Village of Saranac Lake Final Bicycle + Pedestrian Trail Master Plan May, 2013 PREPARED BY: Alta Planning + Design PREPARED FOR: Village of Saranac Lake This document was prepared for the New York State Department of State with funds provided under Title 11 of the Environmental Protection Fund. Village of Saranac Lake Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail Plan Executive Summary __________________________________________________________ 1 1 Introduction _____________________________________________________________ 1 2 Study Area Boundary _____________________________________________________ 1 2.1 Local Boundary ______________________________________________________________ 1 2.2 Regional Boundary ___________________________________________________________ 1 3 Related Plans and Documents ______________________________________________ 4 3.1 Local Waterfront Revitalization Program (Approved January, 2004) ___________________ 4 3.2 Village of Saranac Lake Draft Comprehensive Plan _________________________________ 4 3.3 Saranac River Walk Plan, 1992 _________________________________________________ 5 3.4 NYSDEC Unit Management Plans and State Land Classifications ______________________ 5 4 Existing Conditions _______________________________________________________ 6 4.1 Existing Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodations __________________________________ 6 4.1.1 Sidewalks ______________________________________________________________________ 6 4.1.2 Main Street and Broadway _________________________________________________________ 6 4.1.3 Riverwalk ______________________________________________________________________ 7 4.1.4 Moody Pond ____________________________________________________________________ 7 4.1.5 Trails __________________________________________________________________________ 8 4.1.6 Trail Wayfinding _________________________________________________________________ 9 4.2 Destinations ________________________________________________________________ 9 5 Recommended Bicycle and Pedestrian Network _______________________________ 13 5.1 Public Input ________________________________________________________________ 13 5.1.1 Public Workshop ________________________________________________________________ 13 5.1.2 Online Survey __________________________________________________________________ 14 5.2 Pedestrian Accommodations __________________________________________________ 16 5.2.1 Sidewalks _____________________________________________________________________ 16 5.2.2 Sidewalk Improvement Recommendations ___________________________________________ 16 5.2.3 Intersections ___________________________________________________________________ 17 5.2.4 Intersection Improvement Recommendations ________________________________________ 17 5.3 Bicycle Accommodations _____________________________________________________ 19 5.3.1 Bike Lanes _____________________________________________________________________ 19 5.3.2 Shared Lane Markings ___________________________________________________________ 20 5.3.3 Neighborhood Greenways (Bicycle Boulevards) _______________________________________ 20 5.3.4 Signed Connections _____________________________________________________________ 21 5.3.5 Bicycle Improvement Recommendations ____________________________________________ 22 5.3.6 Intersections ___________________________________________________________________ 23 5.3.7 Intersection Improvement Recommendations ________________________________________ 24 Village of Saranac Lake Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail Plan 5.4 Multiple Uses ______________________________________________________________ 26 5.5 Trails _____________________________________________________________________ 26 5.5.1 Natural Surface Trails ____________________________________________________________ 26 5.5.2 Natural Surface Trail Recommendations _____________________________________________ 27 5.5.3 Trailheads _____________________________________________________________________ 27 5.5.4 Water Trails ___________________________________________________________________ 28 5.6 Location‐Specific Improvements _______________________________________________ 30 5.6.1 Riverwalk _____________________________________________________________________ 30 5.6.2 Route 3 Pedestrian Bridge ________________________________________________________ 30 5.6.3 Moody Pond ___________________________________________________________________ 30 5.6.4 Prescott Park __________________________________________________________________ 31 5.6.5 Village Mountain Bike Park _______________________________________________________ 31 5.7 Programs __________________________________________________________________ 31 5.7.1 Wayfinding / Signage ____________________________________________________________ 31 5.7.2 Main Street Pedestrian‐Only Events ________________________________________________ 32 5.7.3 Grate Replacement______________________________________________________________ 32 5.7.4 Safe Passage / Share the Road Campaign ____________________________________________ 32 5.7.5 Complete Streets _______________________________________________________________ 33 5.7.6 Safe Routes to School (SRTS) ______________________________________________________ 34 5.7.7 Saranac Lake Trail Map ___________________________________________________________ 34 5.7.8 Bicycle Parking _________________________________________________________________ 34 6 Priority Projects _________________________________________________________ 36 6.1 Decision Criteria and Matrix __________________________________________________ 36 6.1.1 Rail‐with‐trail __________________________________________________________________ 38 6.1.2 Mount Pisgah to Downtown Trail __________________________________________________ 39 6.1.3 Baker Mountain to Downtown (including Moody Pond Loop) ____________________________ 40 6.1.4 Dewey Mountain to Mount Pisgah Trail _____________________________________________ 41 6.1.5 School Loop with Extension to Dewey Mountain ______________________________________ 42 6.1.6 Riverwalk _____________________________________________________________________ 43 6.1.7 Safe Routes to School ____________________________________________________________ 44 6.1.8 Intersection Improvements _______________________________________________________ 45 6.1.9 River Street Trail ________________________________________________________________ 46 6.1.10 Sidewalk Improvements __________________________________________________________ 46 6.2 Design Concepts ____________________________________________________________ 48 6.2.1 Street Scale Design ‐ Main Street and Broadway ______________________________________ 48 6.2.2 Community Scale Design ‐ Trail Wayfinding __________________________________________ 54 7 Implementation Plan _____________________________________________________ 60 7.1 Design Guidance ____________________________________________________________ 60 7.1.1 Sidewalk Design Guidelines _______________________________________________________ 60 Village of Saranac Lake Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail Plan 7.1.2 Intersection Design Guidelines ____________________________________________________ 63 7.1.3 Bike Lane Design Guidelines _______________________________________________________ 67 7.1.4 Retrofitting Existing Streets with Bike Lanes __________________________________________ 73 7.1.5 Shared Lane Markings Design Guidelines ____________________________________________ 77 7.1.6 Shared Use Path Design Guidelines _________________________________________________ 79 7.1.7 Shared Use Paths Along Roadways _________________________________________________ 79 7.1.8 Natural Surface Trail Design Guidelines ______________________________________________ 82 7.2 Maintenance _______________________________________________________________ 83 7.2.1 System Maintenance ____________________________________________________________ 83 7.2.2 Routine Maintenance Activities ____________________________________________________ 83 7.2.3 On‐Street Bikeways _____________________________________________________________ 84 7.2.4 Seasonal Management Issues _____________________________________________________ 84 7.2.5 Risk Management _______________________________________________________________ 84 7.2.6 Managing Multiple Uses __________________________________________________________ 85 7.2.7 Proposed Maintenance Endowment ________________________________________________ 86 7.2.8 Performance Measures __________________________________________________________ 86 7.3 Funding Sources ____________________________________________________________ 87 7.3.1 Federal Funding ________________________________________________________________ 87 7.3.2 New York State Funding __________________________________________________________ 88 7.3.3 Non‐Governmental Grants ________________________________________________________ 89 Village of Saranac Lake Bicycle and Pedestrian Trail Plan Executive Summary This Bicycle and Pedestrian Trails Plan implements a priority recommendation in the Village's adopted LWRP and advances the goals of the Adirondack Park Land Use Plan by promoting sustainable development and reinforcing the Village as a regional center destination for commercial activity. This plan results in a comprehensive bicycle, pedestrian and trail network that will enhance community livability through alternative transportation options, a network of open spaces, and promotion of a healthy active lifestyle. A series of pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure improvements are outlined to increase