BICYCLE FACILITIES INVENTORY & ANALYSIS

Transcription

1 MAY 2008 Cross County Connection Transportation Management Association BICYCLE FACILITIES INVENTORY & ANALYSIS 2002 D Lincoln Drive West Marlton, NJ Phone: (856) CAPE MAY COUNTY

2 BICYCLE FACILITIES INVENTORY AND ANALYSIS CAPE MAY COUNTY 2002D Lincoln Drive West Marlton, NJ (856) Cross County Connection TMA was incorporated in 18 through the efforts of a group of southern New Jersey business leaders, local government officials, and representatives from the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) and New Jersey Transit Corporation (NJ TRANSIT) to address mobility issues in the region and reduce the number of vehicles on state and local roadways. Today, Cross County Connection is a non-profit organization, which partners with NJDOT, NJ TRANSIT, Federal Highway Administration and its members to provide solutions to complex transportation problems for counties, municipalities, employers and commuters in our seven-county region. This Cross County Connection Transportation Management Association publication is funded by the New Jersey Department of Transportation and the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Highway Administration. The Federal Government and the State of New Jersey assume no liability for the contents.

3 Table of Contents Page 1. INTRODUCTION 1 Perspective 1 The Cape May County Work 3 Methodology 3 2. INVENTORY 4 Inventory Findings 4 Linkages to Public Transit 5 Linkages with Adjacent Counties 5 Summary 3. BICYCLE FACILITY RANKING ANALYSIS 10 Ranking Criteria 10 Findings 12 Summary PROPOSED BICYCLE FACILITIES RECOMMENDED FOR CONSTRUCTION 15 Summary CONCLUSION 1 Bicycle Task Force 1 Planning Tools 1 Funding Opportunities 20 Summary 20 List of Tables Table 1 Bicycle Facilities by Segments & Miles: Cape May County Table 2 Criteria 1: Proximity to Commuter Roadways Table 3 Criteria 2: Number of Bus Routes within 2 Miles Table 4 Criteria 3: Proximity to Employment Destinations Table 5 Criteria 4: Number of Schools within 2 Miles Table 6 Highest Ranking Facilities Averaged by Municipality Table 7 Highest Ranking Facilities Overall by Municipality Table 8 Workplace County Flows: Cape May County Residents, 2000 Table Proposed Bicycle Facilities Recommended for Construction Page Cross County Connection i

4 List of Figures Page Figure 1 Bicycle Facilities Inventory: Cape May 6 County Figure 2 Bicycle Facilities Inventory Bus Routes, 7 Employment Destinations and Schools: Cape May County Figure 3 Bicycle Facilities Inventory: Atlantic, Cape 8 May and Cumberland Counties Figure 4 Cape May County Proposed Bicycle 16 Facilities Recommended for Construction Cape May County Figure 5 Proposed Facility - US Route 25 Figure 6 Proposed Facility - Court House South 25 Dennis Road Figure 7 Proposed Facility - Broadway 26 Figure 8 Proposed Facility - Sunset Road 26 Figure Proposed Facility - Rio Grande Avenue 27 Figure 10 Proposed Facility - Sandman Boulevard 27 Figure 11 Proposed Facility - Middle Township 28 proposed Off-Road Bike Path Figure 12 Proposed Facility - West Hand Avenue 28 Figure 13 Proposed Facility - Pittsburg Avenue 2 Figure 14 Proposed Facility - North Main Street 2 Figure 15 Proposed Facility - Wildwood Boulevard 30 (Middle Township) Figure 16 Proposed Facility - Route Figure 17 Proposed Facility - Dias Creek Road 31 Figure 18 Proposed Facility - Wildwood Boulevard 31 (Lower Township) Figure 1 Proposed Facility - Delsea Drive (Rt. 47) 32 Figure 20 Proposed Facility - Wildwood Crest Bike 32 Path Figure 21 Proposed Facility - Fidler Hill Road 33 Figure 22 Proposed Facility - Atlantic City Electric 33 R-O-W Figure 23 Proposed Facility - Woodbine Road 34 List of Appendices Page Appendix A Bicycle Facilities Inventory: Cape May 21 County Table of Attributes Appendix B Proposed Bicycle Facilities 25 Appendix C Funding and Technical Assistance 35 Sources for Bicycle Facilities Cross County Connection ii

5 1. INTRODUCTION In recent years, much attention has been given to improving bicycle facilities throughout New Jersey. Former Governors Christine Todd Whitman, James E. McGreevy and Richard Codey pledged their support and commitment to improving bicycle facilities in the State by awarding over $16 million in grant funding for local bicycle facilities. Governor Jon Corzine is continuing this support and commitment. An increasing number of municipalities in southern New Jersey are adding bicycle facilities to their road network. NJ TRANSIT permits and can accommodate bicycles on-board almost all of its public transit services. In southern New Jersey, bicycles are permitted on NJ TRANSIT buses, the River LINE, the Atlantic City rail line, the BurLink system and the Port Authority Transit Corporation (PATCO) Speedline. As traffic congestion continues to worsen throughout New Jersey, government leaders and the private sector are realizing the worth of bicycling as a commute alternative. The cost to stripe a bicycle lane or install a bike rack at a worksite is small when compared to improving roadways and building more parking. PERSPECTIVE New Jersey Statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan In 15, the New Jersey Department of Transportation published the Statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan which was updated in The primary goal of the Statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan is to provide clear guidance to NJDOT, MPOs, counties and other implementers on the most efficient and effective use of federal, state and local resources to implement bicycle and pedestrian initiatives. The 2004 update of the Statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan presents a vision and action plan for improving the bicycling and walking environment throughout the state. It provides organizations, agencies and local governments with analytical tools and methods to plan for future facilities. This Plan serves as a blueprint for improving conditions for bicycling and walking and focuses on state highways and county roads. Cross County Connection s Bicycle Facilities Project In contrast, the Cross County Connection bicycle facilities project examines the county and municipal bicycle facilities network specifically for commuting purposes. Therefore, while the Statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan focuses on the larger state and county road network, Cross County Connection examines how commuters can use local and regional bicycle facilities to get to and from their places of employment and other commuting destinations. Given the increased awareness of, and interest in, bicycling as a commute alternative, Cross County Connection decided to inventory bicycle facilities throughout southern New Jersey. Given the size of Cross County Connection s seven county service area, this work is being conducted over several years and through two phases and is being funded by the New Jersey Department of Transportation (NJDOT) and the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). Phase I includes the inventory of existing and proposed bicycle facilities by county. During 2004, an inventory of facilities in Burlington and Camden counties was completed. During 2005, the inventories in Gloucester and Atlantic counties were completed; inventories in Salem and Cumberland counties were completed during 2006 and the Cape May County inventory was completed in This document reports the findings of Cross County Connection 1

6 the inventory and analysis (Phases I and II) for Cape May County, which was undertaken during late spring of The Phase II analysis uses the inventory to identify gaps in the county s regional bicycle network. The gaps were prioritized to identify those facilities that should be built in the near future. These facilities are those that have the greatest potential to link bicycle commuters to regional employment opportunities via the public transit system. The Phase II analysis for Cape May County was completed during the spring of 2008 and is included in this report. Additionally, Phase II of the Cape May County Project includes the identification of gaps between Cape May, Cumberland and Atlantic Counties bicycle networks. Phase II also identifies gaps in each county s bicycle network and will prioritize proposed facilities for implementation. The prioritization process is designed to show local governments which facilities should be built immediately to fill in the gaps in the county s bicycle network. It is hoped that by identifying and prioritizing these facilities, they will be looked upon more favorably when funding is sought. 1 The need for studies like Cross County Connection s bicycle facilities project is demonstrated in the lack of strategic placement of existing bicycle facilities. There is a limited number of existing bicycle facilities that have inter-municipal connections. For example, there are no existing links between Salem and Cumberland counties. While there is a need for a coherent set of plans that the counties and municipalities can use to design and build commuter bicycle facilities, there is also a need to locate the gaps in the local bicycle facility network and determine how best to complete them, both at the county and regional level. The ultimate goal of Cross County Connection s bicycle facility work is to create a region-wide network of bicycle facilities that, in conjunction with public transit, can be used by commuters to reach employment and other destinations throughout the region. 1 For the complete analysis and findings of Cross County Connection s bicycle projects, see Bicycle Facilities Report: Burlington and Camden Counties, June 2004 and Bicycle Facilities Inventory and Analysis: Atlantic County, December 2005, Bicycle Facilities Inventory and Analysis: Gloucester County, June 2006, Bicycle Facilities Inventory and Analysis: Salem County, June 2007 and Bicycle Facilities Inventory and Analysis: Cumberland County, December These publications can be obtained, free of charge, through Cross County Connection. Cross County Connection 2

7 THE CAPE MAY COUNTY WORK The purpose of Phase I of Cross County Connection s bicycle facility work in Cape May County is to identify existing and proposed bicycle facilities at the municipal level and to assist local governments as well as Cape May County to identify commuter bicycle facilities. This inventory will assist local governments to prioritize their existing bicycle facilities and plan for building future facilities. The primary goal of this project is to inventory the existing and proposed bicycle facilities in Cape May County s 16 municipalities. The emphasis of this inventory is on bicycle facilities that can be used for commuting purposes. Therefore, closed systems that are used primarily for recreation (parks, school facilities) are not included in this analysis, unless they could be opened and connected to a regional facility. To further facilitate commuting, the bicycle facilities inventory is compared to NJ TRANSIT s existing bus route system. NJ TRANSIT s buses are equipped with bicycle racks; therefore, a commuter can bicycle to a bus stop, attach the bicycle to the bus, and use it to reach the final destination. By combining bicycle trips with public transit trips, Cape May County commuters have better access to employment opportunities throughout southern New Jersey and the Philadelphia area. the survey. Cross County Connection input the data into its Geographical Information System (GIS) software. Municipal data was cross-referenced with the New Jersey Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. As the scope of this project is municipal, if a facility was reported by a municipality, it superseded either SJTPO or NJDOT data. The facilities were grouped into four categories, as follows: Existing facilities o On-road o Off-road Proposed facilities o On-road o Off-road Cross County Connection created attribute tables as well as county and municipal maps of the facilities. Once the inventory was finalized, Cross County Connection undertook Phase II of this project; the gap and prioritization analysis. The completed inventory will also be placed on Cross County Connection s website as part of an interactive map of bicycle facilities in southern New Jersey. Please visit to view the interactive bicycle facilities maps. METHODOLOGY To inventory commuter oriented bicycle facilities in Cape May County, Cross County Connection surveyed the county s 16 municipalities as well as the County during late spring of All 16 municipalities, the County and the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization (SJTPO) responded to Cross County Connection 3

8 2. INVENTORY Cross County Connection began its analysis by identifying existing and proposed bicycle facilities at the municipal level. During the spring of 2007, the 16 municipalities in Cape May County were asked to provide the following information: Location of existing bicycle facilities o On-road o Off-road Location of proposed bicycle facilities o On-road o Off-road Existing facilities are those that have already been built and are officially designated as a bike route through signage and/or pavement striping. Proposed facilities are those that are proposed or pending construction. No distinction was made between facilities that have funding for construction versus those that do not. The bicycle facilities were further defined into two classifications: on-road and off-road. An on-road facility is defined as one that shares the road with motorized traffic. This bicycle facility is signed as a bicycle route and/or the travel lane is striped for bicycles. An off-road facility has its own right of way which is separated from motorized traffic. Off road facilities can be paved or dirt trails. Cross County Connection also surveyed the County of Cape May, the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization (SJTPO) and NJDOT s statewide inventory. The SJTPO and NJDOT provided information on bicycle facilities of statewide significance. The information from these sources was compared to the municipal information. When conflicting or incomplete information was found, Cross County Connection contacted municipal and county representatives to correct the data; thus all parties received up-to-date information. In most cases, the municipality has approval authority for the construction of new bicycle facilities. If the municipal information conflicted with NJDOT, SJTPO or County information, priority was given to the information provided by the municipality. The emphasis of this study is on the identification of bicycle facilities for commuting purposes. Cross County Connection s inventory does not include closed loop systems, such as bike facilities in a local park. These recreational facilities were not included in the analysis, unless they could be opened and connected to a regional facility. INVENTORY FINDINGS After analyzing the data collected, Cross County Connection used its Geographic Information System (GIS) to create the bicycle facilities inventory. Cross County Connection found that 15 of the 16 municipalities in Cape May County had existing or proposed bicycle facilities suitable for commuting. The Borough of West Wildwood does not contain any existing or proposed bicycle facilities. It should be noted that eight towns stated that they have no existing or proposed facilities; however the State Plan has proposed facilities within these municipalities. The existing and proposed facilities represent approximately 11 miles, broken into 52 segments, as shown in Table 1 and as mapped on Figure 1. Approximately, 67% of the 11 miles of facilities are proposed. Currently, there are 28 existing Cross County Connection 4

9 bicycle facilities in Cape May County; all but five are on-road. The existing facilities travel through 15 municipalities. TABLE 1 BICYCLE FACILITIES BY SEGMENTS & MILES CAPE MAY COUNTY Existing Proposed Onroad Offroad Total Onroad Offroad Total Grand total Segments Miles LINKAGES TO PUBLIC TRANSIT Since most NJ TRANSIT buses are equipped with bicycle racks on the front of the bus, it is important to examine the location of bicycle facilities in relationship to bus routes. NJ TRANSIT operates seven bus routes in Cape May County (refer to Figure 2). Most of the routes provide service to Atlantic City and the Camden County/Philadelphia area. Proposed bicycle facilities connect with NJ TRANSIT bus routes, 315, 316, 31, 507, 50 and. Utilizing these bus routes, bicyclists can travel to Atlantic City, Cumberland County, Gloucester County and the Camden/Philadelphia area. The ability to link a bicycle trip with transit provides commuters access to the region-wide public transit system. The proximity of each of the existing and proposed bicycle facilities to public transit will be considered as an important element of the Phase II analysis. Under Phase II of this project, transit access via bicycle facilities will be one of the primary factors used to prioritize those bicycle facilities that should receive priority in funding and construction. Linkages to public transit and to facilities along Cape May County s borders with its neighbors will strengthen the bicycle networks outreach throughout southern New Jersey. LINKAGES WITH ADJACENT COUNTIES Since Cape May County shares a border with Atlantic and Cumberland Counties, the connections between the three counties were analyzed. Atlantic County Linkages As Figure 3 shows, two proposed bicycle facilities in Cape May County have direct connections with proposed facilities in Atlantic County. These proposed facilities are located on Routes 4 and 50. The proposed facility along Route 4 will connect northern Cape May County to Atlantic and Cumberland Counties. Cumberland County Linkages Figure 3 shows two proposed facilities in Cape May County linking to Cumberland County. A proposed bicycle facility along Route 47 will connect to an existing facility in Cumberland County. Both Cape May and Cumberland Counties have proposed facilities along Route 4 which will provide access to multiple employment destinations in Cumberland County, as well as to schools and bus routes. Cross County Connection 5

10 Upper Twp Atlantic County 4 Cumberland County Woodbine Boro Dennis Twp Ocean City Sea Isle City Avalon Boro 657 Middle Twp 47 Stone Harbor Boro North Wildwood City 47 West Wildwood Boro 2002D Lincoln Drive W. Marlton, NJ Tel. (856) Figure 1: Bicycle Facilities Inventory Cape May County Bicycle Facilities Existing, On-Road Existing, Off-Road Proposed, On-Road Proposed, Off-Road Wildwood City Lower Twp 162 Wildwood Crest Boro 10 Cape May City Miles West Cape May Boro

11 Ocean City Atlantic County Upper Twp Cumberland County Woodbine Boro Dennis Twp Sea Isle City Avalon Boro D Lincoln Drive W. Marlton, NJ Tel. (856) Figure 2: Bicycle Facilities Inventory Bus Routes, Employment Destinations, and Schools Cape May County Schools Employment Destinations Bicycle Facilities Existing, On-Road Existing, Off-Road Proposed, On-Road Proposed, Off-Road NJ TRANSIT Bus Route Middle Twp 47 Stone Harbor Boro 147 North Wildwood City West Wildwood Boro Wildwood City Lower Twp 162 Wildwood Crest Boro 10 Cape May City Miles West Cape May Boro

12 Figure 3: Bicycle Facilities Inventory Cape May, Atlantic & Cumberland Counties 206 Hammonton Bicycle Facilities Existing, Off-Road Existing, On-Road Proposed, Off-Road Proposed, On-Road Miles 77 Upper Deerfield Buena Buena Vista Folsom ATLANTIC Hamilton Mullica ACE. 50 Egg Harbor City Galloway Port Republic Stow Creek Shiloh Deerfield Vineland Greenwich Hopewell Bridgeton 55 Millville Weymouth Egg Harbor Absecon Pleasantville 30 Atlantic City Brigantine Fairfield Lawrence CUMBERLAND Commercial Maurice River 4 Estell Manor Corbin City Linwood Somers Point Northfield 40 Ventnor City 2002D Lincoln Drive W. Marlton, NJ Tel. (856) Downe 47 CAPE MAY Woodbine Upper Ocean City Dennis 83 GSP Sea Isle City Middle Avalon 147 Stone Harbor North Wildwood West Wildwood Wildwood City Wildwood Crest West Cape May Cape May City 8

13 SUMMARY As Figure 1 demonstrates, Cape May County has a proposed network of bicycle facilities that forms a good network for most County residents. With the exception of West Wildwood Borough, each municipality has one or more proposed facilities traversing it. Cape May County has several proposed bicycle facilities in Dennis, Lower and Middle Townships. Additionally, several facilities are clustered in the southern section of the County along Route. Additional routes are proposed along Routes 47, 4 and 50. These proposed facilities link to one another and to NJ TRANSIT bus routes serving the County. Once these facilities are built county residents, employees and visitors will be able to bike to most areas of the County. However beach areas, such as Ocean City, Sea Isle City, Avalon and Stone Harbor, are not connected to existing and proposed facilities in the rest of the County. Many of the proposed facilities appear on the State s Bicycle Plan but are not part of any municipal plan. Municipal support of these proposed facilities must be obtained if they are to be constructed. Given the limited financial resources that may be available to construct this bicycle facility network, a prioritization system should be put into place to ensure that those facilities with the most benefit will be built first. Phase II of Cross County Connections bicycle facility project does this; and is discussed in chapters 3 and 4. Cross County Connection

14 3. BICYCLE FACILITY RANKING ANALYSIS To identify those bicycle facilities that should be built in the near future, Cross County Connection developed a set of ranking criteria and applied each criterion to the bicycle facility inventory. The purpose of ranking criteria is to determine which facilities are most suitable for commuter usage. The criteria are as follows: 1. Proximity to commuter roadways 2. Number of New Jersey TRANSIT bus routes within two miles 3. Proximity to business parks 4. Number of schools within two miles RANKING CRITERIA For each criterion, a set of values or points was established. Criteria one and four are assigned from zero to four points while criteria two and three have been weighted and are assigned from two to six points, equaling a possible 20 points for each bicycle facility. A score of zero shows that a particular criterion is least conducive to bicycle usage. For example, a zero in Criterion One would indicate that a facility is more than two miles from the commuter roadways. A score of four or six in a particular criterion shows that the facility is most conducive to bicycle usage. For example, in Criterion Two a score of six would indicate that a facility is within two miles of more than five NJ TRANSIT bus routes. Criterion One: Proximity to Commuter Roadways Routes, 47, 4, 50, 52, 83, 10, 147, 601, 623, 625 and 657 were chosen as the attractors in this criterion. They serve as the major transportation arteries through Cape May County, thus allowing access to most areas throughout the study area. Therefore, the closer a bicycle facility is to one of these roads, the more attractive the facility will be as a commuter corridor for bicyclists. The Garden State Parkway was not considered an attractor because New Jersey law places restricted use on the Garden State Parkway, thus prohibiting bicyclists and pedestrians on this roadway. Cross County Connection identified the bicycle facilities within a two mile buffer of the identified commuter roadways. As shown in Table 2, those facilities that fell within the two mile buffer were then scored based on their distance from the roadway. Table 2 Criteria 1: Proximity to Commuter Roadways Distance of Bicycle Facility from Commuter Score Roadway 0 >2 miles miles miles miles miles Cross County Connection 10

15 Criterion Two: Proximity to New Jersey TRANSIT Bus Routes The number of NJ TRANSIT routes within a two mile buffer of the bicycle facility was selected as a criterion because a bicyclist linking with a bus route has access to a much larger geographic area for employment. All NJ TRANSIT buses have bicycle racks. In addition, the number of routes is important because a bicyclist can ride along a bicycle facility to an intersect point with a NJ TRANSIT bus, put the bicycle on the bike rack and ride to their stop. Upon reaching their stop, the bicyclist can then take the bicycle off of the bus and ride to their destination. Therefore, the number of bus routes would help to determine the usage of a particular bicycle facility as a commuter route. Table 3 shows how the bicycle facilities were scored based on the distance to bus routes. Table 3 Criteria 2: Number of Bus Routes Within Two Miles Score Number of Bus Routes Within Two Miles or more Criterion Three: Proximity to Employment Destinations Bicycle facilities benefit from being within two miles of an employment destination because of increased proximity to employment opportunities. If an employment destination is along or in proximity to a bicycle facility, then the usage of the bicycle facility as a commuter route would most likely increase. When combined with other modes of transport, such as buses that have bicycle racks, commuters could arrive at their employment sites by combining different modes of transportation and incorporate the bicycle facility into the overall transportation network. The employment destinations in Cape May County were identified using county maps, the New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development employers database, the Cape May County Department of Planning and Development and local knowledge and experience. The bicycle facilities were scored as shown in Table 4. Table 4 Criteria 3: Proximity to Employment Destinations Score Proximity to Business Parks 0 >2 miles miles miles miles miles 6 0 to 0.25 miles Cross County Connection 11

16 Criterion Four: Number of Schools within Two Miles The number of schools within a two mile buffer was selected as a criterion to encourage students to use bicycles to commute to school. When considered along with government spending on programs such as the Safe Routes to Schools Initiative, schools are becoming a significant attractor for alternative modes of commuting. Including this criterion allows Cross County Connection to account for a growing number of commuters. At the present time, approximately 25% of morning traffic is school related. The bicycle facilities were scored as shown in Table 6. Table 5 Criteria 4: Number of Schools Within Two Miles Score Number of Schools Within Two Miles to to to FINDINGS Each facility was scored and ranked based on the above criteria. Fifteen of the sixteen municipalities have at least one existing or proposed bicycle facility; the Borough of West Wildwood does not indicate any existing or proposed facilities. The facilities ranged in score from a low of 0 to a high of The highest possible score is 20.0, which shows that the bicycle facility is most conducive to commuting. The lowest possible score is a 0 which shows that the bicycle facility is least conducive to commuting. The average score amongst the 52 facilities is The facilities that scored at or above the average score are located in seven municipalities, as shown on Table 6. Table 6 shows the average score of all bicycle facilities that received a score of 11.0 or higher. As Table 6 shows, the range of scores at or above the average varies from a low of 12.0 to a high of Table 6 Highest Ranking Facilities Averaged by Municipality Rank Municipality Score 1 Wildwood City West Cape Mary Borough North Wildwood City Lower Township Middle Township Wildwood Crest Borough Cape May City 12.0 This analysis also examined the overall scores of each bicycle facility in each municipality. The overall score is comprised of the individual scores of all of the existing and proposed facilities within the municipality thus indicating the volume of facilities in the municipality; the higher the overall score, the greater the number of facilities in the municipality. As Table 7 shows, Middle Township surpasses all other municipalities with an overall score of 148 while the next fourteen municipalities range from a score of 3 to 8. Sixty-seven percent of the reported bicycle facilities in Cape May County are proposed while thirty-three percent are existing facilities. Cross County Connection 12

17 Table 7 Highest Ranking Facilities Overall by Municipality Rank Municipality Score 1 Middle Township Lower Township 3 3 North Wildwood City 84 4 Cape May City 61 5 Woodbine Borough 55 6 Ocean City 35 7 Dennis Township 34 8 Wildwood City 33 Upper Township West Cape May Borough Wildwood Crest Borough Borough of Avalon Cape May Point Sea Isle City Stone Harbor 8 County Resident Commuting Patterns The U.S. Census of 2000 documented the commuting patterns of employees from their county of residence to their county of employment. Approximately, 26% of Cape May County s employed residents travel outside the County for employment. Given this percentage and this study s emphasis on bicycle facilities for commuting purposes, Cross County Connection thought it important to analyze existing and proposed bicycle facilities linking to employment destinations not only within the County, but outside the County, as well. According to the 2000 Census, the counties of Atlantic and Cumberland account for the largest percentage of employment locations outside Cape May County; refer to Table 8. Given the importance of these county employment destinations to Cape May County residents, it is important that the bicycle facilities network be compatible with this commuting pattern. Although it may not be realistic to expect many commuters to bicycle outside the County given the distance they would have to travel, those bicycle facilities that connect to a bus route serving these employment destinations should be given priority for implementation. NJ TRANSIT bus routes 315, 316, 31, 507, 508 and serve Atlantic County; the provides service to Cape May and Cumberland Counties. Table 8 Workplace County Flows Cape May County Residents, 2000 Workplace County Cape May Residents Percent of Commuters Cumberland Co. NJ 1,12 2.6% Atlantic Co. NJ 7, % Cape May Co. NJ 31, % Subtotal 40, % Other Counties 2, % Total 43, % Source: U.S. Census 2000, County-To-County Worker Flow, Cross County Connection 13

18 The proposed facilities connecting with bus routes and 315 scored above average in the ranking process. The proposed facility along Route 50 which parallels bus route 315 into Cape May and Atlantic Counties had a score of This on-road facility is of regional importance since it connects with proposed bicycle facilities in Cape May and Atlantic Counties, providing access to key employments destinations. A bicyclist could use this proposed route to connect with bus route 315, 502, 553 and 554 to reach numerous locations in Atlantic County. The Route 50 bicycle facility is one of the few proposed facilities linking the northern section of Cape May County to Atlantic County. Cape May County has several proposed bicycle facilities in Dennis, Lower and Middle Townships that connect with bus route. Portions of Delsea Drive (Route 47) parallel NJ TRANSIT Route. These facilities link Cape May County to Cumberland County. The proposed facility along Route 4 in Upper Township scored below average with a score of 6.0. This proposed facility scored below average due to a lack of employment destinations in close proximity to the facility and because it only connects with one bus route. Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland Counties have a proposed facility along Route 4. The proposed Route 4 facility in Cape May County will provide access to multiple employment centers in Cumberland County, as well as bus routes and schools. SUMMARY Thirty-five existing and proposed bicycle facilities, out of a total of 52 facilities, scored above the average of As stated above, these bicycle facilities are located in proximity to existing commuter attractors. Cape May County has a large number of existing facilities that make the county highly suitable for building proposed facilities to complement the existing network. The proposed facilities will fill the gaps within the established network by improving the mobility and accessibility of users throughout Cape May County. The Cape May County bicycle network will play an important role in connecting the neighboring counties of Atlantic and Cumberland. The proposed facilities travel along the road network, and connect with NJ TRANSIT bus routes that take commuters into Atlantic and Cumberland Counties. These counties support a significant number of employment opportunities for Cape May County residents. Given the public transit connections into these counties, it is reasonable to assume that a strong bicycle network in Cape May County will be attractive to many residents seeking employment outside of Cape May County. Cross County Connection believes that funding the construction of the identified proposed facilities is a next step to improving the bicycle network in Cape May County for commuting purposes. Therefore the need to assist the municipalities to obtain funding and complete their proposed facilities is the priority. Cross County Connection believes that this is the next step in making Cape May County attractive as an alternative commuting location for visitors and residents. Cross County Connection 14

19 4. PROPOSED BICYCLE FACILITIES RECOMMENDED FOR CONSTRUCTION Of the original 35 existing and proposed bicycle facilities that scored at or above the average, 1 are proposed and are located in eight municipalities. These facilities are located close to several attractors, therefore giving them the greatest potential to improve the regional bicycle commuting network, if constructed. Although other proposed facilities have the potential to improve the regional bicycle commuting network, their lower ranking and limited overall funding determined that they not be recommended for construction at this time. Cross County Connection recommends that the proposed facilities shown in Table be considered immediately for implementation. The construction of these facilities will provide improved access to employment destinations for commuters who want to bike to work. Appendix B provides detailed maps for the 1 proposed bicycle facilities that received a score of 11.0 or higher under the ranking process. In addition to the location of the proposed facility, information is also provided on the bicycle facility s ranked score and attractors which make the facility a good candidate for construction. Each facility can be found on Figure 4, which also provides a county-wide view of the proposed facilities recommended for construction. Table lists the name and location of the proposed facilities and is keyed to the maps in Appendix B. According to the South Jersey Transportation Planning Organization (SJTPO), projected population growth in Cape May County is estimated to grow by 16,724 or 14% from 2005 to In the same timeframe, employment growth is expected to increase by,154 or 16%. 2 Both factors are important in determining the number of new proposed facilities to be built. New facilities will provide improved transportation alternatives that will significantly help municipalities diversify their modes of transportation and their availability to improve existing bicycle facilities. As Figure 4 shows, the common denominators to determine attractors in Cape May County comprise of seven bus routes, 38 schools and 16 employment destinations. Connectivity with bus routes will encourage commuters to combine both bicycling and public transportation to travel throughout Cape May County. Linkages to neighboring counties are an essential factor when expanding the bicycle system beyond the county corridor. During the analysis, the proposed Route 50 bicycle facility was identified as a link to Atlantic County. This on-road facility will connect with proposed facilities in Atlantic County, as well as, numerous NJ TRANSIT bus routes. Proposed facilities along Route 47 (Delsea Drive) in Dennis, Middle and Lower Townships will connect to an existing facility in Cumberland County. Atlantic, Cape May and Cumberland Counties have also proposed facilities along Route 4. These facilities will provide access to multiple employment destinations in Atlantic and Cumberland Counties. 2 Source: 2030 Demographic Forecasts; June Population and Employment Scenarios for Cape May County by Municipality. Cross County Connection 15

20 Figure 4: Proposed Bicycle Facilities Recommended for Construction Cape May County Ocean City 507 Atlantic County Upper Twp Cumberland County Woodbine Boro Dennis Twp Sea Isle City Avalon Boro Middle Twp Stone Harbor Boro 147 Proposed Bicycle Facilites Off-Road On-Road School NJ TRANSIT Bus Route Employment Destinations North Wildwood City West Wildwood Boro Wildwood City Wildwood Crest Boro Lower Twp D Lincoln Drive W. Marlton, NJ Tel. (856) Cape May City Miles West Cape May Boro

21 Table Proposed Bicycle Facilities Recommended for Construction Figure # (Refer to Appendix B) Facility Name/Location Municipality Score Type Figure 5 US Route Lower Township 17 On-Road Figure 6 Court House South Dennis Road Middle Township, Dennis Township 16 On-Road Figure 7 Broadway West Cape May Borough 15 On-Road Figure 8 Sunset Road West Cape May Borough 15 On-Road Figure Rio Grande Avenue Wildwood City 15 On-Road Figure 10 Sandman Boulevard Lower Township 14 On-Road Figure 11 Middle Township Proposed Off-Road Bike Path Middle Township 14 Off-Road Figure 12 W Hand Avenue Middle Township 14 On-Road Figure 13 Pittsburg Avenue Cape May City 14 On-Road Figure 14 N Main Street Middle Township 14 On-Road Figure 15 Wildwood Boulevard Middle Township 14 On-Road Figure 16 Route 50 Upper Township 13 On-Road Figure 17 Dias Creek Road Middle Township 13 On-Road Figure 18 Wildwood Boulevard Lower Township 13 On-Road Figure 1 Delsea Drive (Rt. 47) Middle Township 13 On-Road Figure 20 Wildwood Crest Bike Path Wildwood Crest Borough 11 On-Road Figure 21 Fidler Hill Rd Dennis Township 11 On-Road Figure 22 Atlantic City Electric R-O-W Middle Township 11 Off-Road Figure 23 Woodbine Rd Upper Twp 11 On-Road Cross County Connection 17

22 SUMMARY Eight municipalities have proposed bicycle facilities that scored at or above average in the bicycle ranking system. The proposed facilities were identified as high ranking because of their proximity to the attractors. Cape May County possesses a high number of existing bicycle facilities, employment destinations and other attractors that, together with increases in projected population and employment, make the County s bicycle network suitable for improving both transportation mobility and effectiveness. Cross County Connection recommends funding the proposed facilities because they will provide modes of alternative transportation for commuters in Cape May County. When linked to bicycle facilities and bus routes serving the neighboring counties, these facilities can provide a regional bicycle transportation network established through a coordinated planning effort between county and municipal governments. Cross County Connection 18

23 5. CONCLUSION This analysis has identified 1 proposed bicycle facilities that could be considered for construction. To be considered for state funding, the municipalities must initiate certain steps before applying for funding. The completion of these steps may better position the municipalities for state-funded technical assistance and funding to build the facilities. BICYCLE TASK FORCE First, a bicycle task force or committee should be established to oversee the planning effort. The task force should consist of community leaders, citizens, local, county, regional and state representatives and officials and planning and engineering officials, and other identified stakeholders. The goal of this task force should be to develop and design a bicycle Plan for the municipality. The Plan should identify priority areas for implementing bicycle facilities. These areas should be based on a plan that accommodates bicyclists throughout the community as well as enables them to connect to bicycle and public transit facilities outside the community. Recommendations should be both site specific (an intersection) and non site specific, such as installing bicycle friendly drainage grates. The NJDOT can provide technical assistance to those municipalities and counties that want to create a bicycle plan (refer to Appendix B). PLANNING TOOLS To ensure implementation of the Task Force Bicycle Plan, local planning tools should be in place and compatible with the Plan. It is recommended that municipalities and counties review their planning documents to ensure that they not only permit bicycle and pedestrian facilities, but encourage or even require their construction. At a minimum, the municipal Master Plan should include a Bicycle/Pedestrian Element that outlines a bicycle network within the municipality. Consideration should be given to providing linkages to existing and proposed bicycle facilities in neighboring municipalities as well as to employment destinations and public transit stops. Additionally, the municipal land development ordinance should be amended to include requirements for bicycle and pedestrian facilities. Standards for bicycle facilities and sidewalks should be specified in the ordinance. These standards should be in accordance with the New Jersey Site Improvements Standards and the planning and design guidelines found in NJDOT s Bicycle Compatible Roadways 3 and Bikeways report. Ensuring that local planning documents permit and encourage bicycle facilities demonstrates the local government s support of and commitment to developing a viable bicycle network within the community. This support and commitment is necessary to ensure success. 3 Visit for report. Cross County Connection 1

24 FUNDING OPPORTUNITIES Funding for bicycle facilities in New Jersey is provided primarily through NJDOT under its Local Aid program and at the federal level through the Transportation Enhancements (TE) program. Funding through both programs is awarded annually through a highly competitive process. Demand for these funds far exceeds the funding available. The State s bikeways program provides funds to municipalities and counties for the construction of bicycle projects. According to the Tri-State Transportation Campaign, from 2000 to 2005, New Jersey municipalities submitted applications through this program totaling $157 million; however less than $3 million has been awarded because of the funding shortfall. The same is true under the federal TE program. In 2003 and 2004, New Jersey municipalities submitted 367 applications totaling almost $200 million for bicycle and pedestrian projects. However, New Jersey s federal funding allocation only enabled the State to approve 46 projects totaling $18.4 million. 4 Given the highly competitive funding picture, municipalities and counties must have extremely strong grant applications. It is Cross County Connection s hope that those municipalities and counties that seek funding to fill in the gaps that are identified and prioritized in southern New Jersey s bicycle network will have a greater chance of receiving funding. Refer to Appendix B for an expanded list of programs that provide funding and planning assistance for bicycle projects. SUMMARY This project has documented the existing and proposed bicycle facilities in Cape May County and provided a ranking process to prioritize those facilities that should be constructed initially. This inventory will be updated periodically to reflect changes made at the local and county level. Cape May County and its municipalities have made good progress towards proposing a bicycle network that links to public transit and provides inter-county connections. The ground work has been laid, and a solid foundation established, however there is considerable opportunity in Cape May County to improve the County s bicycle network, through implementation of these proposed bicycle facilities. A region-wide bicycle network will improve the quality of life of southern New Jersey s residents and provide greater economic development opportunities. By working together as a region, southern New Jersey will be better positioned to attract federal and state funds for the implementation of bicycle facilities. 4 Tri-State Transportation Campaign. Skimping on Sidewalks: New Jersey s Bicycle and Pedestrian Funding Deficit, April Visit for a copy of the report. Cross County Connection 20

25 Appendix A Bicycle Facilities Inventory: Cape May County Table of Attributes Municipality Path Name Status Type Length (miles) NJ TRANSIT Bus Routes Within 2 miles Source Avalon Borough Avalon Existing On-Road ,31 NJ State Plan Avalon Borough Dune Drive (6 th - 1 th ) Existing On-Road ,31 Avalon Borough Dune Drive (34 th - Cape May Avalon Borough 80 th ) Existing On-Road ,31 County Cape May City Beach Drive Existing On-Road 1.4,315,316, NJ State Plan Madison Avenue Cape May Cape May City Bike Lane Existing On-Road 0.3,315,316, County New Jersey Cape May Cape May City Avenue Bike Lane Existing On-Road 1.0,315,316, County Pennsylvania Cape May Cape May City Avenue Existing On-Road 0.5,315,316, County Cape May City Pittsburg Avenue Proposed On-Road 0.8,315,316, NJ State Plan Cape May Point Borough Cape Avenue Existing On-Road , NJ State Plan Lighthouse Cape May Point Cape May Point Borough Avenue Existing On-Road , Borough Cape May Point Borough, Lower Twp, West Cape May Sunset Road Proposed On-Road , NJ State Plan Dennis Twp Dennis Township Proposed Off- Road Proposed Off-Road 5.25 NJ State Plan Cross County Connection 21

26 Municipality Path Name Status Type Length (miles) NJ TRANSIT Bus Routes Within Source 2 miles Dennis Twp, Woodbine Borough Fidler Hill Road Proposed On-Road 3.3 NJ State Plan Dennis Twp, Middle Twp, Lower Twp Delsea Drive Proposed On-Road 28.75, NJ State Plan Lower Twp, Middle Twp Wildwood Blvd Proposed On-Road 1.4,315,316,31, NJ State Plan Lower Twp Seashore Road Existing On-Road 4.5,315,316, NJ State Plan Lower Twp Off- Lower Twp Road Existing Off-Road 2.,315,316, NJ State Plan Lower Twp US Route Proposed On-Road 1.15m,315,316, NJ State Plan Lower Twp, Middle Twp US Route Existing On-Road 1.25,315,316, NJ State Plan Lower Twp Sandman Blvd Proposed On-Road 1.5m,315,316, NJ State Plan Middle Twp Dias Creek Road Proposed On-Road 1.5,316, NJ State Plan Middle Twp Middle Township Existing Off-Road Existing Off-Road 2.5,316, NJ State Plan Middle Township Proposed Off-,316, Middle Twp Road Proposed Off-Road 3.7 NJ State Plan Middle Twp N Main Street Proposed On-Road 0.6,316, NJ State Plan Springer s Mill Middle Twp Road Proposed On-Road 1.5, NJ State Plan Middle Twp W Hand Avenue Proposed On-Road 0.4,316, NJ State Plan Atlantic City Cape May Middle Twp Electric R-O-W Proposed Off-Road 0.,316, County Cross County Connection 22

27 Municipality Path Name Status Type Length (miles) Middle Twp, Dennis Twp Court House South Dennis Road Proposed On-Road 5.8 NJ TRANSIT Bus Routes Within 2 miles,316, Source NJ State Plan North Wildwood City 1th Avenue Existing On-Road 0.2,315,316,31, NJ State Plan North Wildwood City E 1st Avenue Existing On-Road 0.1,315,316,31, NJ State Plan North Wildwood City E 5th Avenue Existing On-Road 0.2,315,316,31, NJ State Plan North Wildwood City John F Kennedy Existing On-Road 0.8,315,316,31, NJ State Plan North Wildwood City Surf Avenue Existing On-Road 1.0,315,316,31, NJ State Plan Ocean City Boardwalk Existing On-Road ,507,50 NJ State Plan Ocean City West Avenue Existing On-Road ,507,50 NJ State Plan Haven Avenue Cape May Ocean City (18 th -20 th ) Existing On-Road ,507,50 County Haven Avenue Cape May Ocean City (2 th -34 th ) Existing On-Road ,507,50 County Sea Isle City Avalon Bike Existing Off-Road ,31 NJ State Plan Stone Harbor Bike Cape May Stone Harbor Borough Path Existing On-Road ,31 County Upper Twp Route 4 Proposed On-Road NJ State Plan Crook Horn Creek Cape May Upper Twp Bike Path Proposed Off-Road 2 0 County Upper Twp Route 50 Proposed On-Road NJ State Plan Cross County Connection 23

28 Municipality Path Name Status Type Length (miles) NJ TRANSIT Bus Routes Within 2 miles Source Upper Twp Woodbine Road Proposed On-Road 3.6,315 NJ State Plan West Cape May Borough Broadway Proposed On-Road 0.75,315,316, NJ State Plan Wildwood City Rio Grande Avenue Proposed On-Road 0.6,315,316, NJ State Plan Wildwood Crest Borough, Wildwood City, North Boardwalk South,315,316,31, Wildwood City (Ocean Avenue) Existing Off-Road 2.7 NJ State Plan Wildwood Crest Borough Wildwood Crest Bike Path Proposed On-Road 1.25,315,316, Wildwood Crest Borough Woodbine Borough Dehrisch Avenue Existing On-Road 3.2 NJ State Plan Woodbine Borough Washington Avenue Proposed On-Road 0.75 NJ State Plan Woodbine Borough Woodbine Airport Proposed Off-Road 2.6 Cape May County Woodbine Borough Woodbine Existing Off-Road Bike Existing Off-Road 1.25 NJ State Plan Woodbine Borough Woodbine Ocean View Road Existing On-Road 0.6 NJ State Plan Total Facilities: 52 Paths Miles Existing Facilities (28): 3.5 miles Proposed Facilities (24): 7.3 miles On-Road (23): 2.7 miles On-Road (1): 64.8 miles Off-Road (5):.8 miles Off-Road (5): 14.5 miles Cross County Connection 24