Omaha s Complete Streets Policy

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1 Omaha s Complete Streets Policy (Adopted August 2015) VISION To create great places and enhance our quality of life, the City of Omaha will provide safe, accessible streets for all users. Complete Streets will enhance Omaha s quality of life over the long-term with a well-balanced and connected transportation system that provides for economically sound and connected development patterns, public health and safety, livability, equity, affordability, economic activity, and excellence in urban design and community character. PRINCIPLES Complete Streets serve all users and modes. Complete Streets require connected travel networks. Complete Streets require best-practice design criteria and context-sensitive approaches. Complete Streets are the work of all City departments. Complete Streets include all roadways and all projects and phases. Complete Streets require appropriate performance measures.

2 Current Street Project Development Timeline Designing and constructing or reconstructing a street is a complex process that can take PROJECT SCOPING Kickoff meeting Design criteria (draft) Cross section analysis Bike, pedestrian, and transit needs Concept layout Cost estimate 2 4 Months CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLANNING (CIP) inclusion in CIP Compliance with the Master Plan assessed needs, priorities, and Mayor, City Council, and Planning Board review and modify CIP If included in CIP, the Conceptual Design; otherwise, it is on hold until the next year s CIP CONCEPTUAL DESIGN Kickoff meeting Design criteria (revised) Drainage study Coordination with other agencies and programs Identify potential additional right-of-way needed Finalize design criteria Finalize typical cross section 3 6 Months ENGINEERING DESIGN 30% Plans 60% Plans Right-of-way acquisition Final design Plans, schematics and estimates (PS&E) 3 6 Months CONSTRUCTION contractor selection and detours Excavation Pavement Utility removal and replacement Striping and pavement markings Construction inspection and corrections as needed 4 8 Months 8 Months

3 The Complete Streets Process depicts the typical process, which is guided by context and community goals. EXISTING AND FUTURE CONDITIONS Character and density Building type, scale, and setback Plan/vision for the area Zoning & other policies GOALS AND OBJECTIVES Who will use the street? What should stay the same? What should change? DECISION-MAKING Context-based Incorporate standards Adjust for site conditions Existing bike and pedestrian infrastructure Bus routes and stops Transportation plans Relationship to the broader transportation network Bike network needs Pedestrian accessibility issues (ADA) Safety issues Transit operation issues Describe tradeoffs

4 The Many Roles of Streets Some streets play many roles while others play only a few. The purpose of Complete Streets is to consider these context-based roles and design accordingly. Motor Vehicle Throughput Parking BCycle Streetscaping and Urban Design Stormwater Filtration Pedestrian Access Public and Semi-Private Space Bicycle Mobility Transit

5 EXAMPLES OF COMPLETE STREETS Complete Streets do not all look the same or include the same elements. They are designed based on context to adequately accommodate the various types of users anticipated in the area. IN URBAN CORRIDORS, streets often provide dedicated on-street space for biking and sometimes include painted or physical separation from motor vehicles. ALONG SHOPPING STREETS, emphasis is often placed on pedestrians, encouraging them to move through, linger, and visit businesses. IN SUBURBAN CORRIDORS where destinations are far apart, a street may only need a sidepath to accommodate people walking and biking. NEAR SCHOOLS, streets typically emphasize pedestrian safety with planted buffers, sidewalks and highly-visible crosswalks.

6 COMPLETE STREETS ELEMENTS» Pedestrian High Visibility Crosswalks Raised Intersection Pedestrian Countdown Signal Sidewalk Cafes and Street Furniture Standard Crosswalks Rapid Flashing Beacon Shared Street Stormwater Management Planters Mid-block Crossing with Refuge Island Sidewalk Integration with Driveway Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon (HAWK Signal) Residential Sidewalk The pedestrian realm has the greatest variation of user capabilities, and thus it is the realm where attention to design detail is essential to effectively prioritize user needs.

7 COMPLETE STREETS ELEMENTS» Bicycle Sidepath Bike Box Bicycle Parking Corral One-Way Separated Bike Lane Sharrow Shared Lane Marking Standard Bike Lane Two-Way Separated Bike Lane Left Turn Box Buffered Bike Lane Bicyclists have a wide array of skill levels and comfort interacting with and provide a comfortable experience for everyone.

8 COMPLETE STREETS ELEMENTS» Transit Bicycle Locker Transit Shelter Bikeway Access to Transit Bicycle-Bus Shared Lane Signage Real Time Transit Information Crosswalk at Bus Stop Transit Station Bike Parking Curb Extension at Bus Stop Bus Storage Rack Bicycle-Bus Shared Lane Transit Stop Bike Lane Bypass For transit to provide optimal service, streets must accommodate comfortable access for people walking to stops and stations.

9 COMPLETE STREETS ELEMENTS» Multimodal Lane Diet (Narrowing Travel Lanes to Accommodate Bike Lanes) Enahnced Street Lighting Medians Landscaping Driveway Consolidation Alternative Pavement Materials Speed Humps Roundabouts Back-In Angled Parking Gateway Monuments reduce speeds, increase safety, enhance quality of life, manage stormwater and beautify streetcapes.

10 Factors Affecting Street Design In street design, there are numerous considerations that determine the need for making tradeoffs. BUDGET Omaha has a limited budget for street projects in any given year. Tradeoffs must often be made when a project s budget cannot accommodate changes to the street s cross section. LIMITED RIGHT-OF-WAY Especially in the older parts of Omaha, right-of- must often be made due to a lack of space to include every desired street element (e.g., through lanes, turn lanes, bike lanes, wide sidewalks, landscaping, etc.) MINIMUM STANDARDS State and federal agencies have established minimum standards (such as lane widths) that require tradeoffs. For example, a street may not be wide enough to include standard-width bike lanes. Exceptions to minimum standards can be sought. TRANSIT OPERATIONS Transit can affect street design in several ways, for example: high-frequency transit routes may be less compatible with bike lanes, bus shelters may preclude sidewalk cafes, and turning bus routes may affect intersection geometry. FUNCTIONAL CLASSIFICATION State and federal agencies in Omaha, which partly determines factors such as lane widths, number of lanes, and design speed. BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN DEMAND Bicycle and pedestrian needs, especially in high-demand areas like the UNO campus and downtown, may require tradeoffs such as consolidating or disallowing driveways in order to reduce biking and walking. TRAFFIC VOLUMES Current and forecasted necessitate additional through lanes, thereby precluding the inclusion of other street elements. historically been the primary factor in street design, but in the Complete Streets process it is considered alongside context and the needs of other modes.