Bicycle Facilities and Alternative Transportation Plan Final Report - February 2012 Prepared by: KTU+A Planning and Landscape Architecture In Association with: IBI Group City of La Mesa Bicycle Facilities and Alternative Transportation Plan Final Report - February 2012 Prepared For: City of La Mesa, California 8130 Allison Avenue, La Mesa, California 91942 Prepared By: KTU+A 3916 Normal Street San Diego, CA 92103 In Association With: IBI Group 701 B Street, Suite 1170 San Diego, CA 92101 Acknowledgements City of La Mesa Bill Chopyk, AICP, Community Development Director Cheryl Davis, Administrative Coordinator Kathy Feilen, P.E. Engineering Project Manager Greg Humora, P.E., Public Works Director Chris Jacobs, AICP, Senior Planner Robin Keightley, Community Development Program Coordinator Michael Kinnard, P.E., Associate Engineer Kristen Langford, Planning Intern Patricia Rutledge, Community Development Program Coordinator KTU+A Mike Singleton, LLA, AICP CTP, LEED AP, Principal in Charge Joe Punsalan, GISP, LCI, Project Manager Catrine Machi, AICP, LCI, Planner IBI Group Dennis Wahl, Associate Brian Gaze, Planner LA MESA BICYCLE FACILITIES AND ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN Table of Contents 1. Introduction 1.1 Project Scope ..........................................................................................................................9 1.2 The Cyclist’s and Pedestrian’s Perspective .........................................................................10 1.3 Field Work .............................................................................................................................10 1.4 Community Input ..................................................................................................................11 2. Bicycle Infrastructure 2.1 Existing Bicycle Infrastructure ........................................................................................... 14 2.2 Bicycle Facilities Objectives and Policies .......................................................................... 18 2.3 Summary of Existing Plans ................................................................................................ 22 2.4 Mapping of Existing Conditions ....................................................................................... 25 2.5 Bicycle Collisions .................................................................................................................. 35 2.6 Bicycle Issues ......................................................................................................................... 36 2.7 Prioritized Bicycle Projects ................................................................................................ 39 2.8 Bicycle Demand Assessment ............................................................................................ 50 2.9 Projected Bicycle Demand .................................................................................................. 50 2.10 Bicycle Parking Assessment .............................................................................................. 52 3. Pedestrian Infrastructure 3.1 Pedestrian Facilities Goals, Objectives and Policies ........................................................ 58 3.2 Summary of Existing Pedestrian Plans ............................................................................. 61 3.3 Pedestrian Collisions ............................................................................................................ 63 3.4 Route Classifications ............................................................................................................ 66 3.5 Route Types Defined ............................................................................................................ 66 3.6 Route Types Found in La Mesa .......................................................................................... 67 3.7 Route Type Treatment Levels ............................................................................................. 74 3.8 Safety Issues ........................................................................................................................... 76 3.9 Connectivity Issues ............................................................................................................... 87 3.10 Walkability Issues ................................................................................................................ 94 3.11 Prioritized Pedestrian Projects .......................................................................................... 98 3.12 Top Priority Pedestrian Projects ....................................................................................... 99 1 LA MESA BICYCLE FACILITIES AND ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN 4. Recommended Bicycle and Pedestrian Programs 4.1 Encouragement .....................................................................................................................105 4.2 Education ...............................................................................................................................109 4.3 Enforcement ..........................................................................................................................112 4.4 Engineering ............................................................................................................................113 4.5 Evaluation and Planning ......................................................................................................114 5. Public Transit Infrastructure 5.1 City of La Mesa Public Transit Goals, Policies and Objectives 117 5.2 Light Rail Infrastructure ..................................................................................................... 118 5.3 Bus Service ........................................................................................................................... 120 5.4 ADA Paratransit Service ...................................................................................................... 123 5.5 Specialized Travel Programs Sponsored by the City of La Mesa ................................. 123 5.6 Assessment of future trolley and bus service levels........................................................ 124 5.7 Transit Stops and Ridership ................................................................................................ 124 5.8 Bus Stop Issues ..................................................................................................................... 126 5.9 Safe Routes to Transit: Recommended Transit Improvements ..................................... 128 6. Universal Access 6.1 Goals and Policies ............................................................................................................... 165 6.2 Assessment of Infrastructure Needs ................................................................................. 166 6.3 Solutions that Address Accessibility Issues ...................................................................... 171 7. Complete Streets and Street Classification 7.1 Regional Standards for Complete Streets .........................................................................176 7.2 Complete Streets at Intersections .....................................................................................182 7.3 Complete Streets Documentation .................................................................................... 188 7.4 Proposed Circulation Element Street Classification .......................................................189 2 LA MESA BICYCLE FACILITIES AND ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN Appendices A: Caltrans BTA Compliance B: Bicycle and Pedestrian Model Criteria C: Bicycle and Pedestrian Project Scoring Criteria D: Bicycle Facilities Design Guidelines E: Funding Sources F: Safe Routes to School Guidelines G: Caltrans Chapter 1000 Design Guidelines H: Public Input I: Complete Streets and Agency Publications J: Bicycle and Pedestrian Count Sheets 3 LA MESA BICYCLE FACILITIES AND ALTERNATIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN Figures Figure 2.1 Existing Bicycle Facilities ........................................................................................26 Figure 2.2 Activity Centers ........................................................................................................27 Figure 2.3 Existing Land Use ....................................................................................................28 Figure 2.4 Planned Land Use ....................................................................................................29 Figure 2.5 Speed Limits ..............................................................................................................30 Figure 2.6 Average Daily Trips (ADTs) ...................................................................................31 Figure 2.7 Bicycle and Pedestrian Suitability Model ..............................................................32 Figure 2.8 Bicycle Commuters ..................................................................................................33 Figure 2.9 Bicycle Related Collisions .......................................................................................34 Figure 2.10 Typical Bicycle Issues ............................................................................................36 Figure 2.11 Recommended Class 2 Bike Lanes ......................................................................40 Figure 2.12 Recommended Class 3 Bike Routes ....................................................................45