DRAFTDECEMBER 15, 2015 W INNETKA Bikeway Master Plan December 2015 ,\ ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Park and Recreation Board Task Force Committee Special Thanks To Richard Pierce, President Terry Schwartz, Executive Director GIS Consortium Winnetka Park District Brad McLane, Vice President Cook County Government Robert Smith, Superintendent of Parks Department of Geographic Information Systems John DiCola, Commissioner Winnetka Park District Edward Harney, Commissioner Tom Gullen, Superintendent of Facilities Winnetka Park District Gerri Kahnweiler, Commissioner Patrick Kreis, Police Chief Ian Larkin, Commissioner Village of Winnetka John Thomas, Commissioner Susan Chen, Assistant Village Engineer Village of Winnetka Don Maloney, President Bike Winnetka Barb Cornew Active Transportation Alliance and Winnetka Resident Terry Dason Chamber of Commerce Bill Mckinley BMO Harris Bank Larry Faulkner Green Bay Cycles Eric Chan Greeley / Washburne School Brian Miller Office of Cook County Commissioner Larry Suffredin 2 ,\ CONTENTS Project Team 05 Executive Summary 07 Research and Analysis 17 Opportunities and Challenges 21 Recommendations 35 Implementation Strategy 45 Appendix A: Funding Matrix 49 Appendix B: Community Bicycle Network Maps 53 Appendix C: East - West Connector Trail Options 57 Appendix D: Public Meeting Comments 60 Appendix E: 2012 Maps 75 Appendix F: Other Community Survey Responses 83 Appendix G: Council Meeting Minutes On the Cover Photo of Winnetka Avenue, just West of Sheridan Road. WINNETKA BIKEWAY MASTER PLAN 3 4 INTRODUCTION “Nothing compares to the simple pleasure of a bike ride.” -John F. Kennedy By investing in and implementing the bicycle facility improvements, In the age of rising oil prices, increased concern for the impact of educational and encouragement opportunities, the Winnetka Park automobile pollution on the environment, and the heightened District and Village will ultimately make bicycling a safer, more viable awareness for physical well-being, bicycling is steadily becoming a mode of travel. Ensuring the implementation of this plan will bring a more popular mode of travel for many. With the expected increase significant increase in the number of cyclists within the community. in bicycle use in communities such as Winnetka, it is important for This will require strong leadership from local elected officials, communities to develop comprehensive plans that allow bicycles to cooperation between a host of jurisdictional agencies, schools, and become a viable mode of transportation. In recognizing this need, village departments, along with continued public involvement the Winnetka Park District has commissioned the Winnetka Bikeway throughout the process. Master Plan. The Winnetka Bikeway Master Plan aims to serve Winnetka residents for EXECUTIVE SUMMARY generations to come. This document lays out in clear detail a visionary, Background yet practical action strategy to make Winnetka one of Chicago’s finest The Winnetka Park District commissioned the development of a bicycling communities. It provides the necessary framework needed Bikeway Master Plan in December 2011. The initiative began with to make bicycling a viable choice for a wide range of users. With the development of a task force to help guide the plan objectives, local and regional support for greener, more efficient transportation preferred connections, understand existing challenges, and consider alternatives, Winnetka residents and community leaders are well- routes. The task force included a diverse group of stakeholders to positioned to create a bicycle network that supports all. The Winnetka provide insight from various perspectives and involve representatives Bikeway Master Plan provides the framework for: important to implementation of the plan. Through the process several public workshops were held to review preliminary plans with • Developing safe, connected bicycle routes residents and solicit their input. • Providing access to local and regional amenities • Developing programs for bicycle education and The Park Board adopted the initial Master Plan document in April encouragement 2012 in order to present the Plan to the Village Plan Commission. • Securing the resources needed to implement the network Following Plan Commission review and comment, additional public • Establishing city policies that are supportive of bicycling meetings were held in order to refine the Plan in advance of presen- • Enhancing the quality of life for residents tation to the Village Council in April 2013. Following Village Council review, amendments to the Plan were put on hold while the Park While many of Winnetka’s residents and visitors currently bicycle within District and Village focused on other priorities and projects in the the community, many more would do the same if new improvements community. The Park Board directed staff to finalize the Plan Amend- such as signed bicycle routes, bike lanes, and bicycle parking were ments in 2015 at which point additional public meetings were held provided throughout the village. and further refinements were incorporated into the Master Plan. WINNETKA BIKEWAY MASTER PLAN 5 The Amended Plan was presented to the Village Council in October Recommendations 2015 and received support for implementation of Phase One which The proposed network is divided into three categories, 1st Priority includes the separated multi-use trail along Hibbard Road, signed Network, 2nd Priority Network, and Other Potential Links. The first route along Elm Street, and a marked shared lane along Sheridan two priority networks focus on routes for east-west connections which is being implemented by IDOT. since there are already two regional north-south routes through the community, and connections to those regional trails. Through these routes connectivity will also be provided for schools, parks, business Goals and Use of the Plan districts, and metra stations within the community. Proposed While the Master Plan addresses connectivity, supports amenities, wayfinding signage should be provided to assist with identification signage, and implementation steps, the focus of the Plan of the routes and destinations, as well as promoting access to the amendments were to refine the proposed routes based on public business districts from the Green Bay trail. and Village input obtained over the course of the Plan review. The 1st Priority Network proposes connections based on route de- The Bikeway Master Plan is to serve as a guide for the development velopment that is already in progress and are low cost opportunities. of a bikeway network throughout the community with the following This network includes the separated multi-use trail along Hibbard objectives: Road that is partially completed, a marked shared lane along Sheri- • Enhance the quality of life for Winnetka residents dan which is being implemented by IDOT, and a signed route along • Provide safe access and wayfinding to and from regional Elm Street to provide an initial east west route that is also central to trails, parks, schools, and other community destinations the community. • Identify beneficial amenities and facilities that can support the bikeway network and bicycling activity The 2nd Priority routes propose to expand the network for connec- • Provide a guide for implementation, further public tivity to the three Green Bay Trail access points and additional school, engagement, and inter-agency cooperation park, and neighborhood connections. This network includes signed routes along Linden, Lincoln, and Maple Streets; extension of the Hibbard separated multi-use trail from Willow to Winnetka; a separat- The Plan is intended to identify preferred routes based on ed multi-use trail along Winnetka Avenue, Harp Road, and a segment community and task force input, analysis of site conditions, and of Willow Road; and separated multi-use trail along Forest Way Drive. recognized standards. The Park District will need to work with the Village and other applicable agencies as each phase is considered The remainder of the proposed routes are categorized as Other for implementation. This Master Plan is not a design or engineering Potential Links that can strengthen the east-west connections to the document and implementation of each phase will require further north and south of the community but require more intensive analy- analysis of site conditions, planning, and engineering. Alternate sis, long term planning, and community engagement to confirm and routes are to be studied further during implementation in refine the routes according to constraints, available resources, and conjunction with community engagement of each neighborhood neighborhood preferences. specific to the route(s) being considered. The proposed routes are subject to modification based on further analysis, engineering, and Neighborhood interest. 6 RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS 7 REGIONAL MUNICIPALITY MAP GLENCOE Park District Limits Village Limits Scale 1”=3,500’ COOK COUNTY N 0 1,750’ 3,500’ FOREST PRESERVE DISTRICT LAKE 94 MICHIGAN WINNETKA NORTHFIELD INDIAN HILL GOLF CLUB KENILWORTH WILMETTE 8 RESEARCH AND ANALYSIS SUMMARY The initial phase of this project included extensive research and neighborhoods, businesses, parks, and the already existing analysis that intended to construct a more complete picture of trails located throughout the village. To better understand these the challenges and opportunities present within Winnetka and its connections, the design team performed detailed GIS mapping of the surrounding region. To better