 9 of this document provides a comprehensive discussion of benchmarking, community feedback, and enforce- ment, and provides a framework for updating the plan over time. If one of the purposes of the plan is to What Should I Have by Now? receive recognition, it may make sense to frame the plan’s goals and objectives around This chapter has outlined how to focus the long- obtaining a specific award, such as bronze/ silver/gold/platinum status from the League term vision for a community. Identifying the of American Bicyclists, Walk Friendly Com- purpose for the bicycle and pedestrian master plan munities, or the Utah Healthy Community and then subsequently identifying clear goals and Awards. These recognition programs, in ad- dition to many others, are described in detail objectives, will allow for the creation of a functional in Chapter 10. document that will successfully lead to the accom-

Chapter 02: Identifying Goals and Objectives 17 Pedestrian Travel: A Recommended Approach; March 26, 2008. From the United States DOT Policy Statement Integrating Bicycling and Walking into Transportation Infrastructure. http://www fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bikeped/design.htm#d1

City of Sacramento Pedestrian Master Plan: Making Sacramento the Walking Capital. 2006. http:// www.cityofsacramento.org/transportation/dot_media/ street_media/sac-ped-plan_9-06.pdf

Rails to Trails. 1998. Rail-Trails and Safe Commu- nities: The experience on 372 trails. http://www. railstotrails.org/resources/documents/resource_docs/ tgs_safecomm.pdf

Rogers, S., J.M. Halstead, K.H. Gardner, and C.H. Carlson. 2010. Examining Walkability and Social Capital as Indicators of Quality of Life at the Municipal and Neighborhood Scales. Applied Research in Quality of Life (DOI: 10.1007/s11482- 010-9132-4).

Salt Lake City Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. 2004. http://www.slcgov.com/transportation/bi- cycletraffic/master.htm

United States Department of Transportation Policy Statement on Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommoda- tion Regulations and Recommendations. http:// www.sacog.org/complete-streets/toolkit/files/docs/ FHWA_Policy%20Statement%20on%20Bicycle%20 and%20Pedestrian%20Accommodation%20Regu- lation%20and%20Recommendations.pdf

18 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Notes

he goal of this chapter is to identify the infrastructure, pro- T grams, and policies already in place for pedestrians and . An inventory of existing conditions will inform the discussion on current facilities and what improvements can be made.

After completing this chapter, the user will have an understanding of strengths and deficiencies in pedes- 3 trian and bicycle infrastructure and policies in their local jurisdiction. These can be displayed in written or visual formats. Inventory of Existing Conditions

03 Inventory of Existing Conditions

How to Use this Chapter This section is organized to provide municipalities a range of levels when analyzing existing bicycle and pedestrian condi- tions – from basic to advanced, as described in the introduc- tion. As a reminder, all levels are cumulative. In order to com- plete the Intermediate Inventory, include all the recommended features for Intermediate in addition to those listed for Basic Inventory; to complete an Advanced Inventory, include all the recommended features for Advanced in addition to those listed for Basic and Intermediate. The following table summarizes the inventory levels, along with an estimate for the amount of time needed to gather the information for each level. Note: Time estimates assume one full-time staff person dedicated to the inventory; gathering the information may go faster if additional resources are involved.

Table 3.1 Components in Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced Inventories

Time Needed to Level Purposes for Use Complete

Basic understanding of existing Basic facilities, both strengths and areas 1 – 2 weeks to improve

Additional information about safety and frequency of use, in addition to Intermediate 4– 5 weeks enhanced understanding of policies shaping existing conditions

Thorough investigation of existing Advanced conditions, including health benefits 6 – 8 weeks and ADA compliance

Basic Inventory Gathering a basic inventory of existing conditions is an impor- tant first step in evaluating what improvements are needed for accessible, safe pedestrian and bicycle accommodations. A

Chapter 03: Inventory of Existing Conditions 23 basic inventory typically consists of gathering infor- small areas Google Earth and Google Maps pro- mation about and mapping facilities such as trails, vide an excellent way of determining if sidewalks, greenways, and bike lanes, as well as information bike lanes, and trails exist. However, be aware that from current local and regional plans. In addition, the maps and air photos used by the site are not the basic inventory should include some field work always current or up to date. In many areas (espe- that can be conducted by local staff members, in cially rural locations) these maps may be several cooperation with local community members. years old. Google Earth and Google Maps can be accessed through: The first step in the basic inventory is to gather readily-available information regarding existing http://earth.google.com pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure as well as http://maps.google.com related programs, policies, and practices. This information can be found in documents such as In addition, the Utah Department of Transporta- master plans, long-range plans, and local and tion (UDOT) maintains a list of helpful links to trail regional transportation plans. Interviewing local systems throughout the state: agency staff is a good place to start. They will http://www.udot.utah.gov/ Search: Walking and be able to provide guidance on what documents Biking Maps to use. Existing maps of trails, greenways, and bike lanes are helpful to get a preliminary sense Demographics of existing conditions. If the maps are older than As authorized by the U.S. Constitution, a census is three years, it is likely that local agencies have conducted every 10 years. Although it is specifi- implemented bicycle and pedestrian facilities since cally designed to provide a “complete enumeration their publication. In these cases, the local agency of the population,” it does more than just count can provide information about additional bikeways people. The census also collects information and walkways that should be added. If these maps about families or households, as well as individual are unavailable or do not exist, resources such characteristics such as age, sex, marital status, as Google Earth and Google Maps can be useful. literacy/education, employment status and occu- Google Earth is a software program, and Google pation, and geographical location. The American Maps is an on line application that allows users to Community Survey, or “long form,” is administered pan through aerial images and street views. For to a random sample of residents in each state and provides more detailed information on social issues (e.g., ancestry, marriage history, education level, fertility, and veteran status), finances (i.e. cost of utilities, mortgage, insurance, rent, etc.), housing It can be beneficial to get a sense of what the characteristics (e.g., acreage, # bedrooms, # units community thinks about pedestrian and bicycle in structure, year moved in, etc.), and economic infrastructure. Now would be a good time to characteristics (e.g., income, health insurance create a survey to identify problem areas and improvement sites from citizens. Surveys can coverage, # of vehicles, occupation, place of work, be mailed through utility bills, posted on-line, or etc). Census data are available at a number of conducted in person at locations with signifi- geographic scales all the way down to the neigh- cant bicycle and pedestrian activity. borhood level (block groups) and is searchable at

24 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide http://factfinder2.census.gov/main.html. infrastructure by identifying trends, such as: age clusters (young versus old), housing types and oc- While the census is the most well-known and most cupancy rates, income levels, and journey to work frequently cited source of demographic data, other patterns. When taken together, these data can publicly available data sources also exist. They be incredibly valuable for assessing infrastructure include: needs based on target populations. • U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS)–Provides Planning Documents data on labor market activity, working condi- tions, and price changes ( http://www.bls. While some planning documents needed to un- gov/) derstand existing conditions will be unique to each municipality, many resources will be applicable to • FedStats–Provides statistics from over 100 larger, regional areas. For instance, metropolitan government agencies (www.fedstats.gov) planning organizations (MPOs) are required by law • Current Population Survey (CPS)–A joint effort to prepare Regional Transportation Plans (RTP) between the U.S. Census Bureau and BLS for urbanized areas over 50,000 people. In Utah, which provides labor force characteristics there are four such MPOs: Wasatch Front Regional ( http://www.census.gov/cps/) Council-WFRC (Davis, Weber, Morgan, Salt Lake, • Utah Vital Records and Statistics–Provides and Tooele Counties), Mountainland Association of information on births, deaths, marriages, Governments-MAG (Summit, Wasatch, and Utah divorces, and court orders ( http://health.utah. Counties), Cache MPO (Cache County), and Dixie gov/vitalrecords/) MPO (Washington County). Many non-motorized

• Social Security Administration–Provides re- facilities, such as bike lanes and trails, are in- search and policy analysis ( http://www.ssa. cluded in the planning documents of each respec- gov/policy/) tive RTP. For smaller urban and rural areas, UDOT creates transportation plans. Planning documents • Centers for Disease Control–Provides vital sta- from the MPOs and UDOT are combined together tistics ( http://www.cdc.gov/nchs/Default.htm) to form the State Transportation Improvement Plan • U.S. Bureau of Justice Statistics–National (STIP). If projects are to receive state or federal source of demographic, health, mental health, funding, they must be on the STIP. Be aware of substance abuse and family background data what projects are on the STIP when conducting ( http://bjs.ojp.usdoj.gov/) an existing conditions inventory. Projects that are • Utah Governor’s Office of Planning and funded locally do not appear on the STIP and will Budget–Official State Data Center; acts as a most likely be located in county, city, or small area clearing house for all U.S. Census Bureau data plans. releases ( http://www.governor.state.ut.us/ Table 3.2 lists Utah’s MPOs, bicycle and pedes- gopb/) trian websites, and contact information. In addition, Demographic data can provide a wealth of infor- the UDOT Walking and Biking Maps page lists mation on the population living within a jurisdiction. several links to maps used throughout the state. Obtaining appropriately scaled data can enhance http://www.udot.utah.gov/ Search: Walking and the ability to plan for bicycle and pedestrian biking maps

Chapter 03: Inventory of Existing Conditions 25 Figure 3.2 Utah MPOs’ Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning

MPO Bicycle and Pedestrian Website Contact Information

179 No. Main, Suite 305 Cache Metropolitan Planning http://www.cachempo.org/al- Logan, UT 84321 Organization (CMPO) ternative%20trans.html Phone: (435) 716-7154 Fax: (435) 753-3426

Transportation Planning Manager Five County Association of Dixie Metropolitan Planning http://dixiempo.wordpress. Governments com/transit-bikes-pedestrians/ Organization (DMPO) Transportation Planning Office Phone: (435) 673-3548

Trails Coordinator Mountainland Association of 586 East 800 North http://www.mountainland.org Governments (MAG) Orem, UT 84097 Phone: (801) 229-3848

http://www.wfrc.org/cms/index. Long Range Planning Wasatch Front Regional php?option=com_content&vie 295 Jimmy Doolittle Road Council (WFRC) w=article&id=36&catid=17&It Salt Lake City, UT 84116 emid=39 Phone: (801) 363-4230

In addition, be sure to obtain relevant plans from crosswalks, bike lanes, and pathways should be adjacent communities. This will help ensure com- mapped to the best degree that local capabilities plete pedestrian and bicycle systems between will allow. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) different jurisdictions. software can be very helpful in mapping existing facilities. Local communities can conduct walk- Field Work ing audits (see box) so participants can observe The second step in the basic inventory is to firsthand what facilities are available, and where observe and describe bicycle and pedestrian there are gaps in the existing bicycle and pedes- conditions in the field. Existing sidewalks, marked trian network that need to be resolved. Depending

/// CROSSING ///

What’s a Walking Audit? A walking audit is a review of the existing pedes- walkers about good design may be helpful at trian and bicycle environment. Typically, groups the start of the walk. walk an area together, discuss what they observe, 2. Conduct the audit by walking the selected and document areas for improvement. Be sure to route, considering safety, convenience, and include a variety of individuals – active walkers, in- land use. Look for opportunities to improve pe- dividuals with disabilities, parents of small children, destrian conditions. Take pictures for reference. etc. Audits can take anywhere from one hour to one day, depending on the depth of discussion and 3. Reassemble the group with aerials to sketch length of route. Typical walking audit procedures: ideas and record discussions from the walk. 1. Prepare for the audit by selecting the route and 4. Prepare improvement sketches based on audit creating aerials photos/maps. A presentation to discussions.

26 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide on the length and extent of the facilities, an actual • The presence of curb ramps and other acces- inventory of their condition can provide a use- sibility features. ful supplement to a list of future projects. Helpful • The presence and adequacy of bicycle indicators include: parking.

• The state and frequency of signs and striping Sample walking and biking audits are included in along dedicated bicycle lanes and routes and the Appendix. at crosswalks. Look to standards such as the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices or local standards created by your city or county.

http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/ser-pubs.htm

• The presence of bikeways and walkways on Walking audits, field inventories, and Pedestri- an Safety Assessments are an opportune time one versus both sides of the street. to involve the public. The public can be used • Whether or not bikeways were designed to to supplement the efforts of City staff, while providing opportunity to learn about other current best practices, including intersection areas in the City where bike and pedestrian treatments such as ensuring that bicycle lanes infrastructure or improvements are needed. are striped to the left of dedicated right-turn lanes.

• Obstructions, including dangerous drainage Field inventories can prove invaluable, but they grates, poor quality chip seal, rumble strips, consume a great deal of time and resources. For etc. both bicyclist and pedestrian data, an inventory of every street is not often necessary. There are a • Choke points where bicycle lanes disappear or variety of ways to refine the scope of the data col- become narrower than five feet. lection: • The presence of bicycle-sensitive loop detec- tors at actuated signals. 1. Focus data collection for pedestrians within a Central Business District, Civic Center, em- • The state of greenways and trails in terms of ployment center, or other specific areas that providing a consistent, level surface that meets have high levels of pedestrian activity (such as current AASHTO and ADA guidelines: schools/parks). https://bookstore.transportation.org/ 2. Focus data collection for existing and planned item_details.aspx?ID=110 bikeways along arterial and collector streets https://bookstore.transportation.org/ and regional greenways. item_details.aspx?ID=104 3. Focus data collection for both bicycles and http://www.access-board.gov/adaag/ pedestrians along “Main Streets” or other cor- html/adaag.htm ridors that are the subject of frequent requests or concerns from residents (or where patterns • Whether or not crosswalks across busy, high- of collisions have occurred). speed roadways are marked and enhanced with beacons or other features. 4. Work with a Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committee to create a network of streets for

Chapter 03: Inventory of Existing Conditions 27 data collection. Estimate 4-6 hours per mile to amenities within walking distance.

collect basic information and measurements. http://www.walkscore.org

5. Collect data using a portable GPS unit to en- • “A Resident’s Guide for Creating Safe and able easy transfer to GIS, if this is the program Walkable Communities,” published by the Fed- you will use. eral Highway Administration (FHWA), provides examples from communities working to im- Pedestrian Safety Assessments prove pedestrian safety. Specifically targeted Pedestrian Safety Assessments (PSAs) are a tool to residents, this guide contains information used to assess pedestrian safety by systemati- and resources on ways to address and prevent cally identifying safety issues and problems and safety issues. determining strategies to remediate problems. The http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/ped/ benefit of a PSA is direct, on-the-ground experi- ped_walkguide/index.htm ence of the conditions for pedestrians. PSAs can also be used as a public outreach tool by inviting Public Health community members to participate in data collec- Public health data can reveal a wealth of informa- tion. When deciding whether to do a citywide PSA, tion on everything from disease rates within a mu- consider how large the study area is. It can take nicipality to the percentage of people who currently a substantial amount of time to adequately cover get the recommended amount of physical activity a relatively small area. Some of the information each day. If one of the purposes of the plan is to needed to successfully complete an assessment improve public health, it becomes critical to have will be compiled as a part of the basic inventory. baseline data to help identify potential needs, as

The objectives of a PSA include: well as areas that could benefit most. One data source for a basic-level analysis of public health • Improving pedestrian safety at specific loca- issues is The Trust for America’s Health. The Trust tions and citywide for America’s Health (TAH) provides data on a • Creating safe, comfortable, accessible, and large variety of health impacts, ranging from infec- welcoming environments for pedestrians tious diseases (e.g., pandemic flu) and bioterror- • Enhancing walkability, livability, and economic ism, to environmental health and obesity vitality ( http://healthyamericans.org/). TAH also pro- vides detailed state profiles for a variety of health For more information about PSAs, see “A Technical indicators such as obesity, hypertension, diabe- Guide for Conducting Pedestrian Safety Assess- tes, fruit and vegetable intake, and the medical ments.” per capita costs associated with obesity ( http:// http://www.techtransfer.berkeley.edu/tse/psa_ healthyamericans.org/states/?stateid=UT). The handbook.pdf TAH website is a one stop shop for current news and statistics on health impacts of all kinds. It can The following are other resources for conducting also be used to locate applicable background walking audits: information as the plan’s purpose and goals are • Walk Score™ provides a composite walkability identified (Chapter 2), as well as in deciding which score for any address based on the number of facility types to implement and where (Chapters

28 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Percentage of Adults Who Were Obese Local Health Districts 2009

5, 6 and 7). More detailed data sources for public Another valuable local resource for health data is health issues are described in the Intermediate the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System and Advanced inventory sections. (BRFSS). BRFSS is a state-based system of health

Percentage of Adults Who Were Obese Utah & U.S.1989–2009

Chapter 03: Inventory of Existing Conditions 29 surveys that collects information on health risk Utahns and the state of Utah's health care system behaviors, preventive health practices, and health (http://ibis.health.utah.gov/). The site provides care access primarily related to chronic disease detailed information on health indicator variables and injury. BRFSS was established in 1984 by (typical health FAQs) and Utah health publications, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention but the most useful tool allows users to create (CDC); currently, data are collected monthly in all individual queries of local BRFSS data described 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, the above at various geographic scales. Through the U.S. Virgin Islands, and Guam. More than 350,000 Custom Query tab, users may access a variety of adults are interviewed each year, making the health datasets directly. Once a dataset is se- BRFSS the largest telephone health survey in the lected, users can specify data filtering criteria that world. States use BRFSS data to identify emerg- controls what data are retrieved. For help conduct- ing health problems, establish and track health ing queries online or guidance in finding additional objectives, and develop and evaluate public health health data, the UDOH offers online tutorials policies and programs. The Utah Department of ( http://ibis.health.utah.gov/query/Tutorials.html) Health makes a majority of BRFSS data, including as well as both telephone (801-538-9191) and rates of physical activity, diabetes, , dis- email support ( [email protected]). ability, cancer, heart disease, depression, asthma, Basic Inventory Summary and other prevalent diseases and health condi- Table 3.3 provides a list of information to be gath- tions, available through its website (http://health. ered, both from existing plans and from fieldwork, utah.gov/opha/OPHA_BRFSS.htm). Data can also for a basic inventory. After reviewing the Basic be acquired by contacting the BRFSS coordinator Inventory Components, it may be useful to contact directly. Additionally, the CDC provides download- the appropriate staff to collect additional informa- able GIS data files for BRFSS data (http://apps. tion regarding current policies, programs, and nccd.cdc.gov/gisbrfss/default.aspx). A complete activities for bicycles and pedestrians. Further, list of BRFSS questions is available online at take advantage of public involvement opportunities http://health.utah.gov/opha/publications/brfss/ to identify the thoughts, concerns, and experiences Questionnaires/09UTBRFSS.pdf of pedestrians and bicyclists in your area. The The Utah Indicator Based Information System information gathered will be useful throughout the (IBIS) provides statistical numerical data as well process outlined in this document, so make sure as contextual information on the health status of they are easily accessible for future reference.

Table 3.3 Basic Inventory Components

Where Do I Find Category Data Needed Other Resources the Answer? UDOT maps, MPO RTPs, Location of bicycle lanes and routes, Planning or Engineering Google Earth/Maps, walk- shared pathways, or signs ing/bicycling audits

Existing sidewalks and gaps in the side- Engineering or Public Google Earth/Maps Street- walk network Works view, walking audits

Infrastructure Engineering or Public Other Regional Trails Plans Existing Trails and Recreation Facilities Works (from MPOs, Counties, etc)

30 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Table 3.3 Basic Inventory Components, Con’t

Where Do I Find Category Data Needed Other Resources the Answer?

Location of end-of-trip facilities: bicycle stations, bike lockers or racks, changing and Engineering or Planning Local transit agencies shower facilities, intermodal connections

Master Transportation Other Regional Transpor- Locations of proposed bicycle and pedes- Plans, from the Engi- tation Plans (from MPOs, trian facilities neering or Public Works RPOs, or UDOT) Department

Zoning or subdivision Requirements for placement of bicycle or ordinances from the pedestrian facilities in new developments Planning Department

Engineering, Public Infrastructure Works, Department of Commerce, Local Bi- Short and long-term bicycle parking cycle Advocacy Groups, Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Committees

UPlan, Local Transit Existing transit facilities Agency

Inclusion of bicycle and pedestrian improve- Engineering, Public ments in Capital Improvements Program Works, or Finance

Engineering or Public Crosswalk installation policies Works

Zoning ordinance from Bicycle parking requirements the Planning Department Policies

General Plans or Trans- Policy or guidance statements on bicycling portation Master Plan UDOT or FHWA guidance and walking from the Planning or En- gineering Departments

Demographic Information (age, gender, Other data sources as U.S. Census ethnicity, household make up, etc.) described in the text

Locations of existing and proposed land General Plans from the uses that generate bicycle and pedestrian Planning Department, activity (commercial districts, schools, Specific development plans General Plans from adja- parks, transit corridors, mixed use areas, or cent communities medium-to-high density residential)

Education campaigns and programs, Department of Motor

Other pedestrian and bicycle integration in driver’s Engineering, Local Vehicles, Local bike/ped education, education of pedestrians and school district, Police advocacy group, UDOT, bicyclists, pedestrian and bicycle issues in Local Health Departments classroom curriculum

Health-related demographic data, such as Local public health depart- physical activity levels, obesity rates, dis- Utah Department of ments, the Center for ease, chronic conditions, Body Mass Index Health Disease Control, the Trust for data, and other components America’s Health

Chapter 03: Inventory of Existing Conditions 31 Table 3.3 Basic Inventory Components, Con’t

Where Do I Find Category Data Needed Other Resources the Answer?

Public outreach such Public Input as surveys, workshops, involvement in field work

Local participation in Safe Routes To School UDOT Safe Routes To – production of SNAP plans, grant applica- Local school district School program and coor- Other, Con’t Other, tions, awareness programs dinator

Intermediate Inventory in providing a rational basis for decision-making. Communities that wish to analyze existing con- Changes in population size and composition ditions beyond the elements listed in the Basic have many social, economic, environmental, and Inventory may follow the guidance below for an political implications; for this reason, population Intermediate Inventory. The Intermediate Inventory projections often serve as a basis for producing builds on information gathered as part of the Basic other projections (e.g., births, households, families, Inventory, and supplements it with considerations school enrollment, and labor force). Population of observed bicycle and pedestrian activity, safety projections can help decision makers in both the conditions, governmental procedures, education public and private sectors make informed choices. and awareness, and connectivity to other transpor- The majority of projected population data for the tation networks such as transit. state of Utah comes from the Governor’s Office of Planning and Budget (GOPB). These data are Demographic Projections available online at http://governor.utah.gov/dea/ Demographers are frequently called upon to demographics.html. If the data available through produce population information when census and GOPB are not adequate for your needs, many related data are not available. Some methods up- qualified consultants specialize in projections date information from the most recent census using and forecasting. If you would like more informa- ratio, regression, or component techniques. They tion on the types of projections that are available often use data from sample surveys or administra- and methods used to create them, please con- tive records. Others use various techniques of in- sult the “Population Projections” chapter in The terpolation to develop estimates for dates between Methods and Materials of Demography, avail- censuses. Some methods provide estimates only able online at: http://www.bebr.ufl.edu/system/ for the total population, whereas others provide files/2004+M+%2526+M+_Projections_.pdf estimates by age, sex, race, and a variety of other demographic and socioeconomic characteristics. Bicycle and Pedestrian Volume Counts Projections can be used to provide information Volume counts are extremely useful in document- on possible future scenarios. Because we can- ing usage, demand, and change in bicycle and not “see” into the future, it is helpful to consider pedestrian facilities. The benefits to conducting a range of scenarios based on different but rea- volume counts are numerous. For example, the sonable assumptions. The most important use of City of San Jose, California benefitted tremendous- population projections is in the role they can play ly from trail user counts by using count data to

32 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide secure more than $1.3 occurring. For instance, Million in grant fund- /// CROSSING /// improved lighting, pe- ing. Physical counts What are volume counts? destrian infrastructure can be performed Volume counts are the number of pedestrians such as countdown sig- with in-house staff, by and bicyclists that pass through specified inter- nals or median refuges, community members, sections and corridors in a defined time period. or better signage could or can be contracted When should you conduct counts? help drivers, cyclists, to outside consultants. Typically counts should be done during times of day when travel is heavy for all transportation and pedestrians move The most efficient and users—from 7–9 in the morning, and 4–6 in the more safely through their common way to con- evening. You may want to consider conducting communities. duct counts is to collect both weekday and weekend counts (times of day for weekend counts may differ, depending on In Utah, there are four video data and record events that generate travel on weekends). counts by reviewing the main approaches to Where should you conduct counts? videos. obtaining collision data. Select a few locations throughout your commu- nity where there might be higher levels of bicycle The first is through the The National Bicycle and pedestrian activity – near colleges, school Utah Department of and Pedestrian Docu- campuses, downtown business districts, or Transportation (UDOT). mentation Project pro- neighborhood commercial areas. The UDOT Traffic and vides instructions and Safety Division gathers guidance, count forms, collision data for roads and volunteer training that are owned and resources ( http:// maintained by UDOT bikepeddocumentation. If you are planning to conduct pedestrian and includes: location by org/) and bicycle counts in-house, you may want to milepost, type of vehi- consider using citizen volunteers to help. This Additionally, in 2012, will not only help the citizens understand the cles involved (including efforts involved in the planning process, but the National Coopera- bicyclists and pedestri- will allow you to understand their concerns in a ans), date and time of tive Highway Research less formal environment. Program (NCHRP) will day, weather conditions, release report number collision severity, and 7-19, “Innovative Methods to Obtain Pedestrian other statistics. This information can be requested and Bicycle Volume Data”, which will outline best from UDOT on a road-by-road basis, and can be practices for conducting bicycle and pedestrian explained in detail by a UDOT safety programs counts. engineer. For more information on these resources visit www.udot.utah.gov Search: crash statistics. Collision Data Perceived safety issues can make potential bicy- The second approach to gathering crash data is clists and pedestrians apprehensive. Utah has via the Utah Crash Summary, produced annually the 15th highest bicycle fatality rate in the nation. by the Highway Safety Office (within the Utah De- Studying collision patterns in the community can partment of Public Safety), which identifies and de- help identify locations where collisions happen scribes the trends and effects of traffic crashes in most frequently, and why these collisions may be Utah. The statistics within the Utah Crash Summary

Chapter 03: Inventory of Existing Conditions 33 describe factors that contribute to the occurrence The fourth approach is to work with local hospitals of crashes and crash-related injuries and fatalities. to obtain emergency room data. Hospitals and The Utah Crash Summary provides an in-depth other health-care providers (such as instant-care/ view of each year’s crashes, and details informa- express-care clinics) may have collision statistics tion regarding the persons and circumstances for bicycles and pedestrians that have not been involved in these events. Data are available online collected by law enforcement officials. Healthcare at: http://publicsafety.utah.gov/highwaysafety/ professionals may be able to provide additional statistics.html perspective on safety-related issues through their observations working with the public. In addition, Remember that the information received through the Center for Health Data provides health and either of these channels may be only part of the health care system information to the public to help picture. Many times, crashes that do not result consumers make informed health care decisions in injury go unreported. Particularly for cyclists, (http://health.utah.gov/chd/). The Center for Health the most common collision is with a fixed object Data consists of the Office of Health Care Statistics which may result only in property damage and not (OHCS), the Office of Public Health Assessment require a response from (OPHA), the Office of law enforcement. Some Public Health Informat- studies estimate that up /// CROSSING /// ics (OPHI) and the to 90% of bicycle col- Utah Indicator-based Information Office of Vital Records lisions go unreported. System (IBIS) and Statistics (OVRS). This does not mean The Office of Public Health Assessment provides For planning purposes, they are not occurring. information support to the public health system with its database of public health activities, IBIS, the most useful data Using perceived safety which can be searched for hospital admittances, available through CHD concerns and anecdotal such as pedestrian and bicycle injuries. For more are for hospital utiliza- information through information and to access the IBIS database, click here: tion, which can provide public outreach can http://health.utah.gov/opha/ evidence of bicycle and help inform official crash pedestrian injury rates statistics. and locations of crashes The third approach to collecting collision data in ( http://health.utah.gov/hda/dataproducts.php). Utah is to work directly with local police depart- When used with collision data, these data can ments. Frequently local police departments keep provide a clearer picture of pedestrian safety and detailed records on individual collisions that occur accident severity (key indicators of a need for bike- within their jurisdiction, which can contain valu- ped infrastructure improvements). able information on bicycle and pedestrian-related Collision data may be geocoded and mapped for collision patterns in each city. However, these data efficient analysis of trends and hot spot locations. are not always coded for easy reference for bicycle Suggested collision analyses include: and pedestrian analysis, and may require review of individual collision reports to get a picture of • A review of the five most recent years of colli- the overall local pattern. Contact the local police sion data to capture trends over multiple years. department to determine what resources are avail- • Development of thematic maps that illustrate: able in a specific municipality.

34 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide • The frequency of pedestrian-vehicle col- lisions in the City (with graduated symbol sizes) • The severity of pedestrian-vehicle colli- sions (including fatalities)

In addition to the thematic maps, develop a list of the top 10 locations for pedestrian-vehicle colli- sions, a list of the locations of pedestrian fatalities, and a list of the most common primary collision factors, if available in the dataset. Additional areas for analysis include:

• Driver and pedestrian age

• Time of day The Uniform Crime Report (UCR), an Incident • Involvement of alcohol Based Reporting (IBR) system, allows local law enforcement agencies to maintain a database of If the City has pedestrian counts at any of the loca- the details of criminal incidents that are reported tions, consider developing a pedestrian collision to them. They then report these details to the rate, which may more accurately reveal trends and state UCR program. Most local law enforcement hot spots. Also consider conducting an evaluation agencies provide a monthly count of offenses and of collisions involving school-age pedestrians dur- arrests for certain offense categories to their state ing school hours (which may help the jurisdiction UCR systems. Statistics about crimes committed be more competitive for grants). Collision database in the state of Utah are available through the Utah software such as Crossroads may also be use- Uniform Crime Report ( http://publicsafety.utah. ful for analysis ( http://www.crossroadssoftware. gov/bci/documents/2009.pdf). Additional informa- com). tion not covered in the UCR can be acquired by Crime Data contacting the Utah Department of Public Safety’s Bureau of Criminal Identification directly. Their One often overlooked issue when it comes to office is located at 3888 West 5400 South, Salt bicycle and pedestrian transportation is personal Lake City, UT 84118 (Phone: 801-965-4454, safety. While travelers in automobiles can lock Fax: 801-965-4749). the doors or travel quickly through high crime areas, bicycles and especially pedestrians are The National Crime Prevention Council (NCPC) has more vulnerable. However, bicycle and pedestrian created a training series focusing on “Crime Pre- infrastructure has been shown to lower crime rates vention through Environmental Design (CPTED)” by increasing visibility and traffic. Identifying crime which is based on the principle that proper design “hot spots” within a jurisdiction can help deter- and effective use of buildings and public spaces mine areas that may benefit from new bicycle and in neighborhoods can lead to a reduction in the pedestrian infrastructure, as well as areas that may fear and incidence of crime, and improvement in just need additional improvements or maintenance the quality of life for citizens. NCPC recently began (e.g., additional lighting, removal of shrubbery). a training course which teaches participants how

Chapter 03: Inventory of Existing Conditions 35 to assess conditions in neighborhoods and apply will provide a better sense of potential “red flags” practical access controls (doors, fences), surveil- that may be encountered as the planning process lance (lighting, windows, landscaping), territorial proceeds toward construction. reinforcement (signs, sidewalks, ordinances), Utah Department of Environmental Quality and maintenance (code enforcement, community ( http://www.deq.utah.gov/) clean-ups) to improve a community or neighbor- hood. More information is available at www. • Air Quality: ( http://www.airquality.utah.gov/) ncpc.org Search: CPTED. While it is unlikely that a bike-ped project would have any negative impacts on air qual- Environmental Data ity, the division also oversees asbestos mitiga- A wealth of research has shown the environmental tion and lead paint, which could become a benefits of walking and cycling. These benefits factor if any old buildings will be removed as include reduced vehicle emissions, reductions in part of the construction process. fossil fuel usage, and congestion mitigation. The • Water Quality: ( http://www.waterquality.utah. Federal Highway Administration has created a gov/) fairly comprehensive list of these research studies, There are two primary water quality concerns which is available online at: http://www.fhwa.dot. that may be identified as a part of a bike-ped gov/environment/bikeped/benefits_research.htm. project. First, bicycle and pedestrian infra- However, any kind of transportation infrastruc- structure is often located in scenic areas in ture, including bicycle and pedestrian, may have close proximity to streams, rivers, or other negative environmental impacts associated with it, natural water features. This may pose a threat including: increase in impermeable surfaces (add- in terms of impacting the natural flow or route ing to increased runoff); destruction of or fragmen- of the water feature (i.e., rerouting a stream tation of wildlife habitat; and human impacts (i.e., due to the presence of a trail). Proximity to wa- trash, pet waste, and other pollutants). When iden- terways can also create the potential for future tifying potential sites for new infrastructure or infra- erosion problems due to disturbing the sedi- structure improvements, it is important to identify ment during construction, which can later lead any environmental issues or sensitivities that may to cave-ins and increases the risk of flooding. exist within your community. These environmental factors may act as constraints when determining The second water quality threat posed by locations for planned bike-ped infrastructure bicycle and pedestrian is through runoff and improvements. In ad- potential groundwater dition, environmental contamination. When- documentation will be ever pavement is placed required for any bicycle over natural ground and pedestrian proj- materials, it creates an ect that utilizes federal impermeable barrier that funding. Reviewing no longer allows rainwa- environmental issues ter or other precipitation in the planning stage to penetrate the ground Photo: B. Jones

36 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide in that location. Runoff must find an alternate and open space when possible. The Utah route. This can often result in flooding in un- State Parks Division provides a wealth of infor- intended locations. Additionally, as the runoff mation on parks and recreation sites across travels across this newly created impermeable the state as well as resources for trails surface it collects everything sitting on top ( http://stateparks.utah.gov/). (trash, sediment, refuse, etc.) and carries it into Utah Division of Forestry, Fire, and State the storm water system, in turn adding pollut- Lands: ants to the groundwater. Many municipalities are located in close prox- Local municipalities can form a partnership imity to or border on national forests and state with the Division of Water Quality to develop lands. It is highly recommended that if the city and implement a comprehensive ground is located near either federal or state lands water protection program to prevent ground that the appropriate agency is contacted for water contamination in their communities. The guidance when preparing the plan. This will Division of Water Quality can also assist local allow any connections to recreation lands to governments in determining ground water be maximized while avoiding negative envi- quality and completing an inventory of threats ronmental impacts (http://www.ffsl.utah.gov/ to ground water quality using the Aquifer Clas- ffsl.htm). The Division of Forestry also offers sification process. Local officials can then use a large number of resources for urban forestry the aquifer classification to balance the need which may be beneficial to enhance your bike- for ground water protection with other compet- ped facilities (http://www.ffsl.utah.gov/urban/ ing goals and objectives of the community. urbanforestry.php).

• Environmental Remediation and Response National Park Service’s Rivers, Trails, and (ERR): ( http://www.environmentalresponse. Conservation Assistance (RTCA) Program: utah.gov/) This program provides professional support ERR is charged with protecting public health to communities planning for trail or greenway and Utah's environment through cleanup of facilities. RTCA staff members work collabora- chemically contaminated sites, and ensur- tively with their partners in the health communi- ing that underground storage tanks are used ty to establish projects in the built environment properly and by providing chemical usage and that improve walkability and enhance public emission data to the public and local response health. RTCA staff members can assist local agencies. Any site that was historically used communities with a variety of tasks including as a gas station, dry cleaner, lot, mechanic goal setting, resource assessment, concept or lube shop, or for some type of manufactur- plan development, public participation, and ing may have contamination that needs to be identification of funding sources. RTCA efforts addressed before construction can begin. frequently focus on providing physical con- nections between resources; partnerships with State Parks and Recreation: local health organizations; connections to a When identifying potential projects and cor- National Park Service facility; youth engage- ridors for bicycles and pedestrians special ment; and natural resource conservation and attention should be given to connecting parks . More information on the

Chapter 03: Inventory of Existing Conditions 37 RTCA can be found at http://www.nps.gov/ plan to alleviate any negative impacts a project ncrc/programs/rtca/. might pose.

Wildlife Resources & the Utah Conservation National Register of Historic Places: Data Center: The National Register of Historic Places is An integral part of the Utah Division of Wild- the nation's official list of cultural resources life Resources (DWR) ( http://wildlife.utah. worthy of preservation. Authorized under the gov/dwr/), the Utah Conservation Data Cen- National Historic Preservation Act of 1966, the ter (UCDC) is the central repository for Utah National Register is part of a national program biodiversity information. Although the UCDC to coordinate and support public and private focuses primarily on Utah's rare native spe- efforts to identify, evaluate, and protect his- cies and other high-interest species (game toric and archeological resources (http://www. animals and raptors, for example), information nationalregisterofhistoricplaces.com/ut/state. on all Utah vertebrate wildlife species, many html). Properties listed in the Register include invertebrate species, and numerous plant districts, sites, buildings, structures, and ob- species is available. Within any given commu- jects that are significant in American history, nity, sensitive species that may be impacted architecture, archeology, engineering, and by new projects can be identified. DWR can culture. Identifying historic sites or corridors in also provide assistance in creating a mitigation the city may allow the community’s heritage to

Table 3.4 Intermediate Inventory Components

Where Do I Find the Category Data Needed Other Resources Answer?

Engineering or Public Posted speed limits Field work, walking audits Works

Recent traffic studies, Field Engineering or Public Pedestrian and bicycle volume counts work; Video counts, NCHRP Works 2012 Report #7-19 Infrastructure Inventory of informal pathways and/or pedes- Fieldwork, walking audits trian opportunity areas

Engineering or Public Traffic calming program or policies Works

Local requirements on including bicycle and Engineering or Public pedestrian analysis in traffic impact studies Works – existing policies

Ordinances requiring pedestrian amenities

Policies such as newspaper racks, street furniture, Planning street trees, or bicycle parking

UDOT Complete Systems Complete Streets or Complete Systems policy Planning guidance is located at (insert website here)

38 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Table 3.4 Intermediate Inventory Components

Where Do I Find the Category Data Needed Other Resources Answer?

Law enforcement procedures on pedestrian Safe Routes To School clear- safety, including school drop-off enforce- Police inghouse ments

Inclusion of local law enforcement in the Police, Engineering, or planning, design, construction, and opera- UTA Planning tion of pedestrian facilities

Policy for pedestrian crossings at railroads,

Policies, Con’t Policies, freeways, light rail tracks, streams, or canal Engineering crossings

Local policies on collecting speed data and Engineering or Public reviewing speed limits Works

Governor’s Office of Demographic projections Planning and Budget

Planning, Engineer- Identify the primary institutional obstacles to ing, Public Works, and improving the pedestrian environment elected leadership

Urban development patterns – locations of population and employment density, mixed land use and transit-oriented development Planning Fieldwork, walking audits nodes, bicycle and pedestrian activity centers

Center for Health Data, Local health and police Collision patterns and injury rates UDOT, Utah Office of High- departments Other way Safety

Utah Department of Crime data Public Safety, local police departments

Annual funding level to replace sidewalks or Public Works or Finance to fill existing gaps

Utah State Parks, Utah Division of Forestry, Utah Utah Department of Environmental data Conservation Data Center, Environment Quality National Register of Historic Places

Chapter 03: Inventory of Existing Conditions 39 Advanced Inventory In addition, the website also contains links to Communities that wish to analyze existing condi- completed HIAs: tions beyond the elements listed in the Basic and http://www.healthimpactproject.org/hia

Intermediate Inventories may follow the guidance • The HIA Clearinghouse is run by UCLA. The for an Advanced Inventory. The Advanced Inven- Clearinghouse provides a wealth of knowl- tory builds on information gathered as part of the edge, including the various methods and data Basic and Intermediate Inventories and supple- needed to complete an HIA: ments it with considerations of ADA accessibility, http://www.hiaguide.org/methods-re- public health issues, safety conditions, funding sources/methods programs, and advocacy groups. • Planning for Healthy Places with Health Impact Health Impact Assessments Assessments is an online how-to course for Health Impact Assessments (HIAs) are a tool that conducting HIAs developed by the American can be used to evaluate the health-related impacts Planning Association and the National Associa- of a proposed project or policy (i.e., impact on dis- tion of County and City Health Officials. The ease rates, physical activity, etc.) HIAs are typical- course is available for free: ly conducted after a set of policies or alternatives http://professional.captus.com/Planning/ is created and would therefore be a very beneficial hia/default.aspx tool to use in evaluating the potential health im- • Other resources: pacts of policies or projects created as a part of the bicycle and pedestrian master plan. http://www.designforhealth.net/pdfs/HIA/ BCBS_PrelimCheckBackground_070207. Some data typically required by HIAs that might pdf also be collected as part of a bicycle and pedes- http://www.humanimpact.org/doc-lib/fin- trian plan could include: ish/11/9 • Residential and employment characteristics of ADA Compliance and Transition Plans the area The Americans with Disability Act (ADA) was • Proposed land uses (from a General Plan) enacted in 1990 and requires public accommoda- • Traffic conditions (from CIP , RTP, or other tions, such as sidewalks, to be accessible to those transportation plan) with disabilities. Plans to transition public accom- • Transit plans (if applicable) modations to ADA compliant are required under

• Park and trail system map (if applicable) federal law. If the community has a Transition Plan, it should be one of the documents collected for an • Open space plan (if applicable) advanced inventory. The Transition Plan should • School district plan identify barriers along public rights-of-way and in- clude a plan to address barriers within a three-year The sites listed below provide more information time frame, or a long-term plan to address barriers regarding the HIA process: within available resources. Adequate Transition • The Health Impact Project provides a basic Plans must address conditions at corners as well overview and additional resources for HIAs. as along sidewalk corridors.

40 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide 41 , Search: ADA www.transportation.org Transition Plan http://www.access-board.gov/prowac/ alterations/guide.pdf

See Table 3.5 for a listing of ADA-related infor- of ADA-related for a listing Table 3.5 See as part of the should be gathered mation that information about Inventory. For more Advanced State Association of plans, the American transition created Officials has and Transportation Highways practices guide: a best management A good resource for planning and designing altera- designing and planning for resource good A Public Rights-of-Way Spe- tions is the “Accessible by the Public Rights-of-Way cial Report” published Committee: Access Advisory Design Guidelines and Streetscape Plans document Design guidelines can be a stand-alone zoning ordi- or contained within a general plan or are traffic- nance. Examples of design guidelines crosswalk pol- calming programs, parking policies, form-based icies, complete streets/systems plans, codes, landscape ordinances, or streetscape affected by design standards. Urban design is setbacks, and such zoning regulations as density, amenities, requirements for bicycle and pedestrian walkability of which in turn affect the bikeability and can be useful an area. Understanding these plans and does not in knowing what a jurisdiction does allow in terms of urban design, especially regard- ing ancillary design elements such as signage, benches, and bike racks. A good place to start for such information is the area’s General Plan or Zon- ing code. additional outlines pages following the on 3.5 Table topics that should be addressed as a part of the advances inventory. The questions posed in the center column provide guidance on potential areas of emphasis and areas where the community could use improvement. ADA Compliance or Transition Plans require Plans require or Transition Compliance ADA practice is to A good involvement. public disabilities while individuals with engage the planning effort is occurring. with Individuals first-handexperience disabilities can provide into the infrastructure throughout problems the city. A self-evaluation of physical barriers that limit A self-evaluation of physical barriers accessibility of individuals with disabilities to A detailed description of the methods remove these barriers steps A schedule for taking the necessary for imple- The name of the official responsible mentation A schedule for providing curb ramps opportuni- A record of the public involvement ties of the creation of the plan 2. 3. 4. 5. 6. 1. While a Transition Plan is not a required element While a Transition the steps for the Ad- of an Advanced Inventory, are useful in creating an ADA vanced Inventory not already transition plan if the community does should con- have one. Typically, a Transition Plan sist of: Chapter 03: Inventory ofChapter 03: Inventory Existing Conditions

Photo: T. Burbidge Table 3.5 Advanced Inventory Components

Topic What Do I Need to Know? Whom Do I Involve?

• Does my city have design guidelines or practices related to ADA improvements? • Do we have a transition plan in place? If so, when was our last up- date of the Plan? • What is our practice on directional curb ramps? • What are our practices on use of truncated domes? • Do we have a practice for installing on-street handicap parking Local ADA advocates, Americans with Disabilities spaces? Engineering and Act (ADA) compliance • Do we have guidelines for using contrasting edge bands at commer- Public Works Depart- cial driveways and intersections? ments • What are our policies and practices for bringing existing facilities in line with ADA requirements? • What are our guidelines for new streets and developments? • What public facilities are addressed in our ADA Transition Plan (curb ramps at intersections, sidewalk obstacles, parking facilities, on- street handicap parking, etc.)?

• Do we have a policy to replace signal heads with LED displays or Engineering or Public Signal Hardware with countdown signals? Works • Are we currently using Pedestrian Lead Intervals in any locations?

• Do we have programs aimed at improving pedestrian and bicycle Engineering or Safety safety? If yes, request copies. Planning • Have we conducted a Walking Audit in our city?

• Do we have a Streetscape Master Plan and/or Landscape Architec- ture Plan? Is there a policy regarding what may be planted near the sidewalk (i.e., to prevent root problems)? • Do we have any design policies for treatments such as narrow lanes, corner bulbs, etc? Engineering, Plan- • Do we have development standards that affect the bicycle/pedestrian Streetscapes ning, or Economic environment (examples: building required to front streets, limits on Development number and widths of driveways, landscape and pedestrian access requirements within parking lots)? • Has a Business Improvement District(s) been established in our retail zones? If so, does it fund sidewalk or streetscape improvements? • Do we have a façade improvement program?

• Where are our designated redevelopment areas (if any)? • What developments are planned/desired for these areas? • How will they be financed? • Where are the key historic sites in our city? Are they listed on any historic registers? Do we have a historic and/or cultural preservation plan in place for the city? Planning or Urban Redevelopment • Do we have any planned unit developments? How are bicyclists/pe- Economic Patterns destrians accommodated in these plans? Developments • Do we have specific plans, redevelopment zones, or zoning overlays (such as historic districts) for any portion of the city? • How are bicyclists/pedestrians accommodated in these plans? • How do our zoning and subdivision ordinances accommodate bicycle and pedestrian rights-of-way?

42 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Table 3.5 Advanced Inventory Components, Con’t

Topic What Do I Need to Know? Who Do I Involve?

• Have we applied for any bicycle/pedestrian grants? • Have we completed any bicycle/pedestrian projects recently? If so, obtain project information. • How much did we spend on bicycle/pedestrian improvements on average over the past 3 to 5 years (versus bicycle and pedestrian mode shares)? • Do we have a Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator(s) on staff? What Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning or School percentage of time do they devote to bicycle and pedestrian related Funding District work? • Which funding sources are typically used to fund improvements iden- tified in our Master Plan? • Did we substantially integrate the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians in our latest update to our General Plan, Transit Plans, Parks Plans, School Renovation Plans (especially including policies and practices requiring all new development to be pedestrian supportive)?

• Do we assess impact fees for new development programs to pay for transportation impact mitigations? If so, are these fund used for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure improvement? How are they distributed? • If yes, how does this apply to the development review process? How Planning or Economic Impact Fees does this apply during the planning, design, construction, and opera- Development tions phases? • Do we require a high level of street connectivity for new projects? • What are our guidelines and practices for large commercial develop- ments to provide safe and convenient access to buildings?

• Do we have a Transit First Policy? • What are our policies regarding transit shelters and bicycle/pedes- trian connections to transit stops/stations? Request a typical site plan for a new transit stop. • Do we have a Travel Demand Management (TDM) Program or Coor- Transit First Policies Planning dinator? • Are businesses that offer free parking to employees required to offer a cash-out alternative? • Do city employees or other groups have access to EcoPasses, Com- muterChecks, etc.?

• Do we have a committee that addresses bicycle and pedestrian issues (Bicycle or Pedestrian Committees, Parks, or Recreation Com- mittee)? If so, what is the membership of this committee and what are Advocacy their duties and functions? Are they tied into our regional MPO/RPC Planning organization(s)? • Do we have a mechanism for obtaining public comments on bicycle/ pedestrian issues (i.e., “Report a Pot Hole” program)?

• Do we have a bicycle/pedestrian safety or traffic-ed curriculum in our city’s schools? At the city’s Community Center? Planning or School Education • Are safety brochures available? District • Do we conduct safety education campaigns (i.e., yard signs, bumper stickers, radio messages)?

Chapter 03: Inventory of Existing Conditions 43 Table 3.5 Advanced Inventory Components, Con’t

Topic What Do I Need to Know? Who Do I Involve?

• Are motorists provided information or instruction specific to pedes- Planning or School Education, Con’t trian laws and ordinances? District

• Are Health Agencies (including EMS) involved in the planning or Public Health or Community Health design of our bicycle and pedestrian facilities? Planning • Have we conducted an HIA?

What Should I Have by Now?  Identify existing funding sources and funds expended on pedestrian and bicycle Now that you have completed the inventory of facilities existing conditions, use these checklists to deter- mine whether you have included all the necessary  Gather traffic calming policies information:  Gather crosswalk policies  Gather complete streets policies  Gather parking requirements  Identify existing and planned bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure  Identify institutional obstacles to walking and bicycling  Identify bicycle and pedestrian components of existing local, regional, and general plans  Identify urban development patterns  Obtain general plans for neighboring Cities  Get contact information for Public Works to ensure continuity between communities Director, Community Development staff  Identify gaps in bicycle and pedestrian net- works  Identify if area is ADA-accessible and where Identify pedestrian infrastructure at intersec-  improvements can be made tions and mid-block crossings  Identify if area is MUTCD-compliant and Gather crosswalk installation policies  where improvements can be made  Gather bicycle parking ordinances  Gather streetscape plan  Identify existing bicycle parking  Identify redevelopment patterns  Identify major origins and destinations  Gather Transit First policies  Identify Safe Routes to School activities  Collect information on impact fees  Contact information for City Engineer and  Identify impact analysis guidelines City Planner  Identify current advocacy groups and activities  Conduct pedestrian and bicycle counts  Identify area health concerns  Obtain collision data  Contact information for local health agency, transit authority, and ADA coordinator

44 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Additional Resources: “Population Projections” in The Methods and Materials of Demography, available on- line at: http://www.bebr.ufl.edu/system/ files/2004+M+%2526+M+_Projections_.pdf

City of San Jose, Department of Parks, Recreation, & Neighborhood Services. (2010). Trail Count. Available online at: http://www.sjparks.org/Trails/ TrailCount.asp

Utah Department of Public Safety (2010). Bicycle Safety. Available online at: http://publicsafety. utah.gov/highwaysafety/bicycle.html

Chapter 03: Inventory of Existing Conditions 45 Notes his chapter identifies a range of activities designed to engage T the public as part of a bicycle and pedestrian master plan. Activities can range from small meetings with city staff to larger interactive public workshops.

Information provided in this section will assist users in developing a public involvement plan for a bicycle and pedestrian master plan. Most master plans will not have a separate “public involvement” chapter, but feedback from the public and stakeholders will be incorporated into many stages of the plan. Refer to the “public involve- 4 ment alerts” in each chapter for ideas on when to engage the public in the planning process. Public Involvement

04 Public Involvement

The public understands transportation issues in their community as well as (and sometimes better than) anyone else. Engaging the public as part of a bicycle and pedestrian master plan can provide excellent insights in to shared values, community goals, transportation issues and opportunities, potential projects, and priorities for implementation. Furthermore, the act of consulting the public can help build political support for a plan: community planning should be transparent, and citizens may be suspicious of plans developed without some degree of public input.

While reviewing this section, think about which public engage- ment activities are most relevant for your specific jurisdiction. Also consider the purpose of outreach, and what feedback is sought from the public. The International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) lists five main purposes for engaging the public:

• Inform: Providing the public with information, and making a commitment to keep them informed

• Consult: Soliciting the public’s feedback on proposed alter- natives or decisions

• Involve: Engaging the public throughout the planning pro- As you participate in public involve- cess to incorporate public concerns and goals into project ment activities, make sure to docu- ment the events: when it occurred, results who attended, comments made, and • Collaborate: Partnering with the public to develop alterna- next steps needed. The documenta- tion will be valuable to you later on, tives, solutions, and ideas throughout the planning process as a reminder of issues raised and • Empower: Allowing the public to make the final decision on commitments made. Also, be sure to bring a camera and take some planning issues photos during the event! The activities outlined in this chapter focus on the purposes listed above. Choose activities carefully based on the degree of engagement being sought.

The public involvement options outlined in this section are

Chapter 04: Public Involvement 49 intended to be used at various stages in the plan- • Advanced activities incorporate a wide range ning process to build support for a master plan of strategies, including staff hours and labor, and its adoption. Similar to the other sections of and technical, educational, and communica- this handbook, public involvement activities are tion capabilities. categorized based on the level of effort and exper- Once again, the levels of public involvement tise required: activities are meant to be cumulative: Intermediate

• Basic activities can typically be conducted by level activities would be in addition to everything a small number of staff people. listed under Basic, and Advanced would include all Basic and Intermediate activities. The “Monitor- • Intermediate activities may require more staff ing” chapter of this handbook (Chapter 9) provides time plus technical skills such as website de- additional guidance on engaging members of the velopment and graphic design. community beyond the master planning phase.

Table 4.1 Public Involvement Activities by Level: Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced

Activity When? Purpose? Time Needed?

Minimal to moderate—time for meetings, dis- Review technical cussion, and plan-related activities can vary Advisory Throughout XXX concepts and significantly depending on the length of plan Committee plan recommendations involvement and the degree of enthusiasm of the committee members.

Throughout Gather input and Agency meetings XXX Minimal­—hours for meetings plan understand issues

Walking and Biking Gather input and Moderate—3-5 days to organize and X X X Early in plan audits understand issues facilitate

Midway Updates to Plan- Keep decision- through plan, ning Commission/ XXX makers informed Minimal—hours for meetings and at end of City Council and on board plan

Midway Inform special Moderate—time to prepare presentations, Traveling through plan, XXX interest groups or coordinate agendas, and deliver presenta- Roadshow and at end of advisory bodies tions plan

Moderate to considerable—level of effort can At defined Inform the public, vary, but typically requires several weeks to Public workshops stages gather input, pro- XXX organize, plan for, and prepare materials for or meetings throughout vide opportunity for meetings and workshops, plus time to evalu- plan review ate information gathered at events.

Moderate to Considerable—1-2 days to build and populate a website, ongoing mainte- nance to update content, incorporate links Inform the public, to other social media such as Facebook, Throughout gather input, pro- Project website XX Twitter, and YouTube, generating content to plan vide opportunity for update social media sites, linking to related review local and national blogs, and incorporating feedback from smart phone data collection applications

50 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Table 4.1 Public Involvement Activities by Level: Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced, con't

Activity When? Purpose? Time Needed?

At defined Considerable—several weeks to design stages Gather input on key Surveys X survey materials, execute survey, gather and throughout concepts and ideas analyze results. plan

Educate critical Considerable—several weeks to organize, decision makers on plan for, and prepare materials and equip- Scan tours X Mid-plan key concepts and ment; travel costs involved for scan tours to ideas other locations.

Build support and excitement for plan, Throughout Moderate—time to write publicity materials, Media relations X and generate en- plan coordinate media contacts thusiasm for plan- related activities

Basic Public Involvement Activities Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee At the most basic level, public involvement in a One of the most effective ways to engage commu- bicycle and pedestrian master plan can be built nity members is through the formation of a Bicycle around engaging key stakeholders and keeping and/or Pedestrian Advisory Committee to assist in decision makers informed. The underlying goal of the development of the master plan. The members any public outreach of this committee may effort is to build excite- be appointed by policy- ment for the plan and /// CROSSING /// makers, or the commu- nity may be invited to to create champions Advocates for planned improve- submit applications or Engaging the community of bicycling and walk- ments. Without cham- ing advocates can be of tremendous value dur- letters of interest to the pions in the commu- ing the development of a bicycle and pedestrian staff members involved nity, the plan will face master plan. The best kind of advocacy groups in writing the plan. One can widen the circle to include all levels and a much tougher road thing to keep in mind interests of cyclists and walkers: commuters, to implementation. It novices, families with children, youth and teens, is that if the committee can be challenging people with disabilities, or those with limited is politically appointed, to build enthusiasm mobility choices. it is sometimes subject for any citywide plan, to extensive public which is why creative noticing requirements meeting locations and multiple points of input are and can complicate conversations among mem- critical. Key activities include the creation of a bers if they interact otherwise. The members of the Bicycle/Pedestrian Advisory Committee for the committee should include local staff with particular master plan, meeting with agency representatives, expertise (for instance, engineering, planning, pub- conducting walking audits with stakeholders, and lic works, maintenance, recreation, or traffic safety providing plan updates to the local Planning Com- department representatives). mission or elected body.

Chapter 04: Public Involvement 51 The committee should meet regularly throughout and should be consulted for their input and sup- the development of the master plan; for instance, port. These agencies might include the Utah an Advisory Committee meeting monthly or bi- Department of Transportation (UDOT), the Utah monthly would provide good opportunities for the Transit Authority (UTA), federal land managers Committee to contribute to the plan. The Advisory such as the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) Committee can be asked to help develop goals or the U.S. Forest Service (which may control local and policies for the master plan, review analyses trail networks), or local representatives from police of existing conditions, generate ideas for pro- departments, elected bodies, parent-teacher as- posed concepts or projects, provide comment on sociations (PTA), planning commissions, school draft plans, collect data, or other activities. The districts, public health organizations, or special Advisory Committee members should act as plan service districts. An added benefit in engaging ambassadors to the community, helping to gener- other agencies is that their representatives may ate excitement about plans and publicize upcom- be aware of funding opportunities for bicycle and ing events. The Advisory Committee could also pedestrian projects. Stakeholders such as private extend beyond the life of the plan, and become an property owners, real estate developers, conserva- ongoing committee to promote biking and walk- tion groups, or local trail, bicycle, and pedestrian ing in the local community. In some communities, advocacy groups would also have valuable input the Advisory Committee’s meetings can double on the placement of bicycle and pedestrian facili- as public meetings, since they are often publicly ties, and may be able to help build support among noticed and the Advisory Committee often includes their neighbors and colleagues. many of the individuals who would attend a public The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) is meeting. More information about local Bicycle and a special stakeholder for consideration in bicycle Pedestrian Advisory Committee roles is provided and pedestrian planning statewide. In many areas, in the “Monitoring” chapter of this handbook the main roads through a community are owned (Chapter 9). and maintained by UDOT. Regional UDOT staff Agency and Stakeholder Meetings members determine how bicyclists and pedestri- ans are accommodated on these roads. UDOT can Other state and local agencies would have an be a valuable ally in developing bicycle and interest in a bicycle and pedestrian master plan,

Table 4.2 UDOT Regions

UDOT Region Jurisdiction Contact Information 166 West Southwell Street The northern part of Utah, including the following counties: Davis, 1 Ogden, Utah 84404-4194 Weber, Morgan, Box Elder, Cache, and Rich. 801-620-1600 The urban core, including Salt Lake, Summit, and Tooele counties. Re- 2010 South 2760 West 2 gion 2 is also responsible for coordinating transportation projects on Salt Lake City, UT 84104 state roads from initial design through construction and maintenance. 801-975-4900 658 North 1500 West in The central part of Utah including the following counties: Juab, Utah, 3 Orem, Utah 84057 Wasatch, Duchesne, Uintah, and Daggett. 801-227-8000 The southern part of Utah, including the following counties: Carbon, 1345 South 350 West 4 Emery, Grand, Sanpete, Sevier, Millard, Beaver, Piute, Wayne, San Richfield, Utah 84701 Juan, Garfield, Iron, Washington, and Kane. (435) 893-4799

52 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide pedestrian facilities – the agency administers tions. Results from the audits can help prioritize several programs that fund these transportation improvement projects, and can directly reflect projects. Local planning and engineering staff issues raised by audit participants. Several options should actively work to build relationships with for targeted walking audits are outlined below. UDOT representatives in their area. • Standard Walking Audit: Use the format described in Chapter 3, Inventory of Existing /// CROSSING /// Conditions, to conduct a walking audit. Poten-

Want to Learn More About Public tial participants could include: Engagement? • Elected officials Working with the public can be a fascinating, challenging, and rewarding experience. The • Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) has many resources available about the • Police Traffic Safety Enforcement Officer philosophy of public engagement, strategies for • Engineering/Public Works Department use in different situations, and tools for practitio- ners. Learn more at www.iap2.org. Staff • ADA Coordinator

It is also important to understand local UDOT plans • Transit Services staff (if transit is present and priorities when discussing potential bicycle or in the Focus Area) pedestrian facilities on UDOT roads. There are sev- • Business leaders or residents in focus eral excellent resources available to help commu- area(s) nities learn about the UDOT process and engage • Business Associations its representatives. First, the UDOT Pedestrian and • Residents/Neighborhood Associations Bicycle Guide provides an overview of UDOT pro- cedures. Second, the UDOT Statewide Bicycle and • Downtown/ Neighborhood Planner or Pedestrian Coordinator is available to help com- Redevelopment Agency staff munities plan for bicycle and pedestrian facilities • User Group or Advocacy Group on UDOT roadways. Third, local UDOT Region staff Representative (such as Traffic Calming (project managers, traffic engineers, and region Advocacy Group) directors) can be engaged to discuss specific • School officials, PTA/PTO leaders bicycle and pedestrian projects. Go to the UDOT • Parks and Recreation staff Walking and Bicycling website at http://www.udot. utah.gov/ Search: Walking and Biking. • Parking Management staff • Health Agencies and Organizations, Walking or Biking Audits including EMS Walking audits have been discussed in detail in • Nighttime Audit: A Nighttime Audit is con- Chapter 3, Inventory of Existing Conditions. While ducted when pedestrian collision data suggest they are useful tools in gathering data and informa- that significant collisions in a Focus Area are tion, they are also helpful for soliciting input from occurring after dark or during sunrise/sunset a wide range of participants. Walking audits can times. The Audit can be conducted by observ- also focus on issues specific to certain popula- ing conditions at the Focus Area from a parked

Chapter 04: Public Involvement 53 http://katana.hsrc.unc. http://www.bicyclinginfo. focusing on a site near their gathering on a site near their focusing facility traffic safety, or citizen of the community, bicycling merit badge speaking communities (and a translator if (and a translator communities speaking necessary) • of a religious community Members • working toward a Boy scout troops Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide and Pedestrian Utah Bicycle print out a large-scale aerial map of a neigh- print out a large-scale residents Area floor. the to it tape and borhood, identify their neighbor- can walk on the map, team hoods, and make notes for the project where about bicycle and pedestrian issues residents they live. Alternatively, engage area or Fa- through a digital method – via website to cebook link – and use web-based methods described gather their input. These ideas are sec- in more detail in the “Using Social Media” tion of this chapter. org/pdf/bikeability_checklist.pdf edu/cms/downloads/walkability_checklist.pdf • Virtual Walking Audits: At a public workshop, • Walkability Checklist: • Bikability Checklist: Several tools are available online to help conduct a Several tools are available online to Informa- walking audit. The Pedestrian and Bicycle to help tion Center has simple checklists online and bikabil- communities evaluate their walkability and can ity. Copies are located in the appendix, also be found on the web at: Other online tools that can help get communities thinking about walkability include www.walkscore. com, which allows users to enter an address and learn how it ranks in various elements of walk- ability: proximity to shopping and entertainment, access to transit, distance to public facilities such as schools and parks, and other factors. Having (such as AARP)

district representatives • School representatives • PTA of all levels • Students citizens or their advocates • Senior citizens or their advocates • Disabled from non-English • Representatives dit, roadway and pedestrian conditions are dit, roadway and pedestrian conditions Focus observed while driving through the for Focus Area(s). This method is appropriate and/ Areas that are geographically dispersed may be or too large to observe on foot, and especially useful in rural areas. citizen groups may be helpful for address- ing complex pedestrian safety or walkability se- issues. Target citizen groups may include persons, niors, children, non-English speaking group or disabled persons. Target citizen representatives can supplement participants in the standard Walking Audit as needed. These may include: vehicle. The Audit may include observations observations include may The Audit vehicle. pedestrians and or distracted of any impaired as (visible at night), and apparel their behavior motorists. or distracted well as impaired • Target Citizen Group Walking Audit: Target • Windshield Audit: During a Windshield Au- 54 Photo: D. Burden walking audit participants rate their community on • A small amount of canned information on walkscore.com prior to conducting the audit can the purpose of the plan, intended outcomes, help frame audit discussions around the compo- schedule, participants, and other topics nents of walkability, and create a more informed • Short enough to fit into a variety of agendas – group. no more than 5-10 minutes

Keep in mind that while walking audits can be an • Given to community councils, business associ- excellent tool for identifying walkability and bike- ations, neighborhood watch groups, advocacy ability issues in a community, they generally focus organizations, and other interests on a small number of individual problem sites that • Include a survey or other way for participants either reflect typical issues seen city wide, or par- to provide feedback ticular hot-button areas that must be fixed. They /// CROSSING /// A traveling roadshow do not provide a city wide would help build broad Minority Groups in Utah perspective on connectiv- support in the community In the Salt Lake area, there are several minority ity and safety for bicy- for bicycle and pedestri- and special interest groups that could provide clists and pedestrians. valuable perspective on a bicycle and pe- an projects, and using a When considering issues destrian plan. These include the Utah Coali- canned presentation can tion of La Raza, Disability Rights Coalition, raised during a walking preparation Crossroads Urban Center, community councils efforts when conducting audit, also remember throughout Salt Lake County, the Asian Associ- these questions: ation, the Tongan Christian Church, the Greek this type of outreach. Be- Orthodox Church, the Hispanic Chamber of fore preparing a traveling • How might we change Commerce, and the NAACP. Many of these roadshow presentation, local policy and groups have regularly scheduled meetings, and bicycle and pedestrian planning issues evaluate whether the procedures to solve could be introduced as a topic of discussion audience is relevant to problems like these? at these meetings. Two Spanish-language the bicycle and pedes- newspapers also currently circulate in the re- • Are the solutions pro- trian project, what plan gion: Ahora, which is associated with the Salt posed at this Lake Tribune, and El Observador, associated components might relate site applicable at with the Deseret News. Either venue would be specifically to them, and other locations an excellent opportunity to reach the Spanish- how they might influence speaking population. throughout the city? the outcome of the plan. Where might those locations be? Public Meeting or Workshops

• Can the solutions proposed at this site connect Public meetings can be a useful method for provid- to other bicycle and pedestrian facilities to ing information about a bicycle and pedestrian improve local and regional connectivity? master plan, and asking for the public’s feedback on proposed projects and improvements. While Traveling Roadshow public meetings can sometimes require consider- A traveling roadshow is a prepared presentation able up-front effort to coordinate, schedule, and that can be used to update individuals and groups staff, they can be enlightening for planning purpos- throughout the planning process. A roadshow pre- es. Reasons for holding a public meeting could sentation could be: include:

Chapter 04: Public Involvement 55 steps for the project Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide and Pedestrian Utah Bicycle project, including the answers they feel cate where they bike or walk and how about those facilities cies statements ing and desired) being developed pedestrian facilities • A list of frequently asked questions about the • Provide opportunities for participants to indi- • Ask for validation on proposed goals and poli- • Ask for a “wish list” of projects • Ask (both exist- for locations of bicycle parking • An explanation of the type of project or plan • A map of the area and the existing bicycle and • Locations of proposed projects • An outline of next Displays that are intended to engage the public Displays that are intended to engage might: Number of Recommended Meetings The number of public meetings associated with a project can vary. At least one meeting is recom- mended, for the purpose of educating the public and establishing a base level of trust around the plan. For a single-meeting strategy, plan to cover the basics: the plan’s purpose, identification of evening meeting, but they might already attend already they might but meeting, evening or community centers, markets, events at farmer’s opportunity for feed- Providing an other events. far more productive events can be back at these meeting. a stand-alone than holding a public meeting or open house Visual displays at convey information and solicit are helpful tools to of your displays will vary feedback. The design you are simply providing depending on whether for specific feedback on plan information or asking information displays could elements. For instance, include: implementation or concepts in your community safely stakeholders in a particular area cycling and walking cycling and • Consult the public in selecting projects for • Gauge support for new projects and document • Generate about walking and biking excitement • Educate on walking and cycling the public • Promote discussions between residents and • Develop support among the wider community • Vet proposed facilities • Understandto and barriers perceptions about • Gleanimprovements on proposed ideas • Identify in a community areas problem 56 It is important to develop a strategy up front on what is to be achieved in a public meeting. Having a solid understanding of desired outcomes from the meeting will guide how meeting materials are developed, how potential meeting attendees are recruited, how events at the meeting are managed, and how meeting outcomes are reported. Consider the intended audience as well and likely meeting times and locations to reach that audience. For in- stance, families are unlikely to attend a stand-alone Photo: L.Hanson oritized, recommended needs and opportuni- /// /// ties, potential concepts CROSSING bicycle and pedestrian for implementation, Public Meeting Tips network. • Open-house style meetings can help and proposed projects. A critical challenge when staff retain control of a meeting and avoid Always provide a method grandstanding. dealing with area-wide for commenting and re- • Provide maps showing aerial photographs, issues that concern one sponding, and integrate labeled roadways, landmarks, and natural user group, such as features public comments as bicyclists or pedestrians, much as is feasible. • Provide an adequate supply of sticky is generating enough inter- notes, markers, pens, comment cards, and est from a broad cross- Often, a number of meet- other materials for participants to leave behind their thoughts. section of the community ings with the public may • Provide a “kids’ table”, with snacks, drinks, to get input. There are be required to build trust, coloring books, or other activities for chil- several strategies to over- gain insights, and garner dren. come this challenge. One support for proposed • Select a meeting location that is convenient strategy is to hold a series bicycle and pedes- for the public to access. of meetings in different trian improvements. The • Websites, email listserves, mailers, notices in utility bills, community newsletter articles, districts. Another espe- three-meeting strategy press releases in regional and local news- cially effective strategy is outlined below can help papers, and posters can all be used to to attend regularly sched- municipalities organize notify the public of an upcoming event uled meetings of neighbor- for a multi-meeting pro- • Maximize attendance by piggybacking hood or business groups cess. on an existing event, such as health fairs, community arts and crafts shows, back-to- and present information school nights, and farmers markets. • 1st Meeting: An about plan formation to • Take photos at the event. interactive meeting these smaller, established with location maps • Provide a survey or other means of input groups (see the Travel- that participants can take away and share and pens available with others who were unable to attend. ing Roadshow section, for meeting partici- above). Additionally, pants to identify po- sometimes established tential projects, barriers, and wish lists. Allow community groups will host a joint meeting to dis- participants to provide suggested visions or cuss the plan alone. Another, less effective means have a dot exercise around the most important is to issue surveys to bicyclists or pedestrians reason for the plan to help guide goal-setting. along a particular route. This strategy by its nature

• 2nd Meeting: Presentation of draft Goals and offers input from bicyclists and pedestrians only, Vision, and a range of recommendations or rather than the broader population. However, it is alternatives for consideration and review. sometimes the only way to reach people unlikely to Stakeholders provide feedback on their pre- be exposed to outreach in other ways (cyclists in ferred alternatives, and review and comment non-English-speaking communities, for instance). on criteria that may be used for project prioriti- Intermediate Public Involvement Activities zation. These activities can by conducted by municipali- • 3rd Meeting: Presentation of the final, pri- ties that wish to engage the public at a broader

Chapter 04: Public Involvement 57 level, and reach members of the community at • Contact information for municipal (and consul- large rather than only invited stakeholders. As tant, if applicable) project managers mentioned previously, Intermediate-level activities More information on interactive project websites would generally be undertaken in addition to those is provided in the “Advanced Public Involvement listed in the Basic Activities” section. An section. /// CROSSING /// important decision in the creation of a website is Informational Project Lessons Learned from a Good whether or not to allow Websites Public Process: public comments. This A project website can be It is important in any planning process to estab- arrangement typically a useful tool for a bicycle lish trust within the community, and built sup- port for your project. Here are four tips learned requires a moderator or and pedestrian master from a trails planning project in Orem, Utah: other individual willing to plan; in fact, a project 1. Demonstrate that you’re listening to people ensure that the comments website is generally and hearing their concerns. Their concerns are productive. considered a state-of-the- are valid and need to be addressed in a respectful way. practice component of Advanced Public a good plan. A website 2. People (and especially property owners Involvement Activities along a trail alignment) are commonly wor- designer is not neces- ried about issues like crime and vandalism. Advanced public sarily required in order to Anticipate some of these concerns before involvement activities develop a website: weblog a public meeting, and conduct research to answer the questions when they arise. can be conducted by software by WordPress, The Rails to Trails Conservancy maintains municipalities wishing to TypePad, Blogsmith, or good information on common trail problems invite deeper feedback other online publishers (www.railstotrails.org). If you can address these questions with residents during the and participation from can allow non-technical meeting, it raises your credibility and im- the public, or focusing staff to create and main- proves their trust in you. Also, it’s OK if you on walking and cycling tain project websites or don’t know the answer – but make sure to get contact information and follow up with issues specific to certain blogs. At the intermediate the person asking the question. interests or demographic level, a project website 3. Privacy is a frequent concern, and must groups. Advanced-level should provide some ba- be dealt with, so be ready with ideas for activities would generally mitigating privacy issues. sic information: be undertaken in addi- 4. Follow up with promises made to members tion to those listed in the • An overview of the to the public. Keeping good records of purpose of the plan, comments and commitments made, and Basic and Intermediate schedule of events, establishing a project champion to help sections. follow up, can be useful for keeping these project goals, pro- promises. Surveys on Bicycle and posed improvements, Pedestrian Issues etc. Surveys can be used to • Draft plans and maps for the public to down- learn information about the attitudes and percep- load and review tions of a larger population. They can be useful in • Links to stakeholders and related agencies understanding the opinions of a group as a whole,

58 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide or to gauge changes in behavior and perceptions, Interactive Project Website but are not helpful when in-person discussion is Developing an interactive project website can really what is needed. Two types of surveys can be help provide a forum for ongoing public participa- utilized for planning purposes: an informal survey tion throughout a project, enhance the ability of and a scientific survey. Informal surveys are often members of the public to comment on the plan- used during bicycle and pedestrian planning ning process, and generate additional excitement processes. Surveymonkey.com is one example of around bicycle and pedestrian plans. Web-based a web-based survey program, where users can technologies evolve every moment. The current write their own questions, submit them to recipi- state-of-the-practice website should include: ents via email, and results will be collected and tabulated for review. Other informal survey tools • An opportunity for people to provide geo- could include visual preference surveys, in which graphically-specific input on local bicycle and the public responds to visual cues to indicate what pedestrian issues. Web-based tools such as type of facility they prefer – for instance, whether Google Maps can be integrated into project they prefer a bike route, bike lane, or bike path websites and allow users to provide comments along a given alignment. digitally on the location and nature of an issue. Smart phone applications have also been Scientific surveys use statistically valid methods developed that allow users to report problems and include the selection of a large sample size of from the field via a GPS waypoint marker and a people in order to produce reliable results. Infor- comment form. mation received from the sample is analyzed using • A method for the public to provide input and customized software to determine strong relation- to respond to various bicycle and pedestrian ships between preferences and outcomes. These treatments and general issues, for instance, types of surveys are time-consuming and can be what makes a great walking or biking system? costly, and should be considered one of the most Or, what do you think of textured pavement or advanced approaches to collecting public informa- sharrows? tion. There are some key considerations to keep in mind when conducting a scientific survey: • Links to social media such as Facebook, Twitter, or YouTube. A Facebook page can • A professional may be needed to design the be used to provide updates on new materials survey questions, administer it to recipients, for review, announce events, allow people to and collect and analyze the response data. easily comment, and share publicity about the • People may answer questions reflecting how plan. It provides a convenient link for people they think they would behave in a given situ- to stay aware, engaged, and show support for ation, but that may be different from how they the project. It also provides a venue to invite would actually behave. interested people to project-related events.

• A poorly-designed question or series of ques- • All the elements listed in the Intermediate Pub- tions can introduce bias into the results. lic Involvement Activities section.

• Before embarking on a survey, think about how A project website can be a useful tool in continu- the data might be used and for what purpose. ing dialogue with the public about bicycle and

Chapter 04: Public Involvement 59 /// /// oped (in this case, in the field of bicycle and CROSSING pedestrian planning).

Finding a Champion • Second, the experts evaluate whether these A project champion can be critical in making new and innovative practices could be repli- project implementation happen at the local level. A champion should be someone with political cated in other locations, such as the jurisdic- capital, and with the capacity to make or influ- tion conducting the bicycle and pedestrian ence decisions. This person can leverage his/her relationships to build support for a project, help it planning effort. get through the approval process, and take some • Third, a field visit (or scan tour) is made so responsibility for implementation once the plan- ning phase is over. A word to the wise: don’t go that local decision makers and implementers into a bicycle and pedestrian planning process can view the new practices in person, talk with without knowing where your elected officials the staff members who implemented the new stand on the issue. If you are surrounded by pol- iticians who don’t support bicycle and pedestrian practice, and glean insights on how it might be planning, identify and build a project champion replicated locally. before getting into the planning process. • Fourth, the scan process and the decisions made are documented for use by participants pedestrian issues, beyond the range of a master and future adopters of the treatments. plan. More information on an ongoing bicycle and Research documenting several scan tours imple- pedestrian website is provided in the Monitoring mented throughout the United States can be found chapter of this handbook (Chapter 9). here: http://onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/nchrp/ docs/NCHRP20-68A_Prospectus.pdf. Scan tours Scans and Field Visits Scans and field visits entail taking local decision /// CROSSING /// makers to another community to see innovative transportation treatments first-hand, and to talk Success Story: Park City, Utah with the agencies that implemented them. Keep in In 2006, Park City began developing a citywide Walkability Study, which identified existing infra- mind community characteristics such as climate, structure as well as proposed future infrastruc- demographics, and political environment when ture which would promote the safety, efficiency, identifying potential scan tour locations. Concepts and connectivity of the town’s walking and biking networks. In 2007, City officials opted to pursue that work in some areas may not be acceptable in a bond to fund the proposed bicycle and pedes- others; for instance, some paving or thermoplastic trian improvements identified in the Walkability treatments that work in temperate climates may not Study. Park City voters approved the $15 million bond in November 2007. have longevity in a mountain climate with snow- In December 2007, a public advisory committee plow activity. However, decision makers can still known as the Walking and Biking Committee or be inspired by visiting communities substantially (WALC), was formed. The committee’s role was different from their own. The scan approach can to allocate bond funds to projects identified in the Walkability Study. Notable projects include: be useful when introducing new treatments and a pedestrian underpass near the public schools concepts not previously seen in an area. Typically, to promote safe routes to school; a pedestrian a scan process has four main components: underpass connecting the local Rails to Trails pathway to the City Park pathway; and improved • First, topic experts identify locations where connectivity through the Park Meadows and Prospector neighborhoods. new and innovative practices are being devel-

60 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide have been used successfully along the Wasatch • Placement of articles in local newspapers and Front for a number of proposed transportation community newsletters improvements, and have been key in demonstrat- • Method for notifying news outlets of upcoming ing the value of many proposed improvements to events; for instance, a one-paragraph descrip- decision makers. tion of the overall planning project, plus infor- Media Relations mation on activities planned for the upcoming event, and an advisory to bring a photographer While a significant amount of communication is or videographer conducted digitally through websites, email, and other means, printed and televised media are still Generating positive publicity around a bicycle and important outlets for bicycle and pedestrian plan- pedestrian plan can help increase public aware- ning in communities throughout the State. These ness and support for the project, boost participa- traditional methods are often excellent means for tion in upcoming events, and build enthusiasm reaching demographic and economic groups that for the elements proposed in the plan. If working may not have access to smart phones, the internet, with media outlets such as newsletters, websites, or other digital media. A publicity strategy for a or other purveyors of the written word, make sure bicycle and pedestrian plan might have the follow- to provide pre-written materials about your project ing elements: and events. This will help reduce mistakes during • Consistent branding and messaging, with proj- publication. ect logos, colors, and taglines What Should I Have by Now? • Key messages defined for specific user groups – for instance, commuters, families, recreation- After reviewing this chapter, you should have a ists, and school children strategy for which stakeholders to engage in your bicycle and pedestrian plan, and for what purpose. • Identification of significant community happen- The table below provides a summary of the public ings that could tie into plan-related events and involvement strategies discussed in this chapter generate more enthusiasm and activity around and identifies the engagement purposes to which the plan they would correspond.

Public Engagement Strategies by Purpose

Inform Consult Involve Collaborate Empower

Advisory Committee X X X X X

Agency Meetings X X X X X

Walking/Biking Audits X X X

Commission and Council Updates X X

Traveling Roadshow X X

Public Workshops or Meetings X X X X

Project Website X X X X

Surveys X X

Scan Tours X X X

Media Relations X

Chapter 04: Public Involvement 61 Notes his chapter outlines the process of identifying specific sites for T improvements. Techniques for site selection are discussed, includ- ing ideas for public involvement activities, evaluating problem areas based on demographics and topi- cal foci, as well as the use of more advanced modeling techniques.

After completing this chapter, users will have identified a list of target sites within the jurisdiction for potential 5 improvements, and will be prepared to move toward selecting and priori- tizing specific projects. Analysis and Site Selection

05 Analysis and Site Selection

Revisiting the Purpose of the Plan

In Chapter 2, the purpose, goals, and objectives for the bicycle and pedestrian master plan were defined, and in Chapter 3, an inventory was conducted which included identifying existing available data. Answering the following two questions will build on the previous and move toward the next planning phase, and will eliminate the hardship of completing a grueling data collection process only to learn that the information that was so hard to get was not really needed.

1. Is the jurisdiction seeking to attract new users, accommo- date existing users, or both?

2. What types of users is the plan trying to accommodate or attract? (i.e., experienced cyclists, commuters, school children, families, recreators, etc.)

Answers to these two questions will help identify the types of facilities that most likely to be of interest, as well as the types of data from the inventory that will be applicable. For example; if At this point you may want to nar- the purpose of the plan is to improve public health, the jurisdic- row the scope of your purpose and tion will most likely be seeking to attract new users and promote goals. It is important to keep things manageable. If you are still unsure physical activity in the community. In answering the second of your big picture focus, you can question, that same jurisdiction may identify that it would like either 1) proceed by completing the to attract families and young individuals who are currently less basic section, or 2) spend some ad- ditional time in Chapter 2 rethinking physically active. This provides a very clear picture of what your purpose and goals. types of information will be needed to proceed. An additional step may require identifying demographic data showing where the majority of families with young children live. Existing data on health and physical activity levels, and school and park loca- tions may also be useful.

Alternatively, if the purpose of the plan is to provide active trans- portation options and accommodate existing users of the sys-

Chapter 05: Analysis and Site Selection 65 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide and Pedestrian Utah Bicycle or improvements are needed. While Chapter 4 While Chapter are needed. or improvements the of ways to get a complete discussion provides below the examples in the process, public involved related to site selection. specifically provide ideas 1. Prioritization Exercise ways to seek public input One of the simplest sites in the community is to host regarding specific can be done on a single day/ an open house. This the expense and time in- evening which limits attendees are provided with volved. At the event, they can place on a map 1-3 dot stickers which where they would like of the city in the locations By to see bicycle and pedestrian improvements. gets, they limiting the number of dots each citizen identify only must prioritize their own agenda and the most. those areas they think need improvement is to One way to add complexity to the exercise example each provide dots of multiple colors. For and yellow citizen would be given a red, orange, 1 priority, dot. Red would represent their number their number 3. orange their number 2, and yellow on the map At the end of the activity, “hot spots” with a high are easily identified by color. Areas a higher density of red dots could be considered Different col- priority in the final plan than others. Pedes- ors could also represent different modes. with one trian improvements could be identified identified color, while bicycle improvements are with another. Different colors would distinguish separate priorities based on mode as well. This method gathers a great deal of information from the public while easily allowing the staff to identify priorities. However, as with any public involvement exercise, it is important to remember that only the priorities of those who are in atten- dance will be revealed. It is critical to recruit par- ticipation by a diverse group of citizens and make an extra effort to encourage underrepresented groups (minorities, people with disabilities, lower income households, the elderly, etc.) to attend. Basic and Evaluation Site Selection Techniques 66 Involving the public is one of the most basic and Involving the public is one of the most routes and yet effective ways to identify priority plan. The projects for a bicycle and pedestrian most informed citizens of the community will be the and inter- and most experienced with navigating acting with their neighborhoods and can provide valuable insights into where new infrastructure Public Involvement The following sections will focus on identifying The following sections will focus on improvements. locations for bicycle and pedestrian public Techniques will range from very basic advanced involvement and topical foci to more repre- Geographic Information Systems analysis, models. sentative variable analysis, and statistical After identifying this key information, revisit the in- After identifying this which information has already ventory and identify additional data may need been collected. Some through contacting a local/ to be gathered either completing an additional data state agency or by collection process. tem (specifically experienced cyclists and active and active cyclists experienced (specifically tem enough that provide identifying routes commuters), street bike facilities, to integrate on right-of-way (i.e., modes ways to link transportation or the best Major greater interest. transit) may be of biking to centers may also be identified in local employment bicycle commuters. order to accommodate

Photo: L. Hanson 2. Preference Surveys world experience with the choices they are asked

Preference surveys are surveys of actual or po- to make, and may therefore be unable to indicate tential users in which respondents are asked to their preferences or actions with accuracy. For express an attitude or make a choice as to how these reasons, special care should be taken when they would act under certain conditions. There evaluating survey responses and they should only are three major types of preference surveys: a) be utilized as one piece of a larger public involve- attitudinal surveys, which have been widely used ment/site selection process. to estimate the potential impacts of bicycle and Complete Streets/Complete Systems pedestrian improvements and to determine relative preferences for such improvements; b) hypotheti- A simple way to plan for future bicycle and pe- cal choice surveys, which are generally used to destrian accommodations is to take a Complete develop statistical models and to estimate the rela- Streets/Systems approach or adopt Complete tive importance of each attribute (time, cost, pres- Streets policies at the local level. Complete Streets/ ence of bike lanes, etc.) in common terms; and c) Systems strategies are described in greater detail visual preference surveys, which ask respondents in Chapter 6, and are intended to accommodate to identify a preferred (or least preferred) option all transportation modes (automobiles, transit, from a number of graph- bicycles, and walking). A municipality could ics or photos. A prefer- /// CROSSING /// ence survey could be adopt a Complete Streets conducted as a part of Salt Lake City’s Complete Streets Policy policy, or simply modify a public open house, as All city owned transportation facilities in the street standards to re- public right of way on which bicyclists and pe- quire that all new streets a focus group activity destrians are permitted by law, including, but not include sidewalks as well with a smaller number of limited to, streets, bridges, and all other connect- residents, or as a mail ing pathways, shall be designed, constructed, as some type of accom- operated, and maintained so that users, includ- modation for bicycles. survey sent out citywide. ing people with disabilities, can travel safely and Alternatively, a Com- When attempting to independently. (Ord. 4-10 § 1, 2010) gather public opinion plete Systems approach regarding site selec- focuses on the greater tion for improvements, a preference survey could transportation network and espouses identifying include a map for residents to mark their ideas on. key routes for multi-modal accommodation.

These surveys can be relatively easy to design Connecting Origins and Destinations and implement, and are good tools for evaluating A basic approach to selecting project locations relative preferences and estimating the response for bicycle and pedestrian improvements could to a proposed action. However, these methods include a rudimentary origin/destination analysis. often significantly overestimate the response to a Using the data collected in Chapter 3, origins bicycle or pedestrian improvement, since people (places where people are coming from) and desti- are more likely to state that they will change their nations (places to which people may walk or bike) behavior than to actually do so. Therefore, they are are identified and connected. Origins typically not well-suited for predicting actual shifts in travel include residential neighborhoods or buildings, demand. Also, people may not have any real- and destinations can include commercial districts,

Chapter 05: Analysis and Site Selection 67 schools, parks, college campuses, downtown facility rather than identifying a separate location areas, healthcare facilities, or other zones. Using a for a new facility. land use map or aerial photograph, planners can identify likely connections between origins and destinations, and propose walking or bicycling infrastructure along these corridors.

Recognize Opportunities Talk to your neighbors. Frequently, adjoining jurisdictions do not adequately consider con- Each community should look for ways to maximize nectivity in their planning. Neighboring mu- existing opportunities. For instance, community nicipalities often spend a great deal of time planners and engineers can coordinate with UDOT and money constructing high quality facilities (e.g., an across town bike path); however, to learn of planned projects in their jurisdiction users experience a ¼–½ mile detour at the and to determine whether there are opportunities city line because of a lack of coordination in to include bicycle and pedestrian facilities as part route choice and alignment. These pitfalls can be avoided if proper consideration is of those projects. Utility easements (power, canal, given during the site selection and project rail, and other utilities) are commonly used to co-lo- identification stages of the plan. cate trail alignments. Local staff members should study existing easements in their community, and review utility agency policy on accommodating Intermediate Evaluation and Site Selection off-street trails. Feasibility studies may be required Techniques to address concerns about co-location of trails in easements, but it can be well worth the effort. Public Participation in Project Screening Members of the public can take an active role in Expanding Existing Facilities selecting potential bicycle and pedestrian improve- As a part of the inventory (conducted in ch-3) ment projects. Communities following the Basic existing bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure in approach can ask public participants to indicate the target jurisdiction and neighboring cities was their preferred projects. An Intermediate approach identified. When reviewing this inventory, it is wise would build on that exercise by having the public to consider expanding existing facilities before weigh in on screening criteria, for instance, wheth- rushing to add new, unconnected improvements. er cost, constructability, range of accessibility to These improvements can often be less expensive users, or number of users accommodated is most and will likely enjoy broad public support as they important. Staff members can then use these indi- are merely adding to or improving what is already cators to rank proposed projects based on public in place. Additionally, while in reality there is no support. The public could also rank screening fac- one-size-fits-all facility that is appropriate for every tors by importance: for instance, cost is the most city, public involvement and support will inevitably important factor, followed by the number of people be in favor of successful facilities in neighboring who might use a facility, followed by the relative communities. For example, if the city next door ease of constructing that facility. Screening factors recently constructed a high quality /cycling can also relate back to goals and objectives identi- trail that ends where your jurisdictions meet, it may fied during earlier phases of the planning process, make sense to consider expanding that existing for instance, whether proposed facilities help a

68 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide community work toward achieving the goals and structure will also be needed in these areas. ultimately the purpose of the plan. By identifying demographic target zones and likely Using Representative Data destinations (i.e., school-aged children will need Because it can be time consuming and expensive to access schools), origins and destinations can to collect new data about potential demand for bi- be connected as described above. Other external cycle and pedestrian infrastructure, demographic data may help fill in the gaps as well. For example, trends can be used as constructs or representa- if the goal is to connect the school-aged children tions of demand. For example, if an area within the target zones with schools, it would be prudent city that has a large cluster of multi-family rental to identify the suggested Safe Routes to School housing units or a cluster of low-income house- listed in each school’s Safe Neighborhood Access holds, those can be loosely interpreted and used Plan (SNAP) map (discussed in Chapter 3). When to represent areas that are statistically more likely working with representative data, it is always best to utilize transit for transportation. Since a majority to use multiple sources (when available). This will of transit riders access transit by walking or bicy- maximize the accuracy of the assumptions and cling, it can be assumed that active mode infra- leave less room for calculation error.

Table 5.1 Examples of Representative Data

Purpose of Plan Relevant Data Represents Project Selection Approach

• Focus on connecting target neighborhoods to transit lines, regional bike networks, and local commercial centers • Enhance pedestrian infrastruc- • Body Mass Index • Overweight and obesity ture and improve visibility around (BMI) by area rates school zones, to encourage younger residents to bike and • Census “journey to • Likelihood to walk/bike Improve Health and walk work” data for transportation Physical Activity • Invest in community-based • Disease rates • Areas that could benefit educational programs that link • Chronic condition from increased physi- active transportation to lifestyle rates cal activity and health improvements • Plan infrastructure that is acces- sible to the widest range of us- ers, e.g., off-street trails instead of bike lanes or sharrows on busy corridors

• Plan trail and bike lane links to regional recreational locations, • Parks and coordinate with adjacent Accommodate • Places where people go jurisdictions • Trail access points Recreation to recreate • Improve sidewalk and bicycle • Fitness facilities connections around a given ra- dius of local park and recreation facilities

Chapter 05: Analysis and Site Selection 69 Table 5.1 Examples of Representative Data, Con't

Purpose of Plan Relevant Data Represents Project Selection Approach

• Avoid or mitgate to protect • Environmentally sensitive • Wetlands, habitats, etc. environmentally sensitive areas Reduce Environmental areas • Census “journey to • Provide transportation options in Impacts • Areas with a high preva- work” data areas with a high prevalence of lence of automobile use automobile use

• Identify core commercial areas, especially downtown or town center zones, and plan for high-level pedestrian improvements such as widened sidewalks, textured pave- ments, streetscape amenities, traffic • Redevelopment/infill calming, and other enhancements sites • Areas that are prime for Promote Economic • Plan for bicycle and pedestrian links new business and com- Development • Commercial districts connecting neighborhoods to com- mercial investments mercial districts • Include end-of-trip facilities for cyclists, such as bicycle racks or on-street corrals • Create bicycle and pedestrian links between commercial nodes and major transit hubs

• Look for opportunities – canal ease- ments, power corridors, or other available alignments – to enhance Improve Mobility and • Cul-de-sacs and • Areas that restrict mobility in otherwise difficult envi- Connectivity dead ends connectivity ronments • Change local policy to discourage low connectivity in future develop- ment projects

• Identify locations with the highest rates of bicycle and pedestrian collisions • Focus on improving safety through slowing or stopping vehicle traffic, enhancing visibility by adding street- • Intersections with high lights and high-visibility pavement accident rates • Unsafe crossings for bikes and pedestrians markings and signage, and provid- • Areas with high crime ing greater protection for bicyclists rates • Threats to personal safety Improve Safety and pedestrians through physical • Street light locations • Potential danger areas for buffers cyclists and pedestrians • Overgrown vegetation • Improve general visibility by chang- ing building design standards to increase windows in building front- ages • Work with local police departments and neighborhood watch groups to monitor crime zones and improve safety for bicyclists and pedestrians

70 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Table 5.1 Examples of Representative Data, Con't

Purpose of Plan Relevant Data Represents Project Selection Approach

• Plan enhanced pedestrian ameni- ties such as widened sidewalks, decorative lighting, street furniture, bicycle parking, and other elements • Sites experiencing urban encouraging street-level interactions • Potential redevelop- decay in congregation locations Beautify the Commu- ment/infill sites nity and Improve Social • Identify areas where citi- • Consider locations where future Interaction • Gathering spaces (e.g., zens congregate development is planned, and library, city hall) include bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure linking these locations to surrounding neighborhoods and transit lines

• Criteria for recognition • Checklist of what needs to • Plan projects based on qualifica- Receive Recognition programs be done to qualify tions checklist

Simplifying by Using Topics instead of attempting to “improve safety” citywide, Attempting to overhaul an entire city’s bicycle and the plan could focus on improving safety around pedestrian network within the context of one plan schools or major intersections; and an alternative can be a bit overwhelming to say the least. It may to improving all transportation mobility and accom- seem difficult to identify key locations for improve- modating active transportation modes would be to ments, especially in larger geographic areas. focus on a small number of key cross-town routes This difficulty can be (both north-south and exacerbated if a clear east-west). This topical purpose has not been /// CROSSING /// focus allows key sites to identified for the plan. be identified for improve- What are the Ds? ments, but with less com- To simplify the process Research has identified five variables that signifi- of selecting specific cantly contribute to the walkability/bikability of plexity. Using this meth- sites for improvements, an environment. They are density, diversity of od, improvements will uses, design, distance to transit, and destina- be made to the bicycle specific topics may be tion accessibility (Cervero, et al; 2009). More focused on rather than recent work by Dr. Reid Ewing at the University and pedestrian environ- broader issues. For of Utah identifies two additional D variables: ment even without a very demographics and development scale. By specific plan purpose. example, rather than quantifying the built environment based on these attempting to focus on variables, planners can identify key locations This can be very benefi- “improving economic for bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, and cial for smaller towns or also identify areas where policy changes related for municipalities that do development”, the plan to one these key variables may increase the could instead seek to amount of bicycle and pedestrian traffic an area not have the resources to improve active infra- attracts (e.g., increasing the mix of uses near the complete the Intermedi- central business district). structure in the cen- ate or Advanced analysis tral business district; methods.

Chapter 05: Analysis and Site Selection 71 The following three steps outline how to identify will provide more than enough sites to work improvement sites based on a topical focus: with. Additionally, once the preliminary goals and objectives have been addressed and all 1. Identify a topical focus the new facilities have been constructed, the The topical focus should provide one or more bicycle and pedestrian plan can be updated geographic areas in which to concentrate plan- by either increasing the buffers to encompass ning efforts. By selecting a specific category a larger geographic area or by identifying new (i.e., schools, central business district, recre- goals and objectives to guide the expansion of ation sites, low income neighborhoods, etc.) the network.

the number of areas that need to be analyzed 3. Identify sites within each buffer can be limited. A sub-category can also be Once an improvement radius has been created used for a focus, such as elementary schools, around each of the topical focus sites, use the specific redevelopment areas, or other areas public involvement activities described, or do of concern. additional field work to identify specific sites/ 2. Identify a radius for improvements deficiencies within each buffer area. For ex-

After determining a topical focus, a distance ample, if the focus is to improve pedestrian fa- buffer should be identified within which im- cilities within ¼ mile of all elementary schools, provements will be focused (e.g., all streets walking audits or preference surveys can be located within ¼ mile). Be aware that if a used to help the public identify specific infra- focus area has multiple sites (e.g., schools), structure limitations within those areas. Using and a large radius is employed (i.e. ½ mile), this method, the most important locations for the entire city may inadvertently be included improvements can easily be extracted.

in the buffer. Typically, a good rule of thumb Table 5.2 below outlines additional evaluation is to start by using a ¼-mile buffer for pedes- methods, as well as a summary of how each trian facilities and a 1-mile buffer for bicycle method works. These methods focus on predicting facilities. Do not be deceived into thinking potential usage rates for different types of infra- that this will limit improvements. These buffers structure and estimating non-motorized travel.

Table 5.2 Intermediate Evaluation Techniques

Measurement Method Description

Attempt to predict mode split and/or other travel behavior characteristics for an aggregate popula- Aggregate Behavior tion, such as residents of a census tract or metropolitan area. Prediction is based on characteristics Studies of the population and of the area.

Sketch plan methods can be defined as a series of "back-of-the-envelope" calculations to estimate Bicycle Sketch Plan the number of bicyclists using a facility or area. These methods generally rely on data that already Methods exist or can be collected with relative ease (such as census and land use data), combined with behavioral assumptions derived from other studies.

These methods generally use pedestrian counts and regression analysis to predict pedestrian volumes as a function of adjacent land uses (e.g., square feet of office or retail space) and/or indi- Pedestrian Sketch Plan cators of transportation trip generation (parking capacity, transit volumes, traffic movements, etc.). Methods Alternatively, data on surrounding population and employment may be combined with assumed trip generation and mode split rates to estimate levels of pedestrian traffic.

72 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Table 5.2 Intermediate Evaluation Techniques, con't

Measurement Method Description

These methods include stress-level and level-of-service indicators, and measure the suitability of roadways for bicycle travel. These methods describe current bicycling conditions rather than fore- casting potential demand. The measures combine factors such as motor vehicle traffic volume and Bicycle Compatibility speeds, lane width, and pavement quality into an index of overall suitability for travel. The Federal Measures Highway Administration has created a Bicycle Compatibility Index (BCI) tool (based in Microsoft Excel) to assist in identifying appropriate measures. It is available at http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ tools/docs/bci.pdf

These methods describe current conditions for pedestrians rather than forecasting potential de- Pedestrian Compatibility mand. The measures combine factors such as motor vehicle traffic characteristics, sidewalk width, Measures and aesthetic quality of the environment into an index of overall suitability for pedestrian travel.

* For more information on the forecasting methods described above see the Federal Highway Administration Guidebook on Methods to Estimate Non- Motorized Travel: Supporting Documentation. Available online at: http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/docs/guidebook2.pdf

Advanced Evaluation and Site Selection These factors would be analyzed in GIS and then Techniques applied via an indexing system to the city’s GIS

GIS-Based Latent Demand Models street networks. Walkability and bikeability for each street section is scored based on the factors ana- Latent demand refers to the potential demand for lyzed. Street sections that indicate a high demand bicycle or pedestrian travel, i.e., the level of travel for bicycle and pedestrian facilities would then be that would occur if a bicycle facility existed on a prioritized for future projects and investments. road segment. Latent demand analysis may be combined with supply side facility analysis meth- Other Model Approaches ods, such as bicycle level of service measures, to The following methods shown in Table 5.3 can pro- indicate facilities with the greatest need for improve- vide added levels of complexity and sophistication ment. A GIS-based demand model would evaluate and will allow for predictions based on a specific certain factors on a citywide basis, such as: site, rather than extrapolating usage rates based only on comparable locations. It is highly unlikely • Demographic indicators (e.g., the youth and the that most municipalities will have the expertise in- elderly, households with limited mobility) house to conduct the statistical analyses required • Presence of activity generators including parks, for these methods. It is therefore recommended schools, commercial districts, college campus- that a qualified consultant be contacted to identify es, and other sites which methods are appropriate given each city’s • Population and employment density circumstances and the count estimates being • Slope along various transportation corridors sought.

Table 5.3 Advanced Evaluation Techniques

Measurement Method Description

A discrete choice model predicts a decision made by an individual (choice of mode, choice of route, etc.) as a function of any number of variables, including factors that describe a bicycle or pedestrian Discrete Choice Models facility improvement or policy change. The model can be used to estimate the total number of people who will change their behavior in response to an action. As a result, the change in both non-motorized and motorized trips and distance of travel can be estimated.

Chapter 05: Analysis and Site Selection 73 Table 5.3 Advanced Evaluation Techniques, Con't

Measurement Method Description

Can be used to 1) determine the relative preferences of bicyclists for different route characteristics, e.g., Discrete Choice Models: separate path, bicycle lanes, or mixed traffic; 2) develop elasticities, which can be used to relate the Mode Choice change in a particular factor to the expected percent change in number of users; and 3) predict actual route choice on a bicycle or pedestrian network.

Regional travel models use existing and future land use conditions and transportation network char- acteristics, in conjunction with models of human behavior and other travel characteristics, to predict future travel patterns. The Regional Travel Model is typically updated yearly and can be used to predict Regional Travel Models the impacts of improvements to the bicycle and pedestrian environment on levels of utilitarian (non- recreational) bicycle and pedestrian travel, as well as on motorized vehicle trips, vehicle-miles of travel (VMT), and emissions. Output data from the Regional Travel Model is available from your local MPO.

The majority of these models are developed with a structure similar to standard transportation planning Pedestrian Demand Models models, including zonal trip generation based on land use characteristics and trip distribution and as- signment over a network based on a gravity model approach.

This is a general type of approach which estimates the maximum potential number of trips by bicycle or walking, based on: 1) current trip length distributions, usually by trip purpose; 2) rules of thumb on the Market Analysis maximum percentage of bicycling or walking trips by trip distance and purpose; or 3) the percentage of the population likely to switch to bicycling or walking, based on the definition of a target market of bicyclists or walkers according to commute distance, demographic characteristics, etc.

Pedestrian and bicycle environment factors describe the friendliness of an area (such as a city block, census tract, or traffic analysis zone) for walking and/or bicycling. These methods were developed pri- marily for use in regional travel models, where they are applied at a zonal level to predict mode choice Environment Factors and/or automobile ownership. These factors may be used to predict trips that are made by transit as well as entirely by non-motorized modes, since the likelihood of making a trip by transit may be influ- enced by the quality of the pedestrian environment around transit stations. Environment factors can also be used to prioritize areas for pedestrian or bicycle improvements, based on their rating.

* For more information on the forecasting methods described above, see the Federal Highway Administration Guidebook on Methods to Estimate Non- Motorized Travel: Supporting Documentation. Available online at: http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/ped_bike/docs/guidebook2.pdf

/// CROSSING /// What Should I Have by Now? The Latest and Greatest This chapter has identified a number of methods The National Cooperative Highway Research Pro- that can be used to help identify specific locations gram (NCHRP) has analyzed the most up-to-date methods for forecasting bicycle and pedestrian for bicycle and pedestrian improvements within the travel at the regional, corridor, and project levels. community. The following checklist below sum- The report, Estimating Bicycling and Walking for marizes these methods by level. Now that a rather Planning and Project Development (#08-78), acts as a guidebook for practitioners on estimating complete list of potential locations for projects has and forecasting bicycling and walking activity. The been compiled, the following chapters will outline guidebook includes methods on estimating bicycle which types of infrastructure are appropriate for and pedestrian activity through regional-, corridor-, and project-level analysis, and relates the activity each location (Chapter 6) as well as how to pair back to transportation characteristics, land use ele- infrastructure with sites and create a prioritized list ments, topography, weather/climate, and socio-de- mographic characteristics. The National Coopera- of projects for implementation (Chapter 7). tive Highway Research Program is managed by the Transportation Research Board (TRB). TRB publica- tions can be found online at www.trb.org.

74 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide  Use advanced models to model and forecast usage rates  Revisit the purpose, goals, and objectives of your plan and identify what types of informa- tion will be needed to accomplish them Additional Resources:  Review the inventory you conducted for Cervero, R., O. Sarmiento, E. Jacoby , L. Gomez, Chapter 3 and identify information you and A. Neiman. Influences of Built Environments already have access to and that which may on Walking and Cycling: Lessons from Bogota, In- still need to be located or collected ternational Journal of Sustainable , Vol. 3,  Conduct appropriate public involvement 2009, pp. 203-226. (Free pdf available online using activities such as an open house, preference a www.google.com search of the publication title) survey, walking audits, and walkability/bik- Ewing, R., R. Pendall, and D. Chen. Measuring ability checklists Sprawl and Its Impact. Washington, D.C.: Smart  Identify a topical focus, if applicable, and Growth America/U.S. Environmental Protection identify your radius for improvements and a Agency, 2002. Available online at: http://www. list of sites within each smartgrowthamerica.org/sprawlindex/Measuring-  Identify existing facilities within your own Sprawl.PDF municipality as well as neighboring munici- “Population Projections,” chapter 21 in Jacob Sie- palities that may benefit from expansion or gel and David Swanson (eds.), The Methods and improvements (e.g., terminal sidewalks, Materials of Demography. San Diego: Elsevier Aca- disconnected bike routes, etc.) demic Press, 2004. Available online at: http:// www.bebr.ufl.edu/ Search: Population Projections

 Identify appropriate constructs based on U.S. Department of Transportation: Federal High- your purpose/goals and collect additional way Administration. Guidebook on Methods to data if necessary Estimate Non-Motorized Travel: Supporting Docu-  Utilize demographic forecasts to identify mentation. Available online at: http://safety.fhwa. whether a particular group within your dot.gov/ped_bike/docs/guidebook2.pdf municipality may require special attention ViaCity Connectivity Solutions. TranspoGroup:  Conduct an evaluation of the 5 Ds for key Boise, ID, information available online at: http:// locations within your city www.viacity.info/  Identify other evaluation techniques that may be appropriate based on your purpose/goals and seek assistance from consultants/pro- fessionals if necessary

 Perform a detailed demographic analysis  Use latent demand techniques to identify areas for improvement

Chapter 05: Analysis and Site Selection 75 Notes his chapter presents a variety of design components T for consideration and adop- tion of a pedestrian and bicycle plan and infrastructure. 6 After completing this section, users will have identified design guide- lines to use when planning new or retrofitting existing facilities. Planning and Design Components

06 Planning and Design Components

The location and design of pedestrian and bicycle facilities are integral to having a successful and safe walking and biking environment. When determining what type of facility is appro- priate for a site, be sure to consider the context. The number of lanes, average traffic volumes, vehicular speed, number of users, comfort level of pedestrian and bicycle users, and the characteristics of the surrounding built environment are essen- tial elements to consider.

Policies Integrating bicycle and pedestrian-oriented policies into mas- ter plans and ordinances can help ensure that a community is livable, safe, and convenient for bicycling and walking. When cities have an independently-standing bicycle and pedestrian master plan, the plan can act as a policy statement. A very good resource on walking and bicycling policies nationwide is the “Public Policies for Pedestrian and Bicyclists, Safety and Mobility Review.”

http://katana.hsrc.unc.edu/cms/downloads/PBSPolicyRe- view.pdf

Bicycle and pedestrian-oriented changes to policy may in- clude adding goals to general plans and transportation plans that emphasize non-motorized transportation, accommodating non-motorized transportation in the development review pro- cess, providing for non-motorized transportation on all newly constructed and reconstructed roads, changing the motor vehicle code, changing driver education programs, and revising ordinances like zoning codes and subdivision regulations. In fact, the U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) recom- mends transportation agencies and local communities should consider walking and bicycling as equal to other transportation modes. It is USDOT policy that bicycling and walking facilities

Chapter 06: Planning and Design Components 79 will be incorporated into all transportation projects bicyclists and pedestrians. The development unless exceptional circumstances exist. For more review process and roadway redesign should information on the USDOT recommended actions consider bicyclist and pedestrian concerns. for bicycle and pedestrian accommodations, see: For instance, UDOT has incorporated a Bike- ability and Walkability Checklist into its environ- http://dot.gov/affairs/2010/bicycle-ped.html mental review and design process to require See also: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ designers to facilitate nonmotorized transpor- environment/sidewalk2/ USDOT, Design tation. If they do not, they must give a valid Guidance Accommodating Bicycling and extenuating circumstance for why they cannot Walking into Transportation Infrastructure be incorporated.

When revising policies or creating new ones, • Change land use planning. Land use planning remember to remain ADA-compliant. For more methods such as single-use and low-density information regarding designing for ADA access, zoning ordinances, design standards, and consult these FHWA-published guides: school siting regulations often cause land uses to be separated by large distances, and can • Designing Sidewalks and Trails for Access, hinder the retrofitting of bicycle and pedestrian Part I of II: Review of Existing Guidelines and facilities and a community’s walkability and Practices http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environ- bikeability. Methodological revisions should ment/sidewalks/index.htm be made that foster and require bicycle and • Designing Sidewalks and Trails for Access, pedestrian facilities during development. Part II of II: Best Practices Design Guide • Update driver education programs. To http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/ improve conditions for and reduce automobile sidewalk2/contents.htm collisions with bicycles and pedestrians, driv- General Policies ers should be taught to expect them and to There is no single policy that will create pedestrian accommodate them on shared facilities. and bicycle-friendly communities. Instead, a mix- Pedestrians and bicyclists should also be ture of policies ranging from land use alterations to made aware of the rules of the road. More changes in the roadway network will work together about this is located in the Education, Enforce- to create opportunities for improvement. A few ment, and Encouragement section of this general principals to remember are recommended chapter. by the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center In addition to the general goals above, changes to (PBIC): staff may be necessary. Successful communities • Include goals that emphasize non-motorized often have dedicated bicycle/pedestrian coordi- transportation. These goals should be mea- nators within their transportation departments. Con- surable, such as the percentage of bicycle sider creating this position to ensure adequate staff commuting or reduction in pedestrian-automo- and leadership are available to make bicycling and bile collisions. walking a priority. This report summarizes the cor- relation between bicycling levels and the number • Update operating procedures to incorporate of bicycle and pedestrian staff members:

80 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Chapter 06:Planning andDesignComponents Complete Streetsaredesigned andoperatedto Systems And Streets Complete policies: consider, PBICliststhesegeneralrecommended While therearemanyspecificpolicychangesto built environmentfornonmotorizedtransportation. use policiesareinstrumentalinhelpingalterthe urban design,densities,andaccesscontrol.Land policies determineproximityofdevelopments, the walkabilityandbikeabilityofanarea.These Land usepoliciescanhavesignificantimpacton Policies Use Land somecarparkingspaceswithbicycle • Replace minimumparkingrequirementsin • Relaxing smallareaplansforneighbor- • Developing thedevelopmentofareasmore • Encouraging theimplementationofeasements • Supporting theuseofimpactfeestopayfor • Encouraging thatproposeddevelopmentprojects • Requiring • parking areas wheretheyareunnecessary hoods orspecificcommercialareas dies density bonusesand/ordevelopmentsubsi- conducive tononmotorizedtransportthrough from developersforfuturetraildevelopment facilities whenbuildingnewdevelopments ing theconcurrentbuildingofnonmotorized bicycle andpedestrianinfrastructureorrequir- ners be reviewedbybicycleandpedestrianplan- pdf reports/pdfs/why_bike_ped_staff_april_2010. clists: Pedestrian Staff,LeagueofAmericanBicy- Why Communities&StatesNeedBicycleand http://www.bikeleague.org/resources/ work toassistwithmodaltradeoffdecisions. priorities forstreetsinacommunity’sroadwaynet- Streets offerstheopportunitytodesignatemodal all users.AlayerednetworkapproachtoComplete every roadhassomebasicaccommodationsfor mode isgivenpriorityoneverystreet,butthat trian safety.CompleteStreetsdoesnotmeanevery Streets havealsobeenshowntoincreasepedes- from 10.6%in1990to20.5%2006.Complete Boulder, Coloradoincreasedbicyclecommuting and medians.UsingCompleteStreetspolicies, sidewalks, bicyclelanes,buscrosswalks, es. BasiccomponentsofCompleteStreetsinclude sit alongthesamecorridorinclearlydefinedspac- date pedestrians,bicyclists,automobiles,andtran- enable safeaccessforallusers.Theyaccommo- 81

Photo: T. Burbidge //// CROSSING //// UDOT has a policy of Complete Systems, which follows the layered network concept. Complete Salt Lake County­­—Complete Streets Policy Systems differs from Complete Streets by balanc- When reviewing for design or construction or when ing the needs of local and state governments and approving building or zoning applications, depart- ment staff shall review and consider the following emphasizing connectivity throughout the system. complete streets components and, where appropri- A guidance report by the Institute of Transporta- ate and practical, incorporate these components tion Engineers entitled “Planning Urban Roadway into the design, construction or approval process. Systems” (due out in 2011), discusses the concept 1.1 Speed limits should be designated that are appro- of layered networks. priate to the actual type of street and its location and that allow safe movement by all street users. For more information regarding Complete Streets, 1.2 Traffic signal timing should be reviewed in order consult the following references: to provide progression at a constant lower speed, which could actually reduce travel time by eliminat- • National Complete Streets Coalition: http:// ing stopping and providing for a safer environment www.completestreets.org/ for other users.

1.3 Streets should be constructed and designed with • Complete Streets Laws and Ordinances Sum- narrower travel lanes, tighter corner curb radii, mary: http://www.walkinginfo.org/library/de- raised medians, parkway landscaping, curb park- tails.cfm?id=3968 ing, pedestrian crossing locations, and designated bicycle lanes. • City of Seattle Complete Street Policy: 1.4 Streets should be designed, operated and main- http://clerk.ci.seattle.wa.us/~scripts/nph-brs. tained using the latest and best design standards, exe?d=CBOR&s1=115861.cbn.&Sect6=HITOF to promote safe and convenient access and travel for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, F&l=20&p=1&u=/~public/cbor2.htm&r=1&f=G transit riders, disabled users, and car and truck motorists. Form-Based Codes 1.5 Street design should include, where practical, • Department of Planning facilities and amenities that are recognized as contributing to complete streets, including street • Zoning Ordinance and sidewalk lighting; pedestrian and bicycle safety improvements; access improvements for Form-based codes replace traditional zoning with freight; access improvements in accordance with codes that prioritize urban design over land use. the Americans with Disabilities Act; public transit facility accommodation; pedestrian access im- They specify what can be built through text and provement to transit stops and stations; trees and illustrations, often depicting building mass, site landscaping; and other street amenities. Streets placement, and building orientation. This allows should be connected to existing facilities to create a comprehensive, integrated network. cities to have more control over the way their built environment will look. Form-based codes can 1.6 The engineering division shall implement policies and procedures in the construction, reconstruc- improve walkability and bikeability by encouraging tion or other changes to transportation facilities the accommodation of nonmotorized transportation on arterial and collector streets to support the creation of complete streets, including capital and by creating less auto-centric developments. improvements, rechannelization of projects and Form-based codes are currently in place or being major maintenance, recognizing that all streets are pursued in Layton, Springville, Saratoga Springs, different and, in each case, user needs must be balanced. Any street improvements should fit the Salt Lake County, and Salt Lake City. For more needs and circumstances of the area.­ information, see the Form-Based Code Institute —Salt Lake County Ordinance 14.12 030 (http://www.formbasedcodes.org)

82 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Chapter 06:Planning andDesignComponents to school.Amongthemare: increase thenumberofchildrenwalkingandbiking There areanumberofapproachestotakehelp trol andPreventionstudy. according toa2004USCentersforDiseaseCon- barrier tochildrenwalkingorbicyclingschool, addition, thedistancetoschoolwasprincipal school fellfrom42%in1969to16%2001.In age ofschoolchildrenwhowalkedorbicycledto for SafeRoutestoSchoolfoundthatthepercent- travel toschool.ResearchbytheNationalCenter children usingactivemodesoftransportationto siting guidelineshaveattributedtothedeclinein they areoneofthemoreinfluentialfactors.These only considerationinwhereschoolsarelocated, they arebuilt.Whilesitingguidelinesnotthe located awayfromtheneighborhoodsforwhich provide aminimumacreage,forcingthemtobe school sitingguidelinesthatrequireschoolsto neighborhood. Somemunicipalitieshavecreated in thecommunityandblendedintofabricof Traditionally, schools were considered a focal point Siting School smallerschools,whichrequireless • Building DistrictPolicy,MunicipalMasterPlan • School District,withthehelpofDepartments • School school sitelocationandplanning. education programs, school access, andfuture for facility development,identify opportunities withtheschoolDevelop districtto apartnership /// viable. ciple makesretrofittingexisting schoolsmore located neartheschool.Inaddition,thisprin- land andcanincreasethenumberofchildren Planning andTransportation —Salt Lake CityBicycle andPedestrian MasterPlan CROSSING

/// School, consulttheseresources: tion regardingschoolsiting andSafeRoutesto access throughbetterdesign.Formoreinforma- design. If the site of the school is not ideal, improve to doso.Third,carefullyreviewtheultimatestreet buildings andhelpthedistrictgetoutsidefunding school districtstousecertainsitesorrevitalizeold cess, ifnotalready.Second,considerlobbying invited asaconsultingmemberearlyinthepro- approaching theschooldistrictandasktobe decision, municipalitiesarenothelpless.Consider While schoolsitingisfrequentlyadistrict parkingavailabilityforhighschool • Reducing educationcampaignstoteach • Launching sidewalksandbicyclelaneson • Including purchased. The addedbenefitisrequiringlesslandtobe reduced supplyorincreasedpermitcosts. students. Thiscanbeimplementedthrough chapter formoredetail. Encouragement Techniquessectionofthis the schoolcurriculum.SeeEducationand This educationcanbeincorporatedaspartof children safewaystowalkorbikeschool. likely toattractyoung,inexperiencedusers. one mileofschools.Safeinfrastructureismore roadways, aswelloff-streetpaths,within 83

Photo: S.K. Burbidge • Safe Routes to School (SR2S) http://www. guidelines for the installation of basic pedestrian saferoutesinfo.org/ and bicycle facilities such as sidewalks, bike

• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention paths, and bike lanes into zoning ordinances and (CDC), Kids Walk-to-School http://www.cdc. subdivision regulations. Requirements should gov/nccdphp/dnpa/kidswalk/ include:

• Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), Travel • Bicycle parking requirements

and Environmental Implications of School • Showers and lockers in large office complexes Siting http://www.epa.gov/smartgrowth/pdf/ • Reduction of minimum parking if transit ameni- school_travel.pdf ties are included or upgraded in site develop- • Public Schools of North Carolina, Making Cur- ment plans rent Trends in School Design Feasible http:// • Neighborhood commercial use www.schoolclearinghouse.org/pubs/small.PDF • Reduction of front setback requirement Transit-oriented Development • Trails through large, planned developments • Department of Planning that connect to regional system

• Municipal Master Plan, Zoning Ordinance • Reduction of physical barriers such as fences, Transit-oriented development (TOD) focuses high- curbs, and walls between developments density, mixed-use development around transit sta- • Landscaped buffer zones between travel lanes tions as a means of increasing transit ridership and and pedestrians reducing vehicle trips. TODs promote bicycling and walking not only as modes to get around the Pedestrian Policies development, but also as a means to complete the Many policies needed to encourage and promote transit trip. For more information regarding TODs, walkability are integrated into land use or can be consult: combined into policies that also promote bicycling.

• Federal Transit Administration’s (FTA) Transit- General policies that are recommended to sup- Oriented and Joint Development: http://fta. port walkability, according to the Pedestrian and dot.gov/publications/publications_11007.html Bicycle Information Center (PBIC), include:

• Denver’s Regional Transportation District • Modifying intersection crossings

Transit-oriented Development: http://www. • Closing gaps in the sidewalk network rtd-fastracks.com/main_45 • Identifying streets that are candidates for • Reconnecting America’s Center for Transit- road diets (lane width/lane reductions to give Oriented Development: http://www.recon- right-of-way to sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and/or nectingamerica.org/public/tod parking)

Zoning Ordinances • Locating areas that need traffic calming im- provements • Department of Planning • Zoning Ordinance • Redirecting a portion of parking meter fees or parking fees for pedestrian improvements Zoning ordinances can include recommended

84 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Chapter 06:Planning andDesignComponents speeds, arecandidatesfor enhancedtreatments. tions whichexperiencehightravelvolumesand posted speedlimits.Multi-lanelocations,andloca- a median,thenumberoflanestobecrossed,and locations includetrafficvolumes,thepresenceof for installingmarkedcrossingsatuncontrolled best practiceandefficacy.Primaryconsiderations is implementingcrosswalktreatmentsbasedon sion-making processandensurethatacommunity crosswalk locationsprovideatransparentdeci- Crosswalk policiesdetailinghowtodetermine Policies Crosswalk can goalongwaytowardimprovingwalkability. building orientationaccommodatespedestrians teria inthedevelopmentreviewprocesstoensure in thebackwhereparkingislocated.Addingcri- be adjacenttotheroad,entrancesareplacedonly Sometimes, evenwhenbuildingsaredesignedto have asignificanteffectonpedestrianaccess. The orientationofabuildinganditsentrancescan Orientation Building MasterPlan,Zoning • Transportation ofTransportation • Department Ordinance • Zoning ofPlanning,incoordinationwith • Department apedestrianimpactassessment • Developing thatproposedroadprojectsinthe • Requiring non-motorizedaccesstotransit • Improving trafficsignaltiming • Modifying Ordinances the DevelopmentReviewDivision projects onpedestrians tool forexaminingtheeffectsofproposedroad by pedestrianplanners Transportation ImprovementPlanbereviewed stops based onstudiesoftreatmenteffectiveness. selecting therighttreatmentformarkedcrosswalks published asaguideforplannersandengineersin Pedestrian SafetyatUncontrolledCrossingswas and unmarkedcrossings.In2006,Improving studies havebeenconductedcomparingmarked tersection or mid-block location. A number of other pedestrian isattemptingtocrossastreetatanin- trips. Pedestrian collisions occur most often when a walking accountsforonlythreepercentoftotal 14 percentofalltraffic-incidentfatalities,while have thehighestsafetyrisk.Pedestriansrepresent cross. Nationalstatisticsindicatethatpedestrians Next, identifywhichoftheselocationsissafeto improvements. trian crossingimprovements,andhelpsprioritize basis foridentifyingpotentiallocationspedes- work tothetransitstop.Thisinformationformsa like towalk,suchasfromhometheparkor or signal),firstidentifytheplacespeoplewould controlled crossings(crossingswithoutastopsign When identifyingwheretomarkcrosswalksatun- How toDetermineLocations

trb.org/onlinepubs/nchrp/nchrp_rpt_562.pdf NCHRP Report562.2006. Cooperative ResearchProgramReport112/ Safety atUncontrolledCrossings.Transit Fitzpatrick, Kay,etal...ImprovingPedestrian http://onlinepubs. 85

Photo: S.K. Burbidge When to Install Considerations for Multi-Lane, High-Volume, Installing crosswalks at uncontrolled intersections and/or High-Speed Locations or mid-block should be approached with caution, Sometimes additional treatments beyond striping as drivers may not be expecting to see pedestri- and signing a crosswalk are needed. This is par- ans. Typically, these types of crosswalks will ap- ticularly true at the following locations: pear at intersections where a minor side street has • Multi-lane streets (three or more lanes); or a stop sign and the major street does not. A few • Two-lane streets with daily traffic volumes criteria should be met before installing a marked (ADT) greater than 12,000; or crosswalk at uncontrolled intersections and mid- block locations: • Streets with posted speed limits exceeding 30 miles per hour • Sufficient demand to justify the installation of a crosswalk (see Demand Considerations below) Table 6.1 shows what type of treatments to use at marked crosswalks when laneage, volumes, • Sufficient sight distance and/or sight distance or speeds require additional treatment beyond will be improved prior to crosswalk marking striping and signing. Combinations of treatments • Safety considerations do not preclude a cross- across levels can be used (e.g., flashing beacons walk, such as very high speeds or heavy truck with curb extensions). volumes

Table 6.1 Application of Enhanced Treatments for Uncontrolled Locations

Higher Speeds Low Speeds & Volumes Basic Higher Speeds <30 Mph 12,000+Adt

Two to Three Two to Three Two to Three Four or More Lanes All Widths Lanes All Widths Lanes Only Lanes Only Preferred Preferred

• Narrow • In-Street • Raised • Overhead • Stutter Flash • Pedestrian Lanes Signs Crosswalk Flashing Signal • HAWK Beacon • Refugee • In-pavement Beacon • Under/ Island Flashers Overpass • Curb • Crossing Flags Extension (with Level 1 Treatments)

Pedestrian Components crossings or two-way stop-controlled locations); Pedestrian components are organized into three and corridor-wide. These categories are further main categories: controlled locations (mean- divided into sub-categories such as geometric, ing locations with either all-way stop, or signal- signing and striping, traffic control devices, and controlled); uncontrolled locations (mid-block streetscape improvements.

86 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Pedestrian Components Controlled Location Treatments Geometric

Removal of Sight Distance Obstructions

Description: Sight distance may be obstructed if objects are placed in such a manner where motorists and pedestrians are unable to see each other. Objects such as parked cars, signage, landscaping, fencing, and street furniture should be placed in a location that will not obstruct sight distance.

Typical Application: • Areas with low sight distance

Cost: Medium

Benefit:

• Increased visibility of pedestrians Removal of Sight Distance Obstructions Considerations: • Adjacent land uses

ADA Upgrades to Curb Ramp

Description: Curb ramps provide access between the side- walk and the roadway for people who have trouble stepping up or down high curbs, such as pedestrians using , crutches, strollers, and walkers, by creating a sloping ramp from the edge of a curb to the road. Curb ramps are mandated by federal legislation (1973 Rehabilitation Act and 1990 Ameri- cans with Disabilities Act), and must be installed at all intersec- tions and midblock locations where pedestrian crossings exist. Image Source: Metro Analytics Truncated domes should be provided on curb ramps to enable sufficient detection. Additional, curb ramps should be provided one per crosswalk (or, typically, two per corner) as a preferred design. For more information, consult the Draft Guidelines for Accessible Public Rights of Way.

Typical Application • Crosswalk locations

• Major driveways ADA Upgrapdes to Curb Ramp • Prioritize retrofits for: • Areas with pedestrian activity • Areas with elderly or disabled persons (who may walk more slowly than others)

Chapter 06: Planning and Design Components 87 Cost: Medium

Benefit: • Improved conditions for disabled populations Considerations: • Drainage • Snow plowing

Curb Extension

Description: Curb extensions, also known as pedestrian bulb- Image Source: Metro Analytics outs, extend the curb into the street where on-street parking is present. This extension increases the sidewalk space at a curb and shortens the crossing distance for a pedestrian. In addition, curb extensions narrow the road, causing drivers to slow down and reduce turning speeds. Curb extensions can also be used to enhance bus stop locations by providing more space for stop amenities.

Typical Application: Curb Extension • Streets with potential for moderate to high pedestrian activ- ity and on-street parking • Roadways in need of traffic calming measures

Cost: Medium

Benefit: • Traffic calming • Reduced pedestrian crossing distance

Considerations: • Available right-of-way • Snowplowing

Median Pedestrian Island

Description: Raised medians are placed in the center of a road- way to provide a safe refuge for pedestrians when the roadway they are trying to cross is very wide. Median pedestrian islands enhance safety for pedestrians because they allow pedestrians to focus on each direction of traffic separately, as well as allow- ing motorists to see pedestrians more easily. If placed at a sig-

88 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide nalized intersection with pedestrian push buttons, a push button should also be placed at the median pedestrian island.

Typical Application:

• Multi-lane roadways after a road diet • Where right-of-way exists and pedestrian safety would be

improved with a median refuge Image Source: Metro Analytics

Cost: Medium

Benefit: Median Pedestrian Island • Increased pedestrian safety

Considerations: • Available right-of-way • Vehicle speeds

Staggered Median Pedestrian Island

Description: A staggered median pedestrian island is similar to a median pedestrian island except that a staggered island is offset on either side of the median. This forces the pedestrian to more directly face oncoming traffic, improving safety. Consider

the number of impaired pedestrians using the crosswalk, as Image Source: Metro Analytics staggered medians may be difficult for the visually impaired. These issues can be addressed with railings, truncated domes, and audible pedestrian signals.

Typical Application: • Crosswalks with obstructed pedestrian visibility or with off- set intersections

• Locations with high volumes of child pedestrians

Cost: Medium Staggered Median Pedestrian Island Benefit: • Improved pedestrian awareness

Considerations: • Accommodations for disabled populations • Protection from traffic through railings or raised curbs

Chapter 06: Planning and Design Components 89 Channelized Right-Turn Lanes (Removal of Enhancements)

Description: Channelized right-turn lanes provide a right-turn Image Source: Metro Analytics movement separated from the rest of the travel lanes, typically by a “pork chop”-shaped area. The benefit to pedestrians is a crossing island that shortens the distance across the roadway the pedestrian must cross. In addition, right-turning vehicles are more visible to pedestrians, as are pedestrians to vehicles, im- proving pedestrian safety. However, many channelized or “free” right turns are designed to provide for high speeds. Changing the angle of the right turn channel and/or signalizing the cross- walk or installing a raised crosswalk may improve pedestrian safety at these locations.

Typical Application: • Intersections with high volumes of right-turning vehicles • Improvements to channelization to slow-turning traffic, shorten crossing distance, and improve sight distance

Cost: Medium

Benefit: Channelized Right-Turn Lanes • Reduced pedestrian crossing distance • Improved vehicle LOS

Considerations: • Available right-of-way

• Vehicle turning speeds Image Source: Metro Analytics

Reduced Curb Radii

Description:: Reducing a curb’s radius makes turning vehicles slow because the angle of the turn is decreased. Reduced curb radii also shorten the distance a pedestrian must cross. When considering this treatment, be sure to take the surrounding land use into account. This treatment works well where there is high pedestrian activity, on-street parking, and no curb-edge transit service (only an issue if a bus is turning at this location). It tends to be more suitable for wider roadways and roadways with low volumes of heavy truck traffic, which might have difficulty mak- ing tight turns.

Reduced Curb Radii

90 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Typical Application: • Streets with high pedestrian activity, on-street parking, and no curb-edge transit service (only important if transit vehicle is turning at this location) • Wider roadways • Low volumes of heavy truck traffic (only important if trucks are turning at this location)

Cost: Medium

Benefit: • Decreased vehicle speeds

Considerations: •Truck traffic •Transit service

Interchange Accommodations

Description: Highway interchanges can be dangerous places for pedestrians given the high speed of vehicles. To accom- modate pedestrians at interchanges, interchanges should look like intersections and drivers should expect pedestrians. Place crosswalks in locations that are visible and unobstructed by barriers. An interchange design that accommodates pedestri- ans and bicyclists serves three goals: (1) enhances pedestrian Image Source: www.interchanges.com and bicyclist safety, (2) connects pedestrian and bicycle facili- ties efficiently with surrounding land uses, and (3) provides a consistent “message” that pedestrians and bicyclists should be expected and that drivers are no longer on the freeways when using on- and off-ramps (defines the gateway to the slower, lo- cal transportation system).

Typical Application:

• Areas where pedestrians interact with interchange ramps Interchange Accomodations

Cost: Low

Benefit:

• Increased pedestrian safety at highway interchanges

Considerations: • Type of interchange (on-ramp, off-ramp, SPUI)

Chapter 06: Planning and Design Components 91 Useful Links: Look for a forthcoming “Design Guidelines to Ac- commodate Peds and Bikes at Interchanges” from the ITE Ped/ Bike Council and Traffic Engineering Council.

Pedestrian Overpass/Underpass

Image Source: Metro Analytics Description: Grade-separated pedestrian facilities can reduce vehicle-pedestrian collisions as well as improve operations of in- tersections by removing the pedestrian phase. Appropriate us- age of grade-separated facilities are off-road trails and crossing major barriers, such as freeways and high-speed, high-volume arterials. Typically, they are used as a last alternative. The struc- tures can be quite expensive and may not be context-sensitive.

Typical Application: Pedestrian Overpass • Areas with high pedestrian volumes Image Source: S.K. Burbidge • High-volume roads with fast speeds, experiencing heavy delays • Locations where topography supports over-or underpasses

Cost: High

Benefit: • Allows pedestrian to cross major barriers

Considerations:

Pedestrian Overpass • Available right-of-way • Context sensitivity

Signing and Striping

Marked Crosswalks

Description: Marked crosswalks are a basic way of informing the motorist to be alert for pedestrians crossing the roadway. Marked crosswalks are very useful at intersections and mid- block where there are major pedestrian generators, high pedes- trian volumes, safety concerns, or where traffic calming mea- sures may be needed. When considering the use of a marked crosswalk, take into account the volume of the roadway. If there are more than 10,000 vehicles per day, a marked crosswalk should be combined with other amenities such as pedestrian

92 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide countdowns at signalized intersections or flashing lights to im- prove pedestrian safety.

Typical Application: • Locations with sufficient sight distance • Crossings at major pedestrian generators • Crossings with high pedestrian collision rates Image Source: S.K. Burbidge Image Source: S.K. • Significant pedestrian volumes • Transit stops

Cost: Low Marked Crosswalks Benefit: • Improved walkability • Traffic calming

Considerations: • Roadway volumes • Roadway speeds

Advanced Limit Lines

Description: Standard advance limit (white stop) lines are placed five to seven feet in advance of marked, controlled crosswalks. Often motorists advance into the crosswalk, forcing pedestrians closer to oncoming traffic. Requiring motorists to

stop farther from the crosswalk can reduce this need. Burbidge Image Source: S.K.

Typical Application:

• Marked crosswalks at stop-controlled or signalized locations Advanded Limit Lines Cost: Low

Benefit: • Increased pedestrian safety

Considerations: • Roadway speed

High Visibility Crosswalks

Description: High-visibility crosswalks are similar to regular marked crosswalks, but use a high-visibility paint that reflects light. Consistent use of high visibility striping at all uncontrolled

Chapter 06: Planning and Design Components 93 crosswalks is recommended. The triple-four crosswalk striping pattern is also recommended because of its visibility and main- Image Source: S.K. Burbidge tenance benefits.

Typical Application: • Any uncontrolled crosswalk or controlled crosswalk with sight distance or conflict issues

Cost: Low

Benefit: • Increased pedestrian safety, especially at night High Visibility Crosswalk Considerations: • Roadway speeds • Visibility issues

Textured Pavers

Description: Textured pavers can be used to delineate pedes- Image Source: S.K. Burbidge trian areas like crosswalks or sidewalks to increase visibility of pedestrians. Pavers can be concrete, brick, and stone, among other things. Concrete can also be stamped to create the ap- pearance of pavers. An additional benefit is enhancement of the streetscape. Crosswalks with textured pavements must be striped with white, parallel stripes. This treatment is recommend- ed for controlled locations only because of reduced visibility versus other high visibility striping options. Textured Pavers Typical Application: • Signalized or stop-controlled crosswalks • Areas with high volumes of pedestrian traffic

• Downtown area of towns and small cities

Cost: Medium

Benefit: • Improved pedestrian environment • Tactile feel for visually-impaired persons

Considerations: • Snowplowing • Slickness of pavers

94 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Traffic Control Devices

Pedestrian Countdown Signal

Description: Pedestrian countdown signals display the num- ber of seconds a pedestrian has to cross an intersection. The countdown is displayed during the flashing Don’t Walk phase. For accessibility, countdown signals can be outfitted with au- dible messages for people with visual impairments. Countdown Image Source: Metro Analytics signals aid the pedestrian in knowing when it is safe to cross and when there is not enough time to safely cross the intersec- tion. They also help the driver to realize when pedestrians have the right-of-way. The 2009 MUTCD suggests all pedestrian Pedestrian Countdown Signal signals incorporate countdown signals within 10 years. Count- down signals are especially useful in areas with high pedestrian activity, high volumes of vehicular traffic, multi-lane roadways, and areas with elderly or disabled persons (who may walk more slowly than others). In areas with visually-impaired pedestrians, consider using audible pedestrian signals, which relate cross- ing information through audible tones, verbal messages, and/or vibrating surfaces.

Typical Application: • All new or retrofitted pedestrian signal heads • Prioritize retrofits for: • Areas with pedestrian activity • Roadways with high volumes of vehicular traffic

• Multi-lane roadways • Areas with elderly or disabled persons (who may walk more slowly than others)

Cost: Low

Benefit: • Increased visibility of pedestrian • Informs pedestrian if safe to cross

Considerations: • Signal timings

USEFUL LINKS: For more information about audible pedestrian signals, see: http://www.walkinginfo.org/aps

Chapter 06: Planning and Design Components 95 Leading Pedestrian Interval (LPI)

Description: Leading pedestrian intervals provide pedestrians with a walk indicator while all vehicles are stopped. This al- lows pedestrians to get a head start crossing the street before vehicles get the green indication. A “No Right Turn On Red” Image Source: Achve Planning requirement may be necessary in combination with an LPI.

Typical Application: • Crosswalks where protected left turns are not and cannot be provided due to conflicting turning movements and where pedestrian/vehicle conflicts frequently occur • Areas with high pedestrians volumes • Areas with safety concerns • Consider pairing the LPI with a right turn on red prohibition

Cost: Low

Benefit:

Leading Pedestrian Interval • Increased visibility of pedestrians • Decreased vehicle-pedestrian conflicts

Considerations: • Signal timings

Accessible Pedestrian Signals

Image Source: S.K. Burbidge Description: Accessible pedestrian signals communicate infor- mation about pedestrian crossings in non-visual format such as audible tones, verbal messages, and/or vibrating surfaces, pro- viding access to the pedestrian signals for the visually impaired.

Typical Application:

• As a best practice, with all new or retrofitted traffic signals • Prioritize areas with disabled and/or visually-impaired persons Accessible Pedestrian Signals Cost: Low

Benefit: • Increased safety of disabled populations

Considerations: • Type of audible tones • Safety of vibrating surfaces in wet conditions

96 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Chapter 06:Planning andDesignComponents Cost: Typical Application: trians andturningvehicles. pecially wherethiscausessignificantconflictsbetween pedes- intersections wheretherearehighvolumesofpedestrians, es- pedestrian level-of-service.Thiscomponentshouldbe usedat tion. Pedestrianscramblescanimprovepedestriansafetyand all crosswalksandcancrossdiagonallythroughtheintersec- phase toasignal.Duringthisphase,pedestrianscancrossat Description: Pedestrian Scramble CONSIDERATIONS Benefit: Cost: Typical Application: operations. intersections mayneedasignaldependingonsafetyand tion needsatrafficsignal.Evenifwarrantsarenotmet,some on MUTCDguidancecanbeusedtodetermineifanintersec- pedestrians tosafelycrossmajorroads.Signalwarrantsbased tions ofanintersectionandprovidethenecessarygappingfor Description: Traffic Signal ofpedestriansafetyconcern • Areas ofone-waystreets(preferred) • Intersections withhighpedestrianvolumesandfrequent • Intersections right-of-wayforsignalmast • Available warrants • Signal timings • Signal vehiclespeeds • Reduced gaptimesforpedestriantocross • Increased ofpedestriansafetyconcern • Areas MUTCDwarrantsaremet • Where turning vehicleconflicts Low High Apedestrianscrambleaddsapedestrian-only Atrafficsignalcanbeusedtoimprovetheopera- Pedestrian Scramble Traffic Signal 97

Image Source: www.wikimedia.com Image Source: Metro Analytics Benefit: • Improved pedestrian LOS • Allows pedestrian to cross diagonally

Considerations: • Signal timings • Number of right-turning vehicle conflicts with pedestrians

Uncontrolled Location Treatments

Geometric

Raised Crosswalk

Image Source: www.wikimedia.com Description: A raised crosswalk is a crosswalk which is slightly elevated from the road. The raised crosswalk, which may also be colored, enhances the visibility of the pedestrian and pro- vides a visual and tactile delineation of the pedestrian space, increasing safety. In addition, travel speeds are decreased as motorists must slow to cross the raised crosswalk.

Typical Application: • Roadways with lower speed limits that are not emergency

Raised Crosswalk routes • Roadways with high levels of pedestrian activity, such as near schools, shopping malls, etc. • Areas in need of traffic calming

Cost: Medium

Benefit: • Traffic calming • Increased awareness of pedestrians

Considerations: • Snowplowing • Emergency vehicles

Signing and Striping

Advanced Yield Lines

Description: Advanced yield lines are pavement markings placed prior to a marked crosswalk where there are no control

98 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide devices, such as mid-block crossings or two-way stop intersec- tions. Advanced yield lines increase a pedestrian’s visibility to a motorist by warning the motorist prior to the crosswalk. Because the yield lines are only painted markings, it is a very affordable option compared to signals and lights. The lines should be installed 20 to 40 feet in advance of the marked crosswalk. Image Source: Mia Burke Typical Application: • Uncontrolled crosswalks, especially on multi-lane roads

Cost: Low

Benefit: Advanced Yield Lines • Increased pedestrian safety

CONSIDERATIONS • Vehicle speeds • Visibility of yield lines

Pedestrian Crossing Flags

Description: Pedestrian crossing flags have been in use throughout Salt Lake City and other areas in Utah, such as Ka- nab, since the mid-2000s. Pedestrians carry large flags across a roadway to increase visibility. Crossing flags are typically a

bright, reflective color and are mounted on a stick. Flags should Image Source: KSL News be placed on both sides of the street at mid-block and uncon- trolled crosswalks on low-volume, low-speed roads. Typical Application: • Uncontrolled crosswalks on low volume, low speed two- or Pedestrian Crossing Flags three-lane roadways Cost: Low

Benefit: • Increased pedestrian safety Considerations: • Roadway speeds • Roadway volumes

In-Street Pedestrian Crossing Signs

Description: Crossing signs placed on lane edge lines and cen- terlines can alert motorists to unsignalized pedestrian crossings and improve safety at such crossings. Examples of in-street pe-

Chapter 06: Planning and Design Components 99 destrian signs include YIELD TO with an image of a pedestrian. This sign emphasizes Utah state law.

Image Source: Metro Analytics Typical Application: • Uncontrolled crosswalks • Low-speed areas • Two-lane roadways • Ideally: areas with median refuges

Cost: Low

Benefit: In-Street Pedestrian Crossing Signs • Increased pedestrian safety

Considerations: • Roadway speeds • Available right-of-way

High Visibility Signs and Markings

Image Source: S.K. Burbidge Description: High-visibility, fluorescent yellow-green signs are posted to increase the visibility of a pedestrian crossing.

Typical Application: • Uncontrolled marked crosswalks • Advance signs in areas with low visibility

Cost: Low

Benefit: • Increased visibility of pedestrians

Considerations:

High Visibility Signs and Markings •Type of signage •Visibility of area

In-Roadway Warning Lights

Description: In-roadway warning lights are lights placed in the road on both edges of a crosswalk. Before a pedestrian enters a crosswalk, the lights are activated by either the push of a button or by automatic detection. The lights flash for a given period of time to indicate a pedestrian is entering the crosswalk. This measure provides a dynamic visual cue, and is increasingly ef- fective in bad weather. In areas where snowplowing is common,

100 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide you may want to coordinate with your local public works depart- ment to see if this is a viable option.

Typical Application: • Low speed and volume, two-to-three lane roads • Areas of pedestrian safety concern Image Source: ______• Low-visibility crosswalks • Areas with potential for high nighttime pedestrian volumes

• Areas where snow removal needs are low

Cost: Medium

Benefit: • Increased visibility of pedestrians • Improved safety in bad weather In-Road Warning Lights Considerations: • Snowplowing • Type of activation

Traffic Control Devices

All-Way Stop

Description: An all-way stop is a conventional traffic control device that stops all legs of an intersection with a stop sign. The objectives for an all-way stop are to slow traffic and reduce pedestrian-vehicle conflicts. Before installing such a device, de- termine if a location warrants an all-way stop by consulting the

Manual of Uniform Control Devices or local warrants. Typically, Image Source: ______warrants are met through vehicular and pedestrian volumes, but exceptions can be applied when there are pedestrian safety concerns.

Typical Application:

•Where MUTCD or local warrants are met All-Way Stop Sign •Areas of pedestrian safety concern

Cost: Low

Benefit: • Increased pedestrian pedestrians • Traffic calming

Chapter 06: Planning and Design Components 101 Considerations: • Pedestrian safety issues • Roadway volumes Image Source: Metro Analytics Overhead Flashing Beacons

Description: Overhead flashing beacons are flashing amber lights placed over or in advance of a crosswalk. They blink dur- ing pedestrian crossing times based on pedestrian push-button call or detection to increase the visibility of pedestrians and indicate drivers should yield to pedestrians, therefore reducing conflicts.

Overhead Flashing Beacons Typical Application: Image Source: Metro Analytics • Low speed and volume, two-to-three lane roads • Areas where motorists cannot see a traditional sign due to topography or other barriers

Cost: Medium

Benefit: • Increased visibility of pedestrians

Considerations: • Topography • Roadway volumes

Overhead Flashing Beacons • Roadway speeds

Stutter Flash (Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon)

Description: The Flashing Beacon is enhanced by replacing the traditional slow flashing incandescent lamps with rapid flash- ing LED lamps. The beacons may be push-button activated or activated with pedestrian detection. This treatment is experi- mental, but has provisional approval for use at the Federal level because of recent studies suggesting its effectiveness.

Typical Application: • Higher volume and speed roadways with crosswalks where pedestrian volumes do not warrant a HAWK or full pedes- trian signal • Ideally, locations with a median island for a four-sign installation

102 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide • Note: This device has provisional approval for use but is not yet included in the MUTCD

Cost: Medium

Benefit: • Increased visibility of pedestrians

Considerations: • Experimental status

HAWK Beacon

Description: A HAWK (High-Intensity Activate Crosswalk) bea- con is a flashing signal used to alert motorists that pedestrians and bicyclists are crossing a road. A HAWK beacon is activated by the user, either through a push-button or motion sensor. When activated, a yellow flashing light signals motorists to slow down, a red solid light indicates for motorists to stop, and a red Image Source: S.K. Burbidge Image Source: S.K. flashing light indicates for motorists to stop, and if clear, pro- ceed. The flashing lights indicate to motorists to slow down and/ or stop. HAWK beacons are appropriate to use at mid-block HAWK Beacon crossings, or at sites with only side-street stop control where pedestrians and bicyclists may find it difficult to cross.

Typical Application: • Areas that meet the MUTCD warrant • Areas of pedestrian safety concern • Roadways with high volumes of vehicular traffic

• Multi-lane roadways • Areas with elderly or disabled persons (who may walk more slowly than others)

Cost: High

Benefit: • Increased visibility of pedestrians

Considerations: • MUTCD warrants

Chapter 06: Planning and Design Components 103 Corridor Treatments

Geometric

Sidewalks

Image Source: S.K. Burbidge Description: Sidewalks and walkways are "pedestrian lanes" that provide people with space to travel within the public right- of-way that is separated from roadway vehicles. Sidewalks are associated with significant reductions in pedestrian collisions with motor vehicles. Such facilities also improve mobility for pe- destrians and provide access for all types of pedestrian travel: to and from home, work, parks, schools, shopping areas, transit stops, etc. Walkways should be part of every new and reno- vated facility and every effort should be made to retrofit streets Sidewalks that currently do not have sidewalks. Based on FHWA and ITE recommendations, sidewalks should be a minimum width of 5 feet. However, wider sidewalks should be installed where high pedestrian volumes are present, such as near schools, services for disabled populations, and transit stops. Sidewalks should be continuous along both sides of a street and sidewalks should be fully accessible to all pedestrians. A 4- to 6-foot-wide park strip can provide a buffer from vehicles and improve the streetscape.

Typical Application:

• Areas with pedestrians or where pedestrians are likely • Roadways with safety concerns associated with pedestrians walking along the roadway

Cost: Medium

Benefit: • Delineated space for pedestrians • Improved pedestrian environment

Considerations: • Available right-of-way • Treatments at intersections

Useful Links: PEDSAFE, Recommended Guidelines/Priorities for Sidewalks and Walkways. http://www.walkinginfo.org/ped- safe/moreinfo_sidewalks.cfm

104 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Road Diet

Description: Road diets reduce the width of lanes or remove lanes completely to give right-of-way to sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and/or parking. Road diets are a good traffic calming and safety tool that require no right-of-purchase and, many times,

can be as simple as restriping. Roadways with traffic volumes Image Source: www.tfhrc.gov/ under 28,000 average daily vehicles (ADT) may be a candidate for the most common type of road diet, the four-lane to three- lane (two travel lanes plus a center turn lane) conversion. Road Diet Typical Application: • Very wide roads or roads with excess capacity • Locations where wider sidewalks or bicycle lanes are needed • Roadways in need of on-street parking • Roadways in need of traffic calming measures, like wider medians • Roadways with frequent collisions, especially same direc- tion and multiple threat collisions

Cost: Low

Benefit: • Provides space for pedestrians • Traffic calming

Considerations: •Roadway volumes •Neighborhood buy-in

Driveway Access Management

Description: Access to businesses is an essential part of urban areas. However, driveways can create pedestrian safety con- cerns if not designed correctly, as sight distance may be re- duced or vehicles may block the sidewalk when exiting. In many cases, driveways are wider or more numerous than needed. Ac- cess management strategies can reduce the number of drive- Image Source: MM Architecture way crossings in close proximity, and therefore conflict points pedestrians encounter.

Driveway Access Management

Chapter 06: Planning and Design Components 105 Typical Application: • Locations with frequent conflicts between pedestrians and motorists using driveways. • Land uses with multiple driveways or excessive wide drive- ways

Cost: Low

Benefit: • Improved pedestrian environment • Increased pedestrian safety

Considerations: • Business access

Cul-de-Sac Cut-Through Image Source: Metro Analytics Description: Cul-de-sac cut-throughs create a walking path connecting cul-de-sacs to each other or cul-de-sac to walking paths. They are beneficial in areas where walkability is hindered by a lack of connection causing increased walking distance.

Typical Application: • Neighborhood cul-de-sacs

Cost: Low Cul-de-Sac Cut–Through Benefit: • Increased walkability • Decreases walking distances

Considerations: • Available right-of-way • Neighborhood buy-in

Shared-Use Path

Description: Separated shared-use paths typically refer to trailways. Shared-use paths also provide a good alternative for high-speed, high-volume roadways where it is unsafe for pedestrians to be directly next to the roadway. When creating shared-use paths, plan the paths in a way that minimizes con- flicts between bicyclists and pedestrians. Utility corridors, canal easements, transportation preservation corridors, and aban-

106 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide doned rail corridors can provide possible right-of-way for trail alignments. These are especially relevant in rural areas. Be sure to provide access from trail facilities to neighborhoods, parks, libraries, commercial, and work areas. According to the National Center for Bicycling and Walking, successful paths include:

• Continuous separation from traffic Burbidge Image Source: T. • Few street or driveway crossings that would cause conflicts • Convenient and safe access to the local road network • Connection to land uses, such as shopping malls, down- Shared Use Path town, schools, and other community destinations • Well-designed street crossings, with activated signals, me- dian refuges, and warning signs • Shorter trip lengths than the road network, with connections between cul-de-sacs • Scenic qualities • Visibility from nearby buildings and streets for personal safety • Good design, including adequate width and sight distance, good drainage, and moderate slopes • Proper maintenance • Clear destination and directional signing

Typical Application: • Areas with high pedestrian volumes • High-volume roads with fast speeds • Connections to areas without roads

Cost: Medium

Benefit: • Safe facility for recreationists

Considerations: • Available right-of-way • Potential non-traditional corridors

Useful Links: Rails-to-Trails Conversancy

http://www.railstotrails.org/index.html

Chapter 06: Planning and Design Components 107 Streetscape Enhancements

Pedestrian-Scale Lighting Image Source: T. Burbidge Description: Pedestrian-scale lighting improves motorists’ vis- ibility of pedestrians, while improving the street environment. In addition, lighting may increase the perceived personal safety for nighttime activity.

Typical Application: • Areas with low visibility • Areas with frequent nighttime pedestrian

Pedestrian–Scale Lighting activity

Cost: Medium

Benefit: • Improved pedestrian environment • Increased nighttime safety

Considerations: • Available right-of-way • Design of lighting fixtures

Street Trees

Image Source: Fehr & Peers Description: Street trees help improve streetscapes and in- crease the attractiveness of pedestrian facilities while calming traffic. Often, they can be put in existing park strips to act as a buffer between vehicles and pedestrians. Contact your local arbor organization to see if you can qualify for free Arbor Day planting. Consult with public utilities to ensure there is enough root space for the tree to thrive without causing damage to the roadway or sidewalk.

Typical Application: • Urban streets • Business districts • Where traffic calming or shade is needed

Cost: Medium

Benefit: • Increased pedestrian safety • Improved pedestrian environment

108 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide • Improved air quality

Considerations: • Right-of-way for root systems • Watering needs of trees

Street Furniture Environment

Description: Elements such as benches, lighting, shelters, trash bins, and water fountains can enhance a street, inviting pedes- trians. It is also important that sidewalks be kept free of poles, signposts, and other obstacles that could either impede the pedestrian or make it difficult for motorists to see pedestrians. The sidewalk can be divided into four zones: curb zone, planter/ Image Source: S.K. Burbidge Image Source: S.K. furniture zone, pedestrian zone, and frontage zone. The width of the sidewalk can be determined by the width of the zones.

Typical Application: Street Furniture Environment • Urban streets

Cost: Medium

Benefit: • Improved pedestrian environment

Considerations: • Space and positioning of furniture

Useful Links: For more information about how to plan within the sidewalk zone system: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/ sidewalk2/sidewalks204.htm

Bicycle Components Bicycle components are organized into two main categories: site-specific locations and corridor- wide. Site-specific locations are further divided into sub-categories like geometric, intersections, traffic control devices, and bicycle parking. Corridor-wide treatments are divided into sub-categories for Class I (separated infrastructure) bicycle facilities, Class II, and Class III (basic bicycle infrastructure).

Chapter 06: Planning and Design Components 109 Bicycle Components Site-Specific Location Treatments Geometric

Removal of Sight Distance Obstructions Image Source: Nazir Lalani

Description: If objects impede sight distance, this may result in an unsafe condition where motorists and bicyclists are unable to see each other, such as when vehicles are making right turns. Objects such as parked cars, signage, landscaping, and fenc- ing should be placed in a location that will not obstruct sight distance.

Typical Application: • Areas with low sight distance Removal of Sight Distance Obstructions Cost: Medium

Benefit: • Increased visibility of bicyclists

Considerations: • Adjacent land uses

Bicycle Ramps

Image Source: Fehr & Peers Description: In areas with grade changes, stairways are used for pedestrians and, often, no accommodations are provided for bicyclists. A simple solution is to install a bicycle ramp next to stairways. This allows bicyclists to push their bicycles up or down the stairway. Ramps can be either a wider, flat surface or a groove the width of a bicycle tire next to the stairway.

Typical Application: • Along stairways Bicycle Ramps Cost: Low

Benefit: • Ease of bicyclists accessing destinations across topography

Considerations: • Type of ramp

110 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Intersections

Bicycle Box

Description: At intersections, bicycle boxes provide a waiting space for bicycles in front of the queue. This allows bicycles to more safely cross an intersection because it reduces the merg- ing of bicycles and vehicles once they’ve crossed an intersec-

tion. They are especially useful for left-turning bicyclists, so they & Peers Image Source: Fehr may position themselves in a visible manner and may have an easier time clearing an intersection. In addition, bicycle boxes allow motorists to more clearly see bicyclists and demonstrate that bicyclists have a share of the road. Bike boxes have the Bicycle Box added benefit of moving cyclists away from the right curb, reducing right-hook collisions and enabling motorists to make right turns on red. They should be used where there are high volumes of bicyclists and on major bicycling routes. Bike boxes should be green and are marked with symbols.

Typical Application: • At signalized intersections with heavy bicycle volumes • Intersections with frequent bicyclist left-turns or motorist right-turns

Cost: Low

Benefit: • Increased visibility of bicyclists • Increased safety of bicyclists

Considerations: •Types of paint to use Useful Links: Portland State University recently completed an evaluation of bicycle boxes at signalized intersections: http://www.ibpi.usp.pdx.edu/bikebox.php

Colored Bicycle Lanes in High-Conflict Zones

Description: In areas where there is a high risk of bicycle-mo- torist conflicts, visibility can be improved by clearly defining the bicycle lane through colored paint. This is an especially good technique at areas where motorists are permitted or required to merge into or cross the bike lane, such as at freeway ramps and right-turn lanes. Colored bicycle lanes should be green.

Chapter 06: Planning and Design Components 111 Typical Application: • Intersections where vehicles must cross bicycle path Image Source: Fehr & Peers Cost: Low

Benefit: •Increased visibility of bicyclists

Considerations: •Adjacent land uses •Experimental treatment

Useful Links: For more information about improved safety Colored Bicycle Lanes though colored bicycles lanes, see this report by the City of Portland and the University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center: http://www.portlandonline.com/shared/cfm/ image.cfm?id=58842

Intersection Crossing Markings Image Source: Fehr & Peers Description: Intersection crossing markings designate the bicycle path through an intersection (sometimes referred to as a “crossbike”). This can be helpful for intersections with difficult bicycle route wayfinding or where emphasis that bicyclists may be present is needed.

Typical Application: • Signalized intersections where the bicycle pathway may be unclear • Where there are bike lanes or cycle tracks • Where vehicle movements may encroach into bicycle space, such as at ramps or garages Intersection Crossing Markings Cost: Low

Benefit: • Increased visibility of bicycle path Considerations: • Types of markings

Intersection Railings and Footrests

Description: Bicyclists who start from a complete stop take longer to clear an intersection than those who start from a rolling stop. Railings and footrests for bicyclists can provide a push-off

112 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide service and help bicyclists stabilize so take-off at an intersection is a little easier.

Typical Application: • At signalized intersections

Cost: Low

Benefit: • Improved bicycling environment Image Source: U.K. Cycling Embassy Cycling Image Source: U.K. Considerations: • Type of railing Intersection Railings • If curb is too far away, difficulty of bicyclists merging back into traffic

Bicycle Refuge Island

Description: Bicycle refuge islands allow bicyclists to safely cross one direction of a road at a time. They are especially use- ful at intersections where bicyclists on minor approaches may find it difficult to cross the entire width of a roadway at once, or where bicyclists may need to make a left turn. They should also be used when bicycle boulevards cross roads with higher

volume or multiple lanes or when vehicles must turn right and Image Source: ______bicycles are not restricted.

Bicycle Refugee Island Typical Application: • Unsignalized intersections where bicyclists must cross busy roads • Locations where thru-vehicle traffic is prohibited

Cost: Medium

Benefit: • Increased bicycle safety

Considerations: •Available right-of-way

Useful Links: For design and placement guidance, refer to the Urban Bikeway Design Guide by the National Association of City Transportation Officials: http://nacto.org/cities-for-cycling/ design-guide/intersection-treatments/median-refuge-island/

Chapter 06: Planning and Design Components 113 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide and Pedestrian Utah Bicycle Bicycle parking signs help direct bicyclists to Highway interchanges can be dangerous places be dangerous places interchanges can Highway Low • Areas with limited bicycle parking • Areas where bicyclists interact with interchange ramps • Increased pedestrian safety at highway interchanges • Type of interchange (on-ramp, off-ramp, SPUI) nearby parking. They can be used in downtown areas, shop- ping areas, and at event centers. Application: Typical Description: for bicyclists due to high speeds and weaving patterns of ve- and weaving due to high speeds for bicyclists ensure they at interchanges, accommodate bicyclists hicles. To signed. It is bike lane that is well-marked and have a continuous bicyclists arrows to indicate the direction helpful to use painted conflict, to use colored lanes in areas of high should move and be re- and off-ramps. Travel lanes should such as on-ramps speeds to 10 or 11 feet to slow motor vehicle duced from 12 feet space for bicycle lanes. An interchange and provide additional serves pedestrians and bicyclists design that accommodates (2) pedestrian and bicyclist safety; three goals: (1) enhances efficiently with sur- connects pedestrian and bicycle facilities a consistent “message” rounding land uses; and (3) provides be expected and that that pedestrians and bicyclists should when using on- and off- drivers are no longer on the freeways slower, local transportation ramps (defines the gateway to the system). Application: Typical Cost: Considerations: Design Guidelines to Look for a forthcoming Useful Links: from the ITE Accommodate Peds and Bikes at Interchanges Ped/Bike Council and Traffic Engineering Council. Parking Treatments Bicycle Parking Signage Interchange Accommodations Interchange Description: Benefit: Bicycle Parking Signage Parking Bicycle Interchange Accomodations Interchange Image Source: S.K. Burbidge 114 Image Source: New York State DOT Cost: Low

Benefit: • Improved bicycling environment

Considerations: • Ensuring enough bicycle parking is available

• Distance between destination and available bicycle parking

On-Street Bicycle Corrals

Description: In areas of high bicycle-parking demand, on-street parking spaces can be replaced with bicycle parking by install- ing a rack in the parking area. Corrals can typically accommo- date between 10 and 20 bicycles. Image Source: S.K. Burbidge Image Source: S.K. Typical Application: • Areas with high bicycle traffic • Areas where bicycle parking is limited on sidewalks On-Street Bicycle Corrals • Areas where merchants support this

Benefit: • Increase bicycle parking

Considerations: • Amount of on-street parking to replace with bicycle corral

USEFUL LINKS: Portland’s Bicycle Corral program: http://www.portlandonline.com/transportation/index. cfm?c=34813&a=250076

Covered Bicycle Parking

Description: Covered bicycle parking provides an awning over bicycle racks, to allow bicycles to stay dry in rain and snow.

Typical Application: • Areas providing long-term bicycle parking, such as transit

stations & Peers Image Source: Fehr

Cost: Medium

Benefit: • Improved bicycling environment Covered Bicycle Parking

Chapter 06: Planning and Design Components 115 Considerations: • Type of awning • Prioritization of bicycle parking to cover

Bicycle Lockers Image Source: Fehr & Peers Description: Bicycle lockers are large, metal, lockable boxes used for long-term bicycle storage. Bicycle lockers are typically rented for periods of time. They can be used by people leaving bikes overnight at major transit stops, or throughout the day at large employers where there is no other safe bicycle parking. Electronic lockers with smart card access are preferable for optimal storage capacity.

Bicycle Lockers Typical Application: • Areas where bicycles need to be stored for long periods of time such as large employers, schools, busy transit stops

Cost: Low

Benefit: • Improved bicycling environment

Considerations: • Type of lockers • Renting mechanisms

Curb Extension with Bicycle Parking

Image Source: Fehr & Peers Description: Curb extensions extend the curb into the street. This extension increases the sidewalk space at a curb and can be used to provide bicycle parking. In addition, curb extensions narrow the road, causing drivers to slow down.

Typical Application: • Areas with high bicycle traffic • Areas where bicycle parking is limited on sidewalks

Curb Extension with Bicycle Parking • Areas with on-street parking

Cost: Medium

Benefit: • Improved bicycling environment

116 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Considerations: •Prioritization of bicycle parking locations •Available right-of-way

Useful Links: For more information on how to use curb exten- sions for bicycle parking see: http://www.walkinginfo.org/ped- safe/casestudy.cfm?CS_NUM=51

Attended Bicycle Stations

Description: Attended bicycle stations provide secure parking, usually for a fee, for bicycles. Typically, these stations have oth- er services such as a maintenance shop or a place to purchase accessories. Salt Lake City recently opened an attended bicycle station at the Downtown Intermodal Hub.

Typical Application: Image Source: www.cyclingutah.com • Areas of high bicycle concentration • Areas with tourists Attended Bicycle Stations • Areas where bicycles need to be stored for long periods of time such as large employers, schools, busy transit stops

Cost: High

Benefit: • Increased transit usage if tied to transit hub • Increased safety of bicycle storage

Considerations: • Potential demand • Location

• Operating hours

Useful Links: Salt Lake City’s attended bicycle station: http:// www.bicycletransitcenter.com/

Traffic Control Devices

Bicycle Loop Detectors

Description: Bicyclists often have trouble being detected at a traffic signal because normal loop detectors are unable to detect them. Bicycle loop detectors can solve this problem by

Chapter 06: Planning and Design Components 117 Image Source: Metro Analytics being calibrated to the weight of a bicycle. The detectors are typically placed at the far right side of a lane and are marked to inform the bicyclist where to stop to trigger the detector. Bicycle loop detectors should be placed at all new signalized intersec- tions. Existing signalized intersections on bicycle routes where minor streets may not have enough volume to trigger a phase, and where there is substantial bicycle volume should be priori- tized for retrofitting.

Typical Application: • All new signals • Bicycle routes with low vehicular volumes at signalized Bicycle Loop Detectors minor approaches

Cost: Medium

Benefit: • Improved bicycling LOS

Considerations: • Where in pavement to locate bicycle detector • Signal timings

Bicycle Push Button

Description: Bicycle push buttons are like pedestrian push- Image Source: Metro Analytics buttons, but are located at the edge of the road. This allows bicyclists to conveniently push a call button for a signal without getting off their bicycle or leaving the travel lane.

Typical Application:

• Signalized intersections without bicycle loop detectors

Cost: Medium

Benefit: •I mproved bicycling LOS

Considerations: Bicycle Push Button • Where to locate bicycle push button • Signal timings

118 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Bicycle Signals

Description: A bicycle signal provides an exclusive bicycle phase. This phase reduces vehicle-bicycle conflicts resulting from merging and turning. Bicycle signals are typically smaller

than normal traffic signals and have indications in the shape of Image Source: Metro Analytics a bicycle. These signals should be applied where there is heavy bicycle traffic or where bicycle-vehicle conflicts are high.

Typical Application: • Signalized intersections with high bicycle volumes

• Bicycle path or separated bikeway crossings where a bi- Bicycle Signal cycle signal phase is needed

Cost: High

Benefit: • Improved bicycling LOS

Considerations: • Where to locate bicycle signal

Corridor Treatments

Bicycle corridor facilities are usually discussed in three types:

Class I – These facilities provide a completely separate right-of- way and are designated for the exclusive use of bicycles and pedestrians with vehicle cross-flow minimized.

Class II - Bike lanes provide a restricted right-of-way and are designated for the use of bicycles with a striped lane on a street or highway. Bicycle lanes are generally five feet wide. Vehicle parking and vehicle/pedestrian cross-flow are permitted.

Class III - These bikeways provide a right-of-way designated by signs or pavement markings for shared use with pedestrians or motor vehicles.

Class I

Class I Bicycle Path/Shared-Use Path

Description: Class I bicycle paths refer to separated, shared- use paths. Typically, this type of facility is used for trailways. Shared-use paths also provide a good alternative for high-

Chapter 06: Planning and Design Components 119 speed, high-volume roadways where it may be unsafe or Image Source: S.K. Burbidge uncomfortable for bicyclists to be directly on the roadway. When creating shared-use paths, plan the paths in a way that minimiz- es conflicts between bicyclists and pedestrians. Utility corridors, canal easements, and transportation preservation corridors can provide possible right-of-way for trail alignments. These are es- pecially relevant in rural areas. Be sure to provide access from trail facilities to neighborhoods, parks, libraries, commercial, and work areas. According to the National Center for Bicycling Class I Bicycle Path and Walking, successful paths include:

• Continuous separation from traffic • Few street or driveway crossings that would cause conflicts • Convenient and safe access to the local road network • Connection to land uses, such as shopping malls, down- town, schools, and other community destinations • Well-designed street crossings with activated signals, me- dian refuges, and warning signs • Shorter trip lengths than the road network, with connections between cul-de-sacs • Scenic qualities • Visibility from nearby buildings and streets for safety • Good design, including adequate width and sight distance, good drainage, and moderate slopes • Proper maintenance

Typical Application: • Areas with high bicycle and pedestrian volumes • High-volume roads with fast speeds • Connections to areas without roads • Areas with novice/experimental cyclists

Cost: High

Benefit: • Improves bicycle safety • Increases recreation opportunities

Considerations: • Type of physical separation • Available right-of-way

120 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide • How to accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians

Standards For Class I Facilities

AASHTO Preferred Standards Standards

Minimum 8.0’ 10.0’ Width

Vertical 8.0’ 8.0’ Clearance

Horizontal 2.0’ 3.0’ Clearance

Maximum Cross 2.0% 2.0% Slope

Rails to Trails

Description: Rail corridors provide opportunities for pathways, especially in dense urban settings where it may be difficult to find land for new paths or roadways that provide safe and ef- ficient commuter bike corridors.

Typical Application: Burbidge Image Source: T. • Areas with abandoned railroad right-of-way

Cost: Medium

Benefit: Rails to Trails • Improves bicycle safety • Increases recreation opportunities • Provides reuse opportunity of abandoned corridors

Considerations: • Negotiations with railroad companies

Useful Links: Rails-to-Trails Conservancy http://www.railsto- trails.org/index.html

Class II

Road Diet

Description: A road diet is essentially a lane reduction. Typi- cally, road diets reduce the width of lanes or remove lanes

Chapter 06: Planning and Design Components 121 completely to give right-of-way to sidewalks, bicycle lanes, and/ or parking. Road diets are a good traffic calming and safety

Image Source: www.tfhrc.gov/ tool that require no right-of-purchase and many times can be as simple as restriping.

Typical Application:

• Very wide roads or roads with excess capacity • Potential for moderate to high bicycle volumes • Roadways in need of on-street parking • Roadways in need of traffic calming measures, like wider medians Road Diet • Roadways with frequent multiple-threat collisions

Cost: Low

Benefit: • Improves bicycle LOS • Improves bicycle environment

Considerations: • Roadway speeds • Roadway volumes

Class II Bicycle Lane

Image Source: Metro Analytics Description: Class II bicycle lanes refer to on-street bicycle lanes, where the bicyclist is given a separated space from vehicles. These lanes are typically designated by striping, but sometimes also by colored pavement. Bicycle lanes can also be beneficial to pedestrians by creating a buffer between vehicle traffic and the sidewalk. When striping bicycle lanes, be sure to consider on-street parking. Many accidents result from “door- ing,” where a parked motorist opens a door into an oncoming bicyclist. A minimum five-foot bicycle lane is needed to place Class II Bicycle Lane bicyclists out of the door zone. Pay special attention to drain- age gates. Common drainage grates have metal slats running parallel to the road, which can easily catch a bicycle wheel and render a bicycle immobile. Replacement of drainage grates that feature a lattice-type pattern instead of slats can allow a bicycle to safely ride on top of it while allowing proper water flow.

122 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Typical Application: • Areas with potential for moderate to high bicycle volumes and available ROW for lanes

• Areas where streets need to be “completed”

Cost: Low

Benefit: • Improves bicycle LOS • Improves bicycle environment

Considerations: • Roadway speeds • Roadway volumes

Buffered Class II Bicycle Lane

Description: Buffered bicycle lanes are conventional bicycle lanes with a delineated buffer space separating the lane from vehicle travel lanes and/or parking. Buffered bike lanes are al- lowed per MUTCD guidelines. Consider using buffered bicycle lanes whenever bicycle lanes are implemented and right-of-way

is available. Image Source: Metro Analytics

Typical Application: • Anywhere a standard bike lane is being considered • Roadways with high speeds, volumes, or truck traffic Buffered Class II Bicycle Lane • Roadways with on-street parking

Cost: Low

Benefit: • Improves bicycle safety • Improves bicycle environment

Considerations: • Placement of buffer between travel lanes or parking • Available right-of-way

Chapter 06: Planning and Design Components 123 Separated Bikeways

Image Source: T. Burbidge Description: Separated on-street bike lanes provide a buffer between bikes and cars. These facilities are useful along streets with moderate to high bicycle volumes and relatively few drive- ways or intersections. Two treatments described here are cycle tracks and raised bicycle lanes.

Cycle tracks are on-street pathways and can take many forms: one-directional; bi-directional; raised; side-running; and center- running. For areas with high bicycle volumes, cycle tracks can

Cycle Track improve safety and comfort by dedicating and protecting space reserved for bicyclists. Salt Lake City is planning to conduct an Image Source: T. Burbidge experimental cycle track on 200 South from downtown to the University of Utah in the summer of 2012.

Raised bicycle lanes provide extra safety for bicyclists by rais- ing the bike lane a few inches. This increases driver awareness that the bicycle lane is a separate space reserved for bicyclists. When planning raised bicycle lanes, allow for users to leave the lane by gently sloping the lane to level with the roadway at inter- sections. Also, there may be some concern with clearing snow Raised Bike Lane on raised bicycle lanes.

Typical Application: • Roadways with on-street parking and double parking issues • Roadways with high speeds, volumes • Roadways with high bicycle traffic

• Areas of safety concern

Cost: Medium

Benefit: • Improves bicycle safety • Improves bicycle environment

Considerations: • Type of physical separation

• Available right-of-way

Useful Links: Information and an educational video on cycle tracks can be found here: http://www.portlandonline.com/ mayor/index.cfm?c=52503

124 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Class III

Class III Bicycle Route Signing and Striping

Description: Class III bicycle routes refer to an on-street signed bike route. This can be in the form of signs adjacent to the road- Image Source: S.K. Burbidge Image Source: S.K. way denoting the roadway is a bike route or through the use of sharrows (see below).

Typical Application: • Roads with bicycle traffic that are not wide enough for bicycle lanes

• Typically includes signage and may have street stencils Class III Route Signing (sharrows or super sharrows) and colored pavement

Cost: Low

Benefit: • Increases bicycle visibility

Considerations: • Roadway speeds • Roadway widths

Recommended Guidelines For Class III Facilities

Curb Lane Width Average Daily Travel Speed (in Feet) Traffic (ADT)

12' (arterial); (collector), no Under 5,000 Under 25 mph minimum on Vehicles local street

14' 5,000–20,000 25–35 mph

15' Over 20,000 Over 35 mph

Source: Fehr & Peers

Sharrows

Description: Sharrows commonly refer to painted arrows on the pavement indicating a preferred bike route. They also help to alert drivers to expect bicyclists. Sharrows are placed in the lane where bicyclists should ride in the lane, and located out- side of the door zone.

Chapter 06: Planning and Design Components 125 Typical Application:

Image Source: S.K. Burbidgei • Roads with bicycle traffic that are not wide enough for bicycle lanes

Cost: Low

Benefit: • Increases bicycle visibility

Considerations: • Roadway speeds • Roadway widths Sharrows Guidance for Sharrow Placement (from Section 9C.07 of the 2009 MUTCD)

If used in a shared lane with on-street parallel parking, Shared Lane Markings should be placed so that the centers of the markings are at least 11 feet from the face of the curb, or from the edge of the pavement where there is no curb.

If used on a street without on-street parking that has an out- side travel lane that is less than 14 feet wide, the centers of the Shared Lane Markings should be at least 4 feet from the face of the curb, or from the edge of the pavement where there is no curb.

If used, the Shared Lane Marking should be placed immediately after an intersection and spaced at intervals not greater than 250 feet thereafter.

Bicycle Boulevards Image Source: Metro Analytics Description: Bicycle boulevards are corridors where the empha- sis is on bicycle mobility. Bicycle mobility is created by reduc- ing delay for bicycles through reversing stop signs away from the corridor and through applying necessary bike detectors at signals. Bike boulevards are well-marked as bicycle routes, have low vehicular volume, and low travel speeds. Often, they are parallel to high-volume roads or near commercial corridors. Traffic calming through chicanes (a type of traffic calming which creates a series of tight curves to slow cars), neighborhood traf- fic circles, or partial street closures is often used on boulevards. Generally, curves are created through planters or through alter- Bicycle Boulevards nating on-street parking and curb extensions. Safe and conve-

126 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide nient bicycling routes encourage bicycling as a viable mode alternative.

Typical Application: • Adjacent, traffic-calmed corridors to those with high vehicular traffic • Corridors connecting destination points

• Areas with novice/experimental cyclists

Cost: Medium

Benefit: • Improves bicycle LOS • Improves bicycle environment

Considerations: • Roadway speeds • Roadway volumes

Bicycle Boulevard

USEFUL LINKS: Bicycle Boulevard Planning and Design Guide- book. http://www.ibpi.usp.pdx.edu/guidebook.php

Chapter 06: Planning and Design Components 127 Education and Encouragement Techniques dren; these campaigns are typically ongoing, long- Outreach, education, and training are integral to term projects since changing behavior takes time. increasing awareness of and safety for pedestrians Individual campaigns reach an audience through and bicyclists. These programs should go beyond the use of an intermediary, such as safety patrols, just providing information, and should provide the doctors, or teachers. A mixture of all three ap- opportunity to motivate people to change their proaches will produce the most successful results. behavior. Changes in infrastructure should be According to the Federal Highway Administration integrated with changes in outreach/education and (FHWA), there are a number of educational ap- should address both motorists and pedestrians/ proaches that require only moderate resources: bicyclists. 1. Highlighting pedestrian features when intro- Education ducing new infrastructure

Before proceeding into a new education cam- 2. Conducting internal campaigns within the paign, identify existing government-sponsored organization to build staff support for safety educational programs. Review these programs to programs see where improvements can be made. This may 3. Incorporating pedestrian and bicycle safety be changing text or design, or just rereleasing to a messages into public relations efforts wider or more appropriate audience. For instance, an existing brochure on bicyclists’ right to share 4. Developing relationships with sister state the road could be better used. Consider working agencies and statewide consumer groups with the Department of Motor Vehicles to include it 5. Marketing alternative travel modes in driver’s education packets, including questions When conducting an educational campaign, con- on driver’s tests, or mailing it out to people about to sider the following: renew their driver’s licenses or vehicle registration. • Educational messages should encourage peo- ple to think about their own travel attitudes and behaviors and make more informed choices.

• Pedestrian educational campaigns must be a To maximize your education and encourage- ment campaigns, work with advocacy and user part of a long-term and ongoing traffic safety groups. program.

• Educational programs and materials should be sensitive to different groups of people. If creating a new campaign, think about education- • Outreach material should be interesting and al campaigns in three types – public awareness, involve visual as well as written messages. targeted campaigns, and individual campaigns. Public awareness campaigns can be used to gain • Gaining political support can help to ensure a public support. Targeted campaigns are usually comprehensive program, but may be difficult. aimed at changing behavior patterns in specific • Introducing safety education within established groups of people such as drivers or school chil- school system curriculums may be difficult.

128 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Table 6.2 Sample Education Techniques and Resources

Technique What is This? Organizer More Information

A group of outreach special- ists who conduct educational Chicago’s Bicycling Department of Bicycling Ambassadors campaigns at schools, com- Ambassadors: http://www. Transportation munity events, and in media bicyclingambassadors.org/ on how to safely bicycle

Bicycle Rodeo: http:// health.utah.gov/vipp/ bicycleSafety/bikerodeo.html Departments of Public Rodeo Skills Packet: A clinic that teaches children or Public Health using a http://health.utah.gov/vipp/ the importance of riding a group of volunteers such as pdf/BicycleSafety/Bicycle%20 bicycle safely and what skills service organizations, PTAs, Bike Rodeos Skills%20Rodeo%20Packet. and precautions they need to bike shops, or the police pdf develop to have a safe time The Utah Department of on their bicycles Health has bike rodeo kits An Organizer’s Guide to available for rent. Bicycle Rodeos: http:// www.bike.cornell.edu/pdfs/ Bike_Rodeo_404.2.pdf

Teaches bicyclists rules of Department of Transporta- Bicycle Safety Town: Peoria, Bicycle Skills Clinic riding and maintenance of tion, advocacy groups, or IL http://www.peoriaparks. bike bike shops org/bicycle-safety-town

Integrating bicycle and pe- Driver’s Education destrian information, such as Department of Motor Vehicles Integration Share the Road, into driver’s education

Offers education events and LAB Bike Education: League of American courses from certified instruc- Anyone http://www.bikeleague.org/ Bicyclists (LAB) Courses tors on wide range of topics programs/education/

Safe Routes to School Cur- Integrating bicycle and riculum: http://www.safer- School Curricula pedestrian safety into school Schools, Police outespartnership.org/state/ curricula bestpractices/curriculum

Share the Road Driver’s Campaign and signage to Education Program: remind motorists that bicycles Departments of Public Health Share the Road http://health.utah.gov/vipp/ have equal rights to use the and/or Transportation, Police bicycleSafety/sharetheroad. road html

Road Respect Program: Campaign and signage to http://roadrespect.utah.gov/ remind motorists and cyclists Department of Road Respect http://health.utah.gov/vipp/ to provide three feet of Transportation bicycleSafety/sharetheroad. separation html

A partnership with groups to Departments of Public Health Strategic Partnerships promote bicycle and pedes- and/or Transportation, Cities trian safety

Chapter 06: Planning and Design Components 129 Table 6.2 Sample Education Techniques and Resources, con't

Technique What is This? Organizer More Information

Utah Bicycle Commuter Provides information regard- Department of Transporta- Guide: http://www.udot. Utah Bike Commuter Guide ing bicycle commuting tion, Employers utah.gov/main/uconowner. gf?n=55126312117091464

Multimedia, such as pub- lic service announcement Departments of Public Health Videos videos, can be posted to the and/or Transportation, Cities city’s website

A city website can contain Departments of Public Health Website informational materials relat- and/or Transportation, Cities ing to safety

Encouragement bicycle, including marketing, providing complimen- Building infrastructure and educating users are the tary services, and providing incentives. A good basis for getting people to bicycle and walk more. state wide example of an encouragement tech- However, some people might need a bit of encour- nique is the annual Clear the Air Challenge, run by agement to give these facilities a try. There are UDOT’s TravelWise campaign. Table 6.3 outlines many techniques to encourage people to walk and some encouragement techniques and resources.

Table 6.3 Sample Encouragement Techniques and Resources

Technique Description Organizer More Information

Community members walk Department of Public or bicycle around an area, Health and/or Transpor- Audits noting positive practices and tation, Cities, Advocacy areas for improvement groups

A program to match expe- Department of Public rienced bike commuters Health and/or Transpor- Bike Buddies and Mentors: http://www. Bike Buddies with those interested in bike tation, bike advocacy bicyclinginfo.org/bikemore/support.cfm commuting groups

A week-long event encour- Bike to Work Department of Public LAB Bike to Work Week: http://www. aging commuters to bike to Week Health, Cities bikeleague.org/programs/bikemonth/ work

Stations placed in popular Bicycle Tool Sta- biking locations with tools Department of tion and air pumps for fixing Transportation bikes

Based on Bogota, Colom- bia’s example and now oc- Los Angeles’ Ciclavia: http://ciclavia. curring throughout the world, wordpress.com/ cities partially or completely Department of Ciclovia close roads to automobile Transportation Portland’s Car Free Days: http://www. traffic and open them up to portlandcarfreeday.org/ pedestrians, bicyclists, skat- ers, etc.

130 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Table 6.3 Sample Encouragement Techniques and Resources, con't

Technique Description Organizer More Information

Programs run through Commute Trip employers to reduce em- Large employers, Reduction TravelWise: http://www.travelwise.utah.gov/ ployees single-occupant TravelWise Programs vehicle travel

Fairmont Hotels (Canada) Popular in Europe, hotels Starwood's Element Hotels Free Bicycle Use Hotels, Department of often provide free bicycles Ace Hotels (Palm Springs, Seattle, New for Hotel Guests Commerce for guests. York, and Portland)

Schools provide safety education, assemblies, and other pedestrian An annual Utah pedestrian safety activities. Govern- Green Ribbon safety program whose goal Green Ribbon Month: http://health.utah.gov/ ment officials, police Month is to prevent children from vipp/pedestrianSafety/greenRibbonMonth.html agencies, and trans- being hit by motor vehicles portation agencies also participate to increase pedestrian safety.

Advertisements, brochures, Marketing maps, giveaways, and web- Cities, large employers Campaigns sites to promote bicycling and walking

Portland’s Facility Improvement Online system allows users Online Departments of Public Request Form: http://www. to submit maintenance Maintenance Works and/or Transpor- portlandonline.com/transportation/index. requests on bicycle and Request tation cfm?action=UpdateItem&category_ pedestrian facilities id=297&c=40884

Online maps help bicyclists Online and pedestrians plan safe Departments of Trans- Mapping and and friendly routes on pre- portation and/or Planning Routing Services ferred facilities

Identifies safe routes for children to walk and bicycle Safe Routes to Schools, Department of Safe Routes to School Guide: http://www. to school and provides en- School Transportation saferoutesinfo.org/guide/index.cfm couragement strategies and techniques

Group walks for seniors Departments of Public Portland’s Senior Strolls: http://www. provide a social outlet and Senior Strolls Health and/or Transpor- portlandonline.com/transportation/index. attract them to walking as a tation cfm?c=41541& transportation option

An international observance where children are encour- Schools or neighbor- Walk to School Walk to School: http://www.walktoschool. aged to walk or bike to hoods, with the support Day org/ school. Typically includes of police and parents some type of event

A group of children who walk to and from school The Walking School Bus: http://health. Walking School Schools or along a set safe route, ac- utah.gov/vipp/pdf/PedestrianSafety/ Bus neighborhoods companied by adult “drivers” walkingschoolbus.pdf

Chapter 06: Planning and Design Components 131 Table 6.3 Sample Encouragement Techniques and Resources, con't

Technique Description Organizer More Information

Signage directing bicyclists Departments of Trans- Wayfinding and pedestrians to designat- portation and/or Planning ed routes and destinations

Clinics, group meets, and rides for women to learn Departments of Trans- Portland’s Women on Bikes: http://www. Women on Bikes maintenance, meet other portation, advocacy portlandonline.com/transportation/index. women who ride, and learn groups, bike shops cfm?c=44100 to commute by bike

References 5. Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities: http:// Barriers to Children Walking to or from School www.healthykidshealthycommunities.org/ – United States, 2004. Centers for Disease Con- 6. Leadership for Healthy Communities: http:// trol, 2005. http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/ www.leadershipforhealthycommunities.org mmwrhtml/mm5438a2.htm 7. Local Government Commission: Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center, Policy http://lgc.org/ and Planning Strategies to Support Walking. http://www.walkinginfo.org/develop/policies.cfm 8. Partners for Livable Communities: http://livable.org/ Sacramento Transportation and Air Quality Collaborative, Best Practices for Bicycle Master 9. Smart Growth America: http://www. Planning and Design. http://www.sacog.org/ smartgrowthamerica.org/ complete-streets/toolkit/files/docs/STAQC_ Policy Resources Best%20Practices%20for%20Bicycle%20 Local resources for bicycle and pedestrian policy Master%20Planning%20and%20Design.pdf are the Salt Lake City Bicycle and Pedestrian National Center for Bicycling & Walking, Increasing Master Plan and the Orem Bicycle and Pedestrian Physical Activity through Community Design, June Master Plan: http://www.slcgov.com/ 2010. http://www.bikewalk.org/pdfs/2010/IPA_full. transportation/bicycletraffic/PDF/SLCBP_Master_ pdf Plan.pdf; http://www.walkbikeorem.com/index. php/walkbikeorem/obps/ Additional Resources: Looking to non-Utah cities for plans and policies 1. Active Living by Design: http://www. can be useful in creating your own plan and poli- activelivingbydesign.org/ cies: 2. Active Living Research: http://www. activelivingresearch.org/ • Berkeley, California: http://www.ci.berkeley. ca.us/ContentDisplay.aspx?id=16206 3. Active Living Resources: http://www. activelivingresources.org/index.php • Chicago’s Bike 2015 Plan: http://www. bike2015plan.org/index.html 4. Designing and Building Healthy Places: http://www.cdc.gov/healthyplaces/

132 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide • Minneapolis Pedestrian Master Plan: http:// 4. Context Sensitive Solutions in Designing Ma- www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/pedestrian/ jor Urban Thoroughfares for Walkable Com- pedestrian-masterplan-document.asp munities http://ite.org/bookstore/RP036.pdf

• New York State: http://www.albany.edu/~ihi/ 5. Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices ModelZoningCode.pdf (MUTCD), AASHTO: http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.

• Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030: http://www. gov/ser-pubs.htm portlandonline.com/transportation/index. 6. Pedestrian and Streetscape Guide. Georgia cfm?c=44597&a=289122 Department of Transportation: http://

• Wisconsin Pedestrian Policy Plan 2020: www.dot.state.ga.us/travelingingeorgia/ http://www.dot.wisconsin.gov/projects/state/ bikepedestrian/Documents/ped_streetscape_ docs/ped2020-plan.pdf guide_june05.pdf 7. Pedestrian- and Transit-Friendly Design: A resource on national complete streets and walk- A Primer for Smart Growth. Smart Growth ing and bicycling policies is the Public Policies for Network: http://www.epa.gov/dced/pdf/ Pedestrian and Bicyclists Safety and Mobility Re- ptfd_primer.pdf view: http://katana.hsrc.unc.edu/cms/downloads/ PBSPolicyReview.pdf 8. Street Design Manual, New York Department of Transportation: http://nacto.org/wp- Pedestrian Design Resources content/uploads/2011/03/NYCDOT-Street- PEDSAFE: The Pedestrian Safety Guide and Design-Manual-2009.pdf Countermeasure Selection System (FHWA- The Federal Highway Administration’s University SA-04-003) is an online tool to help you select Course on Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation

measures to improve pedestrian safety: http:// created by the Federal Highway Administration dis- www.walkinginfo.org/pedsafe/ cusses principles and benefits of a variety of both For guidance on planning, design, and operation pedestrian and bicycle improvements: http:// of pedestrian facilities: www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/safety/ pedbike/05085/ 1. Best Practices for Pedestrian Master Planning and Design, Sacramento Transportation UDOT’s Utah Traffic Controls for School Zones and Air Quality Collaborative: http:// website connects users to the various programs www.cityofsacramento.org/transportation/ UDOT runs for school zone improvements, in- dot_media/engineer_media/pdf/bp- cluding their Safe Routes to School program PedPlanningDesign.pdf and information about Utah traffic controls for school zones: http://www.udot.utah.gov/main/ 2. Guide for the Planning, Design, and Opera- f?p=100:pg:0:::1:T,V:578 tions of Pedestrian Facilities, AASHTO: https://bookstore.transportation.org/item_ For more information regarding how to design details.aspx?id=119 pedestrian facilities for accessibility: 3. Improving Safety at Unsignalized Crossings 1. 2010 ADA Standards for Accessible Design, (NCHRP Report 562), TRB: http:// Department of Justice: http://www.ada. onlinepubs.trb.org/onlinepubs/nchrp/nchrp_ gov/2010ADAstandards_index.htm rpt_562.pdf

Chapter 06: Planning and Design Components 133 2. Accessible Sidewalks and Street Crossing – 3. Bicycle Facilities and the Manual on Uniform an informational guide by the Federal High- Traffic Control Devices: http://www.fhwa. way Administration: http://www.bikewalk. dot.gov/environment/bikeped/mutcd_bike.htm

org/pdfs/sopada_fhwa.pdf 4. Bikeway Facility Design: Survey of Best 3. Draft Guidelines for Accessible Public Rights Practices. Portland Bicycle Plan for 2030: of Way, United States Architectural and Trans- http://nacto.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/03/ portation Barriers Compliance Board, Wash- PORTLAND-BICYCLE-PLAN-FOR-2030- ington, DC, June 2002. Survey-of-Best-Practices-2009.pdf

4. Electronic Toolbox for Making Intersections 5. Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facili- More Accessible for Pedestrians, ITE: http:// ties, AASHTO: https://bookstore.transporta- www.ite.org/accessible/ tion.org/item_details.aspx?ID=104

UDOT’s Roadway Design Manual of Instruction 6. Selecting Roadway Design Treatments to provides instruction for bicycle and pedestrian fa- Accommodate Bicycles. US Department of cilities on state-controlled roadways: http://www. Transportation, Federal Highway Adminis- udot.utah.gov/main/f?p=100:pg:0::::V,T:,1498 tration: http://www.udot.utah.gov/main/ f?p=100:pg:0::::V,T:,2059 Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety and Mobility in Eu- 7. Street Design Manual, New York Department rope is a Federal Highway Administration website of Transportation: http://nacto.org/wp- with examples of European facilities: http://www. content/uploads/2011/03/NYCDOT-Street- international.fhwa.dot.gov/pubs/pl10010/ch03.cfm Design-Manual-2009.pdf

Bicycle Design Resources 8. Urban Bikeway Design Guide, NACTO: BIKESAFE: The Bicycle Countermeasure Selection http://nacto.org/cities-for-cycling/design- System is an online tool to help you select mea- guide/ sures to improve pedestrian safety: http://www. The Federal Highway Administration’s University bicyclinginfo.org/bikesafe/ Course on Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation For guidance on planning, design, and operation created by the Federal Highway Administration, of bicycle facilities: discusses principles and benefits of a variety of both pedestrian and bicycle improvements: 1. Manual of Uniform Traffic Control Devices http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/publications/research/ (MUTCD), AASHTO. http://mutcd.fhwa.dot. safety/pedbike/05085/ gov/ser-pubs.htm UDOT’s Roadway Design Manual of Instruction 2. Best Practices for Bicycle Facility Planning provides instruction for bicycle and pedestrian fa- and Design. Sacramento Transportation cilities on state-controlled roadways: http://www. and Air Quality Collaborative: http:// udot.utah.gov/main/f?p=100:pg:0::::V,T:,1498 www.cityofsacramento.org/transportation/ dot_media/engineer_media/pdf/bp- The Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle BikePlanningDesign.pdf Professionals created Bicycle Parking Guidelines,

134 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide a set of parking recommendations: http://www. apbp.org/resource/resmgr/publications/bicycle_ parking_guidelines.pdf

Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety and Mobility in Eu- rope is a Federal Highway Administration website with examples of European facilities: http://www. international.fhwa.dot.gov/pubs/pl10010/ch03.cfm

For information on bicycle facilities on bridges, see Bridging the Gaps in Bicycling Network: An advocate’s guide to getting bikes on bridges by the League of American Bicyclists: http://www. bikeleague.org/resources/reports/pdfs/bridges.pdf

Chapter 06: Planning and Design Components 135 Notes he previous chapters have helped pinpoint bicycle and pedestrian T needs and appropriate locations for bicycle and pedestrian improvements (Chapter 5), while also introducing the wide variety of facility and policy options that are available (Chapter 6). This chap- ter will build upon those by outlining how to pair specific facilities with priority sites.

At the conclusion of this chapter, users will have 1) identified a list of specific 7 projects for possible inclusion in a bicycle and pedestrian master plan, and 2) compared potential projects against one another to create a prioritized list. Project Selection and Prioritization

07 Project Selection and Prioritization

Once locations for pedestrian improvements are identified, alternative treatments need to be examined. This follows the tra- ditional evaluation process of alternatives. The cost, anticipated impact, and feasibility of implementation will determine whether an alternative is attractive or not.

Administrative feasibility ensures that the project can be imple- mented. For example, the opportunity to develop the proposed alternative in conjunction with a planned road construction or re- construction project may enhance the attractiveness of a given project. Similarly, one option may entail an unpopular decision (e.g., eliminate traffic lanes or on-street parking) while another option does not.

Selecting Projects

Basic Project Selection The simplest way to identify projects is to use a qualitative brainstorm session based upon the data collected in the inven- tory stage and with public involvement. At this point, locations within the jurisdiction have been identified that have limitations with regard to bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure. Addi- tionally, some form of public involvement effort, asking for the public’s opinion regarding facility needs, should have been completed. The next step is to take all of the data and fit the pieces together. This may be as simple as determining which of the facilities proposed by the public have merit, and combining those recommendations with the analysis of needs for specific locations. It may take several iterations to create a final project list, and it is highly recommended that representatives from a variety of departments within your municipality/jurisdiction, as well as key members of the local community, be involved in the process. These individuals will provide valuable feedback and can provide a broad-based consensus before moving forward.

Chapter 07: Project Selection and Prioritization 139 Intermediate/Advanced Project Selection signals and signs. Each treatment provided There are several tools available online to assist includes a description of its purpose, special with more complex project selection processes, considerations, an estimated cost, and which take into account a variety of site character- case studies where that treatment has been istics as well as other factors. implemented. The tool is available online at: http://www.walkinginfo.org/pedsafe/pedsafe_ • Selecting Pedestrian Facility Locations selection.cfm http://www.walkinginfo.org has created an online Pedestrian Safety Guide and • Selecting Bicycle Facility Locations Countermeasure Selection Tool that assists Bicyclinginfo.org has created a tool similar users in determining which treatment would to the pedestrian tool described above to be most appropriate for a given location. This assist in determining appropriate treatments tool requires three steps of input. First, the and improvements for specific cycling location of the site in question is entered. This locations. Once again, the tool requires allows for the creation of reports for several three levels of input. The first two steps are different sites while keeping the results identical to the pedestrian selection tool separated by location. Second, the goal of requiring users to enter the location of the the treatment is entered. It may either be to site in question and decide on the goal of achieve a specific performance objective, the treatment. The third step is to provide such as reduce traffic volumes, or to mitigate answers to a series of questions related to a specific type of pedestrian-motor vehicle the geometric and operational characteristics collision. Once a goal has been selected, of the site in question. Questions include the third step is to provide information on a characteristics and location of the proposed series of indicators related to the geometric facility, roadway class, traffic volumes, speed and operational characteristics of the site in limit, number of lanes, existing signaling, and question. Indicators include roadway type, current conditions for cyclists. The answers characteristics of the site (e.g., intersection to these questions are used to narrow the or midblock), traffic volumes, speed limit, list of appropriate countermeasures for a number of lanes, and presence of traffic specific goal. Similar to the pedestrian signals. This information is used to narrow tool, the output includes a list of potential the list of appropriate countermeasures countermeasures that would be appropriate for a specific goal. For example, if the for the given site. Each treatment provided location of interest were a segment of includes a description of its purpose, special roadway, or midblock location, treatments considerations, an estimated cost, case associated with intersection improvements studies of locations where the treatment has would not be applicable and thus would been implemented, and engineering drawings not be included in the results as possible of the treatment. The tool is available online at: countermeasures. The output includes a list http://www.bicyclinginfo.org/bikesafe/ of potential countermeasures that would be selection.cfm appropriate for the given site broken down by Evaluating Potential Projects the following categories: pedestrian facility design, roadway design, traffic calming, and Basic Project Evaluation Methods

140 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide The first step in screening potential projects is to After identifying which projects fall into the medium identify which are of high, medium, and low prior- and high priority categories (described in the basic ity. This should be relatively easy to do using the section), a scoring criteria, such as the one in plan purpose, goals, and objectives as a guide. Table 5.2, can be applied to methodologically clas- For example, if the main purpose of the plan is sify and compare the projects against one another. to improve economic development, streetscape This will provide additional complexity, including a improvements would likely be of a higher priority more quantitative methodology to compare poten- on the project list than a or tial projects. After scoring each project individu- trail. During this preliminary screening, it is best ally they can either be sorted by type for further to keep a comparable number of projects in each comparison (i.e., trails, sidewalks, bike lanes, etc) category (i.e., if the project list contains 15 proj- or simply compare all projects in aggregate. ects, five would be screened as high priority, five A simple way to prioritize projects from that point as medium priority, and five as low priority). While is to first calculate the average score. All projects the categories do not need to be precisely divided, with scores above the average are categorized this rule of thumb will help avoid classifying all the as high priority, those projects with scores below projects on the list as high priority up front. the average are categorized as medium priority, Intermediate Project Evaluation Methods and low priority is given to those projects for which scoring data were not provided (based upon the Scoring Criteria preliminary qualitative screening). Using scoring criteria allows evaluation of projects under consideration and provides a means for The following table provides an example of scor- direct comparison. Having a succinct methodol- ing criteria that can be used to evaluate the project ogy for scoring projects provides a consistent way list. The scoring system, or the weights given to to easily determine which projects have the most different criteria, can be amended based on the potential or can provide the most “bang for their purpose and goals of the plan. For example, if the buck”. focus of the plan is promoting economic develop- ment, an additional category could be created to emphasize connections to businesses, etc. Like-

Table 5.2 Example Scoring Criteria for Bike-Ped Projects

Category Score

Linkages

To Activity Centers Max Points = 20 Points are awarded for projects that are adjacent to, or provide access to, activity centers

Schools and Colleges 20/use

Parks, Libraries, and Community Centers 10/use

Commercial Centers (minimum of 40,000 sqft) 5/center

Employment Centers (minimum of 100 employees) 5/100 employees

High Density Residential (20 dwelling units/acre and a minimum of 100 units) 5/site

Chapter 07: Project Selection and Prioritization 141 Table 5.2 Example Scoring Criteria for Bike-Ped Projects, con't

Category Score

Linkages

To Transportation System Max points = 12

Links to other bikeways—Two points are awarded for each existing or planned bikeway to which the 6 points Max candidate bikeway will connect

Links to other modes—Four points are awarded for a connection with another transportation mode with high capacity that serves longer trips, and that accommodates bicycles by carrying them or providing 4 secure parking. These modes may include light rail, or Frontrunner stations.

Links to other modes—Two points are awarded for a connection with another transportation mode with lower capacity that serves shorter trips, and that accommodates bicycles by carrying them or providing 2 secure parking. These modes include bus stops, and park-and-ride facilities.

Barrier Elimination —Points are awarded based on the reduced distance cyclists and pedestrians would Max Points = 15 travel with the project in place (miles).

> 2.0 15

1.6-2.0 10

1.1-1.5 6

0.5-1.0 4

0.25-0.5 2

<0.25 0

Ten (10) points will be deducted from projects that include, or direct bicyclists and pedestrians to, a barrier -10 (freeway interchange, routes through areas subject to flooding, etc.)

To Other Jurisdictions —Does the project cross jurisdictional boundaries to address a regional issue? Max Points = 5

Desirability

Traffic Characteristics— Max Points = 15

Sidewalks—Points are awarded based on the type of facility to which the sidewalk provides access

Arterial 9

Collector 6

Local Road 3

Two (2) additional points will be added for each Up to 6 points Max improved crosswalk

Class I—Points are awarded based on the number Crossings per Mile of vehicular crossings (street and/or driveway)

< 2 15

3-4 10

5-7 5

> 8 0

Class II— Volume ADT

> 40,000 10

142 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Table 5.2 Example Scoring Criteria for Bike-Ped Projects, con't

Category Score

30,001-40,000 8

20,001-30,000 6

10,001-20,000 4

3,000-10,000 2

< 3,000 (Class III recommended) 0

Speed MPH

> 45 5

40 4

35 3

30 2

25 1

<25 0

High Existing Usage: Five (5) points are awarded if bicycle counts on the candidate bikeway segment Up to 15 Points Max indicate 25 or more bikes per hour

Class III— Volume ADT

< 1,000 10

1,000-3,000 8

3,000-5,000 6

5,000-10,000 4

10,000-20,000 2

> 20,000 0

Speed MPH

< 25 5

25 4

30 3

35 2

40 1

> 45 0

Continuity —Points are awarded based on the number of stops or intersection crossings per mile Max Points = 15 along the route

Stops per Mile

0 8

1-4 6

5-9 4

>10 0

Chapter 07: Project Selection and Prioritization 143 Table 5.2 Example Scoring Criteria for Bike-Ped Projects, con't

Category Score

Implementation

ROW Environment— Max Points = 7

Land Ownership

County/City-owned 2

Public (non-county) 1

Private 0

Land Use

Unused/Vacant 2

Relocatable-use 1

Non-relocatable 0

Project Commencement

Short Term (1-5 years) 3

Medium Term (6-15 years) 2

Long Term (>15 years) 1

No Estimate 0

Equity

Geographic Distribution—Points are awarded based on the candidate bikeway's distance (miles) Max Points = 5 from the nearest parallel existing route at the closest point

Distance (Miles)

> 1.5 5

1.2-1.5 4

0.8 -1.1 3

0.4-0.7 2

0-0.3 1

Health Max Points = 12

Links to healthcare facilities—Two points are awarded for each existing or planned hospital or medical Up to 6 Points Max clinic to which the candidate facility will connect

Links to recreation sites—Two points are awarded for each recreation/physical activity location to which the candidate facility will connect (e.g., gymnasiums, parks, recreation centers, community Up to 6 Points Max pools, hiking trails, etc.)

Environment Max Points = 14

Access to nature—Two points are awarded for each natural environment to which the candidate facility will Up to 8 Points Max connect (i.e. wetlands, forests, open space, wildlife refuge, waterways, etc.)

Equestrian Connections—Points are awarded if the facility provides equestrian access 2 points

Floodplain Protection—Points are awarded if the facility is located directly adjacent to a waterway 2 points

144 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Table 5.2 Example Scoring Criteria for Bike-Ped Projects, con't

Category Score

Transportation Alternatives—Points are awarded if the facility provides safe accommodations for non- motorized transportation modes (cyclists and pedestrians) by connecting housing to schools or commer- 2 points cial developments

Community Max Points = 12

Cultural Connections—Two points are awarded for each historical or cultural site to which the candidate Up to 6 Points Max facility will connect

Civic Connections—Two points are awarded for each civic location to which the candidate facility will con- Up to 6 Points Max nect (e.g., city hall, police station, fire station, court house, other government buildings, etc.)

Public Involvement

Ranking of Sites—Points are awarded based on the priority ranking each site received in the public Max Points = 25 involvement process

High Priority 25 points

Medium Priority 15 points

Low Priority 5 points

Safety

5 points will be awarded if safety improvements are documented Max Points = 5

Note: It is highly recommended that the point scales in this scoring criteria chart be customized to reflect your individual process. For example, you may choose to weight the public involvement component to reflect the specifics of your public involvement campaign, or to award additional points for a category that is more important to the goals of your plan. wise, categories that do not directly relate to the be included in funding or grant applications. Low plan’s purpose and goals could be omitted. priority projects can be listed in the plan; however, they should not be discussed in detail or assigned When writing the plan, medium and high priority a timeline for completion. projects should be the focus. Each high priority project should be discussed in detail, outlining Advanced Project Evaluation Methods exact locations, specifications, costs, poten- Cost-Benefit Analysis and Return on tial funding sources, and a targeted timeline for Investment Tools completion. At the discretion of the city, medium Decisions on transportation projects are typically priority projects can either be given the same treat- based on the potential for the project to contribute ment as high priority projects or can be phased to broad public policy goals. Such information as it down. One way to do this is to provide location relates to bicycle and pedestrian projects assists and specification information and estimated costs, decision makers in developing modal options but note that these projects will be considered for and providing travelers with more transportation implementation only after all high priority projects choices. A cost-benefit analysis can help com- are complete and funding becomes available. A pare investments for walking and biking with other project description should be provided for all high modes, provide tools and knowledge for choosing priority projects and higher scoring medium priority active mode facilities, and integrate walking and projects that can easily be amended as needed to

Chapter 07: Project Selection and Prioritization 145 biking—and their ben- /// CROSSING /// mation, the tool opens a efits and costs—into the spreadsheet that allows general transportation Bicyclinginfo.org Cost–Benefit project specifics such as Tool Inputs planning process. There size of the facility, materi- 1. Are you interested in: Costs, Demand, are several tools available Benefits? Or a combination of the three? als, pavement markings, to assist in conducting a landscaping, structures 2. In which metro area will the facility be cost-benefit or a return- located? Central City or Suburb? (e.g., bridges/underpass- on- investment analysis. 3. Mid-year of project? es), signage, signals, The Transportation Re- 4. Type of facility? parking, lighting, and search Board’s National (info box provides a description and photo physical location (rural, Cooperative Highway Re- of each) suburban, urban, CBD) search Program (NCHRP) a. On-street with parking to be input. Once the recently released a report i. Restripe specifics are added, the ii. Overlay (#552) titled “Guidelines iii. Full Depth tool computes estimated for Analysis of Invest- iv. Signed Route construction, equipment, ments in Bicycle Facili- b. On-street without parking and operation and main- ties,” which specifically i. Restripe tenance costs. This tool outlines a methodology ii. Overlay can be completed online for predicting costs for iii. Full Depth or exported to a data- iv. Signed Route new facilities. The docu- base file such as Excel. ment is available online c. Off-street at: http://onlinepubs. i. Stone trail Demand Model ii. Asphalt trail trb.org/onlinepubs/nchrp/ The user first identifies iii. Concrete Trail nchrp_rpt_552.pdf the facility type. The tool d. Bicycle-related Equipment then allows for either the The Benefit-Cost Analysis U.S. Census-produced of Bicycle Facilities cre- mode split for bicycle ated by the University of North Carolina Highway usage in your area, or provides a box to input a Safety Research Center provides planners, policy more accurate mode split for bicycle use. Next, officials, and decision makers with the ability to use the user is asked to confirm existing or provide a standard method to analyze the costs, benefits, new residential densities for the area around the and induced demand associated with a planned proposed facility, and to designate a facility length. bike facility in the community (http://www. The model then outputs an estimate of the number bicyclinginfo.org/bikecost/). The tool is very user of residents, number of existing and new commut- friendly and requires very little in terms of inputs ers, and a count for the total number of existing outside the basic characteristics of the proposed and new cyclists. facility. Required inputs for the tool are shown in the Crossing box above and a conceptual model is Benefit Model shown in Figure 7.1. The benefit model provides the same outputs as the demand model described above, as well as a Cost Model After the user identifies the preliminary facility infor- chart outlining the economic benefits of the facility relating to recreation, mobility (per trip, daily, and

146 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Costs / Demand / Bene ts

General Inputs

Cost Worksheet Demand / Bene ts Inputs

Output: Output: Output: Capital Cost # of New Cyclists $ Bene ts Annual Maintenance Cost

Figure 7.1 Cost-Benefit Tool Conceptual Model annually), health, and decreased auto use. /// CROSSING /// To increase the complexity of these methods or Park City Transportation Summit to create a unique cost-benefit model from the Park City, Utah has developed a unique ground up, cost estimates for bicycle and pedestri- strategy for selecting and prioritizing projects an infrastructure projects are provided in Table 8.1. for funding through local Capital Improve- ment Programs (CIPs). Every two years, Park City and Summit County staff members Creating a Prioritized List and elected officials gather for a day-long After completing the analyses above, a prioritized Transportation Summit to discuss local trans- portation issues. Summit participants receive list of projects for the bicycle and pedestrian briefings on recent and planned transpor- master plan should be created. This is a simple tation projects from City representatives process that requires you to take the output of as well as UDOT. Following the briefings, participants work in small groups to identify the scoring criteria for each site and rank them in upcoming transportation needs and poten- score order from highest to lowest. Because the tial projects to be funded. Each small group scoring criteria already take into account the im- presents its list to the other Summit partici- pants. After the small group presentations, portance of a large number of variables, the score all Summit participants have the opportunity itself is weighted based on municipal priorities. to rank their highest-priority projects from all The cost-benefit analysis can also be incorporated the lists. Participants also indicate whether projects should be undertaken in a one-year, into the prioritization process. This can either be three-year, or five-year horizon. Following the a separate component, or to simplify things, it can Transportation Summit, Park City and Summit be factored in as a line item or category within the County staff members incorporate the high- priority projects from the Summit into local scoring criteria. Once a prioritized list of projects Capital Improvement Plans for funding, and has been created, you are ready to continue to begin the process of implementation. Chapter 8: Implementation.

Chapter 07: Project Selection and Prioritization 147 What Should I Have by Now? Landis, B.W., V.R. Vattikuti, and M.T. Brannick, "Real-Time Human Perceptions: Toward a Bicycle This chapter has outlined the process of progress- Level of Service," Transportation Research Record ing from a list of sites to a list of ranked projects 1578, TRB, 1997, available online at: http://www. for the plan. By the end of this chapter you should dot.state.fl.us/research-center/Completed_Proj/ have identified specific projects or treatments for Summary_PL/FDOT_BC205_rpt.pdf each of the sites previously identified in Chapter 5, completed a scoring criteria or cost-benefit analy- sis for each, and created a prioritized list ranking projects in order of importance. The following checklist outlines the tasks you should have com- pleted with this chapter.

 Designated a specific treatment or project for each of the sites selected in chapter 5  Created a prioritized list of projects ranked in order of importance

 Completed scoring criteria for each site/ project based on the goals and objectives of your plan

 Conducted a cost-benefit analysis of each project (may be included in the scoring criteria)

Additional Resources: Transportation Research Board. Guidelines for Analysis of Investments in Bicycle Facilities. Na- tional Cooperative Highway Research Program Re- port #552. Available online at: http://onlinepubs. trb.org/onlinepubs/nchrp/nchrp_rpt_552.pdf

Harkey, D.L., D.W. Reinfurt, and A. Sorton, The Bicycle Compatibility Index: A Level of Service Concept, Implementation Manual, Publication No. FHWA-RD-98-095, FHWA, Washington, DC, December 1998, available online at: http://www. hsrc.unc.edu/research/pedbike/98095/index.html.

148 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Notes

ow that priority sites for bicycle and pedestrian improvements N have been identified and spe- cific projects have been identified and prioritized, it is time to create an imple- mentation plan. This chapter outlines the specific details associated with implementing the projects in the bicycle and pedestrian master plan, including costs and ongoing funding needs, and provides a comprehensive outline of existing funding sources for bicycle and 8 pedestrian infrastructure. Additionally, this chapter discusses project phasing as way to implement projects over time. Implementation

08 Implementation

Costs Estimating project development costs and identifying potential funding opportunities are essential to bringing the bicycle and pedestrian plan to fruition. Generating adequate funding to con- struct well-designed infrastructure and purchasing right-of-way to preserve corridors for future projects is an ongoing necessity. Maintenance of infrastructure is also an important factor when considering necessary funding and budgetary planning.

Though it is difficult to precisely estimate construction and maintenance costs due to the changing costs of asphalt and other construction materials, information compiled from mu- nicipalities and jurisdictions across the country can provide some points of reference (See Table 8.1). Occasionally, special permits must be obtained (stream channel alteration permits, wetland fill permits, etc.) or special techniques may need to be used to minimize impacts to sensitive areas, which can add costs. The basic cost data provided in Table 8.1 are intended to be used for informational purposes only, and estimates do not include land acquisition or right-of-way costs, which can often be very expensive. Specific site characteristics and geographic location will result in variation from these estimates. It is highly recommended that local cost estimates for facilities be acquired as a part of the planning process.

Depending on the number of projects identified and priori- tized in Chapters 5-7, it may be prohibitively time consum- ing to produce cost estimates for the entire list. It may be most useful to determine costs for the top 10 projects and pursue funding from there.

Chapter 08: Implementation 153 Table 8.1 General Pedestrian and Bicycle Facility Cost Estimates

Pedestrian Facilities Unit Cost $80 w/ curb and gutter Sidewalk (5-foot width)* Linear foot $50 w/o curb and gutter Crosswalk: High visibility (thermoplastic) Linear foot $500 Crosswalk: Parallel line (paint) Linear foot $300 Crosswalk: Raised (speed table) Linear foot $2,500-$5,000 Crosswalk: Lighted flashing (in pavement flashers) Per location $100,000-$120,000 Crosswalk: Permeable paving (brick) Square foot $13-$15 Crosswalk: Stamped/colored concrete Square foot $10-$15 Grade separated crossing (pedestrian bridge) Per location $500,000-$4,000,000 Speed hump Each $3,000-$5,000 Refuge island Per location $10,000-$20,000 Pedestrian signal Each $40,000-$75,000 Crosswalk countdowns Each $2,000-$6,000 Pedestrian signs Each $250-$350 Curb extension Per corner $5,000-$10,000 Bulb-out Per corner $15,000-$25,000 Curb ramp Per corner $1,200 Orange safety flags at corner intersections Per set $100 (8 sets per intersection) Shared-Use Pedestrian and Bicycle Facilities Unit Cost Linear foot $133 Shared-use path (10-foot width)* Linear mile $700,000 Side-path (10-foot width)*, or Linear foot $133 widen existing sidewalk to 8 feet for ped/bike use Linear mile $700,000 Linear foot $15-$25 Crushed stone walkway (10-foot width) Linear mile $80,000-$106,000 Wooden or recycled synthetic material boardwalk Linear foot $200-$250 (6-8 foot width) Linear mile $1,000,000-$1,300,000 Bicycle Facilities Unit Cost Bike route signs Per sign $250-$350 Bicycle lanes Linear mile $14,000 (on existing pavement or during repaving) Restripe roadway for wide outside lanes Linear mile $14,000 Remove existing markings (lane removal or lane reduction/ Linear mile $48,000 road diet) and install bicycle lanes Install shared lane marking Linear mile $8,000 (on existing pavement or during repaving) Construct wide outside lanes (additional lane pavement Linear mile $300,000 added during roadway construction) Bicycle rack (purchase and install) One rack $600-$1,200 Bicycle locker (purchase and install) One locker $2,000 Amenities Unit Cost Pedestrian-level street lights Each $3,000-$5,000 Standard street light (cobra head) Each $10,000

154 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Table 8.1 General Pedestrian and Bicycle Facility Cost Estimates, con't

Each $1,800 24” box trees (60-day maintenance) (per ½ mile of road) ($3,000) Tree grates (includes frame, 4’x4’) Each $650-$750 Bench (6-foot width) Each $1,500-$3,000 Bus shelter Each $5,000-$10,000 Landscaped median Linear foot $200-$400 Trash cans Each $800-$1,500 Water fountain (with water source available on site) Each $15,000-$50,000

* Cost includes clearing, grubbing, and grading. Geotextile cost or other major costs, including utility relocation, are not included in multi-use path or side-path estimates. Multi-use paths are 2” asphalt and 6” aggregate base course.

** Data Sources: Weber County Cooperative Pathways Master Plan, 2009; Metropolitan Transportation Commission (MTC), CA, 2009; City of Knoxville, 2011; Iowa Department of Transportation, 2011; and Jacksonville Area MPO, 2011

Ongoing Funding Needs frequency with which maintenance needs to occur In addition to construction and preliminary imple- (i.e., snow removal/sweeping, weed removal, vege- mentation costs, city and county officials must be tation trimming, repairs, etc.) be identified up front. committed to budgeting for maintenance, prefer- Maintenance cost estimates are not provided in ably at the time of pathway, trailhead, or paved this document as they can vary significantly given pathway construction. Many funding sources (e.g., the quality of initial construction and the charac- federal funds, grants, etc.) can be used to con- teristics of the local terrain/climate. Maintenance struct bicycle and pedestrian facilities, but cannot costs of paved pathways will also vary depending be used for maintenance. Itemized municipal bud- on whether or not they are plowed during winter gets should include items such as: maintenance months. equipment purchases, equipment maintenance, Funding Sources sign replacement, pavement restriping, operations, staff time (labor), providing user information, and Local Funding materials. Additionally, it is recommended that the Bond Financing Bonds are securities that are issued for the purpose of financing the infrastructure needs /// CROSSING /// of the issuing municipality/county/state, etc. Using Volunteers These needs can include schools, streets and Community volunteers are a great resource for highways, bridges, and various public projects assisting with facility maintenance. There are (including bicycle and pedestrian infrastruc- several ways that efforts can be organized to maximize effectiveness. For example, volunteers ture). Bonding helps local governments pay can be assigned to maintain specific trails or for projects by establishing a payment plan areas using an “adopt-a-trail” approach, similar over the life of the facilities. to those employed in Farmington City. Another option is to plan a citywide event that encourag- Property Taxes es widespread participation, such as a citywide Property taxes are the chief source of local “neighborhood clean-up day,” where residents take time to clean up the facilities in their areas. revenue. The funds are distributed to a Gen- eral Fund and then appropriated for various purposes. These taxes are dependent on local

Chapter 08: Implementation 155 economic conditions. However, they usually commission as well as input from developers remain a steady and reliable source of rev- and residents. enue. A separate tax for transportation capital • Subdivision Regulation or Development improvements can be implemented by voter Ordinance approval. Local government agencies could Ordinances can be passed that require all potentially create a transportation service developers to install sidewalks or trails at district similar to other special assessment the time of development. Many communi- districts, (e.g., sanitary sewer or mosquito ties have this requirement and find it to be abatement) which would collect property taxes very beneficial in creating safe, connected specifically for transportation purposes, such communities, as well as increasing quality as bicycle and pedestrian improvements. of life for residents. Sales Tax • Special Assessment or Taxing Districts A sales tax is one of the most commonly used Special districts are designated areas with- and the second largest source of revenue for in which properties are assessed a charge state and local jurisdictions in the country. sufficient to defray the costs of capital This tax is on the sale of consumer goods and improvements that benefit the properties services and purchases by business firms within the district. The assessed charge on items for business use. The Utah Tran- can be designated to either commercial or sit Authority (UTA) is one example of a local residential properties or both. Transporta- government agency that has had considerable tion Development Districts (TDD) are one success obtaining sales tax increments to fund example of these districts used to finance transportation improvements. The tax is a func- transportation improvements. A TDD has tion of the tax rate, use of funds, and of redis- the power to issue bonds to pay for con- tribution formulas. A sales tax is generally more struction that can benefit the area instead acceptable to citizens than other taxes since of the local jurisdiction to fund the project. the tax is collected in small amounts, which are not highly visible to consumers. However, the • Impact and Utility Fees tax is very responsive to the inflation rate and a Impact and utility fees are one-time fees decrease in sales lowers the revenue potential imposed by local governments on new de- from this funding source. velopments to help pay for capital facilities. They are used primarily to extend utilities Specific Legislation or Ordinance or to put in traffic or pedestrian enhance- The following legislative options or ordinances ments that serve the area. A fee is typically have been implemented in cities to help fund assessed on the square footage of the sidewalks and other improvements. Most of planned development or building, or the these examples require private investors or a number of units to be constructed. In some developer to pay a fee for the construction of cases, the granting of a building permit is a development to help pay for the impact the made contingent on payment of the fee. development has on the entire community. To implement this impact fee, it must be Enacting these ordinances would require an demonstrated that improvements are nec- initiative from the local city council or planning

156 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide essary and a need is created by the new gram provides a legislative funding source for development. construction of new sidewalks adjacent to state routes where sidewalks do not currently exist • Parking Fees or Increased Meter Fees and where major construction or reconstruction As a way to fund bicycle and pedestrian of the route, at that location, is not planned for infrastructure and amenities and create a 10 or more years. For a proposed sidewalk lo- more pleasant environment in commercial cation to be considered for the Safe Sidewalks districts, many cities have introduced the Program, it must be 1) located adjacent to a concept of creating a parking meter dis- State highway, 2) be located within an urban trict. All parking meter revenue collected area or an area where the immediate environ- is reinvested in that district and is used to ment of the project is of an urban nature, and pay for public amenities that can attract 3) experience significant pedestrian traffic. A additional customers, such as cleaning 25% local government match is required for the sidewalks, planting street trees, put- this program. ting overhead utility wires underground, improving store facades, and ensuring Community Development Block Grants security. Additionally, cities may choose to (CDBG) simply increase the parking meter fees in The primary objective of the CDBG Program certain areas to accomplish the same task. is the development of viable urban communi- The city of Pasadena, California has had ties by providing decent housing and suitable a great deal of success utilizing parking living environment and expanding economic meters as a funding source for improving opportunities, principally for persons of low specific districts ( http://shoup.bol.ucla. and moderate income. Certain general eligi- edu/SmallChange.pdf). bility requirements must be adhered to, and

State Funding specific activities that directly benefit low- and moderate-income residents must follow income The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) limits set yearly by HUD. Eligible geographic constructs hundreds of millions of dollars in road areas must contain at least 32.5% low- and projects each year. Since most of these dollars are moderate-income residents based on cur- spent reconstructing and building new roadways, rent U.S. Census data. Overall, at least 70% ensuring that pedestrian facilities are incorporated of all CDBG activities must benefit low-and into these projects will help increase the likelihood moderate-income residents. CDBG funds are that sidewalks will be funded on major roadways. administered locally or through the applicable Safe Sidewalks Program MPO (for small cities) and can be used for The state legislature has recognized the need alternative transportation modes (e.g., bicycle for adequate sidewalk and pedestrian safety and pedestrian facilities) since low-income devices, and state policy declares that pedes- residents are typically more reliant on these trian safety considerations shall be included in modes. all state highway engineering and planning for Federal Funding all projects where pedestrian traffic would be The U.S. Code calls for the integration of bicycling a significant factor. The Safe Sidewalks Pro- and walking into the transportation mainstream

Chapter 08: Implementation 157 (FHWA Federal Aid Program Section 217 of Title ment of Transportation. More information is 23). More importantly, it enhances the ability of available at http://www.enhancements.org/ communities to invest in projects that can improve Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality the safety and practicality of bicycling and walking (CMAQ) for everyday travel. The following programs are The CMAQ program is used to fund transporta- available through the federal government and can tion projects or programs that will contribute to assist in funding bicycle and pedestrian projects in reducing congestion and improving air qual- the community. A complete outline of federal fund- ity. These funds can be used for construction ing available for bicycle and pedestrian projects of transportation alternatives (e.g., bike lanes, can be found online at http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/ sidewalk), but not for maintenance or repairs environment/bikeped/. (e.g., snow removal, fixing a broken sidewalk, Surface Transportation Program (STP) etc.). CMAQ funds are very limited and are Projects eligible for funding under this pro- awarded on a competitive basis. Projects are gram include construction, reconstruction and evaluated and selected by their effectiveness rehabilitation of any Federal-aid Highway, rural in improving air quality and reducing conges- minor collector, or bridge project on any public tion, and eligible projects must be identified in road. Sidewalk construction is an eligible the Transportation Improvement Program (TIP). activity as long as the roadway is listed on CMAQ projects require a 20 percent local the State Functional Classification System. All match. Local jurisdictions can apply for these projects funded by the STP must be included grant funds through their local Metropolitan in the Transportation Improvement Program Planning Organization. (TIP), which is a three- to five-year capital plan Safe Routes to School (SR2S) for roadway construction. The TIP is avail- In August 2005, the Federal-aid Safe Routes able through local MPOs, or through UDOT to School (SRTS) program was created by for smaller communities. STP projects require Section 1404 of the federal transportation bill a 20 percent local match. Municipalities may (SAFETEA-LU). The federal SRTS program submit applications to the MPO for funding. provides money for infrastructure projects that Transportation Enhancement Program help make walking and bicycling near schools The Transportation Enhancement Program safer. These funds can also be used for non- funds projects that add community and envi- infrastructure projects that educate children ronmental value to the surface transportation about safe walking and biking or help to system. Eligible projects include constructing encourage children to walk or bike to school. pedestrian and bicycle facilities, creating pe- Funding is appropriated to the state and UDOT destrian and bicycle safety and education ac- is responsible for awarding grant funds to lo- tivities, acquiring scenic or historic easements cal municipalities. Awards are typically made and sites, landscaping and scenic beautifica- each spring with construction completed in the tion, historic preservation, and conversion of summer. Information regarding application abandoned railway corridors to trails (rails-to- requirements and deadlines is provided on the trails). The local jurisdiction must provide a 20 UDOT website at www.udot.utah.gov under the percent match. Grant applications are usually Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program. available each spring from the Utah Depart-

158 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Note: It is possible that many of the above to $100,000). Recreational Trails Program programs could change with the reauthorization of (RTP) grant applications are available on Federal Transportation Funding. Information on the the Utah Division of State Parks and Recre- reauthorization and bicycle and pedestrian funding ation website, and are due May 1st of each changes can be found at: http://transportation. year. RTP funding may be used for the house.gov/ construction and maintenance of trails and trail-related facilities, including the devel- National Scenic Byways opment of staging areas, trailheads, and The National Scenic Byways Discretionary restroom facilities, but may not be used for Grants program provides merit-based funding non-trail related activities (e.g., develop- for byway-related projects each year. Projects ment of campgrounds, purchase of picnic submitted for consideration should benefit the tables, landscaping, etc). All funding byway traveler’s experience, whether it will awarded under the RTP program is subject help manage the intrinsic qualities that support to a 50/50 sponsor match, which may be the byway’s designation, shape the byway’s comprised of sponsor cash, in-kind ser- story, interpret the story for visitors, or improve vices, volunteer labor, or donations. More visitor facilities along the byway. Funds can information is available online at http:// be used for the following activities: State and stateparks.utah.gov/grants/rectrails. Indian Tribe Scenic Byway Programs; corridor management plans; safety improvements; • Land and Water Conservation Fund byway facilities; access to recreation; resource The LWCF program provides matching protection; interpretive information; and mar- grants to states and local governments for keting programs. Additional information on this the acquisition and development of public funding program is available at: http://www. outdoor recreation areas and facilities (up bywaysonline.org/grants. to $400,000). The program is intended to create and maintain a nationwide legacy of Other Federal Funding Sources high quality recreation areas and facilities Several federal programs are available for and to stimulate non-federal investments in funding bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure the protection and maintenance of recre- projects based on factors other than transpor- ation resources across the United States. tation. These include topics such as public Each state has priorities and selection health, environmental quality, recreation, etc. criteria tailored to its own particular needs • Recreational Trails Program and unique opportunities. To learn more The federal Recreational Trails Program about application deadlines, state priorities was authorized by Congress in 1991 and and selection criteria, and the documen- established the federal Recreational Trails tation necessary to justify a grant award, Trust Fund. The act requires that motor contact the Division of State Parks and fuel tax revenues generated from the sales Recreation at the Utah Department of Nat- of motor fuel for off-highway recreational ural Resources (1594 West North Temple, purposes be transferred from the Highway Suite 116, Box 146001 Salt Lake, City UT Trust Fund to the Trails Trust Fund for rec- 84114-6001 Phone: 801-538-7362). reational trail and facility improvements (up

Chapter 08: Implementation 159 • National Parks Service—Connecting impacts of transportation, reduce the need Trails to Communities Program for costly future public infrastructure invest- This program is administered by the Riv- ments, ensure efficient access to jobs, and ers, Trails, and Conservation Assistance identify strategies to encourage private (RTCA) Program, the community assis- sector development patterns that achieve tance arm of the National Park Service. these goals. Sidewalk projects have been RTCA staff provide technical assistance funded through this grant throughout the to community groups and local, state, and country, but they generally link pedestrian federal government agencies working to generators and include improvements in protect natural areas and water resources land uses and streetscapes. This nation- and enhance close-to-home outdoor rec- wide grant is awarded yearly and is very reation opportunities. The program pro- competitive. More information, including vides grants of up to $100,000 for eligible the State of Utah’s contact person, is avail- communities. For more information contact able at: http://www.fhwa.dot.gov/tcsp/ RTCA, at ( http://www.nps.gov/ncrc/pro- index.html. grams/rtca/index.htm). • Community Transformation Grants (CDC) • National Parks Service—Challenge Cost Community Transformation Grants (CTGs) Share Program are authorized under The Patient Protec- The purpose of the Challenge Cost Share tion and Affordable Care Act of 2010 for Program (CCSP) is to increase participa- state and local governmental agencies, tion by qualified partners in the preserva- tribes, and territories, and national and tion and improvement of National Park community-based organizations. These Service natural, cultural, and recreational grants will support the implementation, resources in all authorized Service pro- evaluation, and dissemination of evidence- grams and activities and on national trails. based community preventive health The CCSP is a matching fund program. activities to reduce chronic disease rates, An equal amount of eligible and match- prevent the development of secondary ing share (minimum 50%) of cash, goods, conditions, address health disparities, or services from non-federal sources is and develop a stronger evidence base for required. Currently, the maximum CCSP effective prevention programming. Fund- award is $30,000. Projects selected are ing is available to support evidence- and generally completed within one year. More practice-based community and clinical information is available at www.nps.gov. prevention and wellness strategies that • The Transportation, Community, and Sys- will lead to specific measurable health tem Preservation Pilot Program outcomes to reduce chronic disease rates. The TCSP funds projects or planning stud- Counties or cities with populations greater ies that address the relationship between than 500,000 based on the 2009 U.S. Cen- transportation and community and system sus estimate are eligible to apply for fund- preservation. Specifically, eligible projects ing separate from the state for either of the must improve the efficiency of the trans- two available programs (capacity building portation system, reduce environmental

160 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide or implementation). More information is Education Program grant, which supports available online at http://www.cdc.gov/ physical education in the schools. Local communitytransformation. The program government agencies and community- manager can also be contacted directly at based organizations can apply for the [email protected]. grants, which can be used to initiate or • Transit in Parks Program (Federal Transit expand physical education programs for Administration) school-age children. The average three- The Transit in Parks Program was estab- year grant award is $427,000. More infor- lished to address the challenge of increas- mation on the Carol White program can be ing vehicle congestion in and around found at http://www2.ed.gov/programs/ national parks and other federal lands. This whitephysed/index.html. program provides funding for alternative Private or Corporate Funding transportation systems, such as shuttle Private or corporate funding to support safety and buses, rail connections, and even bicycle non-motorized transportation projects has oc- trails. The program is administered by the curred in many communities nationwide. Some of U.S. Department of Transportation, togeth- the donations come through local annual gift com- er with the Department of the Interior and mitments for service or civic clubs. To receive pri- the U.S. Forest Service. Eligible funding vate funding, a program would need to be estab- recipients include federal land manage- lished to solicit contributions. The program would ment agencies (FLMAs) that manage need to be marketed and ultimately responsive to eligible areas, including, but not limited to, see that donations are used to build sidewalks/bike the Bureau of Land Management (BLM), lanes/trails. Some communities establish programs Bureau of Reclamation (BR), National that allow individuals, subdivisions, or homeowner Park Service (NPS), U.S. Fish and Wildlife associations to donate funding or pay for improve- Service (FWS), and U.S. Forest Service ments. Many communities with these types of (USFS). Eligible recipients also include programs will match community funds for sidewalk state, tribal, or local governmental authori- improvements, moving them up on the priority list. ties with jurisdiction over land in the vicinity This is a great way to get local businesses involved of an eligible area (any federally-owned in promoting walking and bicycling and giving or managed park, refuge, or recreational back to the community. area open to the general public) acting with the consent of the FLMA. Eligible The Regence Foundation projects may also include the communities The Regence Foundation is the non-profit arm and land surrounding these federal lands. of Regence Blue-Cross Blue-Shield of Utah More information is available online at: and provides community organizations with http://www.fta.dot.gov/grants/13094_6106. funding to improve healthcare connections. html. Grants range from $20,000-$35,000 and fund- • Carol White Physical Education ing may be used for planning activities such Program Grant as conducting community needs assessments, The U.S. Department of Education admin- data analysis, and community meetings, as isters the competitive Carol White Physical well as trainings and technical assistance.

Chapter 08: Implementation 161 Additional information is available at http:// efforts can be focused on a smaller number of www.regencefoundation.org/bhc.html projects at any given time, eliminating the feeling of

Bikes Belong Foundation being overwhelmed. Once the projects in a given The Bikes Belong Foundation recently began phase are complete, it would then be appropriate a new grant program to fund research on the to move on to the subsequent phase.

economic impact of bicycling facilities and There are several factors that come into play when events. The Bicycle Research Grant Program creating a phasing plan for the project list. They will award a total of $40,000 in grants to aca- include not only project prioritization but also many demic or nonprofit research institutions each externalities that should be considered. These year. Grants will range from $5,000 to $10,000. externalities are described in more detail below. http://www.bikesbelong.org/grants/ Easily Implemented Projects Robert Wood Johnson Foundation The most beneficial way to approach the phas- The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation pro- ing plan is to identify the projects that will require vides $370 million in grants annually to projects very little effort to implement. Focusing on these that improve public health, including bicycle “easy” or “easier” projects at the beginning pro- and pedestrian projects. The Foundation vides the benefit and momentum of early success. operates several programs around the theme Community residents will begin to see changes of public health, including Active Living By quickly and may be more inclined to be supportive, Design and the Active Living Resource Center. looking forward to additional improvements. It is Phasing also a way to demonstrate a community commit- ment to improving bicycle and pedestrian infra- At this point, users should be equipped with a structure without the strain of large up-front capital complete project list and a general idea of which investment. Some examples of these early win funding sources are appropriate for each project. projects include: adding a bike lane to a road with Now, based on the prioritization created in Chapter an existing wide paved shoulder; adding bicycle 7, a timeline should be identified by which the plan parking in local commercial areas; improving the will be implemented. For most cities, it will not be pedestrian environment by adding amenities such feasible to construct all the facilities in their bicycle as benches and shade trees along sidewalks and and pedestrian master plan at one time. Addition- providing weather shelters at transit stops; putting ally, there may not be a high enough demand for bike route signs along roads with high levels of ex- one or more specific facilities at present, but within isting bike traffic; and improving or adding cross- a specific time frame the facility will be necessary walks at dangerous intersections. These types of (e.g., a new elementary school is scheduled to projects are typically lower cost but will provide a be built in 5 years and will need pedestrian ac- large return on investment for bicycle and pedes- cess). In order to stagger the projects out over trian safety and the promotion of active transporta- a longer period of time, the plan should be bro- tion and recreation. ken down into phases. Each phase will outline a specific number of appropriate projects that will Early Focus on High Benefit Facilities be completed within a given time frame (typically Another way to encourage momentum and get off 1-5 years). By phasing the plan, implementation to a good start is to include high benefit facilities

162 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide in the early phases of the implementation plan. preliminary costs will be paid multiple times. These are facilities that will provide a very large Funding Availability return on investment and will create a high level of When creating a phasing plan it is important to be usage. Examples of high benefit facilities include: flexible and understand that sometimes the plan improving deficiencies along the entire length will need to change. For example, a larger scale, of a crosstown bike route by repairing or adding more expensive project may have been placed adequate paved shoulders, adding bike lanes in a later phase of the implementation plan (e.g., where appropriate, and providing signage to alert an across town bike lane or multi-use trail), when motorists to the presence of cyclists; converting unexpectedly the road the facility is planned for is an abandoned rail corridor into a multi-use trail; or undergoing reconstruction or widening. This is a completing/repairing the sidewalk network within a prime example of an opportunity that necessitates ¼ mile of all elementary schools (if the city is large, change in the implementation plan. By working specific schools can be selected based on need). with UDOT or the county (or whomever is in charge While these facilities may require a larger capital of the road construction project), it is highly likely investment, they will typically reap dividends in that the planned bicycle or pedestrian facility can terms of public support and usage rates. be built concurrent to the road construction proj- Spreading Out Larger Projects ect. As described above, adding additional size For many municipalities, cost is the biggest barrier to an existing project (e.g., a wider shoulder, extra when approaching implementation of their plan. pavement) results in lower incremental costs than The project list can seem overwhelming, especially constructing the same facility from scratch. This if a large number of the high priority projects are can often save the city a great deal of money. Ad- also high cost projects. In order to spread out the ditionally, if the road in question is reconstructed, financial impact of implementation, larger projects and then a few years later (based on the phasing can be segregated into separate phases. This will plan) the city decides to build the new facility, the require conducting an additional level of prioritiza- transportation agency responsible for the right-of- tion among the larger projects to determine their way may raise opposition to the project. They may phasing order. Another way to manage costs is to not be supportive of the desire to begin a construc- divide projects into smaller pieces and complete tion project on a road that they just renovated (the one segment at a time. For example, if a 3-mile public and local motorists are also less likely to be multi-use trail is planned, it may be more practical supportive). Another example of flexibility in the to complete it in 1 mile sections divided over three plan based upon funding could include a circum- separate phases. This would allow the investment stance where a non-profit organization or other to be spread out while still working to implement agency just received unexpected funding and has the larger vision. Beware, however, that breaking a decided to offer a grant opportunity for very spe- project up into pieces may result in a more expen- cific types of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure sive project over time. Often the start-up costs of projects (e.g., trails, access to parks, sidewalks, construction are the most expensive component etc). Because these opportunities may be time- and the incremental costs of adding length to a sensitive, it would not make sense to postpone facility become lower and lower. By separating the application to the future when an appropriate out the construction into separate segments, these project would be due for construction based on

Chapter 08: Implementation 163 the existing phasing plan. Therefore, the fund- then easily be expanded for funding applications ing would be applied for now, and if selected, the in a relatively short period of time, demonstrating project that may have been scheduled for Phase 3 project readiness. This effort up front will yield would be moved up to Phase 2 or Phase 1. dividends down the road, especially for funding opportunities that are identified at the last minute or As is the case with a majority of the components with a relatively short lead time. in a plan, the phasing plan for project implementa- tion will likely require multiple drafts. It will be an What Should I Have by Now? effort of trial and error. It is strongly recommended that the steering committee assembled at the This chapter has provided basic information on beginning of this process be involved in identify- project costs as well as a fairly comprehensive ing projects for each phase of the plan. By having outline of funding sources available to cover imple- representatives from the appropriate city/county mentation expenses. Additionally, this chapter has departments, as well as representatives from ap- outlined the creation of a phasing plan for the proj- propriate groups in the community, it is more likely ect list. The following checklist outlines the tasks that everyone’s needs will be met. This will help that should have been completed with this chapter. avoid conflict and maintain broad-based sup- port the adoption and implementation. Additional information on project phasing is provided in the  Estimate of implementation costs for each Monitoring chapter (chapter 9). project on the prioritized list. Project Fact Sheets  Identification of maintenance needs for each As a part of the planning process, it is highly rec- project on the prioritized list. ommended that a Project Fact Sheet be created for  Identification of potential funding sources for each of the top 5-10 projects. These fact sheets each project on the prioritized list. typically include the following:  Complete phasing plan and timeline for • A detailed description of the corridor and the project implementation (including a segmen- proposed facility type tation of projects if necessary) for all projects on the prioritized list. • Proposed cross-sections or artistic renderings of the project

• Cost estimates based on length/size and com- ponents (e.g., signage, construction materials, etc)

• Usage rates for similar infrastructure in the community or in a neighboring community

• A compelling description of need, specifically focusing on underrepresented populations where applicable

The information included in these fact sheets can

164 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Notes

his chapter presents a framework for monitoring the success of T bicycle and pedestrian planning efforts. It includes tips on benchmark- ing progress, engaging local advocacy groups, and continuing to generate inter- est in bicycle and pedestrian issues once a master plan is complete.

After completing this section of the plan, users should have a strategic approach 9 to monitoring activities and a proposed timeline for reviewing progress in imple- menting the bicycle and pedestrian master plan. Monitoring

09 Monitoring

Previous chapters of this handbook focus on analyzing opportu- nities and problems with pedestrian and bicycling infrastructure, identifying potential design and policy solutions, and defining and prioritizing improvements. These components should be properly maintained and “live on” after the completion of the plan. The community should also stay engaged and interested in bicycle and pedestrian matters, which will build support for future planning efforts and investments. Three major compo- nents to monitoring bicycle and pedestrian planning efforts should follow plan adoption:

• Tracking progress on implementing planned projects and meeting the master plan’s stated goals;

• Monitoring needs for small-scale spot improvements on bicycle and pedestrian facilities; and

• Monitoring public sentiment and engagement in bicycling and walking issues.

These activities can be approached in terms of the Basic, Intermediate, and Advanced levels discussed throughout this handbook, as shown in the following table.

Table 9.1 Monitoring Activities

Level Monitoring Activity Effort Required

Staff time to document projects and policies Track plan implementation implemented

Staff time to receive input and respond to Volunteer reporting of maintenance needs reports

Staff time to respond to maintenance re- Reactive maintenance quests

Basic Staff time to establish policy framework creating an ongoing committee; identify avenue for receiving committee’s feedback; Ongoing Advisory Committee form a committee; and serve as staff liaison at meetings. Committee will set agendas and attend regular meetings.

Ensure project funding through inclusion in Staff time to coordinate between planning Capital Facilities Plan and budget departments

Chapter 09: Monitoring 169 Table 9.1 Monitoring Activities, Con't

Level Monitoring Activity Effort Required

City and/or contractor staff to monitor needs, Proactive maintenance of bicycle and pe- make needed repairs, plan for funding in mu- destrian facilities nicipal public works or operations budgets

Online reporting mechanism for mainte- Development of web-based forum to receive nance and repairs public input, staff time to respond to reports

Maintaining project website, generating new Intermediate content for website and other communica- Ongoing local communication around tion outlets, developing events to increase bicycle and pedestrian issues participation and enthusiasm, and creating a bicycling ambassadors program

Staff time to evaluate grant programs, prepare Pursue outside funding for bicycle and applications, and coordinate with funding pedestrian projects agency representatives

Before-and-after data collection and surveys, Measuring progress by benchmarks regular bicycle and pedestrian counts, review of multiple datasets Advanced Staff time to build partnerships, and potential Identify additional financing opportunities need for outside consultant to identify defen- for bicycle and pedestrian projects, such as sible impact fees and ensure compliance with public-private partnerships or impact fees. state and local laws.

Tracking Progress progress in implementing projects. Key review components are described below. Plan Implementation Earlier sections of this handbook provided guid- Implementing Projects ance on developing projects for implementation Phase I should include projects, programs, and and prioritizing projects for funding and construc- policies planned for the first five years following tion. Communities should regularly revisit their completion of the bicycle and pedestrian master bicycle and pedestrian master plan to review plan; Phase II should be for the five-ten years

/// CROSSING ///

Implementation Barriers • Build momentum around a handful of low-risk, Sometimes even the best plans need extra help to low-cost projects. get off the ground. Here are some common barriers • Find a project champion within city staff, elected to implementation, and suggestions for overcoming officials, or the business community. them. Lack of funding Low political support • Build bicycle and pedestrian facilities (bike lanes, • Engage local advocacy groups, such as PTAs or sidewalks, sharrows, etc.) into already-planned trail clubs, to show their support. Elected officials construction projects. may be persuaded by their constituents. • Partner with other agencies such as UDOT, Rob- • Take local leaders on a scan tour of an area that ert Wood Johnson Foundation, or utility compa- has implemented similar plans. Scan tours are nies to stretch available funds. More information described in Chapter 4, Public Involvement. can be found in Chapter 8.

170 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide following plan completion; and Phase III should mentation, a review of other funding options may be for the 10-15 years following plan completion. be useful. A comprehensive list of funding options City staff should review project implementation is provided in Chapter 8. within two or three years after plan completion to Building Partnerships document how many Phase I projects have been Relationships with regional and local transportation implemented or are in the process of being imple- agencies such as UDOT, UTA, local MPOs, and mented, and whether new projects from the plan other organizations can be helpful for municipali- should be added to current implementation efforts. ties attempting to build bicycle and pedestrian At five years following plan completion, staff mem- networks. Local staff members should establish bers should again evaluate the number of Phase strategic working relationships with their coun- I projects have been implemented. This should terparts and leadership at these agencies and include review of non-project elements such as at adjacent municipalities. Building partnerships programs and policies. While these elements are takes time and effort, however, and the results may frequently less-constrained by budget cycles, they take some years to come to fruition. Municipalities can be just as effective in making change. Staff should take stock of their partnering efforts at the members should not be unduly concerned if less three- to five-year mark following completion of a than 100% of projects have been implemented; bicycle and pedestrian master plan. Staff members however, if only minor progress has occurred since should re-evaluate their strategies if partnering ef- plan completion, an evaluation of possible obsta- forts do not result in some increase of political and cles might be helpful. agency support of bicycle and pedestrian issues. Available Funding Stream Other strategies or methods of building support A regular stream of financial support is key to may then be necessary. implementing bicycle and pedestrian projects and programs. Ideally, funding should be identified in Meeting Plan Goals and Objectives local budgets and renewed on an annual basis to Chapter 2 of this handbook provided guidance on ensure steady progress in implementing bicycle creating goals and objectives for a bicycle and and pedestrian plan elements. Other options could pedestrian master plan. A monitoring program include creating a transportation-related impact fee using established benchmarks can help to show at the local level which could include bicycle and progress and justify spending based on measured pedestrian improvements. As with other impact results. Such a program can also be important in fee structures, cities should think this through care- determining what design elements work best for fully to ensure compliance with state impact fee each community. In order to measure progress legislation. Federal and state grant programs are using benchmarks, sets of data will need to be also available for bicycle and pedestrian projects, compared. Ideally, municipalities should identify but funding tends to be limited, with a high number desired benchmarks before improvements are of applicants. Municipalities should track annually implemented, because many will require before- the amount of funding, whether from local sources and-after data sets or surveys. Table 9.2 provides or from state and federal grants, used for imple- several examples of benchmarks based on sample mentation of bicycle and pedestrian projects and goals identified in Chapter 2 of this handbook. policies. If lack of funding is an obstacle for imple-

Chapter 09: Monitoring 171 Table 9.2 Sample Benchmarks

Goal What to Look for Sample Benchmarks How to Monitor

• Reduce the number of collisions • Collect safety records from per capita involving pedestrians police, UDOT, public health, or bicyclists by 50% by 2020 hospital records • No pedestrian and bicyclist • Before-and-after surveys of lo- fatalities within five years • Reduced pedestrian- and cal resident attitudes • Increase the number of survey bicycle-involved crashes • Gather vehicle speeds data in Improve Safety respondents who say they feel • Changes in perception of the key bicycle and pedestrian cor- safe walking or bicycling in their safety of walking and bicycling ridors or near schools (before/ community by 25% after) • Reduce vehicle speeds in key • Gather before/after driving corridors by 10% yielding rates (or other proxy • Improve driver yielding behavior safety data) at crosswalks

• Increase bicycle commuter mode • Compare American Community split to 10% by 2020 Surveys (before/after) Increase • Number of bicyclists on road • Double bicycle counts within • Place tube counters or automat- Physical • Percentage of bicycle three years ed detection devices in bicycle Activity lanes/ along paths (before/after) commuters • Provide three to five events per year promoting bicycling within • Document local walking- or five years cycling-related events

• Increase pedestrian activity by • Collect pedestrian and bicyclist 25% in targeted commercial counts in and around commer- nodes cial nodes (before/after) • More people walking or biking in • Increase placement of street Promote • Monitor bicycle parking utilization commercial nodes furniture and pedestrian ameni- Economic during peak commercial periods ties by 50% Development • Growth in activity and vibrancy (before/after) in targeted areas • Increase number of available • Collect information on place- bicycle parking spaces or ment of street furniture elements utilization of existing spaces by (before/after) 25-50%

• Decrease survey respondents • Conduct before-and-after sur- • Reduced obesity rates reporting little or no physical veys of children participating in activity by 25% Safe Routes to School programs • Reduced rates of disease in Improve Public target populations • Decrease local rates of obesity- • Review health-related data in Be- Health related diseases havioral Risk Factor Surveillance • Increased rates of self-reported System (BRFSS) and Indicator physical activity • Increase number of children Based Information System (IBIS) walking to school by 25% data (before/after)

Spot Improvements in proper condition. Some monitoring and mainte- Regular Monitoring Activities nance can be conducted by volunteers, while other Facilities monitoring will be needed on a regular elements should be done by city staff or hired basis to determine whether repairs, restriping, professionals. Some municipalities also identify a maintenance, reconstruction, or other activities are range of costs for maintenance activities, based on necessary to keep bicycle and pedestrian facilities the degree of maintenance (e.g., restriping a bike

172 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide lane annually would result in an excellent-condition or standard pavement striping, depending on the facility but would have a higher associated cost, available funding for that crosswalk). Municipalities whereas restriping a bike lane every three years may desire, if staff or volunteer resources are avail- would result in a medium-condition facility but able, to conduct proactive monitoring of facilities with lower associated costs). Understanding the (e.g., regular field review of facilities to check for range of costs helps municipalities budget their maintenance needs) rather than reactive monitor- resources based on levels of desired maintenance. ing (waiting to receive complaints about a facility In addition, individual improvements likely have before conducting maintenance activities). Table a range of costs for implementation to consider 9.3 provides a sample of facility maintenance com- as well (for instance, a new crosswalk might be ponents and potential group responsibilities. installed using colored concrete, thermoplastics,

Table 9.3 Sample Maintenance Activities

Activity Frequency Labor

Graffiti removal As necessary Volunteer

1 – 3 years or as coordination opportu- Professional – Contractor or City Opera- Pavement or striping repair nities arise tions staff

Litter pickup Monthly Volunteer

Professional – Contractor or City Opera- Trash removal at trailheads Weekly tions staff

As needed or as coordination opportu- Pothole reporting and repair Volunteer nities arise

5 – 10 years or as coordination oppor- Professional – Contractor or City Opera- Sign replacement tunities arise tions staff

Agency (local or UDOT), depending on Debris removal and sweeping Monthly road jurisdiction

Volunteers can be used for weeding Once each in spring and summer, efforts, but application of pesticides Weed control annually should be handled by trained profes- sionals.

Lighting monitoring Monthly Volunteer

Signal monitoring for adequate cross- ing time, properly functioning pedes- Quarterly City staff trian buttons, etc.

ADA monitoring of curb ramps, side- Volunteer, with some education on ADA Quarterly walk accessibility, and other items accessibility requirements

Many organizations, including municipal and non- an “Adopt-a-Trail” program that allows residents profit groups, have volunteer facility maintenance to become trail advocates for specific locations. programs. Locally, the City of Farmington has These volunteers are responsible for monitoring

Chapter 09: Monitoring 173 the condition and maintenance of their particular which demonstrates a commitment to the public’s location or segment and reporting any problems traveling needs. Currently, several cities incor- or issues to the city. Cycling advocates in the Salt porate crowdsourced or volunteered geographic Lake area frequently use the Cycling Utah listserve information (VGI) into maintenance requests. Users to recruit volunteers for scheduled trail mainte- can submit requests for repair by sending a GPS- nance and cleanup of Bonneville Shoreline Trail marked photo through a smartphone application, and Jordan River Parkway facilities. Additionally, categorizing the photo based on repairs needed many local bike shops promote trail maintenance (striping, sweeping, pothole repair, etc). Reno, activities. The Biker's Edge Trail Crew (Kaysville, Nevada is one example of a municipality using this UT) works full-time maintaining existing trails by type of technology to engage its citizens in moni- cutting back branches and brush, clearing fallen toring for maintenance needs. trees, improving trail heads, etc. They also vol- unteer their time to build new trails for mountain Maintaining Public Interest bikers, hikers, and others. In other areas, groups Creating a bicycle and pedestrian master plan in such as the Farmington Valley Trails Council in a community can generate excitement and en- Connecticut cover wide geographic areas, engage thusiasm while the plan is under development. citizens to participate on a volunteer officer board, Bicycle and pedestrian planning in these com- host trail clean-up activities, and organize group munities could benefit through continued interest rides along featured trail sections. and involvement from the public. Here are some ways to maintain local enthusiasm for bicycle and Online Monitoring Feedback pedestrian issues. While most local and state transportation divisions • If an Advisory Committee was created to guide have internal methods for monitoring transportation plan development, consider establishing a facility conditions, many have additional mecha- permanent role for such a committee in local nisms for citizens to report problems. Several government. Salt Lake City, Salt Lake County, online options are available as well. For instance, Provo, Park City, Ogden, and Holladay all Salt Lake City has a “Bicycle Route Maintenance have established bicycle advisory committees Form” online, through which the public can identify meeting regularly to promote cycling in their cycling routes in need of maintenance work such respective communities. If enough interest is as sweeping, pothole repair, pavement mainte- shown, separate pedestrian and bicycle com- nance, or other problems. The form can be found mittees are preferable. online through the Salt Lake City Transportation Division website. Other cities, such as Portland, • Use local communication channels to continue Oregon, also seek online feedback on transporta- discussion on bicycle and pedestrian issues. tion conditions such as desired curb ramps, traffic This could include articles in city newsletters, safety concerns (e.g., speeding, crosswalk needs, blurbs in utility bill inserts, posts on city Face- visibility, or school zones), and street light prob- book pages and Twitter feeds, or sponsorship lems. Portland’s online forms can be found through of events such as annual Bike-to-Work days the Portland Bureau of Transportation website. with participation by elected officials. Local Cities may also state timelines for responding to communities could also consider submitting requests—within a day, several days, or a week— abstracts to local conferences (such as the

174 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Utah Chapter of the American Planning Asso- What Should I Have by Now? ciation) to showcase their progress on bicycle and pedestrian projects. This chapter has provided an overview of moni- • Create a page on the local community’s toring techniques for use after the Bicycle and website dedicated to bicycle and pedestrian Pedestrian Master Plan has been approved issues, or if a website was developed during and implementation begins. By the end of the master plan process, consider keeping this chapter you should have created a plan to the website live after the plan is complete. The track the progress of the plan’s implementa- webpage could include updates on new bi- tion and to periodically check in to make sure cycle and pedestrian projects, cyclist detours Bicycle and Pedestrian efforts stay on track. for upcoming road construction projects, forms for providing input on walking or bicycling facility maintenance, or a forum for ongoing  Identify potential implementation barriers and (and monitored) discussion of bicycle and identify solutions pedestrian issues. Identify a local staff person  Track available funding streams for imple- – preferably one with an interest in bicycle and mentation and maintenance pedestrian issues – who will be responsible for updating webpage content and monitoring  Identify individuals at key agencies (e.g., discussion content. UTA/UDOT/MPOs) and work to develop part- nerships • Create a Bicycling Ambassadors program. Bicycling ambassadors are a group of  Identify key dates by which plan implementa- outreach specialists who conduct bike safety tion will be examined, as well as benchmarks educational campaigns at schools, community that should be met at each date events, and through local media. One example  Develop a schedule of monitoring activities of this kind of program would be Chicago’s  Develop a plan for maintaining public Bicycling Ambassadors: http://www. interest bicyclingambassadors.org/

• Apply for the recognition programs described in Chapter 10 and post signs throughout the city.

• Partner with local public health departments to incorporate walking and bicycling education in unique venues.

• Partner with law enforcement to continue rou- tine enforcement activities.

• Partner with school districts to implement Safe Routes to School activities.

• Partner with private firms or foundations to cre- ate public relations campaigns.

Chapter 09: Monitoring 175 Notes his chapter highlights a variety of recognition programs that are T available for both bicycle and pedestrian projects. The first section focuses on awards for bicycle and pedestrian planning, while the second section focuses on awards for imple- mentation. 10 This chapter is for informational pur- poses only; municipalities should not feel obligated to apply for any of the programs listed. Recognition Programs

10 Recognition Programs

While recognition is likely not the sole purpose of developing a bicycle and pedestrian master plan, it is certainly the icing on the cake. If the community is interested in applying for recog- nition, it is highly recommended that members of the steering committee and city staff become familiar with the requirements of these programs early in the plan development process, to ensure that all the required information has been compiled when the time comes to apply for recognition. Incorporating the re- quirements of these programs while creating a plan can help to ensure that the plan will be comprehensive and inclusive of bi- cycle and pedestrian planning ideals. Additionally, recognition of success can be a strong motivator for staff and local officials to continue the efforts begun in the planning phases. Recogni- tion can also be used as a marketing tool for tourism and busi- ness, showing off the positive qualities the city has to offer.

This chapter outlines a variety of recognition programs and awards that are available for both planning and implementation. The first section outlines planning awards and is separated into those available at the state and national levels. The second section highlights awards for project implementation.

Planning Awards Utah Planning Awards— www.utah-apa.org

A variety of awards are given by the Utah chapter of the Ameri- can Planning Association at its Fall conference held annually in October. The award title and a brief description are given be- low. To be considered for these awards an application packet must be completed and submitted to the awards committee. Application items include: the purpose and background of the project or program (including the budget, time frame, setting, etc.); the unique or innovative characteristics of the project; and its significance to the planning field, and anticipated long-term benefits. Awards are given for:

Chapter 10: Recognition Programs 179 • Plan Development—Given for unique or in- ate-income community residents. This award is novative accomplishments in development of given in partnership with the U.S. Department plans. of Housing and Urban Development. Emphasis

• Plan Implementation—Given for a project is on how creative housing, economic develop- which resulted in unique or exceptional plan ment, and private investments have been used implementation. in or with a comprehensive community devel- opment plan. This award emphasizes tangible • Ordinance Development—Given for either an results and recognizes the planning discipline innovative concept or application of an ordi- and its skills as a community strategy. nance.

• Information Technology—Given for the inno- • Planning Excellence Award— Grassroots Initiative vative or unique use of information technology Honoring an initiative that illustrates how a (e.g., video, computer, etc). community utilized the planning process to —Given for a project that repre- • Urban Design address a need extending beyond the tradi- sents an outstanding feature of, or contribution tional scope of planning. Emphasis is placed to urban design. The project can be construct- on the success of planning in new or different ed and complete, or an approved plan. A com- settings. Winning projects will expand public pleted project may be at any scale, while an understanding of the planning process. approved plan should be a large, multi-faceted project. • Planning Excellence Award—Public Outreach Honoring an individual, project, or program • Historic Preservation—Given for projects, that uses information and education about the ideas, concepts, papers, research, plans or value of planning to create greater awareness ordinances that successfully promote the pres- among citizens or specific segments of the ervation of significant local, state or national public. The award celebrates how planning historic resources, or that contribute to a better improves a community's quality of life. appreciation of local, state or national history.

• Journalism—Given for specific research, ar- • Planning Achievement Award— ticles, broadcasts, etc., by the news media. Hard-Won Victory For a planning initiative or other planning effort • Unique Contribution—Given for any project, undertaken by a community, neighborhood, idea, concept, paper, research, etc., that is citizens group, or jurisdiction in the face of worthy of note, but does not fit into any other difficult, challenging, or adverse conditions category. because of natural disasters, local circum- National Planning Awards stances, financial or organizational constraints, American Planning Association— www. social factors or other causes. This award rec- planning.org/awards ognizes the positive effect of hard-won victo- ries by professional planners, citizen planners, • The HUD Secretary's Opportunity and or both. Empowerment Award Award given for a plan, program, or project • Planning Excellence Award—Implementation that improved quality of life for low- and moder- Recognizing an effort that demonstrates a

180 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide significant achievement for an area — a single Implementation Awards community or a region — in accomplishing Walk Friendly Communities— http://www. positive changes as a result of planning. This walkfriendly.org/ award emphasizes long-term, measurable Walk Friendly Communities (WFC) is a national rec- results. Nominated efforts should have been in ognition program developed to encourage towns continuous effect for a minimum of five years. and cities across the U.S. to establish or recommit Congress for New Urbanism— http://www.cnu. to a high priority for supporting safer walking envi- org/awards ronments. The WFC program will recognize com- munities that are working to improve a wide range • Charter Awards CNU charter awards are given in six catego- of conditions related to walking, including safety, ries based on their effectiveness in furthering mobility, access, and comfort. A Walk Friendly the principles in the CNU congress charter Community is a city or town that has shown a com- mitment to improving walkability and pedestrian (found at http://www.cnu.org/charter). They are: Grand Prize; The Region-Metropolis, City, safety through comprehensive programs, plans, and Town; Neighborhood, District, and Corri- and policies. Communities can apply to the pro- dor; The Block, Street, and Building; Academic gram to receive recognition in the form of a Bronze, Award; and Honorable Mention. Silver, Gold, or Platinum designation.

Most of the information requested for completion Institute of Transportation Engineers—­ http:// of the Walk Friendly Communities Assessment Tool www.ite.org/awards/index.asp (award application) can be soundly estimated or • Transportation Planning Council Best is relatively easy to find. The information needed Project Award to complete this assessment will likely come from This award is bestowed on a project that ap- a variety of municipal, county, and school district plied innovative techniques to a transportation agencies and departments including the police, related issue/problem in a study or planning planning, public works, and engineering depart- effort. Projects that will benefit the profession ments, and the local transit service provider. through greater understanding of a transporta- Additionally, other information that is requested tion issue and for the betterment of the public may be most easily provided by local nonprofit through effective and innovative solutions are organizations, advocacy groups, elected officials, encouraged to be submitted for consideration. or even a simple internet search. It is likely that Urban Land Institute—­ http://www.uli.org/Award- the transportation agency will take the lead in this sAndCompetitions.aspx effort, but it will be important to coordinate across agencies when filling out this application. In some • Amanda Burden Urban Open Space Award This award celebrates and promotes vibrant, cases, one department, such as the city or town’s successful urban open spaces by recogniz- engineering department, will be able to complete ing and rewarding an outstanding example an entire section. In other cases, it will make the of a public destination that has enriched and most sense to have agencies or individuals, like a revitalized its surrounding community. Award local Safe Routes to School task force or coordina- comes with a $10,000 cash prize. tor, answer certain questions. Applications will be scored on the following eight criteria:

Chapter 10: Recognition Programs 181 • Community Profile these areas receive superior awards. This compre-

• Status of Walking hensive inquiry is designed to yield a holistic pic- ture of a community's work to promote bicycling. • Planning

• Education & Encouragement Engineering—Communities are asked about what is on the ground; what has been built to promote • Engineering cycling in the community. For example, questions • Enforcement in this category inquire about the existence and • Evaluation content of a bicycle master plan, the accommoda- tion of cyclists on public roads, and the existence • Additional Questions of both well-designed bike lanes and multi-use It is estimated that the WFC Assessment Tool will paths in the community. Reviewers also look at the take approximately 10-20 hours to complete and availability of secure bike parking and the condi- the completed application must be submitted tion and connectivity of both the off-road and on- online. road network.

Bicycle Friendly Communities­— http://www. Education—The questions in this category are bikeleague.org/programs/bicyclefriendlyamerica/ designed to determine the amount of education is communities/ available for both cyclists and motorists. Education The Bicycle Friendly Community Program (BFC) is includes teaching cyclists of all ages how to ride administered by the League of American Bicyclists safely in any area, from multi-use paths to con- and provides incentives, gested city streets, as hands-on assistance, well as teaching motor- and award recognition ists how to share the for communities that road safely with cyclists. actively support bicy- Some things reviewers cling. A Bicycle Friendly look at are the availabil- Community welcomes ity of cycling education cyclists by providing for adults and children, safe accommodations the number of League for cycling and encour- Cycling Instructors in the aging people to bike community, and other for transportation and Photo: S.K. Burbidge ways that safety informa- recreation. tion is distributed to both cyclists and motorists in the community, including Applicant communities are judged in five catego- bike maps, tip sheets, and as a part of driver’s ries, often referred to as the “Five Es”. These are education manuals and courses. Engineering, Education, Encouragement, Enforce- ment, and Evaluation & Planning. A community Encouragement—­ This category concentrates on must demonstrate achievements in each of the five how the community promotes and encourages categories in order to be considered for an award. bicycling. Examples include Bike Month, Bike to Communities with more significant achievements in Work Week, producing community bike maps,

182 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide route-finding signage, community bike rides, commuter incentive programs, and having a Safe /// CROSSING /// Routes to School program. Safe Routes to School In 2010, Alpine Elementary School (Utah Enforcement—The enforcement category focuses County) was presented with the James L. on connections between the cycling and law en- Oberstar Safe Routes to School Award. Dur- ing the award presentation, congressmen forcement communities. This includes things such Oberstar, for whom the award was named, as the presence of a police liaison within the cy- said, “I am pleased to recognize Alpine Ele- cling community, targeted enforcement to encour- mentary School's efforts to improve the health and well-being of its students by encourag- age cyclists and motorists to share the road safely, ing them to safely walk and bicycle to school. and the existence of bicycling related laws such as Safe Routes to School programs, like the one those requiring helmets. at Alpine, are the catalyst of change America needs to transform our 'car-first' mindset and Evaluation and Planning—The community is embrace other modes of transportation. Our communities will be more livable if we make judged on the systems it has in place to evaluate additional transportation options available. current programs and plan for the future, including That’s what we're celebrating with this award." the amount of cycling taking place in the communi- Alpine Elementary School’s SRTS program ty, crash and fatality rates, and that the community was recognized for excellence in: increasing the number of children who regularly walk works to improve these numbers. Communities are and bicycle to school; engaging students, asked about whether or not they have a bike plan, parents and the community in the effort; and how much of it has been implemented, and what using creative strategies to encourage fami- lies to shift habits to a less car-focused com- are the next steps for improvement. mute. From September 2008 to May 2010, Alpine Elementary School’s SRTS program Applications are scored and communities may be increased the percentage of children who awarded either a platinum, gold, silver, or bronze regularly walked and rating. There are two application deadlines per bicycled to school from 35 to 50 percent. year (February and July) and applications must be submitted online.

Safe Routes to School Award— http://www. saferoutesinfo.org/ 1. Demonstrate success in improving the safety The Safe Routes to School Award is given annu- or increasing the number of elementary and/or ally for outstanding achievement in implementing middle school students walking and bicycling the Safe Routes to School Program in the United to school; States. The National Center for Safe Routes to School opens a call for applications, each year, 2. Be part of a functioning Safe Routes to School receives the applications and evaluates them (SRTS) program currently in place; and with the assistance of an expert panel represent- 3. Have received federal funds from a state DOT ing organizations that promote safe walking and SRTS program or SRTS State Coordinator for bicycling. infrastructure improvements and/or non-infra- structure projects such as encouragement and To be eligible for consideration for the Safe Routes education. to School Award, applicants must:

Chapter 10: Recognition Programs 183 Applications can be submitted by individuals or • Result in significant reduction in fatalities organizations such as schools, local SRTS pro- and injuries grams, community organizations, local governmen- • Create a proven case for greater emphasis tal departments, state SRTS coordinators, SRTS on roadway safety in transportation pro- advocates, state Departments of Transportation, gramming and project delivery Governor's Highway Safety Offices, FHWA Division • Support safety improvements through representatives, and NHTSA Regional Offices. greater public awareness that yields a Complete award information is available online positive change in safety culture at: http://www.saferoutesinfo.org/data-central/ 2. Innovation—Projects or programs that use in- success-stories/safe-routes-to-school-award novative concepts at a national, state, or local National Roadway Safety Awards— http://www. level, including: roadwaysafetyawards.org/ • Creative approaches to address highway

The National Roadway Safety Awards (NRSA) is a safety concerns biennial competition (odd years) sponsored by the • Original management approaches to over- U.S. Department of Transportation (USDOT) Fed- coming hurdles eral Highway Administration (FHWA) and the Road- • Inventive solutions to a particular crash way Safety Foundation (RSF) to recognize roadway problem safety achievements that move the United States • Proactive involvement of the public or “toward zero deaths.” The competition highlights stakeholders exemplary roadway safety efforts and publicizes best practices. Awards are given for infrastructure, 3. Efficient Use of Resources—These criteria operational, and program-related improvements include: and programs that address safety needs. The • Cost-efficient implementation of a project/ FHWA and the RSF stress the importance of strate- program. gic, data-driven approaches to improving safety on our nation’s roadways. Applicants are encouraged • Efficient use of planning and engineering to nominate projects or programs that exemplify resources and/or cost-sharing through innovative and effective safety activities and maxi- multi-agency partnerships, task forces, or mize the cost effectiveness of federal, state, local, coalitions. and/or private sector funds. NRSA Winning project designees receive:

Applications are judged on demonstrated evi- • An invitation to attend a national-level recogni- dence of success with data supported results. It is tion event in Washington DC and the opportu- therefore critical that you include documentation nity to accept the award personally from key supporting the project or program’s success (e.g., USDOT officials research, crash data, etc.). Each entry is judged • Meeting opportunities with legislators and key on the following three criteria. transportation officials in Washington, DC

1. Effectiveness—Projects or programs that: • National media coverage and additional local

184 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide media support, identifying your organization as Award Requirements a leading safety improvement resource Bronze: (3 policy, 3 infrastructure, 2 outcomes) • Appearance in the resulting Safety Best • Complete 3 policy criteria from any of the 6 Practices Guide, Public Roads Magazine, the sections (General Community, Healthy Behav- Roadway Safety Reporter, as well as newslet- iors, Safety, Preventive Services, Nutrition, and ters and other publications of national safety Physical Activity), and transportation organizations • Complete 3 infrastructure criteria • Internet support and recognition via several • Measure 2 outcomes websites, including those operated by USDOT Silver: (7 policy, 7 infrastructure, 3 outcomes) FHWA, Roadway Safety Foundation, as well as • Maintain Bronze status in policy, infrastructure, safety partner websites and outcomes

Utah Healthy Community Awards Program— • Complete 4 additional policy criteria from any http://www.health.utah.gov/ahy/ of the 6 sections,

A Healthier You Legacy Awards Program is a col- • Complete 4 additional infrastructure criteria laborative effort of the Utah Department of Health • Measure 1 additional outcome and community partners. It is a unique program Gold: (12 policy, 12 infrastructure, 4 outcomes) that started as part of the Salt Lake 2002 Olympic • Maintain Silver status in policy, infrastructure, Winter Games. The Program recognizes the efforts and outcomes of communities, schools, worksites, and college • Complete 5 additional policy criteria from any campuses to increase opportunities for their con- of the 6 sections stituents to participate in health-enhancing areas: physical activity, nutrition, healthy behaviors, and • Complete 5 additional infrastructure criteria safety. The Healthy Community Awards Program • Measure 1 additional outcome (HCAP) recognizes the outstanding achievements Platinum: (18 policy, 18 infrastructure, 5 out- of cities/towns in implementing health-related poli- comes) cies and ensuring healthy community environments • Maintain Gold status in policy, infrastructure, that encourage and support residents and public and outcomes employees in making healthy choices. Municipali- • Complete 6 additional policy criteria from any ties are evaluated on their policies (written and of the 6 sections monitored city/town policies, procedures or ordi- • Complete 6 additional infrastructure criteria nances), infrastructure (basic facilities, equipment, resources and environmental supports provided in/ • Measure 1 additional outcome by the city/town), and outcomes (expected chang- A sample of criteria for each of the 3 categories es that will result from the implementation of the that can be accomplished through the bicycle and program/activity and methods to measure prog- pedestrian master plan are shown in Table 10.1. ress) and may earn a rating of bronze, silver, gold, A complete list of award criteria can be found on or platinum. Applications for these annual awards the Utah Department of Health website at http:// are due in July. www.health.utah.gov/ahy/Community/Community_ home.htm

Chapter 10: Recognition Programs 185 Table 10.1 Example Criteria for Healthy Community Awards Program

Focus Area Policy Infrastructure Outcomes

• Official proclamation by the mayor/city council/city • Increase media outreach on manager to participate in • Existence of a city/town the city’s HCAP progress HCAP website • Conduct a community General Community • Written HCAP plan that • Town/city website with links needs assessment to iden- identifies which policies, in- to state and local commu- tify available resources for frastructure, and outcomes nity service websites physical activity and healthy the community will work on eating in the next year

• Increase signage or informational materials that • Develop and adopt a master promote trails, bike-board- transportation plan that sup- blade parks, or equestrian ports healthy lifestyles trails, etc.

• Policy to build and/or • Promote use of existing • Increase percent of replace sidewalks to be in Legacy Gold Medal Miles residents who walk or ride a compliance with pedestrian and permanent marked bike for transportation safety standards distance walking trails • Increase in residents report- • Ordinance that requires • Conduct a community audit ing awareness and/or use of new subdivisions to provide to identify transportation Legacy Mile trails sidewalks and lights practices and physical activity-related policies • Increase in number of Physical Activity • Policy for the inclusion of residents reporting use of trail systems and walking/ • Expand and/or connect community physical activity bicycling paths in existing existing trails facilities and environments and new subdivisions • Work with local recreation • Increase in number of af- • Incorporate transporta- and ski areas to jointly fordable public or private tion policy to promote promote inexpensive equip- recreation centers non-motorized and mass ment rental, lessons, and transportation ski opportunities for Utah • Increase in miles of desig- families. nated walking/biking trails • Policy to regularly assess recreation center/facilities • Develop safe routes and accessibility and afford- systems for children and ability seniors that encourage walking and biking in neigh- borhoods and to schools

• Existence of bike lanes; • Increase in miles of marked maintenance of bike lanes bike lanes • Local policy for bike-board- • Increase safety features of • Increase in percentage of blade helmets for all users crosswalks and sidewalks adults and youth observed near schools and senior • Policy that plans for all using bike-board-blade centers (e.g., raised cross- sidewalks and crosswalks helmets to meet Americans with walks) • Increase in number of Disabilities Act requirements • Participate in Safe Routes Safety schools with current Safe to School program through • Policy requiring sidewalks Routes to School policies, Utah Department of Trans- to be cleared of snow and programs and Student portation (UDOT) vegetation Neighborhood Access • Policy that sets speed limit • Helmet or Protective Gear Programs in place Signage posted at bike- at 25 mph or less in residen- • Increase in miles of marked board-blade parks, parks, tial areas bike lanes and community trailways

186 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Table 10.1 Example Criteria for Healthy Community Awards Program, con't

Focus Area Policy Infrastructure Outcomes

• Ordinance requiring hel- mets at skate parks and on community trailways

• Written implementation • Increase in percentage of plans for all sidewalks & • Increase safety features of adults and youth observed crosswalks to meet Ameri- crosswalks and sidewalks using bike-board-blade cans with Disabilities Act near schools and senior helmets requirements within the next centers (e.g., raised cross- Safety year • Increased number of walks) citations for crosswalk • Policy that increases moving • Sidewalks present for all violations. violation penalties when major streets occurring in or around a • Increased number of major school zone or park streets that have sidewalks • Policy that encourages local law enforcement to increase crosswalk enforcement.

• Develop a policy to promote public transportation, alter- Air Quality native transportation, and ride share.

* This table is not intended to be comprehensive and provides only a sampling of applicable criteria within each category

What Should I Have by Now?  Set goals to achieve eligibility for appropriate recognition programs This chapter has identified a variety of awards Monitor implementation to ensure eligibility is and recognition programs. After completing your  maintained Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, it is likely that you have completed many, if not all, of the require- ments to be eligible for a majority of the programs discussed. Depending on the complexity of your planning process, your plan may also be a good candidate for a number of the awards listed. Now is the time to enjoy the fruits of your labor and reap the rewards of a successful planning process.

 Determine which programs or awards are appropriate for your community  Identify which requirements are complete and which need still to be completed

Chapter 10: Recognition Programs 187 Notes Appendix

Commonly Used Acronyms

AASHTO – American Association of State Highway LOS – Level of Service Transportation Officials MAG – Mountainland Association of Governments ADA – Americans with Disabilities Act MPO – Metropolitan Planning Organization APBP – Association of Pedestrian and Bicycle MUTCD – Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Professionals Devices BCI – Bicycle Compatibility Index NCHRP – National Cooperative Highway Research BFC – Bicycle Friendly Community Program

BLM – Bureau of Land Management NCPC – National Crime Prevention Council

BRFSS – Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance NPS – National Parks Service System PBIC – Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center CDBG – Community Development Block Grant PSA – Pedestrian Safety Assessment CDC – Centers for Disease Control and Prevention ROW – Right-of-Way CIP – Capital Improvement Program RTCA – Rivers, Trails, and Conservation Assis- CMAQ – Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality tance Program (National Parks Service)

CNU – Congress for New Urbanism RTP – Regional Transportation Plan

CPTED – Crime Prevention through Environmental RTP – Recreational Trails Program Design SNAP – Safe Neighborhood Access Plan EPA – Environmental Protection Agency SRTS (SR2S) – Safe Routes to School FHWA – Federal Highway Administration STIP – State Transportation Improvement Plan FLMA – Federal Land Management Agencies STP – Surface Transportation Program FTA – Federal Transit Administration TCRP – Transit Cooperative Research Program HIA – Health Impact Assessment TDD – Transportation Development Districts HUD – U.S. Department of Housing and Urban TDM – Transportation Demand Management Development TOD – Transit Oriented Development IBIS – Indicator-based Information System TIP – Transportation Improvement Program LAB – League of American Bicyclists

Appendix: Acromyms and Glossary 191 UCDC – Utah Conservation Data Center

UCR – Uniform Crime Report

UDEQ – Utah Department of Environmental Quality

UDOH – Utah Department of Health

UDOT – Utah Department of Transportation

ULI – Urban Land Institute

USDOT – U.S. Department of Transportation

USFS – United States Forest Service

UTA – Utah Transit Authority

TDD – Transportation Development District

VGI – Volunteered Geographic Information

WFC – Walk Friendly Communities

WFRC – Wasatch Front Regional Council

192 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Glossary of Key Terms

Accessibility: The number of opportunities (activity within that area) and externally (connections with sites) within a certain distance or travel time from arterials and other neighborhoods). an identified origin. Construct: One or more measurable variables that Active Modes of Transportation: Transportation are used to represent a single unmeasurable vari- modes powered by human energy or activity, able or a variable for which no data are available. requiring little to no outside assistance. They may Construct variables can be used as a stand-in include walking, bicycling, rollerblading/skating, when the information being sought is unavailable. skateboarding, scooters, etc. These modes are Example: If information is not available on heart also referred to as “non-motorized modes.” disease rates, a community may choose to use obesity rates or other contributing risk factors as a Attitudinal Survey: A widely used survey type construct. that estimates the potential impacts of bicycle and pedestrian improvements and determines relative Corridor: A generally linear tract of land within preferences for such improvements. which at least one main line for transport has been built, be it road, rail, trail, etc. Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS): A cross-sectional telephone survey con- Discrete Choice Model: A statistical model that ducted by state health departments (with technical predicts a decision made by an individual (choice and methodologic assistance provided by CDC) of mode, choice of route, etc.) as a function of any to determine the distribution of risk behaviors and number of variables, including factors that de- health practices among adults. scribe a bicycle or pedestrian facility improvement or policy change. Chronic Disease: A long-lasting, persistent, or recurrent medical condition such as diabetes or Health Impact Assessment (HIA): A combina- and cardiovascular (heart) disease. tion of procedures, methods and tools by which a policy, program, or project may be judged as to its Congestion: A condition on networks that occurs potential effects on the health of a population, and as use increases, and is characterized by slower the distribution of those effects within the popula- speeds, longer trip times, and increased queueing. tion. Connectivity: The density of connections in path or Hypothetical Choice Survey: A survey that is road networks and the directness of links. A well- generally used to develop statistical models and connected road or path network has many short to estimate the relative importance of individual links, numerous intersections, and minimal dead- attributes in the decision-making process, such as ends (cul-de-sacs). As connectivity increases, trav- time, cost, presence of bike lanes, etc. el distances decrease and route options increase, allowing more direct travel between destinations, Indicator-Based Information System (IBIS): A creating a more accessible and resilient system. program that provides statistical numerical data as Connectivity can apply both internally (streets well as contextual information on the health sta-

Appendix: Acromyms and Glossary 193 tus of Utahns and the state of Utah’s health care body fat has accumulated to the extent that it system. may have an adverse effect on health, leading to reduced life expectancy and/or increased health Jurisdiction: A particular geographic area contain- problems. Obesity increases the likelihood of ing a defined legal authority. Small geographic various diseases, particularly heart disease, type areas, such as counties and cities, are separate 2 diabetes, difficulties during sleep, cer- jurisdictions to the extent that they have powers tain types of cancer, and osteoarthritis. that are independent of the federal and state gov- ernments. Pedestrian Safety Assessment (PSA): An evalua- tion process in which trained evaluators will review Latent Demand: The phenomenon that after sup- a city or county’s pedestrian safety conditions, ply increases, more of a good is consumed. Also programs, and needs, and suggest new strategies defined as the unobservable demand for a facil- to improve pedestrian safety. ity that does not yet exist. Example: The number of people who would use a trail if it were already Preference Surveys: Surveys of actual or potential constructed. users, in which respondents are asked to express an attitude or make a choice as to how they would Level of Service (LOS): A set of criteria that act under certain conditions. Preference surveys describes the degree to which an intersection, can be conducted as a part of a public open roadway, weaving section, or ramp can effectively house, as a focus group activity with a smaller serve peak-hour and/or daily traffic. Level of number of residents, or as a mail survey. The three Service ratings typically range from A to F, where major types of preference surveys are attitudinal LOS-A is free-flowing traffic and LOS-F is traffic surveys, hypothetical choice surveys, and visual gridlock. preference surveys. Livability: The sum of the factors that add up to a Regional Transportation Plan (RTP): A long-term community’s quality of life—including the built and blueprint of a region’s transportation system. RTPs natural environments, economic prosperity, social are generally updated every five years and plan stability and equity, educational opportunity, and for 30 years into the future. The plan identifies and cultural, entertainment, and recreation possibilities. analyzes transportation needs of the metropolitan Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO): A region and creates a framework for project priori- federally-mandated and federally-funded trans- ties. portation policy-making organization made up of Right-of-Way (ROW): A right-of-way is a strip of representatives from local government and gov- land that is granted, through an easement or other ernmental transportation authorities. All federal mechanism, for transportation purposes, such as funding for transportation projects and programs for a trail, driveway, rail line, or highway. A right-of- are channeled through MPOs. way is reserved for the purposes of maintenance Mobility: The ability to move between different or expansion of existing services within the right-of- activity sites (e.g., from home to the store or from way. work to home, etc.) Sense of Place: Characteristics that make a place Obesity: A medical condition in which excess special or unique, or those that foster a sense of

194 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide authentic human attachment and belonging. employment, fragmented families, political disen- franchisement, crime, and a desolate, inhospitable Social Equity: The commitment to promote fair- city landscape ness, justice, and equity in the formation of public policy and distribution of public services. Visual Preference Survey: A survey that asks respondents to identify a preferred (or least Sustainability: A course of action that calls for preferred) option from a number of graphics or policies and strategies that meet society’s present photos. needs without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs. This would Walkability: The extent to which the built environ- include the satisfaction of basic economic, social, ment is friendly to the presence of people living, and security needs now and in the future without shopping, visiting, enjoying, or spending time in undermining the natural resource base and envi- an area. Factors affecting walkability include, but ronmental quality on which life depends. are not limited to: land use mix; street connectivity; residential density; proximity of homes and retail; Transit Oriented Development (TOD): A develop- and street designs that include accommodation for ment type that focuses high-density, mixed-use all transportation modes. development around transit stations as a means of increasing transit ridership and reducing vehicle Walking Audit: An assessment of the walkability trips. TODs promote bicycling and walking not only of or pedestrian access to an external environ- as modes to get around the development, but also ment. Walking audits are often undertaken in street as a means to complete the transit trip. environments to consider and promote the needs of pedestrians as a form of transportation. Transportation Improvement Program (TIP): A 6-year financial program that describes the sched- ule for obligating federal funds to state and local projects. The TIP contains funding information for all modes of transportation, including highways and non-motorized modes, as well as transit capi- tal and operating costs.

Uniform Crime Report (UCR): An official report containing data on crimes that are reported to law enforcement agencies across the United States. UCR is a summary-based reporting system, with data aggregated to the city, county, state, and other geographic levels.

Urban Decay: The process whereby a previously functioning city, or part of a city, falls into disrepair and decrepitude. It may feature deindustrialization, depopulation or changing population, economic restructuring, abandoned buildings, high local un-

Appendix: Acromyms and Glossary 195

Sample Master Plan Outline

Because the master plan document will be unique to each individual jurisdiction, there are no hard and fast rules as to what should or should not be included in the document. The following outline merely provides a template of potential sec- tions, as well as a description of what may be included in each.

Introduction The introduction should explain the reasons behind creating the bicycle and pedestrian master plan as well as a descrip- tion of how the plan fits into the larger planning agenda for the jurisdiction. This section may include a brief history of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and policy, and may also describe specific data that led to the identification of the purpose of the plan (e.g., health/safety issues,economic development chal- lenges, etc.).

Planning Process You may choose to include a section that describes the process by which the bicycle and pedestrian master plan was created. This would include descriptions of data collection efforts, task force or steering committee meetings, public involvement ex- ercises, etc. It is often helpful to include this information in the plan itself to provide documentation if there are ever questions down the road.

Goals and Objectives/Vision This section should summarize in detail the goals and objectives identified in Chapter 2. It is often useful to divide the section by goals, using objectives as subheadings. Providing this infor- mation near the beginning of the plan document provides a groundwork and theme for the material presented in subsequent sections.

Existing Conditions and Programs The existing conditions section will outline the inventory you conducted in Chapter 3. It is highly recommended that this section include several maps of the area. These maps can be

Appendix: Sample Master Plan 197 a variety of scales and may indicate different topics of interest, such as crosswalks and trails. The section should also provide a description of any existing programs for walking or cycling including bike clubs, running groups, interest groups, etc. You may also choose to include the additional information acquired through the initial inventory, such as environmental data, traf- fic safety, special districts, historic sites, crime data, health information, etc. The information included in this section should relate directly to the plan’s purpose and the goals and objec- tives outlined in the previous section.

Needs Analysis This section will outline the needs that were identified in Chap- ter 5. Again, it is highly recommended that this section include several maps of the area of interest and provide detail on why specific needs were identified. Any analysis methods that were used should be described in detail. This section should also include a description of users and user needs identified through public involvement activities.

Recommended Improvements A thorough description of all prioritization and project selection methods should be provided in this section to ensure transpar- ency. This may also include any cost-benefit analyses that were conducted as a part of the planning process. You may choose to limit this section to a description of project types (e.g., im- provement to sidewalks around schools, increased shoulder widths on arterial roadways, etc.) and provide a detailed de- scription of specific sites and projects within the implementation plan.

Implementation The implementation section should provide the nuts and bolts specifics of the plan. This should include a detailed phasing plan that includes project details, including any right-of-way ac- quisition, and estimated costs. You may also choose to include a list of potential funding sources for each project. If you chose to create detailed Project Fact Sheets as a part of the planning process (described in Chapter 8), you may simply include those as sections of your implementation plan. If you intend to imple-

198 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide ment any educational or enforcement programs as a part of your plan, they should be described in detail here as well.

Maintenance/Ongoing Needs This is perhaps one of the most critical and yet most frequently overlooked sections of a bicycle and pedestrian plan. This sec- tion should outline any ongoing funding or maintenance require- ments (e.g., snow removal, landscaping, etc) for the projects proposed in the plan. This could also include a description of ongoing educational programs or initiatives that are being planned.

Funding You may choose to dedicate an entire section of your plan to potential funding sources. This section would outline the federal, state, and local funding options that are anticipated to help implement the projects in your plan. It can also be used to brainstorm other creative sources of funding (e.g., private, non- profit, etc.)

Regulatory Tools If as a part of your plan you anticipate rewriting specific or- dinances or policies within the jurisdiction to better support bicycles and pedestrians, it is wise to provide a separate sec- tion (aside from infrastructure implementation) to define those changes. This could include bike-ped supportive policies or code improvements to consider, or model codes that have been implemented in other areas. In many cases the tools and policies identified in this section may not be implemented in the near (or far) future, however, having them in the plan provides a resource allowing officials to easily see best practices that would be applicable in your jurisdiction.

Appendix: Sample Master Plan 199

Bikeability &Walkability Checklists

Appendix: Bikeability and Walkability Checklists 203 204 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Appendix: Bikeability and Walkability Checklists 205 206 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Appendix: Bikeability and Walkability Checklists 207 208 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Appendix: Bikeability and Walkability Checklists 209 210 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide Appendix: Bikeability and Walkability Checklists 211 212 Utah Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Design Guide

This guide made possible by funding from the Department of Health and Human Services