safety in active transportationdata source: u.s. census bureau, esri ... helps preserve our...

Safety in Active Transportation

Kate Moening, Ohio Advocacy Organizer Safe Routes to School National Partnership This workshop is brought to you with support from:

September 10, 2015 Erie County Regional Planning Commission

Welcome!

• Welcome and Introductions

• Housekeeping

• Agenda review

Active Transportation & the Erie County

Regional Planning Commission Metropolitan

Planning Organization

MPO 101

What is an MPO?

A transportation policy-making organization made up of representatives from local government and transportation authorities

Erie County Regional Planning is the “Handling Agency” for the MPO

Why do we have an MPO?

The Federal Surface Transportation Assistance Act of 1973 required the formation of an MPO for any urbanized area with a population greater than 50,000

What does an MPO do?

The MPO is charged with transportation planning for the MPO planning area (Erie County & the Lorain County portion of the City of Vermilion).

Any project receiving federal funds in the MPO area must be identified on the Transportation Improvement Plan, or the TIP

The MPO manages the TIP.

The ERPC MPO receives just under $1 million each year for projects

MPO 101

Erie County

Cities and TownshipsCompiled:May 2011Data Source: U.S. Census Bureau, ESRI

Map prepared by the Erie County Department of Regional Planning. map to be used

for illustrative purposes only. Erie County, Ohio assumes no respondsiblity or liabaility for any

errors or omissions contained here in.

City of Sandusky

0 3 61.5 Miles

®Margaretta Perkins Huron

Berlin Florence

Vermilion

Groton Oxford Milan

City of Huron

City of Vermilion

Village of Berlin Heights

Villageof Castalia

Village of Milan

Lake Erie

Kelleys Island

Erie County

Villageof Bay View

What is it?

Active transportation: Active transportation is any form of transit that is

self-propelled.

This could be in the form of biking, using a scooter, roller-skating or one of

many more options!

Active transportation is important to our community because it reduces

the amount of traffic on our roads, helps preserve our environment, and

improves overall health.

Active

Transportation 101

Why?

Why focus on active transportation?

The Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) is the

chief transportation planning agency for the

Sandusky Urbanized Area.

The MPO is encouraged by the Ohio Department of

Transportation to promote the use of all forms of

transportation.

The MPO feels that community outreach regarding

these other modes of transportation is important

and beneficial to the community.

The MPO already promotes a form of active

transportation through the Safe Routes to School

(SRTS) program. This program promotes children to

actively travel to and from school in a safe manner

in order to encourage a healthy lifestyle.

The MPO has been active with working with the

community (City of Sandusky, City of Vermilion,

Perkins Township and the Village of Milan) on Safe

Routes to School applications and process.

Active Transportation Month is also held every may

Bicycle and pedestrian advisory committee which

was formed to implement goals of the latest bicycle

and pedestrian plan

MPO and Active

Transportation

More Information

http://www.eriecounty.oh.gov/departments-and-agencies/economic-development/erie-regional-planning-commission/mpo/biking-and-walking-in-erie-county/

http://www.eriecounty.oh.gov/departments-and-agencies/economic-development/erie-regional-planning-commission/mpo/active-transportation-educational-links/

http://www.eriecounty.oh.gov/departments-and-agencies/economic-development/erie-regional-planning-commission/mpo/about-erpc-mpo/

http://www.eriecounty.oh.gov/departments-and-agencies/economic-development/erie-regional-planning-commission/mpo/erie-county-active-transportation/

http://www.eriecounty.oh.gov/departments-and-agencies/economic-development/erie-regional-planning-commission/mpo/committees/bicycle-and-pedestrian-advisory-committee/

Questions

Nicole Grohe, Associate

Planner

419.627.7792

Ngrohe@ErieCounty.Oh.

Gov

Questions?

"We often forget that the American pattern of

suburban development is an experiment, one that

has never been tried anywhere before. We assume it

is the natural order because it is what we see all

around us. But our own history — let alone a tour of

other parts of the world — reveals a different reality.

Across cultures, over thousands of years, people have

traditionally built places scaled to the individual. It is

only in the last two generations that we have scaled

places to the automobile.“

-Charles Marohn, “The Growth Ponzi Scheme”, Strong Towns

Workshop Outcomes

• Understand the importance of active transportation to community planning, connectivity, safety and other community factors.

• Learn techniques and resources to develop an active transportation plan through an overview of the ODOT Active Transportation Guide.

• Begin dialog on the development of your community's active transportation plan.

What is Active Transportation?

Human powered transportation that engages people in healthy physical activity while they travel from place to place.

GO!

BRAINSTORMING Competition: Write down as many types of active transportation as you can think of in 30 seconds.

Why is there a need?

• Safety for all modes of transportation

• Plans provide guidance for development, administrative direction and addressing future projects

• Policy directs and institutionalizes direction

• Community, culture and economic changes

Project Examples:

• Sidewalk/curb ramp construction

• Bike lanes, cycles tracks, trails and pathways connectivity

• Bike share program

• Wayfinding/signage

• Transit

Benefits to Active Transportation Greater economic prosperity

Benefits to Active Transportation Diverse transportation choices, Improved social equity

Benefits to Active Transportation Improved access to transit, businesses and services

Benefits to Active Transportation

Healthier communities

http://www.nbcnews.com/health/diet-fitness/surgeon-general-calls-steps-promote-healthy-walking-n423786

Benefits to Active Transportation

Cleaner air and water

1996 Summer Olympics, Atlanta

What is an Active Transportation Plan?

An ATP outlines the vision goals and strategies needed to support increased walking, bicycling and other active modes of transportation.

Active Transportation Plans:

• May be developed at the state, regional or local level

• Identify a combination of p programs, policies and physical improvements needed to ensure safety, comfort and convenience for all types of active transportation

• Sometimes called a Bicycle/Pedestrian or Complete Streets Plan.

ODOT Active Transportation Guide

Step by step guidance template to help plan, develop, and adopt active transportation plans and policy for your community.

Additional copies my be downloaded at http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Planning/SPR/bicycle/Documents/Final%20ODOT%20Active%20Transportation%20Plan%20Guide%2011-24-14.pdf

Who should use this guide?

• Elected officials and policy makers

• Citizens and community organizations

• Local municipalities

• Transportation and health professional working for city, county and regional agencies

• Anyone with an interest in ATP

Collaborators include:

• Community planners/engineers

• Development

• Health officials

• Education

• Senior/special populations

• Bike/Ped advocates

• Residents

Guide Preview/Questions

Case Studies Group Activity: 15 minutes Break into groups, review, discuss and analyze Piqua (page 9) Hilliard (page 21) and/or Cleveland Heights (page 19) Case Studies.

For the report out: • Provide a brief synopsis of how the community addressed

active transportation? • Why did each community do what they did? • Do you think transportation safety was improved?

Chart Activity: 15 minutes On each chart, list your community's Safety and Active Transportation STRENGTHS and WEAKNESSES. Think about: • Intersections, infrastructure, traffic speeds, parking,

signage, programs, enforcement, what else? Report out

Break for 15 minutes!

Defining the Scope

Establish the scope of the project

Identify the project team/assign responsibilities

Identify available and needed resources

Vision and Goals

Established a vision for the future of Active Transportation

Articulate goals for the project

Word-clouding a vision

Active Transportation Guidance Worksheet Vision & Goals Activities

Writing a Vision – Index cards

What three words describe your ideal transportation system? Write on an index card, Kate will create a Wordle.

Articulating Goals and Objectives – pages 10-13, 34 and Big Post Its

Goals and objectives in an ATP are closely related to our communities goals. On Page 10 of the Guidance, five goal areas often addressed in ATPs are listed with examples. The areas are SAFETY, ACCESS & MOBILITY, LIVABILITY, EQUITY and SUSTAINABILITY. Take a few minutes to review any areas you are unfamiliar with, then grab a pen and write a strategy that relates to each goal on the big post it note. If you agree with someone’s strategy, put a check mark by it. We will review the lists in 15 min.

LUNCH!

Take a break, get your lunch, be back at 12:30pm!

Public and Stakeholder Involvement

City of Westerville Public Meeting, July 2013 Etna Elementary SRTS Public Meeting, Sothwest Licking Local Schools, May, 2013

Data Collection and Existing Conditions

Review relevant plans and policies, including master plans, school travel plans, bikeway plans, at local, regional and state level

Include health, education and recreation plans

Develop maps showing current conditions

Data Collection and Existing Conditions

Where do people go? Where are there crashes? How much AT is happening? Where?

Needs Assessment

Identify gaps and barriers:

• Maps from Data Collection- online tools: Google Maps, Open Streets Maps, WikiMaps

• Scan of maintenance needs, signage, wayfinding, other AT amenities

• Policy /program deficiencies

• Field work, observation, walk audits, intersections, tracks, high conflict zones

Community Case Study: US250/Perkins Avenue Based on our DATA COLLECTION, information, what would our

NEEDS ASSESSMENT include for this intersection?

Walking Barriers

Biking Barriers

Community Focus Areas

Places of demand: activity centers, schools, retail, parks, trails, transit

Community Focus Areas

Places with problems: bridges, wide streets, waterways, high crash locations, personal safety

Recommendations

Bike Share Canton bike racks

Education and Encouragement Programs Support Facilities

Recommendations

Infrastructure & Policies

Incorporating SRTS into Wellness, School and Community Policy & Planning

What is a policy?

• a statement in writing

• binding

• sets out a general approach to be applied broadly

Schools/Districts •District board policies

•Resolutions

•School wellness policies

Government

• Local or state laws

• Zoning language

Both

•Resolutions

• Contracts

Policy allows for accountability & enforcement.

Policy allows for consistent implementation.

Policy establishes relationships & responsibilities.

Policy institutionalizes good ideas.

Policy reaches more people.

School District Policy Important to identify:

• Barrier policies

• Supportive policies

School Wellness Policies: Districts can use these federally required policies to call on schools to set goals and guidelines that support Safe Routes to School and Shared Use.

Safe Routes To School District Policy Workbook

http://changelabsolutions.org/safe-routes/welcome

Community Policies What Types of Policy are there? How are they adopted? Smart Growth America/National Complete Streets Coalition, Policy Workbook, Spring 2013

Council Approved

Council Driven

Directives

Afternoon Activity: Policy Analysis

• Analyze the pros and cons of actual Ohio community policy.

• Record strengths and weaknesses on activity sheet.

Group work, then report out.

Implementation

Prioritization and Phasing: Near-term: policy adoption, resurfacing projects, new development, education, events

Implementation

Prioritization and Phasing:

Mid-term – school access, lighting, road construction

Implementation

Prioritization and Phasing: Long-term – capital improvement plans, community development

Implementation

Funding opportunities: FHWA Funding Article • Transportation Alternatives (TA) • Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) • Surface Transportation Program (STP) • ODOT link: bike.ohio.gov • Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR), Clean Ohio Fund and the

Recreational Trails Program (RTP) • local Metropolitan Planning Organization • local City Transportation Department

Capital obligation bonds and local taxes Private sector funds

Implementation

Plan Adoption

• City council • County Board • Regional/metropolitan planning organization • Health department/board • Local transit authority • Local school board Email policy to National Complete Streets Coalition for national recognition: Laura Seafoss, lsearfoss@completestreets.org

Evaluation

Track Progress:

Inventory Measures Evaluate specific implementation: # miles of bike lanes or sidewalks, number of signalized crossing, percentage of population within a given distance of facilities. Outcome Measures Evaluate effectiveness: reductions in crashes, number of walkers/cyclists using facilities, community surveys

Questions and Next Steps

Next Steps as a community Questions?

Questions and Next Steps

Next Steps as a community Questions?

For More Information Ohio Dept. of Transportation: www.bike.ohio.gov

Safe Routes to School Policy Workbook: http://changelabsolutions.org/safe-routes/welcome

Changlab Solutions: Community Policy Assistance: http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/complete-streets/changing-policy

Ohio Safe Routes Network/SRTS National Partnership Kate Moening, Field Services Manager kate@saferoutespartnership.org (614) 265-7085 www.saferoutespartnership.org

SAFE ROUTES ACADEMY

SAFE ROUTES ACADEMY SAFE ROUTES ACADEMY

http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Planning/LocalPrograms/LTAP/Pages/default.aspx

More Workshops and Trainings

LTAP Webinars: • 10/8/15: Walk Audits • 12/3/15: TBA • 2/18/15: Bike Safety • 4/28/15: Walking School

Bus and Crossing Guard

Stay Connected!

National Conference

April 5-7, 2016

Columbus, Ohio

http://saferoutesconference.org/

Session proposal open now through October 31st.

Ohio All Network Meeting: Friday, September 18, 2015,

9:30-11am Via GoTo Webinar

To Register: https://attendee.gotowebinar.com/register/90425841

06828923649

To join the Ohio Safe Routes Network, contact: Kate Moening, Field Services Manager (614) 269-7085 kate@saferoutespartnership.org www.saferoutespartnership.org

SAFE ROUTES ACADEMY SAFE ROUTES ACADEMY SAFE ROUTES ACADEMY

Thank You!

• Fill out your evaluation

• Turn it in to Kate for your Certificate of Participation!

THANK YOU!

Ohio Department of Transportation/Bicycle & Pedestrian Safety www.bike.ohio.gov ODOT/Local Technical Assistance (LTAP) http://www.dot.state.oh.us/Divisions/Planning/LocalPrograms/LTAP/Pages/default.aspx Safe Routes to School National Partnership-Ohio Kate Moening, Field Services Manager kate@saferoutespartnership.org