town of blenheim schoharie county, new york healthy ...exists directly south of the town and is part...

Town of Blenheim

Schoharie County, New York

HEALTHY INITIATIVES & COMPLETE STREETS

POLICY GUIDELINES

MARCH, 2014

© 2014 Laberge Group

4 Computer Drive West Albany New York 12205

Laberge Group Project #2012033

Town of Blenheim♦ Healthy Initiatives & Complete Streets Policy Guidelines Page ii

TABLE OF CONTENTS

I. Purpose, Vision & Applicability............................................................................................... 1

Purpose ...................................................................................................................................... 1

Design Elements ..................................................................................................................... 2

Vision for Complete Streets ..................................................................................................... 3

Needs and Benefits ................................................................................................................. 3

Applicability .............................................................................................................................. 7

Exceptions ............................................................................................................................... 7

Coordination with Other Jurisdictions .................................................................................... 8

II. Local Planning & Policy Review ............................................................................................ 9

Town of Blenheim Comprehensive Plan ................................................................................. 9

Blenheim Long-Term Community Recovery Plan .............................................................. 11

Recommended Updates to the Comprehensive Plan ........................................................... 13

Comprehensive Plan Model Language ................................................................................. 13

Low-Cost Improvement Opportunities ................................................................................ 17

Town of Blenheim♦ Healthy Initiatives & Complete Streets Policy Guidelines Page 1

I. PURPOSE, VISION & APPLICABILITY

PURPOSE

The Town of Blenheim recognizes the importance of creating an environment that promotes healthier

lifestyles, and provides optimal transportation accessibility and choices for its residents and visitors. The

Town believes that the public right-of-way is more than just a conveyor of vehicles, and that it instead

serves a vital role in shaping the community’s landscape and livability. The present network of roads, in

many cases, provides for the needs of motor vehicles to the exclusion of alternative modes of

transportation, including cycling and walking.

The Town therefore seeks to create a welcoming

built environment and a system of roads, trails and

pathways that will accommodate the needs of all

users. Future land use and transportation planning

policies will integrate safety improvements to reduce

speed and congestion, minimize environmental

impacts, encourage economic growth, and build

Complete Streets that are safe, convenient and

comfortable for all ages and abilities using any mode

of transportation (motor vehicle, public transit, foot,

bicycle, etc.) and ultimately making the Town a

more walkable, livable, and healthy place to live,

work, and play. This document was developed to

provide guidance for residents, decision makers,

planners and designers to ensure that Complete

Streets design features are incorporated into

transportation projects.

The general goal of a transportation system is to

facilitate the efficient movement of people, goods

and services. The community’s quality of life is

dependent upon a well-maintained transportation

system, which includes roads, bridges, walkways,

trails, and public transportation facilities. A well-

planned and designed surface transportation system

should be accommodating to all modes of traffic, be safe for use, visually appealing and pedestrian

friendly. In August 2011 Governor Andrew M. Cuomo signed the state’s Complete Streets

(S5411.A/A8366) bill into law. The law requires all major transportation projects – either those

undertaken by the state DOT or funded and overseen by them – to consider all users, whether they are

What are Complete Streets?

Complete Streets are roadways designed

and operated to enable safe, attractive, and

comfortable access and travel for all users

of all ages and abilities.

Complete Streets considers the convenient

access and mobility on the road network by

all - including motorists, pedestrians,

bicyclists and public transportation users by

incorporating Complete Streets design

features.

Complete Streets typical design features

accommodate and facilitate convenient

access and mobility of all users, and may

include, but need not be limited to: walking

paths, sidewalks, paved shoulders suitable

for bicyclists, lane striping, bicycle lanes,

share the road signage, crosswalks, crossing

medians, road diets, pedestrian control

signalization, bulb outs, curb cuts, raised

crosswalks and ramps, and traffic calming

measures.


Town of Blenheim♦ Healthy Initiatives & Complete Streets Policy Guidelines Page 2

Complete Streets are streets for everyone and support active living. They are designed and operated

to enable safe access for all users. Motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, and public transportation users

of all ages and abilities are able to safely move along and across a complete street. Complete Streets

make it easy to cross the street, walk to shops, and bicycle to work, by providing safe street crossing

locations and marked crosswalks, shortening crossing distances, and slowing down traffic speeds.

They allow buses to run on time and make it safe for people to walk to and from transit stop shelters.

A Complete Street in a rural area will look quite different from a complete street in a highly urban

area, but both are designed to balance safety and convenience for everyone using the road.

driving, cycling, or walking. Complete Streets mean more than just having sidewalks and bike lanes, it

means providing an environment with equal access for everyone. 1

By adopting a Complete Streets Policy, the Town can guide transportation planners and engineers to

design local, county and state roads within the Town to enable safe access for all users, regardless of age,

ability, or mode of transportation. Complete Streets make it easy to cross the street, walk and bike

throughout the community. New roads should provide connections between communities and

subdivisions. According to the National Complete Street Coalition:

Design Elements

A Complete Street supports the convenient and safe travel of all people of all ages and abilities. This

includes older adults walking, kids bicycling, parents pushing strollers, students riding the bus, friends

operating wheelchairs, and people driving cars. There is no one prescription for a Complete Street - each

will vary with its context (whether it is urban, suburban, or rural) and surrounding land use.2

In rural areas outside of hamlets and villages, a Complete Street would ideally have a wide (5-6 foot)

shoulder for walking and bicycling, and/or a separate walking path. Bicyclists may be accommodated

through shared lanes depending on vehicle speeds and volumes.

In a city, town, village or hamlet center, a Complete Street might have:

Wide well maintained sidewalks

Street trees in a landscape strip

Clearly marked crosswalks

Sharrows (shared-use markings that indicate the safest location for bicyclists and other vehicles to

safely share the road.)

Dedicated bus stops with shelters, seating, and signs

1 Summary of New York States Complete Street Law. National Complete Streets Coalition, www.completestreets.org/tag/new-

york/ 2 Plan on It. A Dutchess County Planning federation eNewsletter, June 2012.


Town of Blenheim ♦ Healthy Initiatives & Complete Streets Policy Guidelines Page 3

VISION FOR COMPLETE STREETS

The Town of Blenheim shall continue to enhance its transportation network to meet the needs of all

motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, children, persons with disabilities, movers of commercial goods, users

of public transportation, and seniors. The planning, construction, reconstruction, retrofit, maintenance,

alteration, or repair of streets, bridges, or other portions of the transportation network undertaken by the

Town in the public right-of-way shall seek to incorporate these needs whenever possible. The Town shall

view all transportation improvements as opportunities to improve safety and accessibility for all roadway

users.

Needs and Benefits

Safety

According to the Town of Blenheim Comprehensive Plan, the

Town’s transportation system is comprised of highways, rural roads,

and recreational trails. This leads to frequent interaction between

vehicular traffic with pedestrians, farm tractors and equipment, and

occasionally farm animals. All components of the transportation

system need to be considered in relation to one another to ensure

a safe and efficient transportation system. A major contributing

factor that addresses many of these safety concerns is roadway

Example street cross section with typical Complete Street design features. Copyright Synthesis LLP.

2011.

This road in Hyde Park, NY has a wide,

well-maintained shoulder and an

unpaved walking trail.



design, road layouts, and site lines that may favor the efficient movement of motor vehicles to the

detriment of non-motorized modes of transportation. Residents of small towns are more likely to be hurt

or killed on the transportation system than those in urban areas. In 2006, only 23% of the U.S. population

lived in rural areas, yet 56% of all traffic fatalities occurred in rural areas3 .Adequate provisions for safe

non-motorized travel should be considered a priority. Physical design changes and traffic calming

measures can go a long way to control traffic speeding violations. Transforming streets with paint and

bold striping can encourage safer vehicle speeds by visually narrowing the travel lanes, while still moving

traffic.4

Senior Mobility

Rural communities and small towns tend to have higher

concentrations of older adults and low-income citizens, two

populations that are less likely to own cars or drive. Without

safer roads, those with limited transportation options have

little choice: travel along high-speed roadways with few

pedestrian accommodations or stay home. In limiting mobility

to automobiles alone, these citizens risk isolation from

community and the economy. The Town of Blenheim has an

aging population. According to the 2010 Census, 31.1% of the

population is 60 years of age or older. A common complaint among senior citizens is the inconvenience

or inability to get to shops and services without a car. Even those who reside within a reasonable walking

distance of their destination may encounter a hostile and unsafe environment. In a Complete Streets

community, a number of techniques are deployed to increase the safety and convenience for senior

pedestrians. These include introducing sidewalk ramps and seating options, constructing sidewalk bulb-

outs and median refuges to shorten crossing distances, and improving signage, street markings and

lighting.

Safer Routes to School

Complete Streets offer a safer environment for school

children through such techniques as traffic calming to

reduce traffic speeds in and around school zones and

improving sidewalks and street crossings. The Town

does not have any higher education schools within the

Town boundaries. There are three school districts that

encompass the Town of Blenheim; Gilboa-Conesville

Central School District, Jefferson Central School, and

Middleburgh Central School District. The decline in

walking and bicycling to school has had an adverse

3 Smart Growth America. National Complete Streets Coalition: Rural Areas and Small Towns.. www.smartgrowthamerica.org 4 Cobleskill’s Path to Active Living, March 2011.



effect on traffic congestion and air quality around schools nationwide, and there is a growing body of

evidence showing that children who lead sedentary lifestyles are at risk for a variety of health problems

such as obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. Safety issues are a big concern for parents, who

consistently cite traffic danger as a reason why their children are unable to bicycle or walk to school.

Improving children’s safety while walking and bicycling to and from school is the mission of the Federal

Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program, and should be considered a local priority to the extent feasible by

the Town.5

Sustainability & Environment

Improved roadway designs are a significant factor in

reducing carbon emissions and achieving environmental

goals. Providing residents with an efficient

transportation network that supports alternative modes

of transportation reduces the number of motorized trips

and miles traveled.

The Schoharie Creek runs along Main Street and is an

imposing force within the Town. The Creek is the

largest tributary of the Mohawk River with 1,650 miles

or 25% of basin stream miles. The Schoharie Reservoir

exists directly south of the Town and is part of the New

York City Water Supply’s Catskill District, and makes

up for 24% of the entire City water supply6. The Schoharie Creek, Lower, Main Stem is the waterbody

that exists in the Town of Blenheim and is considered a Stream Class C. The creek flows through an

intensive agricultural valley, which causes sediment loads to the creek. The fluctuating water levels also

exacerbate streambank erosion and sediment loadings.

Incorporation of alternative environmentally-friendly paving materials, drainage structures and street

lighting is an important component of Complete Streets. Increased use of porous pavements greatly

reduces the amount of stormwater runoff and associated pollution and sedimentation. The use of LED

streetlight fixtures as an alternative to the traditional metal halide and high pressure sodium fixtures

greatly reduces the amount of energy consumed and results in a longer service life. In addition,

incorporating innovative green infrastructure techniques for water quality protection and stormwater

management is cost-effective, sustainable, and environmentally friendly planning and design solution to

creating walkable, attractive communities. According to the Town of Blenheim Long-term Community

Recovery Plan (LTCR) Main Street Sidewalks, Lighting, and Landscaping Section, “landscaping features

will help to establish the historic appeal of Main Street, help prevent erosion, and improve the existing

condition of the streetscape.”

5 US Dept. of Transportation, Federal Highway Administration, Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Program.

http://safety.fhwa.dot.gov/saferoutes/ 6 NYS Department of Environmental Conservation, Division of Water. The Mohawk River Basin Waterbody Inventory and

Priority Waterbodies List. July 2010.

Green infrastructure example for

managing runoff with small stormwater

swale.



Opportunities for Healthy Living

As previously stated, the growing epidemic of obesity has communities nationwide searching for ways to

improve the built environment and promote healthier living. The lack or inadequacy of sidewalks and

bicycle paths are often cited as contributing factors to this nationwide problem. Complete Streets provide

opportunities for increased physical activity by incorporating active design elements that promote

walking, jogging and cycling.

Context Sensitivity

Complete Streets policies are going to differ depending

on the community. No policy is going to look or be

executed the same. A policy is only going to be effective

if it framed around the needs of the neighborhood. A

large, busy city is going to have a much different

approach than a rural town when adopting a Complete

Streets policy so it is important to be aware of “context

sensitivity” when writing a policy for the Town of

Blenheim.

For example, in order to “complete” a road that is

surrounded by a guide rail, you may only need to create a wider shoulder so that people can walk and bike

safely and to provide a connection to public transportation networks. Also, to improve safety while

simultaneously ensuring that a small town feel stays intact, town centers may only require narrow streets,

sidewalks, clear pedestrian cross walks, well-marked pedestrian crossings, and street trees.

Economic Activity

A major benefit of Complete Streets is the increase in the

patronization of local businesses. Establishments located along

popular pedestrian routes experience an increase in customer

traffic. In an auto-dominated streetscape, customers often bypass

local options in search of larger centers with an adequate parking

supply. Another economic benefit of “reclaiming” the right of way

for other uses and reducing the number of lanes, and/or reducing

the travel lane width, can potentially increase parking spaces for

businesses by providing angled parking in areas where the road is

wide enough. Other design features that enhance access and

attractiveness of local businesses include high-visibility

textured/stamped crosswalks, wider sidewalks, improved street

lighting and signage, and sidewalk bulb-outs, bike lanes, bike

racks, benches, street trees and landscaping.



APPLICABILITY

Establishing an accessible, safe, and well-connected

transportation network means incorporating design

elements and guidelines that address the needs of all

users while remaining flexible and relevant. Rural

roads make up the majority of roads in the United

States—80%, or 3.1 million miles—and they carry

40% of the vehicle miles traveled. They are also the

most deadly, according to the National Highway

Traffic Safety Administration. In 2007, the fatality rate

in rural areas (per 100 million vehicle miles traveled) was 2.5 times as high as in urban areas. While most

pedestrian and bicycle fatalities happen on urban and suburban roads, the statistics on rural roads are

significant: in 2009, 28% of pedestrian and 30% of bicycle fatalities occurred on rural roads.7 The

majority of the Town’s transportation network is comprised of local roads. According to the 2011 NYS

DOT Highway Mileage Report, the Town has 66 total centerline miles of roads, which includes: 21.96

miles of Town-owned roads (6.17 miles of which are seasonal), 15.72 miles of County-owned roads, 6.77

miles of State-owned roads, 9.13 miles of Private-owned roads, and 12.53 miles of State land roads.

The Healthy Initiatives & Complete Streets Policy Guidelines should be considered for all new public

streets constructed by or for the Town and for all streets constructed by private entities that will be

dedicated to the Town as public streets, as is typical of new residential subdivisions. In the latter case, the

design elements of the policy will be reviewed and enforced in conjunction with any permit applications

for building permits, subdivision applications, site plan

review or variances.

While roads can theoretically be retrofitted in

accordance with a Complete Streets policy at any time,

there are certain circumstances that present a logical

opportunity to evaluate and potentially redesign an

existing street. These include roads undergoing full-

depth pavement repair/replacement and roads

undergoing horizontal realignment. All road projects of

this magnitude will be reviewed for the feasibility of

incorporating Complete Streets design elements.

Exceptions

Making a policy work in the real world requires developing a process to handle exceptions. The National

Complete Streets Coalition believes the following exceptions are appropriate with limited potential to

weaken the Complete Streets policy. They follow the Federal Highway Administration’s guidance on

7 Mobilizing the Region. Challenges of Completing Rural Roads by Nadine Lemmon. Blog.tstc.org

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/810996.PDF

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/810996.PDF



accommodating bicycle and pedestrian travel and identified best practices frequently used in existing

Complete Streets policies.8 Exceptions to designing Complete Streets can be made where:

It has been set forth in publically available document(s) that use of the road by bicyclists and

pedestrians is prohibited by law.

The cost would be disproportionate to the need as determined by factors including: land use

context, current and projected traffic volumes, demonstrated lack of need, or that the use of the

design features would have an adverse impact on public safety.

There is a documented absence of current and future need for Complete Streets design elements.

The primary objective of Complete Streets is to provide

safe accommodation for all users of the transportation

network. Engineers and project managers are talented

and creative problem-solvers and should be able to

address project-level barriers in ways that still achieve

an environment supportive of all users. Additional

exceptions begin to weaken this goal and may create

loopholes too large to achieve the Complete Streets

vision.

In addition to defining exceptions through policy language, the Town Board must establish a clear process

for granting exceptions. The National Complete Streets Coalition recommends that the board of elected

officials, a publicly accountable committee, or a senior-level department head be charged with approving

exceptions, as appropriate for the Town. Doing so will ensure that as the policy moves into

implementation, its intent is carried out and exceptions are not abused.

Coordination with Other Jurisdictions

While the Town seeks a consistent and comprehensive application of these Guidelines, a portion of the

road network is under the jurisdiction of other entities such as the County or the State. Whereas the Town

cannot mandate that any other entity adopt a similar policy, the Town will endeavor to coordinate with

these other entities to promote continuity across jurisdictional boundaries to achieve the Healthy

Initiatives and Complete Streets vision.

8 Complete Streets Local Policy Workbook, August 2012, National Complete Streets Coalition, www.completestreets.org.


II. LOCAL PLANNING & POLICY REVIEW

Communities known for their high quality of life are walkable, bikeable and vibrant and the integration of

land use and transportation is critical to the livability of a community and region. Ensuring Complete

Streets are consistently provided within the community contributes to this high quality of life. Complete

Streets may include elements such as defined pedestrian and bicycle spaces, street trees and benches,

pedestrian scaled lighting, and transit stop shelters. These elements allow people to safely walk to the

grocery store and library, take the bus to school, or bike to the park. Such elements increase the capacity

of the street network and positively impact the physical health and safety of the community. Integrating

Complete Streets practices into local planning and policy decisions will help encourage safe and active

transportation; decrease pollution; and reduce the incidence of childhood obesity, social isolation,

diabetes, and heart disease. By including Complete Streets language in the Comprehensive Plan, the

Town is promoting street design and land use policies that allow people to get around safely on foot,

bicycle, or public transportation.

The following is a summary of the goals, objectives, recommendations and policies of the various plans

and studies that have completed by and for the Town of Blenheim, which are consistent with and/or

support Complete Streets concepts and Healthy Initiatives:

TOWN OF BLENHEIM COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

The following goals, objectives and recommendations

are included in the 2014 Town of Blenheim

Comprehensive Plan and generally support and promote

Complete Streets concepts and Healthy Initiatives:

Transportation and Streetscape

The Town of Blenheim’s transportation system consists

of highways, rural roads, and trail systems, and is

effective in moving goods, vehicles and people through

the community. Currently, the Town lacks pedestrian

amenities, including crosswalks and pathways of any

kind, requiring pedestrians to walk along the shoulder of the road directly adjacent to traffic. The majority

of Town expenses are spent on highway repair and maintenance. There is currently no bus schedule that

serves the Town of Blenheim. However the Schoharie County Public Transportation does provide bus

routes throughout the county.9

9 Town of Blenheim Comprehensive Plan, Transportation and Streetscape. February 2014.



Goal 1: NYS Route 30 continues to serve as primary traffic route through the Town.

Objective 1.1: Calm traffic speed and increase pedestrian safety on NYS Route 30 in the Hamlet

of North Blenheim.

Objective 1.2: Consider adopting a Road preservation Law to protect Town roads from impact of

heavy vehicle use, perhaps similar to one adopted by Schoharie County.

Objective 1.3: Solicit further public input regarding the “Main Street Sidewalks, Lighting, and

Landscaping” project as described in the Blenheim Long-Term Community Recovery Plan.

Goal 2: Town of Blenheim residents better utilize existing public transportation opportunities.

Objective 2.1: Work with Schoharie County Department of Public Transportation to increase the

knowledge of and/or availability of county-sponsored transportation for residents, especially for

senior citizens, to provide access to shopping areas and health care facilities.

Town of Blenheim General Survey

In 2011 the Town distributed a general survey to its residents to discuss and rate the current

conditions of local amenities and resources, including the state of the transportation system and

streetscape.

Residents considered road conditions within the Town to be adequate with the maintenance of

the roads by the Town to be good-adequate. The main thoroughfare, Route 30, which runs north

to south through the Town, does not currently contain enough room to properly install a safe

sidewalk system. The majority of the roadway has a guide rail installed on the east side to protect

vehicles from erosion that occurred from the previous flooding caused by Hurricane Irene and

Tropical Storm Lee. This factor makes it harder to provide adequate safety to the residents of

Blenheim. Residents would like to see paving of Town roads in the future as well as the creation

of a bike path and/or hiking trail. Roughly half of the survey respondents have concerns about

speeding and heavy commercial truck traffic in Blenheim. Respondents are currently not in favor

of adding sidewalks or street lighting. The Comprehensive Plan specifies that given projects

outlined in the Long Term Community Revitalization Plan may require further investigation and

more public input on this topic.



BLENHEIM LONG-TERM COMMUNITY RECOVERY PLAN

In order to prepare for Long Term Recovery, FEMA created

the federal interagency Emergency Support Function #14

(ESF #14) to facilitate the process. The Town of Blenheim

formed goals to develop specific plans and projects for the

community in order to recover, identify and address needs,

locate funding sources, and provided coordination of the

many sources of help that may be available to assist with

these goals. The following goals, objectives, excerpts, and

recommendations are included in the 2012 Town of

Blenheim Long-Term Community Recovery Plan which

contains Recovery and Community Interest Projects in the areas of Infrastructure and Hazard Mitigation,

Community Resources and Identity, and Economic Development:

Infrastructure and Hazard Mitigation

After the flooding caused by the 2011 tropical storms, Blenheim residents reviewed the status of

the Town’s infrastructure prior to the flood. The Hamlet of North Blenheim historically had

sidewalks at one time however, none exist now. The flood also ruined existing landscaping and

left the Hamlet with scoured and silted-over land.

Main Street Sidewalks, Lighting, and Landscaping

This project is a key element in a recovery plan for the Town’s future. The Main

Street Sidewalks, Lighting, and Landscaping Project envisions the creation of a warm

and welcoming Main Street that will support a healthy and vibrant downtown,

boosting both the local economy and quality of life within the Blenheim community.

It proposes the installation of sidewalks and street lighting to encourage a walkable

and safe community with elements such as benches and public art to benefit the

public. Landscaping features will help to establish the historic appeal of Main Street,

help prevent erosion, and improve the existing condition of the streetscape. The

project aims to provide an attractive environment for creating jobs, increasing and

protecting property values, and increasing the community’s vibrancy by creating

more options for potential business and industry.10

Economic Development Recovery Projects

Virtually the entire Hamlet of North Blenheim along Route 30 was flooded during Tropical Storm

Irene and many homes in the North Blenheim National Historic District suffered extensive

damage. This district boasts 25 structures, including homes, hotels, and a church, representative

of the Greek revival style of architecture. The storm also damaged businesses along Main Street

10 Blenheim New York Long-Term Community Recovery Plan. May 2012.



which include an auto repair business, a church thrift store, Blenheim Pharmacal, Inc., and the

Town municipal building. Recovery and maintenance of an attractive Main Street will help

ensure that Blenheim residents continue to enjoy a high quality of life, give new small local

businesses an appropriate environment in which to thrive, and position the town to draw on

regional tourism.

Main Street Beautification Program

The project will establish a Main

Street revitalization team to guide

and manage the implementation of

Main Street beautification efforts.

First, the project aims to engage the

community and local businesses in

developing small projects that will

make a fast, visible impact on the

recovery of an attractive Main

Street. The team will work with

different entities to develop a Main Street Beautification Program that presents a

unified concept and design for the street. In doing so, it could mean hiring a

landscape architect or planning firm or local university planning students to develop

a conceptual design for Main Street. Once preliminary conceptual drawings are

completed, the town will seek funding for Main Street improvements.

The Main Street Overview Plan developed by the LA Group, a Landscape

Architecture and Engineering firm, and derived from concepts and projects in the

LTCR Plan - illustrates the possibilities of a Complete Street system within the Town

of Blenheim. Many of the concepts on this map support and advocate a Complete

Street system and would include nodes of development along Main Street as well as a

riverwalk trail, sidewalk system, landscaping, signage, and parking. One of the nodes

of development that has enjoyed public support during the LTCR community

engagement process is the Bridge Park Plan. This includes the reconstruction of the

historic Blenheim Bridge that was destroyed in previous flooding, caused by

Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee, which devastated the area. The

reconstruction will enable pedestrian mobility across Schoharie Creek (68% of

residents that took the survey located in the Town of Blenheim Comprehensive Plan

were in favor of the reconstruction of the Blenheim Bridge), while plans for public

green space, parking, and seating will create an ideal spot for residents and tourists.



RECOMMENDED UPDATES TO THE COMPREHENSIVE PLAN

The Laberge Group reviewed the Town of Blenheim Comprehensive Plan for consistency with Complete

Streets concepts and the following technical recommendations represent our professional planning

opinion on how these laws could be updated in the future to enable safe and efficient access for all users.

The proposed changes to these regulations will help the Town promote a number of community benefits

including enhanced quality of life, improved community health, reduced dependence on automobiles, and

less reliance on fossil fuels.

Comprehensive Plan Model Language

The following model language to support/promote

Complete Streets has been extracted from a report

developed by the National Policy and Legal Analysis

Network to Prevent Childhood Obesity (NPLAN).11 The

model language can be incorporated into the Town of

Blenheim Comprehensive Plan when the Town commences

a Comprehensive Plan update in the future. The Town is

encouraged to tailor the sample policy and action items to

local needs, concerns, and conditions to strengthen the

Comprehensive Plan.

Sample Transportation Vision Statement

Transportation Vision Statement: The community envisions a transportation system that

encourages healthy, active living, promotes transportation options and independent

mobility, increases community safety and access to healthy food, reduces environmental

impact, mitigates environmental hazards, and supports greater social interaction and

community identity by providing safe and convenient travel along and across streets

through a comprehensive, integrated transportation network for pedestrians, bicyclists,

public transportation riders and drivers, [insert other significant local users if desired,

e.g. drivers of agricultural vehicles, emergency vehicles, freight, etc.] and people of all

ages and abilities, including children, youth, families, older adults, and individuals with

disabilities.

Sample Transportation Goals, Objectives and Policies

Although the 2014 Town of Blenheim Comprehensive Plan includes Goals and Recommendations that

support and promote Complete Streets concepts12, the following sample Goals, Objectives and Policies

can strengthen the Comprehensive Plan in the future. The Town is encouraged to tailor the sample

11 Model Comprehensive Plan Language on Complete Streets, National Policy & Legal Analysis Network to Prevent Childhood

Obesity (NPLAN), February 2010 12 See the 2014 Town of Blenheim Comprehensive Plan.



statements to local needs, concerns, and conditions, and to identify the agency or department responsible

for implementation:

Sample Goal: Provide safe and comfortable routes for

walking, bicycling, and public transportation to increase

use of these modes of transportation, enable convenient

and active travel as part of daily activities, reduce

pollution, and meet the needs of all users of the streets,

including children, families, older adults, and people

with disabilities.

Sample Objective: Create sidewalks/pathways away

from the road where there is no room between the guide

rail and road to a location closer to the Creek and away

from traffic. A sidewalk does not always mean concrete.

A pathway/walkway can be wording alternatives to steer

away from the image of concrete and curbing.

Alternative materials that can be used are crushed stone,

river rocks, and stepping stones; any material that

delineates the natural environment from where people

travel.

Sample Strategy: Include boardwalk material or other

wet weather materials for sidewalks when constructing

closer to the existing Creek. The area is prone to floods

and has been flooded in the past, so a material that would

work with wet weather occurrences would work best in

the area. A cantilevered pathway along the creek bed

could also be a potential alternative to traditional

sidewalks.

Sample Objective: Integrate Complete Streets

infrastructure and design features into street design and

construction to create safe and inviting environments for

all users to walk, bicycle, and use public transportation.

Sample Strategy: In planning, designing, and

constructing Complete Streets:

Include infrastructure that promotes a safe means of travel for all users along the right of way,

such as sidewalks, shared use paths, bicycle lanes, and paved shoulders.



Include infrastructure that facilitates safe crossing of the right of way, such as accessible curb

ramps, crosswalks, refuge islands, and pedestrian signals; such infrastructure must meet the needs

of people with different types of disabilities and people of different ages.

Prioritize incorporation of street design features and techniques that promote safe and

comfortable travel by pedestrians, bicyclists, and public transportation riders, such as traffic

calming mechanisms, narrow vehicle lanes, raised medians, transit bulb outs, road diets, and other

physical buffers and separations between vehicular traffic and other users.

Ensure use of these additional features that improve the comfort and safety of users:

o Pedestrian-oriented signs, pedestrian-scale lighting, benches and other street furniture, bicycle

parking facilities, and comfortable and attractive public transportation stops and facilities.

o Street trees, landscaping, and planting strips, including native plants where possible, in order

to buffer traffic noise and protect and shade pedestrians and bicyclists.

Sample Strategy: As necessary, restructure and revise the zoning and subdivision codes, and other plans,

laws, procedures, rules, regulations, guidelines, programs, templates, and design manuals, in order to

integrate, accommodate, and balance the needs of all users in all street projects on public [and private]

streets.

Example Cross Section Template for a Complete Street



Sample Strategy: Develop or revise street standards and

design manuals, including cross-section templates and

design treatment details, to ensure that standards support

and do not impede Complete Streets.

Sample Objective: Plan and develop a comprehensive

and convenient bicycle and pedestrian transportation

network.

Sample Strategy: Develop a long-term plan for a bicycle

and pedestrian network that meets the needs of users,

including pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation

riders, [insert other appropriate users if desired] and

people of all ages and abilities, including children, youth,

families, older adults, and individuals with disabilities.

Sample Strategy: Conduct a demand analysis for each

category of user, mapping locations that are already

oriented to each mode of travel and type of user and those

for which there is latent demand.

Sample Strategy: Identify and prioritize necessary

changes in order to implement the preferred network;

prioritize neighborhoods with the greatest need and

projects that significantly alleviate economic, social,

racial, or ethnic inequities.

Sample Strategy: Explore the use of non-standard

locations and connections for bicycle, pedestrian, and

public transportation facilities, such as easements, restored

stream corridors, and railroad rights-of way.

Sample Strategy: Develop funding strategies for

addressing additional needs; actively pursue funding from

state, federal, and other sources.

Sample Strategy: Explore imposing dedication

requirements on new development to create paths and

other Complete Streets infrastructure.

Sample Strategy: Collaborate with the County, State and other appropriate local and regional agencies,

to integrate bicycle, pedestrian, and public transportation facility planning into regional and local

transportation planning programs and agencies to encourage connectivity between neighboring

jurisdictions.



LOW-COST IMPROVEMENT OPPORTUNITIES

Even small projects can be an opportunity to make meaningful, easy-to-implement, low-cost

improvements. For example, in repaving projects, an edge stripe can be shifted to create more room for

pedestrians or cyclists, or a new crosswalk can be added. Reclaiming the right of way for other uses and

reducing the number of lanes, and/or reducing the travel lane width, can potentially increase parking

spaces for businesses by providing angled parking in areas. A strong Complete Streets Policy integrates

Complete Streets planning into all types of projects, including new construction, reconstruction,

rehabilitation, repair, and maintenance.13 When implementing Complete Streets design elements, the

Town should:

Keep it simple, and focus first on easy-to-implement and low-cost solutions.

Match the treatment to the type of problem and the specific road classification.

Identify and program longer-term improvement needs.

13 Elements of a Comprehensive Complete Streets Policy. National Complete Streets Coalition, www.completestreets.org

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