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Bikeway, Trails and Pedestrian Mobility

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Bikeway, Trails and Pedestrian Mobility THE ROLE OF TRAILS AND COMPLETE STREETS IN ACTIVE LIVING AND HEALTHY LIFE STYLES - A CASE STUDY FROM PRINCE GEORGE’S COUNTY, MARYLAND Fred Shaffer Prince George’s County M-NCPPC Trails have traditionally been thought of as recreation facilities. However, there is growing recognition that trails can also serve as transportation connections and can facilitate healthier and more active lifestyles in both children and adults. Trail from student housing to the Trail from an apartment complex to the University of Maryland West Hyattsville Metro Recent plans and legislation have recognized the importance of promoting walking and biking and incorporating trails into communities and new developments. The Countywide Master Plan of Transportation recommends a countywide network of bicycle, pedestrian, and trail facilities. 2009 Approved Countywide Master Plan of Transportation (MPOT) – included extensive bicycle and pedestrian recommendations: Over 250 projects for trails, bikeways, and sidewalk construction Complete Streets Section and Policies Trail projects that improve access to parks, transit, and other destinations Sidewalk and trail construction through the development review process Identification of Priority Sidewalk Corridors (retrofit projects) The plan recommends a variety of facilities along roads and within open space that can connect to and complement park facilities and trails. These recommended facilities are within dedicated parkland, along utility and transit corridors, along road rights-of-way, and within future development. COMPLETE STREETS – IMPROVE ACCESS TO TRAILS AND ACCOMMODATE ALL MODES No matter how many trails you have, it is still crucial to have sidewalks and bikeways along roads to get people to all the destinations they need to go. We should be planning for integrated networks of trails, bikeways and sidewalks. “You shouldn’t have to get in your car to drive to a park to walk on a trail” Legislative initiatives that implement the MPOT: CB-2-2012 requires a finding of bike/pedestrian adequacy for new subdivisions within designated centers and enables the Planning Board to require off-site bike and pedestrian improvements. CR-37-2013 established an interagency pedestrian safety workgroup. CB-83-2012 required Complete and Green Streets and resulted in the adoption of new Urban Street standards. Several projects are under design and the Ager Road project is under construction. Most recently, CR-59- 2019 established a Vision Zero Program in Prince George’s County to achieve zero traffic deaths on County roads by 2040. THE CENTRAL AVENUE CONNECTOR TRAIL A project that will implement the master plan, improve pedestrian safety, expand the regional trails network and improve community health and wellness. The need for the connector trail was identified by the community. Benefits of the trail include: • Improve pedestrian safety • Enhance access to Metro • Provide trail access to park facilities • Provide better connections between communities • Facilitate healthier communities in a Health Enterprise Zone. • Provide a regional trail in a community that is underserved by trail facilities In the fall of 2014, the M-NCPPC Planning Department received a grant from the Metropolitan Washington Council of Governments (COG) to complete the initial feasibility study and implementation plan for the Central Avenue Connector Trail. Subsequent grants have funded 30% design work for the trail. Because the trail corridor falls on M-NCPPC lands, along both County and state roads and within the WMATA right-of-way, a significant number of agency stakeholders have been engaged throughout the process. These agencies include: • Department of Parks and Recreation • Department of Public Works and Transportation • WMATA • Maryland State Highway Administration • Maryland Department of Transportation • MWCOG Initially envisioned as a somewhat circuitous route (right) following local roads, based on the feedback from WMATA the proposed alignment has shifted to much more closely follow the blue line and provide a more direct trail connection (below). The Central Avenue Connector Trail (CACT) will utilize and connect to a variety of existing trails in the Central Avenue corridor. These include the Marvin Gaye Trail in DC (right), the Chesapeake Beach Rail-Trail (below right), and the trails in the Summerfield development (below left). Portions of the corridor will follow the WMATA R-O-W and function as a trail in a park-like corridor (both graphics above), while other segments will parallel roadways and function as a shared-use sidepath, cycle track, or designated bike lanes. Incorporating this trail into the surrounding established communities will promote healthier and more active lifestyles, as well as pedestrian and bicycle trips to transit. Along Central Avenue (MD 214), the trail will be within the State Highway Administration (SHA) R-O-W or on adjacent WMATA land where available. • 30% design plans completed for the entire trail • Grant funding for final design and construction of Phase 1 • Position advertised to oversee the final design and construction • Project included as a trail priority in the 2017 Joint Signature Letter • Money placed in the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) to be used as a match for future grant applications • Working with the Health Department to ensure the design maximizes health benefit for the community Next Steps: • Position funded to oversee the CACT • Additional funding will be needed for final design and construction • Partners are needed to support and implement the trail • Trail design will maximize the public health benefit for surrounding communities Moving trails from an idea to a “line on a map” to implementation 2. Then you need to incorporate the trail 1. First you need an idea. into an approved plan. 4. 30% design plans should then be completed for the approved alignment. 5. Once the 30% design plans are complete, you are eligible for funding for final design and 3. Next you need to study the construction! feasibility/alignment in more depth and develop an implementation plan. Using Health Impact Assessments (HIA) to Improve Trail Planning and Design • 2018 National Trails System Conference included a session on using HIAs to lead to better trail design • Session presented by a Medical Doctor and a PhD in Public Health • Used a relocation of the Continental Divide Trail as a case study • Prince George’s County hopes to use the same approach for the Central Avenue Connector Trail Presenters provided an excellent summary of how an HIA was used to improve the trail design by considering the following issues: • Does the trail connect to the community? • How are road crossings addressed? • Are there convenient, visible and accessible trailheads? • How does the trail improve health of the surrounding community? The presenters wanted to develop evidence-based strategies to promote physical activity and create or improve the infrastructure to accommodate walking and biking. They wanted the trail design to combine transportation and recreation needs while at the same time being integrated into and accessible by the community. Short-term outcomes desired Long-term outcomes desired included: included: • Improved health (mental and physical) • Increased physical activity • Improved quality of life • Increased community and social capital • Improved outdoor experience • Increased community or family time The HIA evaluation used a data-driven approach and looked at a wide range of demographic and health- related factors to guide their decision making: • What is the overall health of the community? • What are the rates of diabetes, heart disease, and high blood pressure? • What is the rate of childhood obesity and adult inactivity? • What are the demographics? Are there a lot of elderly or school children? Studies also identified a wide range of design features that encourages use and active living. • Accessible trailheads • In some cases, lighting and call boxes • Scenic viewpoints and • ADA compliance destinations • Water • Safe road crossings • Benches, rest rooms, bike racks • Wayfinding Ways to use trails can promote healthy and active lifestyles: • Integrate trails into established communities • Incorporate trails into new development • Include trailheads and access points • Improve safety along the trail at road crossings • Recognize that people will use the trail for transportation • Utilize wayfinding signage • Analyze trails for their positive health impact during design and after construction • Design roads to accommodate walking and biking Using HIA’s for assessing trail alignments and designs can lead to trails that are more fully utilized, more accessible to the community and result in healthier communities. POTOMAC HERITAGE NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL Moving from Planning to Implementation in Prince George’s County, Maryland The Potomac River was designated as a National Scenic Trail corridor by Congress in 1983. A river trail has been designated on various Prince George’s County trail plans and master plans since 1975. In 1999, the Prince George’s County’s Bicycle and Trails Advisory Group (BTAG) began work to establish an On-Road Bicycle Route and explore options for an off-road trail on or near the river. Why a Trail and Bike Route in Prince George’s County? • Both Prince George’s County and National Park Service (NPS) see the route as a natural extension of the C&O Canal into Southern Maryland. • A variety of historic, cultural and recreational resources are along the Potomac River in
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