AGENDA. I. Call to Order/ Introductions

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1 NORTHWEST MUNICIPAL CONFERENCE 1600 East Golf Road, Suite 0700 Des Plaines, Illinois (847) Fax (847) A Regional Association of Illinois Municipalities and Townships Representing a Population of Over One Million MEMBERS Antioch Arlington Heights Bannockburn Barrington Bartlett Buffalo Grove Carpentersville Cary Crystal Lake Deer Park Deerfield Des Plaines Elk Grove Village Evanston Fox Lake Glencoe Glenview Grayslake Hanover Park Highland Park Hoffman Estates Kenilworth Lake Bluff Lake Forest Lake Zurich Libertyville Lincolnshire Lincolnwood Morton Grove Mount Prospect Niles Northbrook Northfield Northfield Twp. Palatine Park Ridge Prospect Heights Rolling Meadows Schaumburg Skokie Streamwood Vernon Hills Wheeling Wilmette Winnetka President Elizabeth B. Tisdahl Evanston Vice-President Jeffrey Braiman Buffalo Grove Secretary Tom Rooney Rolling Meadows Treasurer Juliana Maller Hanover Park Northwest Municipal Conference Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee Tuesday, October 21, :30 a.m. NWMC Offices 1600 E. Golf Road, Suite 0700, Des Plaines AGENDA I. Call to Order/ Introductions II. Approval of June 17, 2014 Meeting Minutes (Attachment A) Action Requested: Approval of Minutes III. IV. Committee Topics Discussion Staff requests a discussion on the topics, presentations and speakers that are of interest to the committee for the coming year. Action Requested: Discussion Mount Prospect RRFB Project Matt Lawrie from the Village of Mount Prospect will discuss the village s new Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacon (RRFB) located at Busse Road and Lonnquist Boulevard. Action Requested: Informational V. CMAP Local Technical Assistance and RTA Community Planning Grant Awards (Attachments B and C) Staff will provide an update on the recently announced projects from the NWMC area which received planning grants through the two programs. Action Requested: Informational VI. USDOT Action Plan Safer People, Safer Streets (Attachment D) Staff will update the committee on the attached action plan from the U.S. Department of Transportation, which has been developed to increase safety for pedestrian and bicyclists. Action Requested: Informational Executive Director Mark L. Fowler

2 VII. VIII. IX. Other Business Next Meeting Due to a conflict on November 18, staff is requesting a discussion on the next meeting date. Action Requested: Discussion Adjournment

3 Attachment A Committee Members Present: A.C. Buehler, Village of Northbrook, Chair Richard Bascomb, Village of Schaumburg Jim Baxa, Village of Northbrook Brook Jones, Village of Wheeling (alternate) Scott Mangum, City of Des Plaines Briget Schwab, Village of Arlington Heights Others Present: Ellen Dayan, NWMC Catherine Hurley, City of Evanston Matt Lawrie, Village of Mount Prospect Amandeep Mann, Village of Skokie Stacey Meekins, SSE Mei Poy, Village of Arlington Heights Chris Staron, NWMC Nancy Wagner, Active Transportation Alliance Mike Walczak, NWMC Northwest Municipal Conference Bicycle and Pedestrian Committee Tuesday, June 17, 2014 Draft Meeting Minutes 10:30 a.m. NWMC Offices I. Call to Order/Introductions Chair Buehler called the meeting to order at 10:30 a.m. and asked those present for introductions. II. III. Approval of the May 28, 2014 Meeting Minutes On a motion made by Mr. Mangum, seconded by Mr. Bascomb, the committee voted unanimously to approve the meeting minutes. Joint Purchasing for Bicycle and Pedestrian Infrastructure Ms. Dayan provided an overview of the Suburban Purchasing Cooperative (SPC), which the NWMC administers in cooperation with other councils of governments in the region. She said that the agenda packet includes information about lane markings, which are currently offered through the SPC. She noted that all SPC contracts have been competitively bid and assist municipalities in avoiding the administrative work to conduct the bidding and contract process. She said that the SPC is open to new programs if there is adequate interest from members leading to the necessary volume and revenue to justify creating specifications and administering a bidding process. Chair Buehler said that bike racks and lane markings seem to make the most sense for a joint purchasing approach. Ms. Hurley said that Evanston would be interested in portable bicycle parking for events. Mr. Staron said that staff will need to do additional work and potentially a membership survey to gauge interest and see if standardized equipment could be identified. Chair Buehler asked about the process. Ms. Dayan responded that this meeting is the start of the process. She said that if staff concludes there is adequate demand for a

4 Attachment A program, specifications would be developed and the SPC Board would ultimately decide if they want to initiate the new program. IV. Community Planning and Local Technical Assistance Program Mr. Walczak said that based on input from the committee and NWMC members, staff has gathered information about conducting a bike sharing feasibility study and a sidewalk gap study and plan. Mr. Staron and Mr. Walczak provided an overview of what the two projects would entail and accomplish. Mr. Walczak said that bike sharing in Washington D.C. has been expanded to the surrounding suburbs and there are examples of successful bike share systems in smaller cities. He said that the study would look at what type of model would work in the NWMC area and what land use characteristics are necessary for a successful system. Mr. Staron said a sidewalk study would look the existing sidewalk network and catalog gaps. He said that the plan would prioritize projects likely based on factors like proximity to transit, schools and dense areas. Ms. Hurley said that Evanston has done some initial planning regarding the extension of Divvy even though the city was unsuccessful in securing ITEP funds. Mr. Bascomb said that Schaumburg would be interested in the bike share study. The committee expressed a general consensus that the bike share study was the top planning project to pursue. Mr. Walczak said that staff would prepare a bike share study application and examine whether there was adequate staff capacity to submit the sidewalk study as well. V. Bike Count Locations Mr. Staron informed the committee that CMAP is conducting bike counts at locations throughout the Chicago region and has requested suggested locations from NWMC staff. He presented a number of preliminary recommendations make by staff and provided by NWMC members. The committee members provided input on additional locations that should be considered for CMAP s bike count. Mr. Staron said that locations should be submitted by Thursday and staff will work to create a prioritized list to submit to CMAP. VI. VII. VIII. IX. CMAQ and TAP Notice Mr. Walczak reported that CMAP is planning to conduct a joint call for projects for the CMAQ and TAP programs in early He said that both programs require Phase I Engineering to be completed before moving forward and suggested that communities start considering projects and contacting Chris or Mike to set up kick off meetings or scoping meetings with IDOT. Other Business Mr. Staron and Mr. Walczak noted that the NWMC has sent out its committee solicitation and anyone interested in serving on the committee should return the forms by the end of the week. Ms. Schwab reported that the Commuter Drive project will be installing the sidepath in the coming days. Next Meeting Chair Buehler noted that the next meeting is scheduled for July 15, and will include an examination of the revised draft of the Des Plaines River Trail Plan. Adjournment On a motion from Ms. Schwab, seconded by Mr. Bascomb, the committee unanimously voted to adjourned.

5 Local Technical Assistance (LTA) Program: Recommendations for Project Selection Following the adoption of GO TO 2040, CMAP established the Local Technical Assistance (LTA) program to direct resources to communities to pursue planning work that helps to implement GO TO During the most recent call for projects, which ended on June 26, CMAP received 104 applications for assistance. Further information on applications received is available at: The CMAP Board and MPO Policy Committee will be asked to approve the staff recommendations for the LTA program at their joint meeting on October 8. Prior to the Board and MPO Policy Committee meeting, the Local Coordinating Committee will be asked to recommend approval by these groups. The Transportation Committee will also be asked to recommend approval at their meeting on October 3. The purpose of this memo is to present CMAP staff recommendations for the treatment of each application received. It is divided into four sections: Staff recommendations for projects to be undertaken through the LTA program. Basic statistics concerning the projects recommended for selection. Evaluation process. Full lists of projects that are recommended and not recommended. LTA recommendations In total, 25 new projects are recommended to be pursued through the LTA program. These projects were selected by applying CMAP s selection criteria: alignment of the project with the recommendations of GO TO 2040; local need for assistance; feasibility and ability to implement; collaboration with other groups, including neighboring governments and nongovernmental groups; input from relevant Counties and Councils of Government (COGs); and geographic balance. Additionally, as CMAP has completed LTA projects, the implementation of completed projects has become an increasing priority. Several of the applications received help to implement projects that had been previously undertaken through the LTA program; many of these projects are recommended for selection. For organizational purposes, recommended projects are presented below in groups. Regional infrastructure projects Several applications this year related to regional transportation infrastructure priorities. Two of these covered the entire metropolitan area. One application, submitted jointly by all seven of

6 the region s Counties, involves a regional truck permitting plan. This project will be scoped and managed by CMAP, but external funding will be needed to develop the actual plan. Another regional project, submitted by the Chicago Metro Metal Consortium, a coalition of Counties, manufacturing industry representatives, economic developers, and others, will help this group to review and evaluate the impact of potential infrastructure investments on the region s metal manufacturing cluster. Two other large-scale projects focused on the O Hare area. A multijurisdictional application led by Franklin Park will improve truck access in an 11-community area in west Cook, northwest Cook, and DuPage Counties, addressing issues such as disconnected truck routes, poor roadway conditions, and congestion. Multijurisdictional transportation planning was also the focus of a project submitted by DuPage County which will address bicycle and pedestrian improvements in coordination with the new Elgin O Hare Western Access facility. A number of municipalities are involved in both of these multijurisdictional projects. County-level economic development Two countywide projects are recommended for selection, both with focuses on economic development. Kendall County requested a study of the market for industrial development across the county, which includes assessing transportation infrastructure needs. McHenry County is participating in a multi-county Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) in coordination with the Rockford region; CMAP was asked to assist with the McHenry County portion of this multijurisdictional project. Both of these projects were also submitted in 2013 and made improvements to their 2014 submittals, including incorporating transportation as a central element. Planning priorities reports Planning priorities reports are a relatively new type of LTA project; three of them were done during the first several years of the program. These reports involve interviews with numerous local stakeholders, review of past planning work, and examination of current demographic, economic, transportation, and other conditions. Based on this information, planning priorities reports then recommend what sort of assistance a community needs. This may be a comprehensive plan, zoning ordinance update, corridor plan, or similar planning product; or it may be a training series for elected officials, a shift in departmental responsibilities, a new business development program, or many other options. Planning priorities reports are ideally suited for communities with limited staff or new administrations, and they can be useful in both identifying planning priorities for a community and confirming local commitment to a future full-scale planning process. Four planning priorities reports are recommended this year. Two, in Calumet Park and Steger, are in communities with few professional staff but significant planning needs. Another, in Fox Lake, will be designed to help a new village administrator strategically implement a recent comprehensive plan. The fourth report will be conducted for the Endeleo Institute, a nonprofit organization on Chicago s south side, and will examine planning opportunities along 95 th Street near the Red Line station. LTA Project Selection Page 2 of 9 October 1, 2014

7 Capital Improvement Programs (CIPs) Two communities requested assistance with developing Capital Improvement Programs (CIPs), which are multi-year infrastructure investment programs. Both of these applications, from Blue Island and Richton Park, are recommended to be selected. In both of these communities, the CIPs will be used to help implement recently-completed comprehensive plans. CIPs are becoming an increasing area of emphasis for the LTA program, as they can be effective links between planning and infrastructure investment. Zoning and regulatory process improvements Like CIPs, updates to zoning ordinances, subdivision regulations, and development review processes are important methods to implement past plans. Several projects in these categories are recommended this year. Full zoning rewrites are recommended in Bensenville and Villa Park, and a downtown-focused zoning revision is recommended in Huntley. In South Elgin, the community requested zoning training for elected officials; this request will be linked with the ongoing development of the Unified Development Ordinance which CMAP selected for assistance in Finally, Lemont requested assistance with reviewing and suggesting changes to their development approval process. This is the first project of its type to be recommended for selection through the LTA program, but may be a more common project type in the future. Comprehensive and subarea plans Finally, a number of comprehensive and subarea plans, which are familiar LTA project types, are recommended for selection. Comprehensive plans in three communities Brookfield, Roselle, and South Holland are recommended; these all demonstrated a high level of local commitment and good consistency with GO TO Three neighborhood-level plans in the City of Chicago are recommended. One of these, for a transportation plan to support the proposed Pullman National Historical Park, was submitted by the National Parks and Conservation Association and will be conducted in partnership with the City s historic preservation division. Another is a neighborhood plan for several neighborhoods on Chicago s northwest side which will focus primarily on transportation and stormwater management. This project was inspired by applications from two applicants the Center for Neighborhood Technology and the North River Commission that covered a similar geography, and Chicago DPD and Chicago DOT will both be involved in the plan. The final project will support the Chicago Neighborhoods 2014 strategic planning effort of Chicago DPD, and will consist of a corridor or subarea plan in one focal point in the City. Two subarea plans in other communities are also recommended: a downtown walkability plan in Aurora, CMAP s first project in this municipality; and a plan for the Preston Heights neighborhood in unincorporated Will County, which will be similar the Fairmont plan that CMAP conducted during the first year of the LTA program. Projects that are not recommended Projects were considered lower priority for LTA assistance for a number of reasons, described in general terms below. LTA Project Selection Page 3 of 9 October 1, 2014

8 Priority for assistance was given to communities that had lower incomes or were smaller in size, meaning that more prosperous or larger communities were less likely to receive assistance. Lower-need communities generally had to present an innovative project or one that aligned especially well with a specific CMAP priority in order to be recommended. CMAP made a particular effort this year to assess local commitment, including follow-up calls and in some cases site visits. Only projects for which there was enthusiastic support were recommended this year. Some projects were good concepts but would benefit from further development by the project sponsor. In some cases, additional multijurisdictional partners would give a project a greater chance of success. Applicants that submitted multiple projects had only one project recommended. Also, in general, applicants that already have active, ongoing LTA projects were also not recommended (although there were exceptions to this for multijurisdictional projects). Some projects were simply not a good fit for the local technical assistance program, as they did not demonstrate the full support of affected local governments, or did not demonstrate alignment with the recommendations of GO TO In some cases, projects were at a stage that made them not entirely relevant for LTA assistance. A few transportation-related projects appeared to need assistance with facility design and preliminary engineering, rather than the higher-level planning that the LTA program offers. Finally, a number of projects beyond the list of 25 recommended in this memo are positive and viable projects, but were beyond available resources this year. CMAP will encourage communities who submitted projects that were just outside resource constraints to resubmit in future years, in some cases with modifications that will improve their chances of selection. A full list of applicants that are not recommended to receive assistance is included at the end of this document. Statistics of recommended projects In the following section, basic statistics are provided for the distribution of projects by geography and community need. Geographic distribution In the design of the local technical assistance program, an effort was made to identify projects to be pursued in many different parts of the region. In the following table, the distribution of higher priority projects by geography is summarized. Projects may be reported in multiple geographies, and these are noted below the table. LTA Project Selection Page 4 of 9 October 1, 2014

9 Chicago Cook total N and NW Cook W Cook SW Cook S Cook Collar total DuPage Kane Kendall Lake McHenry Will Total Selected applicants Total applicants Notes: The two regional projects (CMMC and regional truck permitting) and one project submitted by an ineligible applicant are not shown in this table. Four projects are recommended in the City of Chicago, and some of these are co-sponsored by multiple applicants. For simplicity, this is reported in the table above as four selected applicants. Recommended projects included in multiple geographies are: Blue Island CIP (S and SW Cook) DuPage County DOT (NW Cook, W Cook, and DuPage) Huntley (Kane and McHenry) Fox Lake (Lake and McHenry) Franklin Park (NW Cook, W Cook, and DuPage) Lemont (SW Cook, DuPage, and Will) Roselle (NW Cook and DuPage) Steger (S Cook and Will) As the above table shows, recommended projects are relatively well-distributed throughout the region. Two counties Kendall and Lake have only one project recommended each. In the case of Kendall, the recommended project was submitted by the County itself, and the other unsuccessful projects were submitted by municipalities that are primarily outside Kendall. In the case of Lake, there were several other good applications from communities in the County, but it should also be noted that the largest single LTA project to date, the IL 53/120 land use plan, is still actively underway and affects many Lake County communities. In the first several years of the program, the most significant geographic imbalance involved a relatively low level of investment in the City of Chicago. Over the first three years of the LTA program, only 10-15% of resources were devoted to projects in Chicago. In 2014, four of the 23 recommended non-regional projects are located in Chicago, and these are expected to be large projects; it is estimated that about 20-25% of available resources in the 2014 program are devoted to projects in Chicago. Community need An important factor in the review process was the need of the community for assistance. The program is meant to prioritize projects in communities that have limited resources and would not have the ability to undertake the project without CMAP s assistance. Communities were divided into five categories based on these factors, ranging from very high to low need. Many communities in the low and moderate need category submitted excellent projects and could still certainly benefit from assistance, but priority was given to communities with lower median incomes and tax bases, as well as to smaller municipalities. The following table and chart summarize the distribution of recommended projects by community need. LTA Project Selection Page 5 of 9 October 1, 2014

10 Very high need High need Moderately high need Moderate need Selected applicants Total applicants* Low need Total * Regional projects, and one project which was submitted by an ineligible applicant, are not included in these totals. Regionwide, approximately 28% of the region s municipalities are classified as very high or high need communities; applicants in these need categories are recommended to receive nearly 40% of the projects in this year s LTA program. As in past years, the LTA program is directing resources to higher-need communities, but also provides opportunities for lower-need communities to participate if they submit innovative or multijurisdictional applications. Evaluation process To evaluate each project, staff reviewed the applications and other background materials and also scheduled phone calls with each applicant to discuss their ideas. Questions were meant to gauge consistency with GO TO 2040, local commitment, internal and external support, and the project s overall feasibility. Additional follow-up phone calls and site visits were also conducted in a number of cases. Applications were also reviewed with a variety of groups in July and August. Each working committee discussed the LTA applications at least once. Special meetings were also held with transit agencies, county planning directors, the City of Chicago, and technical assistance providers. Councils of Government (COGs) and Councils of Mayors (COMs) were encouraged to submit comments via , and several of them did. Comments and expressions of support from these groups were used in part to determine the recommendations for selection. Project listing Recommended: Sponsor Project Chicago Metro Metal Consortium Infrastructure Investment Prioritization City of Aurora Downtown Master Plan* City of Blue Island Capital Improvement Program City of Chicago Northwest Side Neighborhood Plan** City of Chicago Chicago Neighborhoods 2014 City of Chicago Pullman National Historic Park*** DuPage County DOT Elgin-O Hare Bicycle-Pedestrian Plan Endeleo Institute Planning Priorities Report Kendall County Industrial Market Study McHenry County Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy Village of Bensenville Zoning Update Village of Brookfield Comprehensive Plan LTA Project Selection Page 6 of 9 October 1, 2014

11 Sponsor Village of Calumet Park Village of Fox Lake Village of Franklin Park Village of Huntley Village of Lemont Village of Richton Park Village of Roselle Village of South Elgin Village of South Holland Village of Steger Village of Villa Park Will County regional application submitted by all Counties Project Planning Priorities Report Planning Priorities Report Truck Route Subregional Plan Zoning Code Update Analysis of Development Review Process Capital Improvement Program Comprehensive Plan Elected Official Zoning Training Comprehensive Plan Planning Priorities Report Zoning Code Update Preston Heights Neighborhood Plan Regional Truck Permitting Plan * This project will also address elements of Aurora s application for a downtown arts district by incorporating arts-based placemaking into the downtown plan. ** This project consists of elements of applications submitted the Center for Neighborhood Technology and the North River Commission, and will involve both Chicago DPD and Chicago DOT. *** This project was initially submitted by the National Parks Conservation Association. Not recommended: Please note that the below table lists some projects which are recommended for inclusion in the program after some re-scoping by CMAP and the project sponsor. These are noted where relevant. For communities that submitted some requests that are recommended and some that are not recommended, this fact is noted as well. Sponsor Blue Island Park District Bridgeport Business Association Center for Neighborhood Technology Chicago Department of Transportation City of Aurora City of Berwyn City of Blue Island City of Chicago Heights City of Des Plaines City of Elmhurst City of Harvey City of Joliet City of Warrenville Project Parks Master Plan Halsted Street Vision Plan Rain Ready Chatham; Rain Ready Midlothian (a similar application is included in the northwest side neighborhood plan in Chicago, which is recommended) Sidewalk Pedestrian Level of Service; Truck Planning Study; Livable Streets Master Plan Sustainability Plan Update (a Downtown Master Plan is recommended) Stormwater Management Plan Development Review Process (a CIP is recommended) Zoning Update Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Ordinance Sustainability Plan Comprehensive Plan Zoning Code Update Comprehensive Plan LTA Project Selection Page 7 of 9 October 1, 2014

12 Sponsor City of Woodstock Cook County Department of Planning and Development DuPage County Health Department Far South Community Development Corporation Forest Preserve District of DuPage County Forest Preserve District of Will County Fox River Study Group Kane County Lake County Mary Ann Kaufman McHenry County McHenry County Convention and Visitors Bureau Northwest Municipal Conference Rogers Park Business Alliance South Loop Neighbors and Greater South Loop Association South Shore Planning and Preservation Coalition South Suburban Mayors and Managers Association Sustainable Englewood Initiatives Village of Bull Valley Village of Calumet Park Village of Cary Village of Clarendon Hills Village of Fox Lake Village of Glen Ellyn Village of Grayslake Village of Gurnee Village of Lake Zurich Village of Lakemoor Village of Lemont Village of Matteson Village of Mokena Village of Montgomery Village of Niles Village of Northbrook Project Route 47 Corridor Plan Unincorporated Areas Comprehensive Plan Health Plan Roseland Culture and Arts Plan Feasibility Study West Branch DuPage River Trail Will County Bikeway Plan Community Specific Plans Health Chapter Comprehensive Plan; Health Impact Assessment Priority Transit Network Robert McClory Bike Path Greenway Corridor Enhancement Plan Future Landscapes for Achievable Planning Agricultural Resource Guide Wayfinding Signage Master Plan Bike Share Feasibility Study Clark Street Corridor; Sheridan Road Streetscape and Parking Plan Pre-development Support South Shore Visioning Plan; Marketing Strategy Chicago Road Corridor Plan; Comprehensive Retail Development Strategy; Tax Impact Assessment Englewood Line Green Infrastructure and Commercial Development Plan; Strategic Action Plan Comprehensive Plan; Zoning Code Update (a Planning Priorities Report is recommended) Zoning Ordinance Update Southside Comprehensive Plan Development Review Process and Zoning Code Update; Parks and Recreation Master Plan (a Planning Priorities Report is recommended) Zoning Code Update Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan Comprehensive Plan Comprehensive Plan Town Center Plan State Street Corridor Plan; Subarea Plans; Water Supply Plan (Analysis of Development Review Process is recommended) Comprehensive Plan; Zoning Ordinance Update Comprehensive Traffic and Transportation Plan Comprehensive Plan Implementation / Zoning Comprehensive Arts and Culture Plan Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan LTA Project Selection Page 8 of 9 October 1, 2014

13 Sponsor Village of Oak Park Village of Oakwood Hills Village of Olympia Fields Village of Palos Park Village of Richmond Village of Richton Park Village of Riverdale Village of Sauk Village Village of Schaumburg Village of South Chicago Heights Village of South Holland Village of Steger Village of Wayne Village of Willowbrook Village of Winfield Will County Woodlawn Consortium Project Zoning Update Comprehensive Plan and Zoning Revisions Zoning Ordinance Update Zoning Code Update Comprehensive Plan Comprehensive Stormwater Management Plan; Richton Park and Matteson Fire Service Consolidation Plan (a CIP is recommended) Zoning Code Update Comprehensive Plan Comprehensive Plan Update; Green Action Plan Update Zoning Update Interstate Zoning District (a Comprehensive Plan is recommended) Comprehensive Plan (a Planning Priorities Report is recommended) Zoning Update Subarea Comprehensive Plan Zoning Code Update Local Food Plan Broadband Study ### LTA Project Selection Page 9 of 9 October 1, 2014

14 Attachment C For immediate release Date: September 22, 2014 Contact: Susan Massel, Director, Communications and Public Affairs massels@rtachicago.org RTA Awards 16 Community Planning Projects More than $810,000 will provide riders access to transit (CHICAGO) - The Regional Transportation Authority (RTA) is announcing the award of 16 projects through its Community Planning program. The RTA will allocate $810,000 to these projects, made up of approximately $368,000 of federal funding; $145,000 in locally matched funds and $297,000 of RTA funds. These dollars will support innovative projects to improve economic development near transit and increase transit usage throughout the region. This is the 16 th year of this program. The Community Planning program provides funding and planning assistance to projects that benefit the community and the regional transit system. The program includes a mix of transitoriented development (TOD) planning, corridor planning, transit service planning and TOD implementation projects. Through these programs, the RTA awards funding and technical assistance for projects that create transit-supportive local plans. In addition to helping to reduce congestion and improve air quality, these plans help the RTA maximize use of its transit system and tap into new markets that may lead to the creation of more jobs and sustainable communities, said Leanne Redden, Acting Executive Director of the RTA. In May 2014, communities, counties, and transportation providers were invited to apply for funding and technical assistance through the RTA s Community Planning program. Of the 22 applications received, 16 are included in the final program. For more information visit

15 Attachment C 2015 Community Planning Project Award Recipients Cook County Village of Bartlett (Cook, DuPage) This project will assist the Village with developing a TOD plan for its downtown/metra station area. The plan will guide the Village in improving the downtown business district through strategies that support and enhance transit use for residents, businesses and visitors. The RTA is awarding $100,000 through its Community Planning program and the Village of Bartlett is providing a $25,000 local match. Village of Brookfield (Cook) This project will assist the Village with updating the zoning regulations in the areas surrounding the three Metra stations: Brookfield, Congress Park and Hollywood, focusing on the downtown area. The update will reflect land use policies tied to the goals and objectives of the Village s 2020 Master Plan. The revised zoning code will use the latest methods and theories to assist the Village in continuing to transform the environment surrounding the downtown Metra station into a model transit-oriented community. This project is receiving $20,000 through the RTA s Community Planning program. City of Evanston (Cook) This project will assist the City in determining what changes to the City zoning ordinance should be considered to better reflect the actual supply and demand for parking in TOD areas, and encourage increased transit use by residents and businesses in these areas. Zoning revisions could be made to all CTA and Metra rail stations in Evanston by implementing a city-wide TOD parking policy. The City s goal is to increase the use of transit, balance the supply of parking needs in TOD areas and refine policy that will lead to the elimination of unnecessary parking being constructed in the City. The Community Planning program is awarding this project $25,000.

16 Attachment C Village of Forest Park (Cook) The RTA is awarding two zoning ordinance projects to the Village. The first project will assist the Village with the development of a zoning ordinance overlay for the Roosevelt Road corridor, between 1st Avenue and Harlem Avenue, which has significant Pace and CTA bus service. This zoning code amendment will blend new development and redevelopment for a mix of uses along Roosevelt Road. The second project will assist the Village with the development of a zoning ordinance overlay for the Harlem Avenue corridor, between the Harlem Avenue, the CTA Lake and Green Line stations and 16th Street, which has significant Pace and CTA bus service. The current zoning process required for new development is cumbersome and time-consuming, making it more challenging to attract redevelopment to the corridor. A uniform form-based code will provide expedited development approvals without an extensive and lengthy process and variations, further attracting quality redevelopment along the corridor. The Community Planning program is awarding $10,000 each for these projects. Village of Mt. Prospect (Cook) This project will conduct an update of the Rand Road Corridor Plan that was originally completed in The revised plan will emphasize transportation, transit access and land development and use along the corridor. The plan will have recommendations, including improvements to bicycle/pedestrian infrastructure, Pace bus service improvements and redesign of a major intersection to create a more pedestrian-friendly environment. The RTA is awarding this project $100,000 through its Community Planning program and the Village is providing a $25,000 local match. Village of Palatine (Cook) This project will assist the Village in creating a TOD Plan for the downtown area that will serve as an update to the Village s 2004 Downtown Land Use Guide. This plan will build upon completed development and redevelopment in the downtown area over the past 15 years. It will create a refined vision for remaining pocket areas that have potential for redevelopment and will focus on fringe areas where high-density, TOD development transitions back into more traditional, low-density land uses. The Community Planning program is awarding $80,000 to this project and the Village is providing a $20,000 local match.

17 Attachment C Village of Skokie (Cook) This project will assist the Village in developing a panel to determine a practical approach to creating a financially-feasible, transit-supportive neighborhood of mixed-use commercial and residential development. The project will focus on the corridors adjacent to the Oakton-Skokie CTA Station and the neighboring high-density multifamily residential neighborhoods. This effort is intended to support a new CTA station, CTA and Pace Suburban Bus services, and the neighborhood s commercial areas. The RTA will coordinate and fund a developer panel for the Village through an existing contract with the Urban Land Institute. Village of Worth (Cook) This project will assist the Village in the creation of a TOD plan for the area surrounding the Worth Metra station, as recommended by the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning s Planning Priorities Study recently completed for the Village. The plan will focus on creating a downtown area through residential and commercial redevelopment. Ideally, the plan would facilitate and sustain future development that would expand opportunities for the residents and business owners, while also increasing ridership for Metra and Pace commuters. The Community Planning program is providing $60,000, and the Village is providing a $15,000 local match. Village of River Grove (Cook) This project will assist the Village with implementation efforts as recommended in its recently adopted TOD plan, funded through the Community Planning Program. A developer panel will be conducted with the goal of assisting the Village in development of several sites identified in the plan. Redevelopment of these sites would capitalize on the proximity to existing transit facilities, as well as strengthen the vitality of downtown River Grove. The RTA will coordinate and fund a developer panel for the Village through an existing contract with the Urban Land Institute. DuPage County City of Aurora (DuPage, Kane, Will) RTA staff will assist the City with two projects. The first project is the development of a pedestrian access plan that will increase Pace and Metra ridership by enhancing the Aurora Transit Center and Route 59 Metra stations to be more pedestrian and bicycle-friendly. The plan

18 Attachment C will develop recommendations for station accessibility improvements with additional sidewalks and paths, enhanced crosswalks, way finding, intersection improvements and bicycle accommodations. The second project will assist the City with updating the 2009 service plan for the Station Boulevard Trolley system. This system will connect residents of the Station Boulevard TOD area with the Route 59 Metra station, increasing Metra ridership and reducing vehicle miles traveled to the station. Updates will be made to the trolley system s routes and schedule year round, and the cost estimates needed to implement and operate the service. The RTA is providing staff assistance for both of these projects. City of West Chicago (DuPage) This project will assist the City with a developer panel to review the City s existing Central Business District (CBD) area plans, analyze the CBD for prospective development, and make recommendations for the City s future efforts to market and enhance its downtown area. Enhancements to the CBD will support mass transit with new development and redevelopment in the Main Street Corridor and West Washington Street Area. The RTA will coordinate and fund a developer panel for the Village through an existing contract with the Urban Land Institute. Village of Bartlett (Cook, DuPage) This project will assist the Village with developing a TOD plan for its downtown/metra station area. The plan will guide the Village in improving the downtown business district through strategies that support and enhance transit use for residents, businesses and visitors. The RTA is awarding $100,000 through its Community Planning program, and the Village of Bartlett is providing a $25,000 local match. Kane County City of Aurora (DuPage, Kane, Will) RTA staff will assist the City with two projects. The first project is the development of a pedestrian access plan that will increase Pace and Metra ridership by enhancing the Aurora Transit Center and Route 59 Metra stations to be more pedestrian and bicycle-friendly. The plan will develop recommendations for station accessibility improvements with additional sidewalks and paths, enhanced crosswalks, way finding, intersection improvements and bicycle accommodations. The second project will assist the City with updating the 2009 service plan for

19 Attachment C the Station Boulevard Trolley system. This system will connect residents of the Station Boulevard TOD area with the Route 59 Metra station, increasing Metra ridership and reducing vehicle miles traveled to the station. Updates will be made to the trolley system s routes and schedule year round, and the cost estimates needed to implement and operate the service. The RTA is providing staff assistance for both of these projects. Lake County City of Highwood (Lake) This project will assist the City with rewriting its zoning code in the downtown TOD area as recommended in the recently completed Highwood TOD study funded through the RTA s Community Planning Program. The revised code will include detailed transit-supportive zoning standards and design guidelines consistent with the TOD plan, as well as create an environment that encourages transit-friendly development. The Community Planning program is awarding $20,000 for this project. Village of Libertyville (Lake) This project will assist the Village in planning for mixed-use development in its downtown area surrounding the Libertyville Metra station. The plan will detail the creation of a livable and walkable downtown area that remains architecturally significant and will contribute to economic development and transit ridership. The RTA s Community Planning Program is awarding $80,000, and the Village of Libertyville is providing a $20,000 local match. Will County City of Aurora (DuPage, Kane, Will) RTA staff will assist the City with two projects. The first project is the development of a pedestrian access plan that will increase Pace and Metra ridership by enhancing the Aurora Transit Center and Route 59 Metra stations to be more pedestrian and bicycle-friendly. The plan will develop recommendations for station accessibility improvements with additional sidewalks and paths, enhanced crosswalks, way finding, intersection improvements and bicycle

20 Attachment C accommodations. The second project will assist the City with updating the 2009 service plan for the Station Boulevard Trolley system. This system will connect residents of the Station Boulevard TOD area with the Route 59 Metra station, increasing Metra ridership and reducing vehicle miles traveled to the station. Updates will be made to the trolley system s routes and schedule year round, and the cost estimates needed to implement and operate the service. The RTA is providing staff assistance for both of these projects. Service Board Pace Suburban Bus (Cook, DuPage) This project will fund technical assistance to Pace for a corridor study of North Avenue between Harlem Avenue and York Road. This study will meet the goals and objectives of Pace s Vision 20/20 program, as well as address regional concerns expressed in the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning s GOTO 2040 plan. The study will also look at pedestrian access issues, transit connections, origin and destination analysis and traffic conditions. The RTA s Community Planning program is awarding this project $160,000, and Pace is providing a $40,000 local match.

21 Safer People, Safer Streets: Summary of U.S. Department of Transportation Action Plan to Increase Walking and Biking and Reduce Pedestrian and Bicyclist Fatalities September 2014

22 A Message about Pedestrian and Bicyclist Safety Americans are increasingly walking and riding bicycles to commute, run errands, get exercise, access public transportation, and save money. At the U.S. Department of Transportation, we believe that everyone should have the choice to safely take advantage of these healthy and economical transportation options. Walking and biking are not just lifestyle choices. They complete our transport system and are the first and last leg of almost every trip. Expanded access to these options can improve the economic and social well-being of a community and its residents. Safer and more convenient access to affordable transportation means that we are all better connected to our communities, to essential services, and to new job and education opportunities. Despite our success in reducing passenger vehicle occupant deaths by 33 percent in the past decade, in the past few years we have seen rising numbers of pedestrian and bicyclist injuries and fatalities related to collisions with motor vehicles. We must better protect people on foot and bicycle by fostering environments and multimodal transition points that are safe, so that even more Americans will feel comfortable enough to take advantage of walking and biking. That is why we have launched a comprehensive and coordinated approach that builds off our existing work to improve pedestrian and bicycle safety. This initiative will include new research and tools to improve safety, generate better data on pedestrian and bicycle activity, crashes, and infrastructure, and build stronger partnerships between DOT headquarters and field offices, local officials, safety organizations, State, regional, and local planners and engineers, and advocacy groups. The U.S. Department of Transportation is committed to making safe walking and biking a reality for all Americans, regardless of age, income, or ability. I strongly encourage you to get involved in your own communities and at all levels of government to make the case for improved pedestrian and bicyclist safety. When these options are safe and available to all Americans, we will have a transportation system that connects people to endless possibilities. Anthony R. Foxx Secretary of Transportation

23 Introduction Around the country, States and cities are documenting increasing numbers of people walking and bicycling for their commutes, errands, recreation, and other travel. For some people, walking and bicycling are the only transportation options. This boom in non-motorized travel has been supported by infrastructure and design improvements that encourage safe walking and bicycling, increased use of public transportation, as well as the development of urban bikesharing programs. Americans have demonstrated that when we have greater access to safe infrastructure for walking or bicycling, we are eager to enjoy the health benefits, cost savings, and pleasure of walking or riding through our communities. Secretary Foxx and the U.S. Department of Transportation strongly support this increase in use of these environmentally-friendly transportation options which help reduce congestion and general wear and tear on roadways. Non-motorized infrastructure and bike-share systems are critical to increasing access and connectivity to existing and planned bus and passenger rail systems, linking our transportation systems together into a multimodal network. With the increase in biking and walking, the potential for conflict between motorized and nonmotorized travelers has also increased. Since 2009, fatalities have been increasing for bicyclists and pedestrians. In 2012, bicyclist and pedestrian fatalities were over 16% of all traffic-related fatalities. Secretary Foxx has declared pedestrian and bicyclist safety as a top priority for the DOT. The Department s pedestrian and bicyclist safety initiative focuses many departmental resources on the problem and helping to improve the safety of the growing number of Americans traveling by bike or by foot to reach transit or other important destinations including work, job training, school, healthcare and community services. 1

24 Injury and Fatality Trends and Risk Factors: We Need to Improve Safety Outcomes A quick review of roadway death and injury data makes clear why we need to do better when it comes to pedestrian and bicycle safety. Despite declines in motor vehicle crash fatalities, pedestrian and bicycle injuries and fatalities have steadily increased since In 2012, more than 5,000 pedestrians and bicyclists across the U.S. were killed in crashes with motor vehicles. Pedestrian Fatalities 4,414 4,302 4,457 4,109 4, Bicyclist Fatalities NHTSA s National Center for Statistics and Analysis Walking or biking fatalities and serious injuries can happen anywhere, but understanding when and where crashes are most likely to occur can help transportation professionals target road safety improvement projects and thereby increase safety for all road users. Rural roads can pose safety challenges where traffic is moving fast and drivers may not be expecting a bicyclist or pedestrian. But the majority of fatalities 73% of pedestrian deaths and 69% of bicyclists deaths in 2012 occur in urban areas where interactions between vehicles and non-motorized users are most Cities and towns across the country are taking steps to make biking an option for their residents, but we have a responsibility to make sure that it's a safe option, too this isn t just an issue of recreation; it s an issue of equality, bringing people together, expanding the middle class, and helping people who are trying to get into the middle class. It's an issue of making sure, when someone s only or best option to get to work is a bike, that they have an option to ride it, and ride it in safety. Secretary Anthony Foxx 2

25 frequent, and where many people walk or bike to reach destinations or transit stops and stations. A majority of fatalities take place on urban arterials. Our roads should be safe; they should be easy places to travel no matter how we re traveling on them Secretary Anthony Foxx Whether in rural or urban areas, the most dangerous area is mid-block, where drivers may be less alert to the presence of pedestrians and bicyclists. In 2012, 60% of bicyclist deaths and 70% of pedestrian deaths occurred outside of the intersection. Recent data indicates that residents of low-income and minority neighborhoods are disproportionately represented in bike and pedestrian injuries and fatalities, and low-income neighborhoods often have fewer sidewalks and other safe infrastructure. Safe non-motorized travel, and safe access to transit stops, is essential for disadvantaged Americans seeking to reach jobs, schools, and other opportunities, so DOT sees pedestrian and bicycle safety as an essential part of our Ladders of Opportunity initiative. Time of day and lighting conditions also contribute to risks for bicyclists and pedestrians. The majority of pedestrian fatalities occur in the evening to nighttime hours during low-light conditions, particularly between 8 pm and midnight. For bicyclists, the highest percent of fatalities occur between the hours of 4pm and 8pm. Alcohol impairment is also a serious risk for all road users, and particularly critical for pedestrians and bicyclists. In 2012, 14% of drivers involved in fatal pedestrian or bicyclist crashes were at or above blood alcohol concentrations of.08 g/dl the legal limit for driving in the U.S. Further, nearly one-fourth (24%) of bicyclists and one-third (36%) of pedestrians killed in traffic crashes had blood alcohol concentrations of.08 BAC or higher. The DOT Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Initiative The DOT is committed to continuing to improve the safety of our roadways to protect all users, and to working with the public, state, regional, and local officials, community leaders, and organizations to improve safety by focusing on changes that can have a lasting impact. Over the course of the next year and a half, the Department will be doing more to address nonmotorized safety issues and help communities create safer, better connected bicycling and walking networks. We will be rolling out a variety of new resources, issuing new research, and highlighting existing tools for a range Americans are increasingly embracing a new approach to work and school commutes that includes less time behind the wheel and more time walking or cycling We need to bring new resources and tried and true strategies to bear to better protect Americans when they choose to walk or ride their bikes. -Acting NHTSA Administrator David Friedman 3

26 of transportation professionals. We will engage safety experts, existing and new stakeholders, local officials, and the public on a range of targeted strategies to help us get these materials into use and encourage safety in and around our streets, including transit stations and other multi-modal connections. Infrastructure Safety The DOT will promote infrastructure and design improvements to ensure safe and efficient routes and facilities are available wherever people walk and bike. Walk and Bike Assessments: In every state, FHWA, FTA, and NHTSA field offices will facilitate or participate in on-the-ground safety assessments of selected corridors to understand the extent of the safety need. This will also be an opportunity to build relationships with local practitioners and stakeholders around the topics of connected pedestrian and bicycle networks and the safety of non-motorized users. Pilot assessments have already been conducted in three metropolitan areas Boston, MA; Dallas/Ft. Worth, TX; and Lansing, MI. The Road Diet Guide: Road Diets will be one of FHWA s 2015 Every Day Counts (EDC) Initiatives, in which FHWA works with state, local, and industry partners to deploy new innovations. Road diets help balance street space between vehicles, pedestrians, bicyclists and transit, and they can improve mobility and access for all road users, reduce crashes and injuries, and improve quality of life. 4

27 How to Design Safe Bicycling Facilities: FHWA will update the popular resource Bikesafe: Bicycle Countermeasure Selection System to provide practitioners with the latest information available for improving the safety and mobility of those who bicycle. Bikesafe is an expert system that allows the user to select treatments (mainly engineering with some enforcement and education activities) that help mitigate a known crash problem or help achieve a specific performance objective. An update to the companion tool for pedestrian safety, Pedsafe, was recently completed. Separated Bike Lane Planning and Design: FHWA s document, to be released in fall 2014, will document planning and design considerations for separated bike lanes, which are exclusive bike facilities physically separated from motor traffic and distinct from the sidewalk. The project includes a detailed safety analysis of existing separated bike lanes throughout the U.S. and will cover issues such as design flexibility, accessibility, intersection design, and maintenance. FHWA s Research Agenda: In fall 2014, FHWA will be initiating an aggressive research agenda on a range of topics including pedestrian and bicycle safety, performance measures, design flexibility, and network development. Planned research projects include: - Flexibility in Pedestrian and Bicycle Facility Design - Global Benchmarking Program Desktop Review on Delivering Safe and Connected Pedestrian and Bicycle Networks - Multimodal Conflict Points - Guidebook for Evaluating, Establishing, and Tracking Pedestrian and Bicycle Performance Measures - Workbook for Building On-Road Bike Networks through Routine Resurfacing Programs The capstone of these projects will be a Strategic Agenda for Pedestrian and Bicycle Transportation (to identify critical gaps, prioritize near term investments, and establish a national framework for issues such as data collection and management, network implementation and documentation, research, training, and national design guidance). Assist Residents Making their Communities Safe for All Road Users: The Resident's Guide for Creating Safe and Walkable Communities is being updated with new information and will also include bicycle safety issues. The guide includes information, ideas, and resources to help residents learn about issues that affect walking and bicycling conditions; find ways to address or prevent these problems; and promote pedestrian and bicyclist safety. The Guide provides examples from communities working to improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety, and also contains fact sheets, worksheets, and sample materials that can be distributed or adapted to meet the needs of a community. 5

28 Infrastructure Design Innovations: Many new design innovations are showing promise in improving bicycle and pedestrian safety. The Department will research and promote evidence-based design concepts that help drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians share the road together safely, including roadway reconfigurations that better serve all users. Focus Resources Where They re Most Needed: The Pedestrian Safety Focus States and Focus Cities effort concentrates technical assistance on evaluating, planning, and solving safety issues in states and cities with the highest pedestrian fatalities and fatality rates. This focus will carry over to specific high-incidence locations in these jurisdictions. Evaluation of Pedestrians Safety Engineering Countermeasures at Urban and Suburban Midblock Crossing Locations: About 70 percent of pedestrian fatalities occur at non-intersection locations. The goals of this research effort are to improve pedestrian safety at urban and suburban midblock crossing locations by identifying and evaluating low- to medium-cost pedestrian countermeasures to reduce pedestrian fatalities and injuries at these locations. Pedestrian Countermeasure Crash Modification Factor Study: This new research will develop statistically rigorous CMFs for high-priority pedestrian crash countermeasures using current state-of-the-art analytical methods. The study will focus on the sites and 18 countermeasures installed in three cities from a previous study (San Francisco, Las Vegas, and Miami). Based on data availability and FHWA priorities, a select group of countermeasures will be evaluated for CMF development. Road Safety for Transit Patrons: Safer bike and pedestrian infrastructure depends on effective relationships and communication between road agencies and transit agencies. Transit agencies and their customers can often identify gaps in the transportation network, but they do not typically have the authority to fill those gaps. The Road Safety for Transit Patrons Initiative will work at the intersection of road and transit agency responsibilities. This effort will bring staff from FTA, FHWA and NHTSA both headquarters and field offices to provide technical assistance to local and regional planners, engineers, public safety officers and public works professionals who work for transit operators, State DOTs, MPOs, counties and cities. Transit Agency Safety Plans: As part of MAP-21 implementation, FTA is developing its National Safety Plan, which will guide transit agencies in areas of all sizes to: establish policies for encouraging safe access to transit; consider 6

29 safety risks; and develop mitigations for those safety risks in partnership with the communities they serve through the implementation of a Safety Management Systems (SMS) approach to safety. Transit agencies will further speak to these safety activities in their Transit Agency Safety Plans. Because all transit riders are bicyclists or pedestrians for some part of their journey, communication and awareness of safety actions are large components of any strategy for improving safe access to transit. Improving Connected Pedestrian and Bicycle Networks: The Department will promote the development of multimodal networks which include 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.this will be accomplished, in part, by promoting pedestrian and bicycle facility design flexibility, and by highlighting best practices at the local, regional, and state level. In December 2013, FHWA issued an interim approval for bike signals through the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices (MUTCD). A range of new devices and applications for pedestrian and bicycle facilities are being Engaging the Public The Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center and the National Center for Safe Routes to School provide research, tools, training opportunities, and other resources that the public can use to get informed and actively engaged in the process of improving pedestrian and bicycle safety in their community. We encourage you to visit these sites! FHWA supports the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center, which develops, synthesizes, promotes, and distributes current bicycling and walking information, provides expert technical assistance to various audiences to ensure that citizens and professionals have access to the best available information, and generates a network of informed individuals and organizations who can increase the exposure of ped/bike issues to the general public. FHWA supports the National Center for Safe Routes to School, which assists States and communities in enabling and encouraging children to safely walk and bicycle to school. The National Center serves as the information clearinghouse for the Federal Safe Routes to School program. The organization provides technical support and resources and coordinates online registration efforts for U.S. Walk to School Day and facilitates worldwide promotion and participation. considered for inclusion in the next edition of the MUTCD, which is expected to be published in Behavioral Safety and Education To enable individuals to make the choices that best protect their safety and the safety of their families and communities, the Department will provide tools to help people understand how their behavior affects their own safety and the safety of others. New Behavioral Countermeasures: New research into risks and solutions will include a detailed examination of behavioral choices and the role of electronic distractions of drivers, bicyclists, and pedestrians in crash risk. Pedestrian Enforcement Demonstration Program: The Department is evaluating law enforcement and education techniques applied in three pilot locations, New York 7

30 City, Philadelphia, PA, and Louisville, KY. Results of these programs will be incorporated into law enforcement training and community program guides to promote safer behavior. Research on Impaired Pedestrians and Bicyclists: New research to determine safety risk related to alcohol impaired pedestrians and bicyclists will be used to identify and share strategies to prevent impaired walking and biking and encourage less risky choices. New Safety Campaign Materials: The Department will develop new safety campaign materials focused on helping pedestrians and bicyclists make good choices and provide tools and resources for broad dissemination. Vehicle Safety Advanced technology holds great potential for making roads and vehicles safer, adding features that could warn road users about hazards, and even intervene to avoid crashes. Vehicle-to-Pedestrian Communications: The Department is examining the potential for vehicle-to-pedestrian (V2P) communications technology to help drivers see pedestrians, as well as warn pedestrians that they are crossing or entering a roadway. Crash Avoidance Technologies: The Department is researching advanced crash avoidance technologies such as sensorbased warning systems and automated braking systems that can help drivers detect pedestrians to avoid or reduce the severity of a crash. Promote and Regulate Vehiclebased Solutions: The Department will advance the adoption of vehicle-based solutions through its consumer information and regulatory programs. The New Car Assessment Program will continue to inform consumers of currently available safety systems, such as rear-visibility cameras, that can significantly improve pedestrian and bicyclist safety. The Department will also continue its efforts to require audible alerts for electric and hybrid vehicles operating in quiet mode and vehicle designs to reduce the harm to a pedestrian struck by a vehicle. 8

31 Improvements in Data Collection and Analysis Fundamental to this initiative is the need to improve the quality and availability of data to enable more informed transportation decisions. This includes data on walking and bicycling activity (i.e. volume), existing and proposed pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, and the basic circumstances of all pedestrian and bicycle crashes. As part of our commitment to performance-based design and decision making, DOT will support improvements to bicycle and pedestrian data and research. Data Initiatives: DOT will host three sessions to focus on data needs and how better data can be used to develop policies. These include (1) a gathering of the University Transportation Centers and modal practitioners who research relevant bicycle and pedestrian safety topics; (2) a datajam with technology and data experts to identify data sources and innovative analysis methods; and (3) a Transportation Research Board workshop to promote development and use of resources and best practices. Pedestrian and Bicycle Updates to the Traffic Monitoring Guide (TMG) and the Traffic Monitoring Analysis System (TMAS): TMAS receives raw data in the TMG-recommended data forms from automatic collection programs, vehicle classification counts, and weigh-inmotion counters, and produces basic traffic volume reports from those data sets. An extension of this system scheduled to be released in 2015 will receive bicycle and pedestrian counts. Non-Motorized Toolkit (NMTK): A toolkit framework implemented as a GIS-enabled, opensource, Web-based system has been developed to allow researchers and planners to readily share analytic tools for bicycle and pedestrian data analysis and modeling. 9

32 Conclusion This new Initiative recognizes the need to work in a coordinated, multimodal fashion, not just across the U.S. Department of Transportation, but throughout America s states, regions, towns and cities. The growing interest in bicycling and walking needs to be encouraged and supported through continued investment in safer infrastructure, and through new resources and tools to ensure that we choose the safest designs and promote safer behaviors. We look forward to engaging the public and practitioners in a conversation about pedestrian and bicycle safety. Your input and contribution is essential to making progress on bicycle and pedestrian safety, because everyone has a role to play in improving the safety of our communities. At the State and regional level, we re asking officials and practitioners to commit to enhancing walking and biking networks, promote laws to reduce risks to bicyclists and pedestrians, and ensure that resources are allocated to solving this problem. At the community level, we re asking individuals to start a safety dialogue, get involved in local, regional, and state transportation planning efforts, and identify critical gaps in multimodal transportation networks. Throughout the Fall of 2014 we will be engaging local officials, safety organizations, State, regional, and local planners and engineers, and advocacy groups in helping us plan innovative ways to spread the word about these resources and develop a comprehensive approach to pedestrian and bicycle safety. When safe and convenient transportation opportunities are available to every American, regardless of age, ability, or income, we all benefit from safer communities, a stronger economy, and a cleaner environment. 10