Arlington County, Virginia ~ National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) Transportation and Land-Use Connections (TLC) Program

Transcription

1 Arlington County, Virginia ~ National Capital Region Transportation Planning Board (TPB) Transportation and Land-Use Connections (TLC) Program May 4, 2011

2 Nature of the Problem European and US Best Practices Review Critical Factors: Safety, Comfort, Connectivity Key Design Considerations Track Alignment Track Crossings & Intersections Passenger Loading Recommendations for MWCOG/Arlington

3 Unique danger to the bicycle mode Philadelphia, PA

4 Seattle Lawsuit Bicyclists Not Considered in South Lake Union Alignment Bicycling Routes Severed Bicyclists Injured in Falls on Tracks Angled Crossings at Streetcar Turns Right Side Track Placement

5 Median Streetcar Alignment Preferred

6 Separate Bicycle Facilities Cycle Tracks Median Streetcar Alignment Preferred

7 Lots of Pavement Markings in Intersections Separate Bicycle Facilities Cycle Tracks Median Streetcar Alignment Preferred

8 Lots of Pavement Markings in Intersections

9 Lots of Pavement Markings in Intersections

10 Use of Signal Phasing/Bicycle Signals

11 Median (left side) streetcar preferred Separate bicycle facilities Cycletracks Lots of pavement markings in intersections Use of signal phasing and separate streetcar/bicycle signals

12 Westlake Avenue, Seattle, WA

13 Six cyclists who crashed while crossing the South Lake Union Streetcar tracks are suing the city of Seattle, claiming officials ignored hazards to pedalpower commuters. All six were hurt when their tires got stuck in the flange way gap between the rail and street. They claim city officials were negligent in designing the tracks and knew of the risks but failed to post warning signs until after several people had been hurt, according to the lawsuit, filed last week in King County Superior Court. Read more: php#ixzz1L8tvbHO2

14 Comfort separation Safety flange crossings, proximity Connectivity Traffic capacity Available space Pedestrian interactions Cost Rare NEPA Typical NEPA

15 Critical Error Alignments Chosen Independently Bicycle Mode Frequently Severed with No Mitigation Identified Rarely Considered Not Considered: Crystal City/Potomac Yard Transit Analysis Anacostia Phase II Considered-Not Mitigated: Columbia Pike (Accident Rates for Bicycles in Similar Environments) Considered-Mitigated = Seattle First Hill, Portland, Charlotte

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17 Streetcar alignment: The separation provided is determined by the alignment of the tracks in the roadway and the dynamic envelope of the moving streetcar vehicles. Crossing the tracks/intersections: Locations where tracks turn across bicyclist path or bicyclist path crosses tracks. Passenger loading: Pedestrian access to and from boarding locations relative to path of bicyclist travel

18 Streetcar alignment: The separation provided is determined by the alignment of the tracks in the roadway and the dynamic envelope of the moving streetcar vehicles. Crossing the tracks/intersections: Locations where tracks turn across bicyclist path or bicyclist path crosses tracks. Passenger loading: Pedestrian access to and from boarding locations relative to path of bicyclist travel

19 Westlake Avenue, Seattle, WA

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23 Tracks in Median/Middle Lanes Bike lane, cycle track, or shared lane on right (One-Way Street: Bike lane, cycle track, or shared lane on opposite side) Tracks in Right Lane Bike lane between tracks and curb/parking Cycletrack outside curb/parking Parallel bicycle network

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25 Toronto, Canada - bike lane between vehicle lane and curb

26 Benning Road, DC - Shared outside lanes

27 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

28 Cycle track between sidewalk and curb/parking

29 Amsterdam, Netherlands

30 Good Bike Boulevards Low volume Parallel to streetcar Access to Streetcar Connected Convenient Similar terrain

31 Streetcar alignment: The separation provided is determined by the alignment of the tracks in the roadway and the dynamic envelope of the moving streetcar vehicles. Crossing the tracks/intersections: Locations where tracks turn across bicyclist path or bicyclist path crosses tracks. Passenger loading: Pedestrian access to and from boarding locations relative to path of bicyclist travel

32 Streetcar Envelope Crossing angles Turning streetcar tracks across through bicycle movements Bicycle left turns across parallel tracks Signage & pavement markings

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37 Bike swerves left towards traffic to cross tracks at 60 degree angle to avoid falling

38 Crossing of tracks ideally is 60-90, minimum 45 to avoid falls. Chicane into parking lane or curb required to not swerve into adjacent left lane.

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40 Who Yields?

41 Right Turning Streetcar/ Vehicle Conflict with Thru Bicyclist Motorist Yield? Likely Streetcar Yield? Unlikely Bicyclist Cognizance Or Separate Phase Where should bicyclist stop?

42 Right Turning Streetcar/ Vehicle Conflict with Thru Bicyclist Motorist Can Yield Streetcar Yield? Unlikely Bicyclist Cognizance Or Separate Phase Where should bicyclist stop? o

43 Prague, Czech Republic

44 Widen radius for bike lane Cross bikes at degree angle, define with paint Manage unexpected conflicts Bike signal Streetcar detection Warning signs Consider color through crosswalk

45 Draft MUTCD Content Near side placement Different height Passive detection vs. manual actuation Louvers

46 Not in MUTCD No testing

47 Potential path of passing vehicles across bike box move crosswalk Considerations: Vehicle left turn lane? Yes bike box can shadow parking No move crosswalk back to recess bike box out of potential path of vehicle Turning vehicle paths Keep box out of tracks

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51 Heath Street, Boston, MA

52 Green Paint FHWA MUTCD Interim Approval Proven technique for guiding cyclists Material choices Paint $, slippery Thermo - $$ Friction surface - $$$

53 Streetcar alignment: The separation provided is determined by the alignment of the tracks in the roadway and the dynamic envelope of the moving streetcar vehicles. Crossing the tracks/intersections: Locations where tracks turn across bicyclist path or bicyclist path crosses tracks. Passenger loading: Pedestrian access to and from boarding locations relative to path of bicyclist travel

54 Channelize using curb, plantings, railings Maintain sight lines Slow bicyclists Adequate space for pedestrians and bicyclists Design for through moving bicylists with defined pedestrian crossing points

55 Portland, Oregon separate vertically and horizontally

56 Portland, Oregon - Separation, but keep bicycle at roadway elevation

57 Station Design separate vertically and horizontally

58 Station Design separate vertically and horizontally

59 Bike parking Bikes on trains Capital Bikeshare Wayfinding Maps Education Safety Flyers Websites

60 Median/left side streetcar Preferred with bike lanes/cycle track on right Right side streetcar Preferred cycle track Bicycle lane an option if good design avoid minimum widths Parallel routes Intersections Paint Detailed geometric analysis Bicycle signals Be willing to move crosswalks, curb ramps, and restrict parking Passenger platforms Design for bicyclist bypass & channelization

61 Incorporate Bicycle Mode Assessment into NEPA Process Street Access Impacts Safety Evaluation Identify Alternative Bicycle Routes Directness/Continuity Connectivity to Streetcar Cost/Benefit Identify & Implement Mitigations