ACCESSIBILITY ACTION PLAN for six corners commercial district JULY 2015 ACCESSIBILITY ACTION PLAN for six corners INTRODUCTION 5 Goals & Objectives 6 Why Create this Plan? 7 Process 8 PROGRAMMED BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS 9 Programmed Bicycle Improvements 10 Programmed Pedestrian Improvements 12 Existing Streetscape Improvements 14 CHALLENGES FOR PEDESTRIANS AND CYCLISTS 15 RECOMMENDATIONS 19 Infrastructure Projects 20 Programs 24 ACTION PLAN 27 INTRODUCTION | TABLE OF CONTENTS 3 Acknowledgements SIX CORNERS STEERING COMMITTEE ABOUT THE CONSULTANTS Tony Assimos, resident The mission of Active Transportation Alliance is to make bicycling, walking, and public transit so safe, convenient, and Michael Flaherty, resident fun that we will achieve a significant shift from environmentally Russell Flinchum, resident harmful, sedentary travel to clean, active travel. We advocate Donald Smith, resident for transportation that encourages and promotes safety, physical activity, health, recreation, social interaction, equity, Kelli Wefenstette, Six Corners Association environmental stewardship, and resource conservation. We are both Chicagoland’s voice for better biking, walking, ADDITIONAL INPUT WAS PROVIDED BY THE and transit and a premier consultancy. Our staff includes FOLLOWING STAKEHOLDERS: planning, policy, and education experts who developed many Alderman John Arena of the best practice programs and policies included in this plan. By partnering with us on this project, you not only get the best plan possible, you also support our mission to improve active transportation throughout the Chicagoland region. ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ALLIANCE PROJECT TEAM Brianne Downing Ellen Gottschling Jacque Henrikson Jim Merrell Heather Schady 4 ACCESSIBILITY ACTION PLAN FOR SIX CORNERS INTRODUCTION 1CHAPTER 1 | INTRODUCTION 5 GOALS & OBJECTIVES Overview The goal of this project is to develop an action plan for Six Corners Shopping District that serves as a tool to: OBJECTIVE: ONE In the heart of Portage Park, the Six Corners Enhance our pedestrian-friendly business district designation and promote to customers business district has drawn shoppers and entertainment seekers for decades. In recent OBJECTIVE: TWO years, the area suffered from retail turnover, Improve safety for shoppers of all abilities vacancies, and a challenging transportation OBJECTIVE: THREE environment, but the economic climate is Increase accessible traveling options through turning around. The Six Corners Association engineering, enforcement, and education and the Office of Alderman John Arena have OBJECTIVE: FOUR been working to address these challenges Craft space for social capital where members of our community can gather by redeveloping vacant buildings, creating outdoor meeting spaces, and identifying ways to improve the environment for pedestrians and cyclists. To build on these successes, these groups partnered with Active Transportation Alliance (Active Trans) to explore and identify ways to further improve pedestrian and bicycle access to the Six Corners business district. 6 ACCESSIBILITY ACTION PLAN FOR SIX CORNERS WHY CREATE A BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY BUSINESS DISTRICT? Bicycle and pedestrian friendly design is good for business. Business districts that are appealing to pedestrians and cyclists tend to attract more shoppers and have more sales. Communities across the country surveyed by Smart Growth America and the National Complete Streets Coalition reported a rise in employment levels, increased new net businesses, property value increases and increased investment from the private sector after pedestrian and bicycle friendly projects were built.1 According to a March 2015 study by Smart Growth America and the National Complete Streets Coalition, “Safer Streets, Stronger Economies,” communities surveyed reported an increase in new net businesses and property values after the completion of Complete Streets projects. EVERY SHOPPING TRIP BEGINS AND ENDS ON FOOT. No matter the mode of travel a person uses to access a business district, a portion of their trip will be made while walking. Areas that are more pleasant to walk will encourage people to visit more shops, which could translate to increased sales. CYCLISTS AND PEDESTRIANS TEND TO SHOP LOCALLY. Cyclists and pedestrians prefer to take short half mile trips to access goods and services, meaning they are more likely to frequent local businesses than those who drive. Since most trips taken are less than two miles, business districts that are pedestrian and bicycle friendly with connections to adjacent residential neighborhoods can capture more local shopping trips. BUSINESSES ALONG BIKE LANES SEE INCREASED SALES. In San Francisco, businesses on Valencia Street reported increased sales when new bike lanes were installed.2 Restaurants on Magnolia Street in Fort Worth experienced a nearly 200% increase after bike lanes and racks were installed.3 1 Smart Growth America and National Complete Streets Coalition, Safer Streets, Stronger Economies: Complete Streets Project Outcomes from Across the Country, 2015. 2 Emily Drennen, “The Economic Effects of Traffic Calming on Urban Small Businesses,” 2003. 3 Elly Blue, “Bikenomics: The Economic Case for On-Street Bike Parking,” 2011. CHAPTER 1 | INTRODUCTION 7 PROCESS The recommendations in this study were developed through the review of existing conditions and discussions with the community. The following steps were taken: REVIEW OF EXISTING CONDITIONS: Active Trans met with the Alderman’s office and the Six Corners Association to discuss previous and upcoming projects in the area and opportunities and challenges to improving the bicycle and pedestrian experience in the neighborhood. Active Trans also reviewed datasets pertinent to the area, including crash data, roadway jurisdictions, and average daily traffic volumes. REVIEW OF PLANS: The project team reviewed Streets for SIX CORNERS WALK AUDIT Cycling 2020, the City of Chicago’s Pedestrian Plan, and the Six Corners Economic Development Master Plan to understand recommended improvements for the area. Many of these recommendations are reinforced in this action plan. WALK AUDIT: The Business Association and Active Trans walked around the business district to see first-hand the challenges to the pedestrian environment. Pedestrian crossings at unsanctioned locations, erratic driver behavior, and a lack of bicycle facilities were some of the behaviors and challenges observed by the group. COMMUNITY MEETING: More than 30 residents and business owners attended a community meeting on April 22, 2015 at the Filament Theatre to discuss goals and SIX CORNERS COMMUNITY MEETING BRAINSTORM AND VOTING strategies to create a more walkable and bikeable Six Corners. Participants identified barriers to safe walking and biking on a map and discussed ideas for programs and initiatives to encourage more walking and biking trips to the area. 8 ACCESSIBILITY ACTION PLAN FOR SIX CORNERS PROGRAMMED BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS 2CHAPTER 2 | PROGRAMMED BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN IMPROVEMENTS 9 PROGRAMMED BICYCLE Overview IMPROVEMENTS Several bicycle improvements are planned for the area, including: Prior to this planning effort, Six Corners BIKE LANE ON MILWAUKEE AVENUE: This project was residents and business owners have worked recommended by the City of Chicago’s Streets for Cycling to identify and implement many improvements 2020 plan and was recently selected by Ward 45 residents to the bicycle and pedestrian network. Many as the highest priority project in its participatory budgeting of the recommendations are included in the project. The community has committed $60,000 to the community’s Master Plan. In addition, the 45th construction of bike lanes on Milwaukee from Lawrence to Addison. Ward has a participatory budgeting process, which has approved funding for several bicycle BIKE CORRALS: The Six Corners Pedestrian Improvement and pedestrian improvements in the community. committee raised the needed money through crowd- funding for three bike corrals to be placed around the This chapter summarizes the recommendations business district. Saris donated a fourth. The approximate in previous planning initiatives and the projects locations include: 4041 N. Milwaukee Avenue, 4016 N. that will be completed soon, and projects that Cicero Avenue, 3950 N. Milwaukee Avenue, and one to be have already been constructed. determined. DIVVY STATIONS: Six Corners will receive its first Divvy Station in 2015. The station will be located at the intersection of Irving Park Road and Kilpatrick Avenue. An additional five stations will be located in the 45th Ward to establish a greater coverage area. 10 ACCESSIBILITY ACTION PLAN FOR SIX CORNERS Programmed Bicycling Improvements ROBE EL RTS I A - V S L 9 V W ARGYLE AV A T " AR Ã (DANIEL) SQUARE 4 T O N V O E N R A A B U M V O IE W STRONG ST NE W STRONG ST A "M B T G L V A I S V H A V V T V V K LE ER A V V A E A A V V V V GA N A Y A N A HIG R N A A E Ainslie St E O W GI W AINSLE ST A K CK N L R R LL NS P R M C U E E A UGE I E L A P E L A A K N L N A N W I NT D V N E L E N TR W R V R D L L E N E A T V O LIB I I E N T N N KR P S P C K I- W GUNNISON ST A L K K N KE JEFFERSON P B E I O 9 0 T N S Y N V O K L N N K A W ASHMORE N A (THOMAS) V V B N N d RLO THUIS Lawrence Ave Ede R A MEML. i V V V k V A A (GRA CE n s A K N A L a s E V A l AM G K NA VO A US V ZWIEFKA) u N C U xp T A P N I I N N L DA O O T N K E O R KEL w V V L I N GIDD L A N SPIKINGS ING S AV E S T A A y E AS L M S E A N A A N El I E V K O