A How-to Guide to Rural Active Transportation

Planning

EOATS 2019

Kate Whitfield, P.Eng., MCIP, RPP - Alta Planning + Design

Seminar – A How-to Guide to Rural Active Transportation Planning

Goals for the Day

A conversation that:

1. Frames the discussion around small towns and rural communities

2. Covers walking and biking

3. Helps us leave with some tangible tools for action

4. Gets resources to our finger tips

5. Leads to shared ideas to solve common problems

A conversation that keeps going after today…

Frontenac County

Area: 3,337 km2Population: 27,000 (2016)

K&P Trail

The K&P Trail is a rail-to-trail conversion that travels north from the City of Kingston on the shores of Lake Ontario to the town of Renfrew on the Ottawa River

• Of 150 total km, approximately 90 km are “developed”

• Frontenac County is host to approximately 85 km, of which 55 have been “developed” to-date

• Remaining 30 km is used primarily by motorized trail users, but these sections are not yet “managed”

County-Wide Active Transportation Plan

Area: 3,337 km2Population: 27,000 (2016)

FHWA Small Town and Rural Multimodal Networks (2017)

The multimodal design guidelines for the rest of us.

ruraldesignguide.com

Where do I get a copy of the Guide?

Published by the Federal Highway Administration

www.altaplanning.com

An interactive online edition is available at:

ruraldesignguide.com

One Size Does Not Fit All

LONGER NON-

LOCAL TRIP

DISTANCES

HEALTH

DISPARITIES

HIGHER CRASH

RATES

(60% of traffic

fatalities in rural

areas where 19% of

the population lives)

INCOME

DISPARITIES

FHWA Small Town and Rural Multimodal Networks Guide (2017)

ruraldesignguide.com

Varying Context and User Needs

AgriculturalUnimproved Recreational Downtown

Active Transportation Users

• Recreational Cyclists• Commuter Cyclists• Cycling for regular, every day life• Pedestrians travelling to/from a

specific destination (walking to the store, walking to school, etc.)

• Pedestrians walking or jogging for leisure/exercise purposes

• Pedestrians with special mobility requirements

Thinking About Other Trail Users

Photo: Paulo LeBerge

Photo: Ontario Trails Council

Talk Trips

Part 1 - WHAT TYPES OF TRIPS DO YOU TAKE BY FOOT OR BIKE?

Talk Trips

Part 1 - WHAT TYPES OF TRIPS DO YOU TAKE BY FOOT OR BIKE?

• Walk to school?

• Walk over to the school yard to play basketball?

• Bike to the library?

• Walk over to a friend’s house?

• Walk to a store?

• Bike to work?

• Accessing a recreational space or trail?

• What kind of places/destinations do you want to get to?

Talk Trips

Part 1 - What type of trips do you take by foot or by bike?

Part 2 – If you are not travelling by foot or bike (or if you want to do more), how can we imagine generating such trips?

Example Activity

Having removed the barriers (for now), how far can you get in 20 mins by biking (approx. 5km) or walking from a origin of your choice?

Take a piece of string; pick any location to start from; think about the trips you take; report back

Mixed Traffic

• Yield Roadway

• Bicycle Boulevard

• Advisory Shoulder

Visually Separated

• Paved Shoulder

• Bike Lane

Physically Separated

• Shared Use Path

• Sidepath

• Sidewalk

• Separated Bike Lane

Small Town and Rural Multi-Modal Networks Design Guide

History and ContextRural Practice and Multimodal Design Guidelines

Where did the guide come from - Sources

FHWA Policy Statement (2010)

“... DOT encourages transportation agencies to go

beyond the minimum requirements, and

proactively provide convenient, safe, and context-sensitive

facilities that foster increased use by bicyclists and pedestrians

of all ages and abilities...”

FHWA. United States Department of Transportation Policy Statement on Bicycle and Pedestrian Accommodation Regulations and Recommendations. 2010.

Small Town/Rural Challenges

• Main Street is frequently a state

highway through the downtown

• Many roadways carry agricultural

equipment

• At the edges of public lands with high

industrial/recreational use

• Lack of transit and other options

• Many winding roads with constrained

terrain

• Motor vehicle oriented roads

Route 124/202 in Jaffrey

Guide Structure

1. Introduction

2. Mixed Transportation Facilities

3. Visually Separated Facilities

4. Physically Separated Facilities

5. Key Network Linkages

6. Planning and Project Development

Metric and Imperial – Thank you FHWA!

Multimodal Facilities

• Application

• Benefits

• Guidance• Geometric Design

• Markings

• Signs

• Intersection treatment

• Implementation

• Accessibility

• Case Studies

Focus on Complete Networks of Facilities

Networks are interconnected pedestrian and/or bicycle transportation facilities that allow people of all ages and abilities to safely and conveniently get where they want to go.

Facility Categories:

• Mixed Traffic

• Visually Separated

• Physically Separated

Applications

Mixed Traffic Physically SeparatedVisually Separated

Visually Separated(where volumes exceed 3,000 AADT)

Paved Shoulder

Bike Lane

Pedestrian Lane*

*The Pedestrian Lane treatment is located in chapter 5 of the Small Town and Rural Multimodal Networks document, but is included in this category for informational purposes.

Bike Lane

Lyndonville, VTPopulation: 1,200

Applications

Mixed Traffic Physically SeparatedVisually Separated

Physically Separated(where volumes exceed 10,000 AADT and with higher speeds)

SidewalkShared Use PathSidepathSeparated Bike Lanes

Sidewalk

Sidewalk

Crossing

Enhancements

Unpaved

Separation

Sidewalk

• Sidewalks on roads with curbs may feature an unpaved or paved furnishing zone separation

• Offering separation from the roadway is preferred in most areas for user comfort and design flexibility at intersections.

Denmark, SCPopulation: 3,400

Separated Bike Lane

Separated Bike Lane

Jackson Hole, WYPopulation: 9,600

Russelville, ARPopulation: 28,500

Sydenham, Ontario

• Rutledge Road (Hwy 5)

• Loughborough Public School

• Sydenham High School

• Population: 3,000+

Sidepath Unpaved Separation

High Visibility

Crosswalk

Wide Separation

at Intersection

Minimized

exposure

Sidepath

A sidepath is a bidirectional shared use path located immediately adjacent and parallel to a roadway. Sidepaths can offer a high-quality experience for users of all ages and abilities as compared to on-roadway facilities in heavy traffic environments, allow for reduced roadway crossing distances, and maintain rural and small town community character.

South Lake Tahoe, CAPopulation: 20,100

Photo by Tahoe Regional Planning Association (TRPA)

Sidepath

Bentonville, ARPopulation: 40,000

Shared Use Path

Existing K&P Trail Crossing

Network Opportunities

•Speed Management

•School Connections

•Multimodal Main Street

•Access to Public Lands

•Bridge Retrofits

• Use the images in the guide for your own projects

• Organize a demonstration project

• Integrate active transportation planning goals and objectives into your comprehensive plan

• And opportunities for this guide: Canadian examples…

Opportunities

County-Wide Active Transportation Plan

Frontenac County - Context

• County Level with relationship to Townships

Economies of scale and coordinated approach

• Trail links to external municipalities and adjacent Counties

Planning

Existing Conditions and Gap Analysis

• Existing Conditions Assessment

• Missing Links / Barriers and Identify Strategic Opportunities

• Developing a Trail Standard

Wolfe Island

Wolfe Island

Howe Island

Ompah, Ontario

Existing Trail Crossing

Existing Conditions Assessment

Data-driven support for network recommendations

Demand Analysis

• Activity centers that provide demand for bicycle and pedestrian facilities

Gap Analysis

Disconnected facilities

Underserved areas

Discrepancy in quality

Network Quality

Roadway characteristics

Bicycle + pedestrian facility quality and type

Equity

Socioeconomic and demographic considerations

Overlay of multiple indicators

Why Equity

• Research indicates that historically disadvantaged and vulnerable populations may have a greater reliance on walking + bicycling to meet daily needs

• Considering equity can improve the planning process and outcomes:

• Inform public outreach

• Create a network that better serves the needs of all residents

Connections to Health

Demographic indicators often considered to be social determinants for health

Demographic indicators can enhance understanding of detailed health status data, if available

Mapping

Missing Links / Gap Analysis

Based on an understanding of existing conditions as mapped in demand analysis, gaps in the non-motorized network are identified and categorized:

1. Spot Gaps: Point-specific locations lacking dedicated bicycle facilities (i.e., intersections)

2. Connection Gaps: Missing segments on a clearly defined and otherwise well-connected bikeway (includes major barriers)

3. System Gaps: larger geographic areas

Social Pinpoint

Open August – November 2018Total of 115 responses

• “This piece of highway 7 desperately needs a paved shoulder. Help people safely access the retail area, and travel to quieter sideroads like 509, Fall River, Sharbot Lake Provincial park.”

• “Gates along the Cataraqui trail are not bike friendly. They require dismounting in places. if cycling is going to be encouraged the gates should be designed in a way that is passable on a bike with minimal skill at slow speeds”

Wolfe Island Ferry Dock, August 2018

Network Development and Trail Standard

• Network development

• Prioritization PlanIntegrating AT projects into long-term capital plans

• Trail Standard

So we built this awesome trail in its own dedicated right-of-way… but how do people get to it?

K&P Trail – Spine Designation

What is a “spine” of a network?

• Higher priority • Facility Type

• Crossings

• Connections

• Quality

• For investment

• Trailheads

• Maintenance

• Ties into trail hierarchy

Prioritization Criteria

When we build the network and develop recommendations for what to prioritize, we take into account:

• The gaps/missing links identified by citizens

• The gaps/missing links from our analysis

• How the project relates to the K&P trail

• Projects with potential for economic development

• Opportunities for regional linkages (think tourism)

• Leveraging capital works projects

Identifying Opportunities to Enhance Safety

Emphasis Areas:

1) Increase driver’s awareness

2) Improve visibility for pedestrians

3) Minimize pedestrian exposure to high speed vehicles

Increase Driver’s Awareness

Warning signs (Trail Crossing Sign)

Off-Trail Wayfinding Signs Pavement Markings

Improve Visibility for Pedestrians

On-street parking Trim vegetation Advisory speed signs

Minimize Pedestrian Exposure to High Speed Vehicles

Controlled crossings

Reroute pedestrians to controlled crossings

Orientation & wayfinding signs

Gradeseparated pedestrian facility

Source: http://www.skadesign.com

Source: OTM Book 18

Safety Emphasis Areas

1. Minimize and consolidate conflict points between modes where they must occur

2. Encourage desirable yielding behavior by:

i. Maximizing approach sight distance

ii. Reducing speeds

iii. Enhancing visibility at intersections and conflict points

3. Clearly delineate roadway space by travel mode

4. Intuitive facilities to promote predictable behaviour for all users

5. Direct and convenient connections that minimize detours

Different Different Goals Outcomes

• Creates welcoming and inviting streets

• Improves quality of life

• Balances moving people, not just cars

• Walking, biking and public transportation

• Enhances safety

• Enhances economic vitality KEY

Kate Whitfield, P.Eng., MCIP, RPP

Alta Planning + Design, Inc. – Canada

katewhitfield@altaplanning.com