SUMMARY REPORT September 2007 SideSidewalkswalks andand written by Shared-UseShared-Use Edward O’Donnell Andrew Knab Lorene Athey Paths:Paths: Safety,Safety, Security,Security, andand Institute for Public Administration College of Human Services, MaintenanceMaintenance Education & Public Policy University of Delaware www.ipa.udel.edu funded by the Delaware Department of Transportation Sidewalks and Shared-Use Paths: Safety, Security, and Maintenance Summary Report Published September 2007 by Edward O’Donnell, Andrew Knab, and Lorene Athey Sidewalks and Shared-Use Paths: Safety, Security, and Maintenance PREFACE AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS As director of the Insitute for Public Administration (IPA) at the University of Delaware, I am pleased to provide this report, Sidewalks and Shared-Use Paths: Safety, Security and Maintenance. This report has been a multi-stage process, including a literature review looking at best practices and interviews of professionals across the country, culminating in a policy forum. Based on the results from the three stages, this report seeks to provide answers to the current problems of safety, security, and maintenance associated with multi-modal facilities and to add the exisiting discussion of improving multi-modal facilities. I would like to take this opportunity to acknowledge the many people who helped with the policy forum and the production of this report. Project manager Ed O’Donnell coordinated the entire process and was involved with the planning, research, and writing. Consultant Lorene Athey and research assistant Drew Knab spearheaded the literature review, identified professionals across the country to interview regarding their policies on these topics, coordinated the policy forum, and wrote the document. Mark Deshon designed the graphics and handouts for the policy forum, aided in its coordination, and managed the podcasting of the policy forum. Lisa Moreland provided excellent editorial support. Richard Nietubicz typed the edits for the report. In addition to the project team’s efforts, IPA staff member Wanda Moore provided invaluable logistical support; without her, the policy forum would not have been such a success. Staff member Nelcenia Downer provided additional support. Research assistants, Megan Lehman, Shelley Cook, Ezra Temko, Nick Walls, Melissa Zechiel, Cori Burbach, and Emily Poag also assisted at the policy forum. Finally, I would like thank our keynote speaker Robert Searns, AICP, who not only gave an excellent keynote address, but also gave valuable input into the process. Also deserving are the 13 interviewees who sacrificed their time to provide the project team with professional advice, innovative ideas, and past policies. Dr. Jerome R. Lewis, Director Insitute for Public Administration 2 Sidewalks and Shared-Use Paths: Safety, Security, and Maintenance TABLE OF CONTENTS Executive Summary.......................................................................................................................4 Primary Findings and Issues ........................................................................................................6 Recommendations........................................................................................................................11 Introduction..................................................................................................................................16 Part 1: Security, Crime, and Emergency Response..................................................................18 I. Lighting..................................................................................................................20 II. Information, Orientation, and Signage...................................................................22 III. Technology: Cameras, Emergency Phones, and Call Boxes .................................23 Part 2: Facilities That Are Safe to Use.......................................................................................25 I. Safe Sidewalks.......................................................................................................29 II. Pedestrian Safety: Vehicles and Pedestrians..........................................................34 III. Pedestrian Crossings ..............................................................................................36 IV. Safe Shared-Use Paths ...........................................................................................40 V. User Conflicts ........................................................................................................41 VI. Signage and Pavement Markings...........................................................................54 VII. Develop and Adopt Uniform Guidelines ...............................................................58 Part 3: Key Maintenance Issues .................................................................................................60 I. Management and Responsibility............................................................................60 II. Specific Maintenance Tasks ..................................................................................62 III. Snow Removal.......................................................................................................66 Part 4: Managing to Enhance Safety, Security, and Maintenance..........................................71 I. Plans and Protocols................................................................................................72 II. Problem Reporting, Inspections, and Other Programs...........................................75 III. Inspections .............................................................................................................77 IV. Enforcement...........................................................................................................78 V. Successful Security Responses ..............................................................................80 VI. Education and Outreach.........................................................................................81 Appendix I: Pedestrian Crash Types and Countermeasures ..................................................92 Appendix II: Trails Along Active Railroad Tracks and Design Guidelines for Rural and Recreational Trails.......................................................................................................................97 Appendix III: Bibliography ......................................................................................................102 3 Sidewalks and Shared-Use Paths: Safety, Security, and Maintenance EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The results of Delaware’s Statewide Comprehensive Outdoor Plan (SCORP) 2003-2008 telephone survey revealed Delawareans’ commitment to outdoor facilities, especially sidewalks and shared-use paths. Eighty-eight percent of households surveyed indicated that walking or jogging are activities in which they will participate in the next twelve months, and sixty-four percent of households listed bicycling (Ehemen 3-2). Moreover, demand analysis of the state’s needs and public’s preferences rated the increasing of the number of linear facilities such as sidewalks and shared-use paths as the top priority (Ehemen 5-2). As these facilities continue to be built and become increasingly utilized as a transportation mode, the issues of safety, security, and maintenance are emerging as major issues. The unfolding of Governor Minner’s Livable Delaware Initiative has focused on mitigating the effects of sprawl and encouraging pedestrian-friendly design, which has also increased the demand for multi-modal facilities. Moreover, the expansion of multi-modal facilities has fostered the concept of seeing these facilities in the dual roles of transportation and recreational purposes. In the article Bicyclists and Pedestrians Belong!, Edward T. McMahon on page 13 notes that in the sprawling Chicago metropolitan area, the U.S. Department of Transportation found that “census zones, where five linear trails exist averaged almost 16% of commuter trips by bicycle, compared to only 1% for the region as a whole” (McMahon 13). This project was undertaken with the support of the Delaware Department of Transportation, to analyze the safety, security, and maintenance of multi-modal facilities—both on- and off-road. Specific attention was directed toward accessibility issues and snow removal. In order to adequately examine these issues, the project proceeded in three stages. First, an extensive literature review was conducted. Second, 13 experts and professionals were identified and interviewed on these topics from a total of eight states across the country. Following the completion of the literature reviews and interviews, a policy forum was held on March 21, 2007, on the University of Delaware’s campus at Clayton Hall. Approximately 60 invitees attended, including state and local police, city managers, and agency staff responsible for sidewalks and shared-use paths throughout the state. Three breakout sessions on safety, security, and maintenance were utilized to provide the project team with an “events on the ground” perspective and identify solutions. A nationally recognized expert on greenways and trails, Robert Searns, AICP, presented the keynote address. This executive summary seeks to provide a brief synopsis of the key findings and recommendations from the literature review, interviews, and policy forum. More extensive information can be found in the full report and appendices. After completing the