Complete Streets Policy & Action Plan

Complete Streets Policy & Action Plan Prepared for the City of Bridgeport by the Greater Bridgeport Regional Council Abstract: In recent years, the City of Bridgeport has focused its attention on how to revitalize the city economically, socially and environmentally. The city is concerned about global warming and the effects climate change will have on its neighborhoods and infrastructure. Its neighborhoods suffer the effects of air pollution caused by over reliance on the automobile for travel and from the way energy is produced and consumed. Additionally, it has become more difficult, with the current poor economic health of the nation, for Bridgeport to revitalize its economy and compete in the global market. In response to these challenges, the city requested assistance from the Greater Bridgeport Regional Council to create a transportation strategy to promote bicycling and walking, the development of related facilities and installation of green infrastructure. The strategy is embodied in the “complete streets” policy and action plan. The intent is to effectuate a fundamental shift in the way the roadway environment is perceived and used. Instead of dedicating the roadway for the almost exclusive domain of motorized vehicles, the roadway is view as a space where the needs of all users are considered, not just drivers. Staff: Mr. Brian Bidolli, Executive Director Ms. Linda Colello, Executive Assistant to the Director Mr. Mark C. Nielsen, Sr. Transportation Planner/ Regional Transportation Engineer Mr. Michael Lawver, GIS Technician Ms. Margaret Mixon, Transportation Planner Ms. Meghan Sloan, Transportation Planner Source of copies: Greater Bridgeport Regional Council 525 Water Street, Suite 1, Bridgeport Transportation Center, Bridgeport, Connecticut 06604 Phone: (203) 366-5405 Fax: (203) 366-8437 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.gbrct.org Date: August, 2011 Acknowlegements: This report was prepared by the Greater Bridgeport Regional Planning Council, in cooperation with the City of Bridgeport’s Office of Sustain- ability and member municipalities under the GBRC’s FY 2011-2012 Unified Planning Work Program. It was funded through the UPWP by the US Department of Transportation, Connecticut Depart- ment of Transportation and member municipalities. The opinions, findings and conclusions expressed in the report are those of the GBRPA, and do reflect the official views of the ConnDOT or the USDOT. For more For more information about the GBRC’s transportation planning process and the complete streets policy and action plan, please visit the information: GBRC’s website:www.gbrct.org ii While a “complete street” embraces many com- Table of Contents mon elements, each application is unique and the features selected reflect the land use, needs and characteristics of the area. Key elements include bicycle facilities (routes and lanes), bus priority Overview & Purpose 1-1 systems, pedestrian enhancements, streetscape environment, traffic calming measures and green Complete Streets Policy 2-1 infrastructure. The policy and action plan recognizes the chal- Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety & lenges facing the city but lays out a new direction Accident Assessment 3-1 to transform the city into a thriving, sustainable community, and improve the quality of life, social equity, and economic competitiveness of the city’s Bicycle Facilities Design residents, workers, and visitors. Approach 4-1 The installation of complete streets elements needs to follow acceptable guidelines and stan- Pedestrian Facilities Design dards and be in context with the surrounding Approach 5-1 neighborhood. The policy and action plan presents the design approach for both bicycle and pedestri- Green Infrastructure Elements 6-1 an facilities and describes how installation of green infrastructure can convert streets into “green” streets. Green Streets 7-1 Various recommendations are presented based on Transit Priority Treatments 8-1 well thought out and explicit process and scaled appropriately to the area and in-light of costs. This tiered approach will allow improvements to Neighborhood be implemented in a timely manner and prevent Revitalization Zones 9-1 delays in advancing projects that may become cost prohibitive. Plan actions include: Suitability Analyses: • Adoption of the “Complete Streets” policy; Railroad Avenue & Park Avenue 10-1 • Amendment of zoning regulations to codify complete street elements and design ap- Findings & Recommendations 11-1 proach; • Designate and implement a city-wide bicycle route network; • Install bicycle lanes along several main arteries; • Complete the Housatonic Railroad Trail through the city; • Repair and improve sidewalks and crosswalks; • Install curb extensions and storm water planters; • Install rain gardens in several key downtown areas; • Convert State Street to a “complete street” with bicycle lanes, curb extensions, tree boxes and green infrastructure; • Install green infrastructure and curb extensions along Main Street in downtown; • Implement a downtown urban enhancement program; and • Implement transit priority systems along Main Street and the Coastal Corridor bus route. iii Overview & 1 Purpose In recent years, the City of Bridgeport has focused its attention on how to revitalize the city economically, socially and environmentally. The city is concerned about global warming and the effects climate change will have on its neighborhoods and infrastructure. Its neighborhoods suffer In response to the challenges facing the city, the effects of air pollution caused by over Bridgeport convened a wide ranging group of com- reliance on the automobile for travel and munity members and leaders, city departments, and from the way energy is produced and con- the business community to scrutinize these issues. sumed. Additionally, it has become more This effort was known as BGreen 2020, a multi- difficult, with the current poor economic disciplinary effort to identify strategies that could health of the nation, for Bridgeport to be implemented locally, would make the city more revitalize its economy and compete in the sustainable and livable, and have a positive impact on global market. the environment, climate change, energy dependency and the national economy. The result of the planning project was the BGreen 2020: A Sustainability Plan for Bridgeport, Connecticut. The key sustainable principles of the plan include: • Utilize sustainable energy practices and improve energy efficiency of both private and public sector facilities; • Reduce automobile trips and provide a wide range of mobility options; • Facilitate redevelopment of underutilized sites into neighborhood amenities; • Ensure access to open spaces and foster community cohesion and stewardship; and • Assist green businesses. The BGreen 2020 plan focused on five critical areas. Among these was mobility. The primary goals are: • Reduce automobile trips, vehicle miles trav- eled, and the city’s transportation emissions • Provide city residents, workers and visitors with a wide range of mobility options that are less carbon intensive. 1-1 Chapter 1: Overview & Purpose While a “Transit First” The plan will be consistent and Bridgeport developed with a policy is the key transportation compatible with the BGreen 2020 strong reliance on the accommo- strategy to achieve the mobility plan and will include a Pedestrian dation of industrial uses. goals, the plan also recommends Infrastructure Improvement Plan Bridgeport is well-equipped promoting walking and bicycling and Bicycle Facilities Plan. with a variety of transportation and the development of related options. With a strong multi- 1.1 Current Conditions infrastructure to provide safe and modal transportation center convenient facilities for all users. Before we can plan for the along Water Street, residents Developing bicycle and pedes- future we must first examine utilize many forms of modal- trian opportunities along with the past and present. The City ity including bus, rail, and ferry providing transit incentives epito- of Bridgeport was incorporated service. The primary shortfall mizes a fundamental shift in the in 1836, and has become the of the transportation network is way the roadway environment most populous city in the State its connectivity. Although many is perceived and used. Instead of of Connecticut. With a popula- option are provided linkages dedicating the roadway for the tion close to 140,000 the City between modes are often trouble- almost exclusive domain of mo- of Bridgeport serves as a corner- some for some travelers. Existing torized vehicles, the roadway is stone for the Greater Bridgeport connections between bus and rail view as a space where the needs of region. Although the formative facilities are adequate, but feeder all users are considered, not just years of Bridgeport experienced service providing access to these a heavy reliance on fishing and modes is limited at best. One drivers. This concept is embodied farming, the intense industrial- way of circumventing this spatial in the “Complete Street” policy. ization in the mid-19th century disconnect is by enhancing ac- A complete street provides access contributed greatly to its current cess for non-motorized forms of to bicyclists, pedestrians, transit urban form. Its close proximity travel. Currently, the city ben- riders as well as drivers, and also to the Long Island Sound, and efits from a partially constructed enhances the sidewalk area to subsequent improvements to the shared-use trail facility known as connect it

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