kevin ressler for mayor - storage.googleapis.com · • conduct walkability and safe routes...
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KEVINRESSLERFORMAYOR CITYOFLANCASTERACTIVETRANSPORTATIONVISIONDRAFTApril28,2017
OVERVIEW
1. BackgroundandDescriptionTheneedforanequitableactivetransportationsystemisagrowingneedforCityofLancasterresidents.Concernsoveraffordabletransportationoptions,thelackofsafetyforcurrentcyclists,thequalityofurbanair,publichealth,anddiminishingparkingoptionsinourneighborhoodshavecatalyzedthecreationofthisCityofLancasterActiveTransportationVision.ThisvisionextendsbeyondtheexistingLancasterCountyActiveTransportationPlan,focusingparticularlyonservingCityofLancasterresidents.Furthercommunityinsightwillbenecessaryforthisvisiontobecomplete.Thepurposeofthisdocumentistoprovide;(1)avisionforenhancingtheCityofLancaster’sactivetransportationsystemviaengineering,education,encouragement,evaluation/planning,andenforcementand(2)anoverviewofthecurrentstateofactivetransportationintheCityofLancaster.
2. ProjectScopeThescopeofanenhancedactivetransportationplanwillincludethefollowing“5E’s”(adoptedfromtheLeagueofAmericanBicyclists),withoverallfocusonequitableimplementation,sothatallneighborhoodscanthrive;
(1) EquitableEngineering:• Conductwalkabilityandsaferoutes(walkingandbiking)toschoolaudits• Anurbanwalkingtrailsystem,connectingallneighborhoodstothedowntowndistrictandallquadrantstoeach
other.Urbantrailwillfeaturehistoric(culturalandnatural)andartisticlandmarks.• ACityofLancasterbikingwayfindingsystemthatconnectsallquadrantstothedowntownandtoeachotherand
tokeylandmarks(busstation,trainstation,educationalcenters,etc.)• Designatedprotectedbikelanesandsharrows• Bikeracksandpump/repairstationsthroughoutcity• Bike-shareprogramallowingformobilityofall,connectingtoexistingpublictransitsystems
(2) EducationalOutreach-forbikers,pedestrians,andmotorists:
• SafeRoutestoSchoolsProgram(SRTS):link• UtilizingtrainedskillsfromlocalLeagueCyclingInstructors• HostingCommunityWorkshopsw/focusedoutreachtounderservedcommunitiesandhighlyparticipatory
neighborhoods/blocks• StreetSignage-denotingurbanwalkingtrailw/historic/artistic/culturallandmarksbeyondthedowntown
districtandbikepathways• UpdateCityofLancasterWebsitetoincludeinformationalvideos(“Dutchreach”,etc.),signage,etc.• Developcycling/walkingmap
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(3) Encouragement:• WorkingcollaborativelytocreateabikingandpedestrianfriendlycultureintheCityofLancaster• Designandpublishalocalon-lineandpaperbikemap(includingbikerepairstationsandparking,publictransit
hubs,waterfountains,historiclandmarks,etc.)• Createincentivesforlocalbusinessestoaccommodatetheircyclingemployees(bicycleparking,showers,etc.)• ImproveRedRosetransitstationswithcommunityinput
(4) EvaluationandPlanning:
• ActiveandDiverseParticipation(allwardsrepresented)inaCityofLancasterBicyclingPedestrianAdvisoryCommittee(BPAC)
• CollaborativedevelopmentinaphasedCityofLancasterBikeMasterPlan
(5) Enforcement:• Publicsafetyofficerswillhelpensurethatallresidentsaresafelyabidingtocityandstatetransportation
regulations• Policeofficerswillaccompanygroupbikeridesaspartofbuildingcultureandawareness
3. High-LevelRequirementsPrioritiesunderthisenvisionedplanmustincludethefollowing:
• Equitabilityofinfrastructure,sothatallinterestedresidentshaveaccessibilitytotheservices,includingaparticipatorybudgetingprocess
• Safebike/walkconnectivitytoallmajorpublictransithubs,educationalcenters,andtoneighborhoodsofthecity
• Low-minimalupfrontandmanagementcosts(focusonfundingbygrants,greenbonds,alsosee“Funding”)
• Collaborativelocalpartnershipstoadvanceinclusionandcommunityengagement
4. AssessmentsofCityofLancaster’sActiveTransitLeagueofAmericanBicyclists:
• 2015BronzeRatingonReportCard:link• 2015Recommendations:link
LancasterBikes!CoalitionforaBicycleFriendlyLancaster:
• BikeCrashesMap,2010-2014:link
WalkScore:
• NeighborhoodWalkabilityScores:link
5. ActivePlans/Resolutions/GrantProjectsLancasterCountyActiveTransportationPlan:
• PhaseIIPlan:link• Map:link
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• CurrentlynotmeetingtheLancasterATPbikeplanmileagetargets,cityfocusandmayoralsupportisessentialtoprogress
CompleteStreetsResolution:
• AdoptedinCouncilMay2014,link• Requiresallnewstreetconstructiontoincludesafezonesforallactivetransportation• Nationalpolicypackageislackinginnovativeandequitableapproachestotoday’smultimodalchallenges
MulberryStreet:
Figure1:MulberryStreetBikeLaneProject
• Incorporatesdesignatedbikelaneandsharrows,agoodstartthatneedstobeexpandedinallcity’squadrants• Residentsreportedconcernsof(a)thelackofeducationalawarenessofthisproject,(b)driverssittinginthebike
lane,requiringunsafeswerving,and(c)overalllackofsupportfromcurrentmayoraladministrationtoremedytheseconcerns
6. InactiveBikingInfrastructurePlans(1) ChestnutStreetBikeway:• CityofLancasterWebpage:link• CityofLancasterPDF:link• LNPArticle:link
Figure2:WChestnutSt.BikewayPilotProject
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Figure3:WChestnutSt.BikewayPilotProject
(2) PrinceStreetGrant• Toincludesharrowsandstrippedbikelines(inexpensivetoimplement)• Grantisunused
7. Glows/GrowsofCurrentActiveTransportationinCityofLancaster
BIKING
Glows
(examplesofprogress)
Grows
(roomforinnovation)
(1)Engineering:
- Bikelanesand/orsharrowsexistonafewstreetsinNorthwestquadrant(MulberryandW.Liberty)
- Bikeracksexistatafewlocalbusinessesandtrainstation
- Proposedbike-shareprogramwithZagster.comwith6localsponsorsforstationsandQuick-BikePrograminLCPCplan,howeverjustforgov’temployees
(2)Education:
- CityofLancasterwebpageinformspublicabouttheW.ChestnutPilotProject(notyetimplemented)
- LancasterAllianceheldmeetingforneighbors- SRTCProgramisbeingplannedforafewpilot
schools,inconjunctionwithCommonWheel
(3)Encouragement:
- Localnon-profitinitiativessuchasCommonWheelandSlowRidehelpsupportlocalcyclists
(1)Engineering:
- BikinginfrastructureonlyexistsinNWneighborhoods(withablockjustSouthofKingonMulberrySt.)-focusneedstobeonequitableinvestmentandconnectivitytobusstationsandeducationalentities
- Bikeracksarenon-existentinmanylocationsthroughoutthecity,causingcycliststostruggletoparktheirvehiclessafely(ex:busstations,restaurants,stores,etc.)
- Bikelanesarenotprotected(dooringisadanger)- Bike-shareprogramwasnotproposedforpublic
input,willallresidentsbeabletoparticipate?Arestationslocatedinallneighborhoods?Canthisbelinkedwithothermodesofpublictransitforefficiency?
(2)Education:
- CityofLancasterwebpageislackinginthoroughdescriptionofmeaningofsignsforbothcyclistsandmotorists(MulberrySt.projectisnotonpage)
- LeagueCyclingInstructorsareunderutilizedforeducationalpurposes
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(4)EvaluationandPlanning:
- Bronzeratedcommunity/businessaccordingtotheLeagueofAmericanBicyclists
(5)Enforcement:
- Officersonfootandhorseoccasionally- LancasterCityAllianceRed-shirtbike
ambassadors
- Motoristsareuninformedaboutvehicularcyclists- Increasededucationonoverallbenefitsofbiking- Needforcommunityoutreach/workshops
(3)Encouragement:
- Creatinganinvitingbikingculturethatissafeforallriders
- Collaboratingwithlocalbikeadvocacygroupstosupporttheneedsofrefugeesandunderservedneighborhoods
- Localon-lineandpaperbikemap/guide
(4)EvaluationandPlanning:
- CityBPACwithallwardsrepresented- CreationofBicyclingMasterPlan,basedon
communityparticipatoryprocess- IncreasingCityHallSustainabilitystaffing
(5)Enforcement:
- Officerstrainedwithstateandlocalordinances- Accompanyingcommunityslowrides
WALKING
Glows
(examplesofprogress)
Grows
(roomforinnovation)
(1) Handicapaccessibilityonsidewalksatagrowingnumberofintersectionsand“YieldTo”bollardsinafewcrosswalks
(2) Visualappealislocatedinsomeneighborhoodswherehistoriclandmarksarefeatured
(3) Walkscoreof81,accordingtohttps://www.walkscore.com/PA/Lancaster(whichincludeshighrankingneighborhoodssuchasChestnutHill(92),BusinessDistrict(98),MusserPark(95),andMussertown(91))
(1) Manysidewalkslackthesafetyforwheelchairboundcitizensandstrollers(buckled,cracked,etc.)
(2) Adistincturbantrailmapthatguidesthroughoutallneighborhoodsofthecity(seeFigurebelowforvisual)
(3) SupportinglowerscoringneighborhoodssuchasProspectHeights(60),ConestogaHeights(59),CollegePark(76),andStevens(79)
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VisualExamplesofListed“Grows”:
Figure4:BenefitsofBiking,link Figure5:MinneapolisBPAC-ALLWardsRepresented,link
Figure6:AshevilleNCUrbanTrailMap,link
FUNDINGExcerptfromLeagueofAmericanCyclists,RecommendationReporttoLancaster,PA:
“COSTS:Buildinganewroadwayformotorvehiclescancostmillionsofdollarstoconstruct,andmanyofthepedestrianandbicycleinfrastructurefacilitiesareextremelylow-costincomparison.Usethisdatabasetoreviewup-to-dateestimatesofinfrastructurecostsofpedestrianandbicycletreatmentsfromstatesandcitiesacrossthecountry.
FEDERALFUNDING:Since1992bicycleandpedestrianprojectshavebeeneligibleforfederaltransportationfunding.Tolearnmoreaboutwhatfederalfundsareavailableforbicycleprojects,useAdvocacyAdvance’sinteractiveFindit,Fundittooltosearchforeligiblefundingprogramsbybike/pedprojecttypeorreviewthesameinformationasaPDF.
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STATEFUNDING:Bikingandwalkingdollarsaren'tonlyavailablefromthefederalgovernment.Statescanalsohavetheirownrevenuesourcesthatcanbeusedtofundactivetransportation.Usethisreportandanonlinetooltoexploreyourstate’sfundingsourcesforbicycleandpedestrianimprovements.
LOCALFUNDING:Localgovernmentscanalsocreatetheirownrevenuestreamstoimproveconditionsforbicyclingandwalking.Threecommonapproachesinclude:specialbondissues,dedicationsofaportionoflocalsalestaxesoravoter-approvedsalestaxincrease,anduseoftheannualcapitalimprovementbudgetsofPublicWorksand/orParksagencies.Bicyclefacilityimprovementscanalsobetaggedontolargerprojectstocreateeconomiesofscalethatresultsinreducedcostsandreducedimpactstotraffic,businesses,andresidents.Forexample,ifthereisanexistingroadproject,itisusuallycheapertoaddbikelanesandsidewalkstotheprojectthantoconstructthemseparately.Tolearnmoreaboutpublicfundingofbicycleinfrastructureimprovements,visitwww.pedbikeinfo.org/planning/funding_government.cfm”.Resource:link
LancasterCountyPlanningCommission:
• FundingProgramsforSmartGrowthTransportation&TransportationAlternatives:link
EXISTINGCITYOFLANCASTERACTIVETRANSPORTATIONRESOURCES
Name Website
LancasterCountyPlanningCommission PhaseIIPlan:http://www.lancastercountyplanning.org/DocumentCenter/View/99
Map:http://www.lancastercountyplanning.org/DocumentCenter/View/92
LightenUpLancaster http://www.lightenuplancaster.org/In-The-Community/Active-Transportation.aspx
CommonWheel http://thecommonwheel.com/
LancasterBikes! https://www.facebook.com/LancasterBikes/
SlowRide https://www.facebook.com/groups/645618208902755/
CitizensforaBicycleFriendlyLancasterCity https://www.facebook.com/bikefriendlylanc/
LeagueofAmericanBicyclists http://bikeleague.org/bfa/awards#community
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CITYMODELS
Website
Pittsburgh,PA(bronzerated) LocalBikeMap:http://www.bikepgh.org/resources/maps-guides-more/map-routes/
Asheville,NC(bronzerated) UrbanTrailSystem:https://www.romanticasheville.com/urban_trail.htm
Milwaukee,WI(bronzerated) PublicWorksBikingPage:http://city.milwaukee.gov/MilwaukeebyBike#.WOWIWG8rLIV
(copyandpastelink)
Minneapolis,MN(goldrated) PublicWorksBikingPage:
http://www.ci.minneapolis.mn.us/bicycles/
Portland,OR(platinumrated) CityofPortlandTransitPage:https://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/34772
CultureMagazine
TopBikingCitiesof2016:
http://www.bicycling.com/culture/news/the-50-best-bike-cities-of-2016
LeagueofAmericanBicyclists NationsTopScoringBicyclingCommunities:http://bikeleague.org/sites/default/files/BFC_Master_Fall_2016.pdf
ADDITIONALRESOURCES:
LeagueofAmericanCyclists:http://bikeleague.org/community
CNT:http://www.cnt.org/transportation-and-community-development
LeagueofAmericanCyclistsandSierraClub,TheNewMajorityisPedalingTowardsEquity:http://archive.constantcontact.com/fs173/1102316596448/archive/1113593029110.html
CityLab,HowIncome-IncomeCommutersViewCycling:https://www.citylab.com/transportation/2014/07/how-low-income-commuters-view-cycling/374390/
TheseGuys,AdvocatingforBetterCycling:http://theseguysbike.com/you-say-you-want-a-revolution-pardon-me-beatles/
NationalAssociationofCityTransportationOfficials(NACTO):http://nacto.org/publication/urban-bikeway-design-guide/
Yes!Magazine,WhyBicycleJusticeIsn’taWhiteGuyinSpandex:http://www.yesmagazine.org/peace-justice/why-bicycle-justice-isnt-a-white-guy-in-spandex-20160810
BicyclingRenaissanceinNorthAmerica?:http://www.utrc2.org/sites/default/files/pubs/bike-renaissance-journal_0.pdf