2012 Town of Blacksburg Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Blacksburg Corridor Committee 3/16/2012 Blacksburg Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan 2012 I. Preface and Acknowledgements Developing a Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan is no small effort, and this document is a rich resource and foundation indicating the way for bicycle and pedestrian accommodations in the Town of Blacksburg. The high quality of the effort can be seen in the following pages. In January 2011, the Town of Blacksburg’s Greenway/Bikeway/Sidewalk, Corridor Committee (“Corridor Committee”) initiated the volunteer effort that went into this plan. No one would have imagined the extent of time and energy committed by over 70 volunteers, town staff and interns with limited financial resources. Support for this plan has been enormous. Volunteers have contributed to the formulation of the vision, collected data on street conditions, analyzed those findings, identified infrastructural options and routes, and drafted chapters. As a result, this plan established well-considered standards for the continual improvement of alternative transportation options for all ages and styles of bicyclists and pedestrians. Two individuals were responsible for coordinating over 2000 hours of volunteer time, Elizabeth Lohman, citizen leader, and Priscilla Cygielnik, town staff. The following individuals, committees, staff, and council contributed to making this plan a success. A special thanks to Adam Lind, a graduate student in Urban Affairs and Planning from Virginia Tech, for his extraordinary efforts in providing maps and content for this plan. 2 Blacksburg Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan 2012 Acknowledgements Blacksburg Town Council Ron Rordam, Mayor Krisha Chachra Cecile Newcomb Leslie Hager-Smith, Vice Mayor Susan Anderson Michael Sutphin John Bush Planning Commission Ben Crawford Andrew Kassoff Cecile Newcomb Wendell Hensley Paul Lancaster Karen Drake J.B. Jones, Jr. Elizabeth Moneyhun Greenway, Bikeway, and Sidewalk Corridor Committee Keith M. Moore, Chair Katherine Ferguson Suzie Leslie Dean Crane Deborah Freed Elizabeth Lohman Teresa Davis Leslie Hager-Smith Jonathan McGlumphy Paul Farrier Bikeway/Pedestrian Master Plan Committee Volunteers Adam Lind Derek Meyers Marissa Keegan Amanda Chassot Repella Diane Zahm Melina Mercier Amy Hahn Elijah Sharp Michael Dunn Amy Meadows Elizabeth Hokanson Michael Hudson Andy Alden Elizabeth Lohman Michael S. Laroche Ann Linden Elizabeth Moneyhun Paul Fleming Ben Owsley Erik Olsen Peter Sforza Bill Ellenbogen George Simmons Sheridan Bell Brad Dorris Hilary Bryon Steve Miller Carrie Blankenship Janet Rankin Thomas Dickerson Chris Betz Jerrod E. Leland Thomas Martin Chris Walker Jim Kline Thomas Hash Daniel Conway Kenny Harrah Will Liu Daniel Maderic Kimberley Homer Daniel Mosser Llyn Sharp Darren Siler Lyndsay McKeever Department of Public Works Kelly Mattingly, Director Priscilla Cygielnik Susan Garrison 3 Blacksburg Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan 2012 Table of Contents I. Preface and Acknowledgements ............................................................................................. 2 II. Executive Summary ..................................................................................................................... 7 III. Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 8 A. Vision ............................................................................................................................................................ 8 B. The Test of a Bikeway System ........................................................................................................... 10 IV. Existing Conditions ................................................................................................................. 11 A. Arterials .................................................................................................................................................... 11 B. Collectors .................................................................................................................................................. 13 C. Residential Streets ................................................................................................................................ 15 D. Current Bicycle Facilities ............................................................................................................... 16 1. On Road Facilities ............................................................................................................................................... 16 2. Off Road Facilities .............................................................................................................................................. 16 E. Barriers ..................................................................................................................................................... 20 V. Sidewalk Existing Conditions ................................................................................................. 22 VI. Bicycle Facilities ...................................................................................................................... 23 A. On Road ..................................................................................................................................................... 23 B. Off Road ..................................................................................................................................................... 30 C. Intersection Treatments ..................................................................................................................... 31 D. Signals ................................................................................................................................................... 35 E. Signing and Marking ............................................................................................................................. 39 VII. Sidewalk Facilities .................................................................................................................. 42 VIII. Future Network .................................................................................................................... 43 A. Network Selection Process ................................................................................................................. 43 B. Proposed Network ................................................................................................................................ 44 1. Proposed Bicycle Network ............................................................................................................................. 44 2. Proposed Bike Lanes ......................................................................................................................................... 45 3. Proposed Left Side Bike Lane ........................................................................................................................ 46 4. Proposed Sharrows ........................................................................................................................................... 47 5. Proposed Multi-Use Path ................................................................................................................................ 48 6. Total Proposed Bicycle Facilities ................................................................................................................. 49 C. Accommodation at Traffic Signal ..................................................................................................... 50 D. Routes .................................................................................................................................................... 51 1. Blue Line ................................................................................................................................................................ 52 2. Orange Line ........................................................................................................................................................... 52 3. Red Line .................................................................................................................................................................. 53 4. Grey Line ................................................................................................................................................................ 53 5. Green Line ............................................................................................................................................................. 53 6. Brown Line ............................................................................................................................................................ 53 7. Maroon Line ......................................................................................................................................................... 53 8. Huckleberry Trail ............................................................................................................................................... 54 9. Magenta Line ........................................................................................................................................................ 54 10. Azure Line ........................................................................................................................................................