GRAND VALLEY METROPOLITAN COUNCIL GRAND VALLEY METROPOLITAN COUNCIL NON-MOTORIZED TRANSPORTATION PLAN MMaayy,,, 22001144 2014 Grand Valley Metropolitan Council Non-Motorized PlanM Element-37/ALPINE AVENUE FOOTPATH, ALPINE TOWNSHIPi 2014 NON-MOTORIZED PLAN ELEMENT GRAND VALLEY METROPOLITAN COUNCIL NON -MOTORIZED TRANSPORTATION PLAN May, 2014 PREPARED BY THE GRAND VALLEY METROPOLITAN COUNCIL TRANSPORTATION DEPARTMENT 678 FRONT AVENUE NW, SUITE 200 GRAND RAPIDS, MI 49504 (616)776-3876 FAX: (616)774-9292 HTTP://WWW.GVMC.ORG/TRANSPORTATION ii 2014 Grand Valley Metropolitan Council Non-Motorized Plan Element GRAND VALLEY METROPOLITAN COUNCIL Credits The GVMC Non-Motorized Transportation Plan update was primarily assembled and edited in winter 2013-2014 by Michael Zonyk, GVMC Transportation Planner, with input, suggestions and guidance from the entire GVMC Transportation staff as well as the GVMC Non-Motorized Transportation Com- mittee and the general public. The Grand Valley Metropolitan Council would like to express its appreciation to the following: The GVMC Non-Motorized Transportation Committee—for their leadership and patience throughout the planning process. John Luton—for providing several bicycle facility images used within this document. Cover photograph: Pedestrian/Bicycle Footpath on the M-37/Alpine Ave North of I-96 in Alpine Township. Photo used to reflect existing need and latent demand for additional infrastructure im- provements. Photo courtesy and ©Copyright Sue Becker. Used by Permission. 2014 Grand Valley Metropolitan Council Non-Motorized Plan Element iii 2014 NON-MOTORIZED PLAN ELEMENT Table of Contents Table of Contents ............................................................................................ iv Table of Figures ............................................................................................................................................. vii Table of Maps ................................................................................................................................................ vii Introduction .................................................................................................... 8 Purpose of the Plan ......................................................................................................................................... 8 Plan Organization........................................................................................................................................ 10 Existing Non-Motorized Transportation Network ................................................................................................ 10 Non-Motorized Transportation Improvements ..................................................................................................... 10 Non-Motorized Transportation Funding Options ................................................................................................. 10 Study Recommendations .......................................................................................................................................... 10 Benefits of Non-Motorized Transportation ............................................................................................... 11 Transportation and Accessibility Options .............................................................................................................. 11 Supports Transit ........................................................................................................................................................ 12 Air Quality ................................................................................................................................................................. 12 Economic ................................................................................................................................................................... 13 Health ........................................................................................................................................................................ 15 Quality of Life ........................................................................................................................................................... 16 Challenges to Non-Motorized Transportation .......................................................................................... 16 Cross Jurisdictional Cooperation............................................................................................................................. 16 Coordination Among Multiple Users ...................................................................................................................... 17 Lack of Adequate Facilities ....................................................................................................................................... 17 Seasonal Weather ..................................................................................................................................................... 18 Demand ..................................................................................................................................................................... 18 Time and Distance .................................................................................................................................................... 18 Land Use Patterns ..................................................................................................................................................... 19 Funding ...................................................................................................................................................................... 20 Safety.......................................................................................................................................................................... 20 Maintenance ............................................................................................................................................................. 21 Liability ...................................................................................................................................................................... 22 Existing Non-Motorized Transportation Network ............................................. 23 Non-Motorized Facility Types & Definitions ............................................................................................. 23 Sidewalks (Off Street Pedestrian) ............................................................................................................................ 23 Shared Use Paths (Off Street Bike/Pedestrian – Signage Preferred) .................................................................... 24 Sidepath (On Street Bike/Ped – Signage Preferred) .............................................................................................. 24 Bicycle Lanes (On Street Bike – Striped and Marked with Signage Preferred) ................................................... 25 iv 2014 Grand Valley Metropolitan Council Non-Motorized Plan Element GRAND VALLEY METROPOLITAN COUNCIL Bicycle Routes (On Street Bike – Must be Signed) ................................................................................................. 26 Shared Lanes (On Street Bike – Must be Marked and Signage Preferred) .......................................................... 27 Shared Roadways (On Street Bike - Unsigned) ...................................................................................................... 27 Bicycle Centers and Staging Areas .......................................................................................................................... 28 Pedestrian Bridges, Underpasses, and Refuge Islands ........................................................................................... 28 Other Trending Facility Types ................................................................................................................................. 29 Existing Non-Motorized Facilities .............................................................................................................. 30 Existing Policy Context................................................................................................................................ 39 Federal ....................................................................................................................................................................... 39 State ............................................................................................................................................................................ 39 Local ........................................................................................................................................................................... 40 Non-Motorized Transportation Improvements ................................................. 41 Committee Makeup ..................................................................................................................................... 41 Plan Vision, Goals, and Performance Measures ....................................................................................... 42 Plan Vision................................................................................................................................................................. 42 Plan Goals & Objectives ..........................................................................................................................................