APEX BICYCLE PLAN ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS Thank you to the local residents, community leaders, and government staff that participated in the development of this plan through meetings, workshops, comment forms, and plan review. Special thanks to those who participated as steering committee members, listed below. PROJECT STEERING COMMITTEE The Steering Committee is made up of local residents, government staff, and community leaders. Linda Barrett WakeMed Apex Paul Black Capital Area Metropolitan Planning Organization (formerly) David Cole Apex resident Tom Colwell Apex Parks, Recreation, and Cultural Resources Advisory Commission Shannon Cox Apex Planning Russell Dalton Apex Public Works & Transportation Jennifer Delcourt Active Routes to School Shannon Flaherty Apex Chamber of Commerce Joanna Helms Apex Economic Development Bill Jensen Apex Town Council David Keilson NCDOT Division 5 Margot Knepp Apex resident Jose Martinez Apex Public Works & Transportation Lance Olive Mayor of Apex Angela Reincke Apex Parks, Recreation & Cultural Resources Jenna Shouse Apex Planning Reggie Skinner Apex Planning Board Stephen Sposato Wake County Public Schools Ann Stephens Apex Police Department John Vine-Hodge NCDOT Division of Bicycle & Pedestrian Transportation Division of Bicycle & Pedestrian Transportation Prepared for the Town of Apex, North Carolina Project Contact: Shannon Cox, AICP, Senior Transportation Planner, Town of Apex | [email protected] PO Box 250, Apex, NC 27502 | Phone 919-249-3505 | www.apexnc.org This project was made possible with a matching grant from the North Carolina Department of Transportation (NCDOT) Division of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation (DBPT). Prepared by Alta Planning + Design, in coordination with Kimley-Horn, Inc. Adopted by the Town of Apex on January 3, 2019 APEX BICYCLE PLAN CONTENTS 4 Executive Summary CH. 1: INTRODUCTION MAPS 7 Project Background 25 Map 2.1 Existing Bicycle Facilities 8 Bike Apex Vision and Goals 27 Map 2.2 Destinations and Regional Connections 9 Planning Process 29 Map 2.3 NCDOT Roadways & Reported Bicyle Crashes 11 Benefits of a Bicycle-Friendly Apex 31 Map 2.4 Bicycle Level of Comfort 33 Map 2.5 Committee Input on Existing Conditions CH. 2: CURRENT CONDITIONS 51 Map 3.1: In-Development Bike Network 19 Local Context 53 Map 3.2 Priority Bike Network 21 Current Conditions 55 Map 3.3 Comprehensive Bike Network 35 Existing Plans, Programs & Policies 40 Public Input TABLES 19 Table 2.1 Population Growth, 2010-2016 CH. 3: RECOMMENDATIONS 21 Table 2.2 Current Conditions Assessment 47 Overview 23 Table 2.3 Inventory of Select Roadways 48 Bicycle Facility Types 47 Table 3.1 Basis of Recommendations 50 Key Recommendations 57 Table 3.2 Priority Project Checklist 51 In-Development Bike Network 89 Table 4.1 Implementation Action Steps 53 Priority Bike Network 55 Comprehensive Bike Network APPENDIX A: FUNDING RESOURCES 57 Priority Project Checklist 62 Prioritization Process APPENDIX B: COST ESTIMATES 63 Priority Project Cut-Sheets APPENDIX C: MEETING SUMMARIES 80 Program Recommendations CH. 4: IMPLEMENTATION 87 Implementation Overview 88 Key Partners & Roles in Implementation 89 Implementation Action Steps 93 Typical Project Funding Partners and Methods 94 Facility Development Methods 95 Typical Project Development Process 96 Design Guideline Resources 97 Review of Apex Engineering Specifications 98 Performance Measures CONTENTS | 3 APEX BICYCLE PLAN ECUTIV X E E “Our residents have consistently indicated a strong desire for more on-road and off-road bicycling opportunities for transportation, recreation, health, and economic development purposes.” - Dianne Khin, AICP, Apex Planning Director S U Y M M A R WHY SHOULD WE PLAN FOR residents have long supported the idea of cre- BICYCLING IN APEX? ating a safe and connected network of bicycle facilities, as is well documented in many of the The Town of Apex is at the heart of one of the Town’s past and current plans and initiatives. fastest growing regions in the country. With this The Town has responded by investing in its initial growth, the Town faces challenges and opportu- greenways and side paths. What has been miss- nities for retaining its small town character and ing, that this plan provides, is a comprehensive quality of life that has attracted so many people analysis of the Town’s opportunities for creating here in the first place. One essential aspect of such a network, and a strategic set of recom- small town living is the freedom and ability to mendations to successfully make it happen. walk out of your front door, and get to where you want to go on foot or by bicycle. This ability of WHAT DOES THIS PLAN residents to participate in this simple activity is at RECOMMEND? the root of a remarkable set of positive commu- nity benefits related to public health and safety, This bicycle transportation plan, known as Bike recreation, transportation, local economy, and Apex, features policy, program, and infrastruc- tourism. ture recommendations that, if adopted, funded, and implemented, will create the bicycle-friendly The problem is, as Apex grows, its roads are community that residents have long supported. growing too, and the amount of traffic seems to This plan documents the past and current sup- fill them even as they are built. Town roadways, port for a bicycle-friendly Apex, and highlights in their current condition, feel unsafe for many some of the current conditions impacting bicy- experienced bicyclists, and intimidating for peo- cling in Town today (see Chapter 2). ple who would otherwise consider riding. Apex Image in header: Bicyclists at the American Tobacco Trail in Apex. 4 | CONTENTS APEX BICYCLE PLAN KEY STEPS IN THE PLANNING PROCESS: Public Involvement Steering Committee Meetings, Stakeholder Integration with Interviews & Public Workshops Advance Apex Throughout Process Public Public Workshop 1 Workshop 2 (May 21, 2018) (Aug. 2, 2018) Begin 1 2 3 4 5 Implementation! Existing Draft Draft Draft Plan Final Plan 2019 Conditions Bikeway Planning Review & Final Analysis Network Report & Revisions Presentations Dec-Mar April-May June-July Aug-Oct Nov-Dec PUBLIC INPUT RESPONSE HIGHLIGHTS: Would you use greenways more often How important is it to you to improve if you were closer to them, or if there bicycling conditions in Apex? When I don’t ride a bike, it’s because... were more of them? VERY “I DON’T 96% YES 85% IMPORTANT 42% FEEL SAFE” 4% NO 14% SOMEWHAT IMPORTANT 3% NOT IMPORTANT BASIS OF RECOMMENDATIONS: Public & Connections Current Existing Priority Steering to Key Conditions Plans & Project Projects Analysis Committee Destinations Opportunities and Input Downtown, challenges (p.21) Existing and A priority project parks, schools, Bicycle Level of in-development checklist taking Mapping neighborhoods, Comfort Analysis roadway, green- into account exercises, work- commercial areas, (p. 31), and way, side path, nearly 20 unique shops, group and surrounding past bicycle crash and bicycle lane factors (p.57) discussions, and + communities +locations (p.29) +projects (p.51) + comment forms (p. 27) (p.33 and 40) TOP 10 PRIORITY PROJECTS: 1. Beaver Creek Greenway from Downtown Apex to the American Tobacco Trail 2. S Salem St/Old US 1 Sharrows and Bike Lanes, from Downtown Apex to Pleasant Park 3. Olive Chapel Rd Bike Lanes, from NC 55 to New Hill Olive Chapel Rd 4. Hunter St Sharrows, from Apex Peakway to Williams St/NC 55 5. Apex Peakway (North) Side Path, from Center St to Beaver Creek Greenway 6. N Salem St/Davis Dr Side Path & Sharrows from Salem Pond Park at Old Jenks Rd to Downtown Apex 7. Laura Duncan Rd Side Path and Sharrows, from Apex High School at US 64 to Downtown Apex at Center St 8. Apex Peakway (South) Side Path, from Beaver Creek Greenway to Center St 9. Middle Creek Greenway, from Gladsong Rd to Lufkin Rd 10. Reedy Branch Greenway, from Kelly Rd to American Tobacco Trail EXECUTIVE SUMMARY | 5 APEXAPEX BICYCLEBICYCLE PLANPLAN BIG PICTURE RECOMMENDATIONS: KEEP MOMENTUM ON BICYCLE PROJECTS THAT ARE ALREADY IN-DEVELOPMENT. 1 Map 3.1 features existing facilities along with projects that have some level of funding, design, or construction in progress. These “in-development” projects should be fully funded first, as the lowest hanging fruit for new bicycle infrastructure. STRATEGICALLY AND PROACTIVELY FUND AND BUILD PRIORITY PROJECTS. 2 Map 3.2 features a set of priority projects that developed out of the Bike Apex planning process. These are detailed in individual project cut-sheets (starting on page 63) that summarize why the project is a priority, and what the key opportunities and challenges are to its development. See the Project Priority Checklist (p. 57) for how priorities were selected. USE THE COMPREHENSIVE NETWORK OF RECOMMENDATIONS TO BUILD OTHER 3 PROJECTS INCREMENTALLY OVER TIME. As Apex continues to grow, new development and roadway construction projects should incorporate facilities recommended in Map 3.3. As progress is made on priority projects, new priorities should be selected from this comprehensive map of recommendations. IMPLEMENT NEW PROGRAMS THAT SUPPORT AND ENCOURAGE BICYCLING. 4 As new facilities are built, people will want to know where they are, how to get to them, and how to ride safely on them; new programs can help address these issues, and are outlined starting on page 80. Motorists can also use encouragement to slow down, yield when appropriate, and pass bicyclists safely, and a safety campaign should be launched to do just that. Together, these recommendations make up the core of this plan, as featured in Chapter 3. They are supplemented by a detailed set of action steps, and a list of resources for the latest informa- tion on bicycle facility design and bicycle-related policy in Chapter 4. 6 | CHAPTEREXECUTIVE ONE: SUMMARY INTRODUCTION APEX BICYCLE PLAN PTER O A N H E “The Town seeks a transportation network that C supports mobility, reliability, and safety for all modes of transportation and understands that there is an opportunity to accommodate bicycling as a mode of transportation through our many infrastructure projects.” - Russell H.