Village of North Aurora Non-Motorized
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Village of North Aurora Non-Motorized Transportation Plan June 2001 League of Illinois Bicyclists Table of Contents Introduction ............................................................................................................................................ 3 Why plan for bicycles and pedestrians? .............................................................................................. 3 An overall look at North Aurora and the Plan .................................................................................... 3 Planning Approach .............................................................................................................................. 4 Recommended Bicycle Plan .................................................................................................................. 6 AASHTO Guide .................................................................................................................................... 6 Bikeway Types ...................................................................................................................................... 6 Wide Outside (Curb) Lane ............................................................................................................... 6 Bike Lane ......................................................................................................................................... 6 Paved Shoulders............................................................................................................................... 6 Sidepaths .......................................................................................................................................... 7 Trails ................................................................................................................................................ 7 Bicycle Maps ........................................................................................................................................ 8 Spot Improvements ............................................................................................................................... 8 Table 1 – Spot Improvement recommendations ............................................................................... 8 Bike Parking....................................................................................................................................... 12 Recommended Pedestrian Plan .......................................................................................................... 14 Sidewalks............................................................................................................................................ 14 Intersections and Crosswalks ............................................................................................................ 16 Other Pedestrian Facilities ................................................................................................................ 19 Trail Proposals ..................................................................................................................................... 24 Far West Subdivision Trails............................................................................................................... 24 White Oak/NICOR corridor ............................................................................................................... 24 “Mid-County Trail” Connections ...................................................................................................... 24 ComEd trail ........................................................................................................................................ 25 Abandoned Burlington Northern Right-of-way trail ......................................................................... 27 Miscellaneous Trail Links .................................................................................................................. 27 Illinois 25 trail ................................................................................................................................... 28 Arterial and Collector Road Recommendations ............................................................................... 29 Methodology ...................................................................................................................................... 29 Specific Road Recommendations ....................................................................................................... 29 Funding Opportunities ........................................................................................................................ 34 Illinois Transportation Enhancement Program (ITEP) ..................................................................... 34 Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality (CMAQ) .............................................................................. 34 Illinois Bicycle Path Grant Program ................................................................................................. 34 Other Sources..................................................................................................................................... 34 Questions for review of roadwork and developments ...................................................................... 35 Residential Developments .................................................................................................................. 35 Commercial Developments ................................................................................................................ 35 Road Projects ..................................................................................................................................... 35 Appendix A – Road Suitability for Bicycles ...................................................................................... 36 Appendix B – Sidepath Suitability Algorithm .................................................................................. 37 References ............................................................................................................................................. 39 2 Introduction Why plan for bicycles and pedestrians? The Village of North Aurora has contracted with the League of Illinois Bicyclists to produce this non- motorized transportation plan. The transportation modes emphasized in this plan will be bicycling and walking. Other user groups and non-motorized modes can usually be accommodated by facilities for cyclists and/or pedestrians. The overall motivating goals and guiding principles for this work are: • To provide safe conditions for those who bike or walk in North Aurora by choice or necessity; • By actively improving cycling and pedestrian conditions, to encourage other residents to use these transportation alternatives more often. Throughout the country, there is a strong latent demand for better bicycling and pedestrian conditions. People want to be able to walk and bike around town. A bike- and ped-friendly town is associated with a high quality of life and an intangible sense of community. Nationally, sedentary lifestyles and obesity rates have soared in the previous decades, as development patterns and safety concerns have led to near-exclusive dependence on the automobile. National research has shown that 27% of all automobile trips are one mile or less; 40% are two miles or less; and 49% are three miles or less in length 1. All of these trips are within reasonable bicycling distance – if a community is designed to make bicycle trips just as easy and convenient as automobile trips. Besides those who bicycle or walk by choice, there are residents – including children, many teenagers, and some low-income workers – who rely on these modes by necessity. The Village of North Aurora is clearly dedicated to providing its citizens with safe alternatives. This plan takes an overall look at the Village in an attempt to remove barriers to safe, convenient bicycling and walking. Capital improvements including trails, sidewalks, crosswalks, and bicycle racks are prioritized. Recommendations for bike/ped accommodation are described for future roadwork on arterials and collectors. Policies are suggested to ensure that future development encourages bicycling and walking. Described are possible funding sources – most of which give preference to projects that are part of a village plan. An overall look at North Aurora and the Plan North Aurora, like other Fox River communities at the edge of Chicagoland, is in the middle of an extended period of growth. Subdivisions are being built on both the east and far west sides. Commercial development is occurring along Randall Road with more being planned along Orchard Road. This new growth is accessible only by arterial roads, and these roads are becoming increasingly busier. North Aurora is highlighted by the Fox River Trail along the river’s entire west bank and its east bank north of State Street. This popular trail is part of the north-south system that has increased the attractiveness of downtowns along the Fox Valley. Its importance as a transportation corridor would 3 be increased by adding more access points. Also, existing impediments either cause some residents to drive to get to the trail, or discourage them from using it altogether. In addition to the trail, there are other areas with higher rates of bicycling and walking. Many residents use these modes between the near east side along Butterfield Road to