11

There Are Many Ways to There Are Many Ways to Put A Road on a DietPut A Road on a Diet

Jack WitthausJack WitthausSunnyvale Transportation & Traffic ManagerSunnyvale Transportation & Traffic Manager

jwitthaus@ci.sunnyvale.ca.usjwitthaus@ci.sunnyvale.ca.us

22

Road Diets in SunnyvaleRoad Diets in Sunnyvale

Seven + Roads “Dieted”Seven + Roads “Dieted”

Primarily 4 lane to 2 lane + TWLTLPrimarily 4 lane to 2 lane + TWLTL

ImpetusImpetus

–Community ConcernsCommunity Concerns

–Bikeway Network ExpansionBikeway Network Expansion

33

How Did Roads Get Dieted?How Did Roads Get Dieted?

Location-Specific Location-Specific Concerns/Studies/Projects Concerns/Studies/Projects

Quick Decision, Opportunistic Quick Decision, Opportunistic ProjectsProjects

Planned, Studied, Designed ProjectsPlanned, Studied, Designed Projects

44

Location Specific, “First Generation” Location Specific, “First Generation” DietsDiets

Pre-Livable Community, Bike Network Pre-Livable Community, Bike Network MovementsMovements

Driven by Community ConcernsDriven by Community Concerns

– Safety Concerns (Not Safety Issues)Safety Concerns (Not Safety Issues)

– Pedestrian SafetyPedestrian Safety

– Bike SafetyBike Safety

– Speed, Volume of VehiclesSpeed, Volume of Vehicles

55

ProcessProcess

Location-Specific StudiesLocation-Specific Studies

Outreach to Effected Outreach to Effected NeighborhoodsNeighborhoods

Citizen-Driven DesignsCitizen-Driven Designs–Refuge Islands – Old San Refuge Islands – Old San

Francisco RoadFrancisco Road–No Bike LanesNo Bike Lanes

66

77

ResultsResults

No Traffic Impact Other than Island No Traffic Impact Other than Island CrashesCrashes

Mixed Community ResponseMixed Community Response–Bicyclists HatedBicyclists Hated–Islands Get Hit, Some People Islands Get Hit, Some People

Don’t Like ThemDon’t Like Them–Pavement DeteriorationPavement Deterioration

88

99

““Second Generation” Diets for Second Generation” Diets for Bikeway ExpansionBikeway Expansion

Bicycle Opportunities Study – 1998Bicycle Opportunities Study – 1998– Citywide Bike Lane Study of Arterials Citywide Bike Lane Study of Arterials

and Collectorsand Collectors– Methods StudiedMethods Studied

Geometric ChangesGeometric ChangesParking Modification/RemovalParking Modification/RemovalRoad WideningRoad WideningTravel Lane RemovalTravel Lane Removal

1010

1111

The Bike Opps Road DietThe Bike Opps Road Diet “Golden Ratio” “Golden Ratio”

Uncongested Travel Lane Capacity=Uncongested Travel Lane Capacity=

360 Vehicles per Hour360 Vehicles per Hour– Free Flow Capacity 1800 VPHFree Flow Capacity 1800 VPH– Reduced to 1200 VPH to Account for Traffic Reduced to 1200 VPH to Account for Traffic

Fluctuation, Future GrowthFluctuation, Future Growth– Reduced to 360 VPH Assuming 30% Green Reduced to 360 VPH Assuming 30% Green

Time in Non-Free Flow ConditionsTime in Non-Free Flow Conditions

1212

Practical Results of Bike OppsPractical Results of Bike Opps

Underlying Justification, Basis for Underlying Justification, Basis for Operations and Capital Operations and Capital Improvement Decisions Improvement Decisions

Proactive, CatalystProactive, Catalyst

1313

What Was Catalyzed?What Was Catalyzed?

Modification of Roadway Modification of Roadway Geometry Following Pavement Geometry Following Pavement ProjectsProjects

Grant ApplicationsGrant Applications

Capital Project ProgrammingCapital Project Programming

1414

Operations “Projects”Operations “Projects”

Geometric Changes Following Geometric Changes Following Pavement RehabilitationPavement RehabilitationLittle/No Technical Confirmation Little/No Technical Confirmation of Opps Studyof Opps StudyNo Public InputNo Public InputOpportunisticOpportunistic

1515

Results of Operations ProjectsResults of Operations Projects

Successful OperationallySuccessful Operationally

Hurried “Designs”Hurried “Designs”– Less than Optimal GeometryLess than Optimal Geometry– Less than Optimal Traffic Signal Equipment Less than Optimal Traffic Signal Equipment

PlacementPlacement

Some Public BacklashSome Public Backlash

1616

1717

Planned, Scheduled, Designed Planned, Scheduled, Designed Capital ProjectsCapital Projects

Attractive Grant OpportunitiesAttractive Grant Opportunities

Follow-on Study of Intersection, Follow-on Study of Intersection, Operational ImpactsOperational Impacts

Public OutreachPublic Outreach

Well Developed DesignsWell Developed Designs

1818

ResultsResults

Next to No Public OutcryNext to No Public Outcry

ExpensiveExpensive

Operationally SuccessfulOperationally Successful

Defensible ProjectsDefensible Projects

Public Interest in Road Diets is GrowingPublic Interest in Road Diets is Growing

1919

2020

ConclusionsConclusions

““Fat” Roads ExistFat” Roads ExistRoad Diets Can Be Successful Road Diets Can Be Successful – OperationallyOperationally– Public AcceptancePublic Acceptance

Diligence in Project Planning and Design Diligence in Project Planning and Design HelpsHelps– Do Comprehensive Area-Wide PlanningDo Comprehensive Area-Wide Planning– Do Comprehensive Capital Project Do Comprehensive Capital Project

Engineering and OutreachEngineering and Outreach