Highway School, Ithaca NY

Transcription

1 Highway School, Ithaca NY June 1, 2009 Michael Ronkin Designing Streets for Pedestrians and Bicyclists 1

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6 We know how to build right 6

7 Yet many roads are built like this 7

8 What is a Complete Street? A Complete Street is safe, comfortable & convenient for travel via automobile, foot, bicycle, & transit 8

9 What is a Complete Streets policy? Ensures that the entire right-of-way is designed for all users 9

10 What is a Complete Streets policy? Ensures that the entire right-of-way is designed for all users 10

11 Complete streets policies provide for: Pedestrians Bicyclists Transit Motorists Travelers of all ages and abilities US Access Board 11

12 Why have a complete streets policy? To gradually create a complete network of roads that serve all users 12

13 Why have a complete streets policy? To shift transportation investments so they create better streets now 13

14 Why have a complete streets policy? To save money: Retrofits cost more than getting it right initially 14

15 Who wants Complete Streets? Most Americans would rather drive less & walk more Transit is growing faster than population or driving About one-third of Americans don t drive: 21% of Americans over 65 Children under 16 Low income Americans can t afford to drive 15

16 Americans want complete streets Roads 37% Public Trans 41% Bike/walk 22% Roads 79% Public Trans 20% Bike/walk 1% From Active Transportation for America: the case for Increased federal investment in bicycling and walking. RTC

17 Why have a complete streets policy? To make the needs of all users the default for everyday transportation planning practices 17

18 Everyone wins with Complete Streets 18

19 Benefits: older Americans 21% over 65 do not drive Over 50% of non-drivers stay at home on a given day because they lack travel options 54% of older Americans living in inhospitable neighborhoods say they d walk and ride more often if things improved 19

20 Benefits: health Now Americans move without moving 60% are at risk for diseases associated with inactivity: Obesity Diabetes High blood pressure Other chronic diseases 20

21 Benefits: physical activity Residents more likely to walk in a neighborhood w/ sidewalks Cities with more bike lanes have higher levels of bicycling 1/3 of regular transit users meet minimum daily physical activity requirement during their commute 21

22 Benefits: physical activity It makes a difference! Source: Journal of Physical Activity and Health, 2008, 5, Walking, Cycling, and Obesity Rates in Europe, North America, and Australia David R. Bassett, Jr., John Pucher, Ralph Buehler, Dixie L. Thompson, and Scott E. Crouter 22

23 Benefits: safety Sidewalks reduce ped crash risk by 88% Intersections designed for peds can reduce crash risk by 28% 23

24 Benefits: people with disabilities Improved mobility for people with disabilities 24

25 Benefits: better use of transit funds A year of paratransit service for a daily commuter: $38,500 Making a transit stop accessible: $7,000-$58,000 Source: Maryland Transit Administration 25

26 Benefits: the environment Fewer emissions Less noise pollution Less wear & tear on our roads Less need to widen roads 26

27 Benefits: reduced traffic Trips in metro areas: 50% - less than 3 miles 28% - less than 1 mile: 65% of trips under 1 mile are now taken by car 27

28 Benefits: the economy/your wallet Multi-modal streets: Increase home values Revitalize retail People can leave their car at home 28

29 How do Complete Streets change the built environment? 29

30 CS changes intersection design 30

31 CS changes intersection design 31

32 CS changes bicycling 32

33 CS changes bicycling 33

34 CS changes transit 34

35 CS changes transit 35

36 CS changes accessibility 36

37 CS changes accessibility 37

38 Complete streets and trails Streets provide access to trails Complete streets and trails form a comprehensive non- motorized network CS take pressure off overcrowded trails 38

39 Complete Streets is NOT: A design prescription A mandate for immediate retrofit A silver bullet; other initiatives must be addressed: Land use (proximity, mixed-use) Environmental concerns VMT reduction (but complete streets will help!) 39

40 What each mode needs All travelers seek a similar experience: Convenience Safety Comfort Access Reasonable travel time Low cost Speed? 40

41 What does a complete street look like? One size doesn t t fit all: Complete Streets doesn t t mean every street has sidewalks, bike lanes and transit 41

42 What does a complete street look like? There is no magic formula 42

43 The many types of Complete Streets One crossing completes a Safe Route to School 43

44 The many types of Complete Streets Shoulder bikeways on rural roads 44

45 The many types of Complete Streets Transit routes 45

46 The many types of Complete Streets Suburban thoroughfares 46

47 The many types of Complete Streets Busy multi-modal modal thoroughfares 47

48 The many types of Complete Streets Residential skinny streets 48

49 The many types of Complete Streets Low traffic streets 49

50 The many types of Complete Streets Historic Main Street 50

51 Complete Streets doesn t mean wider streets 51

52 Complete Streets makes better use of the available width 52

53 Different goals => different outcomes Both designs based on same design manuals Bridgeport Way, University Place, Washington 53

54 What can you do to further Complete Streets? Pavement management: don t leave a seam in the shoulder Bridgeport Way, University Place, Washington 54

55 What can you do to further Complete Streets? Pavement management: clean up blade patch debris Bridgeport Way, University Place, Washington 55

56 What can you do to further Complete Streets? Pavement management: pave the bike lane too Bridgeport Way, University Place, Washington 56

57 What can you do to further Complete Streets? Pavement management: don t chip seal the shoulder Bridgeport Way, University Place, Washington 57

58 What can you do to further Complete Streets? Pavement management: bicyclists LOVE smooth pavement! Bridgeport Way, University Place, Washington 58

59 What can you do to further Complete Streets? Signal technician: Find and mark bike sweet spot Bridgeport Way, University Place, Washington 59

60 What can you do to further Complete Streets? Signal technician: place pushbutton where it can be reached Bridgeport Way, University Place, Washington 60

61 What can you do to further Complete Streets? Striping crews: narrow lanes to provide bike lanes

62 What can you do to further Complete Streets? Striping crews: narrow lanes to provide bike lanes

63 What can you do to further Complete Streets? Striping crews: place crosswalks out of wheel tracks

64 What can you do to further Complete Streets? Utility specialist: watch where that hydrant goes! Bridgeport Way, University Place, Washington 64

65 What can you do to further Complete Streets? Utility specialist: watch where that pole goes! Bridgeport Way, University Place, Washington 65

66 What can you do to further Complete Streets? Utility specialist: keep that guy wire out of my face! Bridgeport Way, University Place, Washington 66

67 Complete Streets Goal: wise w investments that will enhance the entire community Come to this afternoon s s sessions, where we ll talk more about YOUR role in creating Complete Streets in NY 67