A Matter of Fairness: ROCOG s Environmental Justice Protocol. What is Mobility Limitation?

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Madeleine Rose
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No Person Left Behind What is Mobility Limitation? What is the Access Limitation?

needs; Identify acceptable thresholds; Identify patterns of gaps by race, income, etc.

A Matter of Fairness: ROCOG s Environmental Justice Protocol The ability to move or be moved

easily; Can achieve only a less than acceptable level of free and easy movement.

2 No Person Left Behind What is Mobility Limitation? What is the Access Limitation? Environmental Justice population should be provided adequate mobility & access to meet their needs; Identify acceptable thresholds; Identify patterns of gaps by race, income, etc.; Identify neighborhoods lacking infrastructure; Identify & apply interventions. A Matter of Fairness: ROCOG s Environmental Justice Protocol The ability to move or be moved freely and easily; Lacking or having constraints on the ability to move or be moved freely and easily; Can achieve only a less than acceptable level of free and easy movement. Lacking the ability or having constraints on the opportunity to use or benefit from something or someone; Lacking or having constraints on exchanging information

Title VI of the Civil Right Act 1964 ROCOG Title VI and Limited English Proficiency Plan Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Executive Order 13166 Federal Laws and Rules enacted in

origin; Focus on eliminating discrimination in federally funded programs Federal Policy promulgated in August 2000; Consider eligible population; Contains monitoring and

3 Title VI of the Civil Right Act 1964 ROCOG Title VI and Limited English Proficiency Plan Limited English Proficiency (LEP) Executive Order Federal Laws and Rules enacted in 1964, 1970, 1973, 1975, 1987, and 1990; Consider all persons; Contain monitoring and oversight compliance review requirements; Provide protection based on race, color, national origin; Focus on eliminating discrimination in federally funded programs Federal Policy promulgated in August 2000; Consider eligible population; Contains monitoring and oversight compliance review requirements; Provides protection based on limited English Proficiency and National Origin; Focuses on providing LEP persons with meaningful access to services

Issues Goals Study Issues, Goals and Objectives Objectives Mobility and access limitations exist in

reduce impact of limited transportation choices are needed; Identification of neighborhoods with

systematic approach considering factors that contribute to lack of access or mobility.

limitations were identified; Infrastructure program to close the gaps in low and moderate income

8 Issues Goals Study Issues, Goals and Objectives Objectives Mobility and access limitations exist in low and moderate income neighborhood and Environmental (EJ) Justice populations; Systematic efforts to reduce impact of limited transportation choices are needed; Identification of neighborhoods with limited mobility and access in EJ population areas; Prioritization of neighborhoods based on systematic approach considering factors that contribute to lack of access or mobility. Strategies to close the gaps in low and moderate income neighborhoods where mobility and access limitations were identified; Infrastructure program to close the gaps in low and moderate income neighborhoods and Environmental Justice areas. Identification of prioritization strategies needed to guide programming of resources to address needs.

Part I Part II Part III The Study Process Identification of low and moderate income neighborhoods; Process to develop improvement guidelines to reduce the

populations were identified and selected as a focus area.

neighborhoods to gauge their infrastructure standing; Prioritize neighborhoods based on consideration of the relative size of various subgroup populations and

9 Part I Part II Part III The Study Process Identification of low and moderate income neighborhoods; Process to develop improvement guidelines to reduce the negative impact of limited transportation choices; Fifteen Census Block Groups with high concentration of low to moderate income and Environmental Justice populations were identified and selected as a focus area. Analysis of fifteen selected neighborhoods against eight assessment factors that are important for mobility and access limitation; An audit for each selected neighborhoods to gauge their infrastructure standing; Prioritize neighborhoods based on consideration of the relative size of various subgroup populations and level of needs identified in audit and assessment. Development of general strategies and in-depth description of infrastructure improvements to fill in the facility gaps; Develop guidelines for Intersection, roadway, non-motorized and transit improvements in the selected neighborhoods.

10 PART 1: IDENTIFICATION OF TARGETED NEIGHBORHOOD FOCUS AREAS

INCOME AND RACIAL CHARACTER OF IDENTIFIED FOCUS AREA Focus Area Neighborhoods Total Number of People Living in the Focus Area Number of Low & Moderate Income People % of Low & Moderate Income People

35% 618 43% Homestead Area 1399 630 45% 404 29% Innsbruck Area 1745 661 38% 646 37% Kutzky Park East 836 376 45% 192 23% Longfellow Area 1076 775 72% 481 45% Meadow Park North 1674 772 46% 562 34%

11 INCOME AND RACIAL CHARACTER OF IDENTIFIED FOCUS AREA Focus Area Neighborhoods Total Number of People Living in the Focus Area Number of Low & Moderate Income People % of Low & Moderate Income People (Citywide 16%) Number of Non-White Population in Target Area % of Non-White Population (Citywide 17%) Cooke Park Area % 87 8% Downtown East % % Hudson Park Area % % Homestead Area % % Innsbruck Area % % Kutzky Park East % % Longfellow Area % % Meadow Park North % % Mayo Park East % % Northgate Area % % NW Civic Center Drive % % Park Lane Area % % Rochester Village % % Slatterly Park Area % % Vallyhigh Drive Area % % Total

13 PART 2: AUDIT AND IDENTIFICATION OF NEEDS IN FOCUS AREAS

IDENTIFICATION OF BUILD ENVIRONMENT Major barriers Sidewalk system Site access Mobility and access limitations Trail and path system Crosswalk adjacent to bus stops and schools Cross walk along major

14 IDENTIFICATION OF BUILD ENVIRONMENT Major barriers Sidewalk system Site access Mobility and access limitations Trail and path system Crosswalk adjacent to bus stops and schools Cross walk along major connector routes in walk/bike zones Major Audit Categories Responses MAJOR BARRIERS Need Type Is there any limited access highway within the selected area? Y N Is there any river or creek creating a lengthy diversion within walk/bike or Y N transit route and bus stop? Is there any street with four or more total lanes within selected area without a Y N median refuge area? SIDEWALK SYSTEM Is there any arterial/collector or any local street that does not have sidewalks or a path on both sides within the selected area? Y N Are there any local streets segments serving more than 20 homes that do not Y N have sidewalks? MOBILITY & ACCESS LIMITATIONS Are there any discontinued streets or walkway or bikeway within the selected Y N area that limits accessibility to the schools and other major destinations? Are ADA ramps at intersections within the selected area? Y N Are the bus stops located one block away from residences? Y N Are there any residences two or more blocks away from the bus stops or Y N transit route in the selected area? TRAIL AND PATH SYSTEM Are there any trails or paths within the selected area that connects to the Y N school and other major destinations? Are there any designated on-street bicycle facilities within the selected area? Y N CROSSWALKS / ADJACENT TO BUS STOPS & SCHOOLS Do crosswalks adjacent to the school and bus stops have pavement markings and highly visible signage present? Are there non-intersection locations adjacent to school and bus stops at which children and other road users crossing streets without benefit of crosswalk improvements? Are any of the designated crossing locations adjacent to the school or bus stops controlled by traffic signals? Do signals have pedestrian crossing indicators incorporated? Do any designated crosswalks have flashing beacons or other indicators installed at crossings located within walking distance to school and other destinations? CROSSWALKS / ALONG MAJOR CONNECTOR ROUTES IN WALK/BIKE ZONE Are there crosswalk markings and signage along primary connector roads to the school and at major street intersections? Are there traffic signals present at major street crossings in the walk/bike routes? Do traffic signals within the walk/bike zone have pedestrian crossing signals incorporated into the signal design? Y Y Y Y Y Y Y N N N N N N N

15 PART 3: PRIORITIZATION OF FOCUS AREA BASED ON POPULATION CHARACTERISTICS

16 Population of Interest Households with Zero Vehicles Persons who do not speak English well or for who English is second language Persons who do not speak English Number of children enrolled in grades K 8 Persons age 16 to 64 in the Labor Force with a Disability Persons age 16 to 64 in the Labor Force who are Unemployed Number of Persons over Age 70 Living Alone Number of employed persons with a job who start or finish work between 12 Noon and 5 AM the next day FOCUS AREA PRIORITIZATION FACTORS Selection Rationale Zero Vehicle households face greater challenges accessing dispersed employment and education opportunities as well as access to retail, recreation or other services Persons who do speak English well may face greater barriers in identifying and understanding the available transportation services and options that are available to them to meet daily travel needs Similarly, persons who do not speak English will face even greater barriers than those with some English familiarity in terms of understanding what transportation options and services may be available This factor is included to recognize the desirability of identifying low income neighborhoods with significant numbers of elementary and kindergarten age children who could benefit from pedestrian and/or bicycling improvements along routes to school and parks. Disabled persons in the labor force may have specific transportation issues related to access to employment Unemployed individuals may face financial challenges that limit private mobility which could be mitigated to an some extent by public service improvements Older individuals, particularly those who live alone, may begin to experience a loss of private mobility which could be mitigated by improved public services or infrastructure Workers on 2 nd or 3 rd shifts face limitations in terms of transit accessibility given the start or end times of their jobs

People in Focus Area Zero Vehicle HH # Kids English as a Secondary Language Don t Speak English Disabled Unemployed Elderly Population Journey to Work Total Scores Priority RANKING OF FOCUS AREA

21 People in Focus Area Zero Vehicle HH # Kids English as a Secondary Language Don t Speak English Disabled Unemployed Elderly Population Journey to Work Total Scores Priority RANKING OF FOCUS AREA NEIGHBORHOODS Five Year ACS data used to identify number of individuals in each subgroup. Focus Areas Each Population Subgroup was rank ordered across all 111 Census Block Groups in the city. Table and graphic shows ranking scores for each assessment factor for selected areas. Ranking scores were summed to come up with Total Score. Block Groups with LOWEST Total Score are Focus Areas with highest population based need. Cooke Park High Downtown Medium East 28 Hudson Park Homestead High Innsbruck Medium Kutzky Park Low Longfellow High Meadow High Park North Mayo Park East Low Northgate Low NW Civic High Center Dr. Park Lane High Rochester Village Slatterly Park Valleyhigh Drive High Low High Medium

22 PART 4: IDENTIFICATION OF IMPROVEMENTS AND DEVELOPMENT OF STRATEGIES/RECOMMENDATIONS

23 Existing Focus Area Infrastructure

Recommended Improvement Guidelines for Longfellow Area Bikeway Improvements The Longfellow area requires bicycle transition boxes at various locations such as at the intersections of 11th and TH14,

Bike facility design study is recommended for 11th Ave SE between 20th Street and TH 14 SE to connect the bike lanes on 12 th Street.

Pedestrian Improvements Recommended to fill the sidewalk gaps on the west side of Marion Road from 20th St SE to Melrose St SE intersection, From Melrose St SE to the existing sidewalk facility on

and south side of Th14 between 11th Ave and the bridge over bear creek. Transit Improvements Bus stop with shelter is needed along Pinewood Road east of 18th Ave SE.

24 Recommended Improvement Guidelines for Longfellow Area Bikeway Improvements The Longfellow area requires bicycle transition boxes at various locations such as at the intersections of 11th and TH14, 11th and 20th Street SE, and Marion Road and 20th Street SE. Colored bike lane treatment is recommended at the intersection of Marion and TH 14 SE. Bike facility design study is recommended for 11th Ave SE between 20th Street and TH 14 SE to connect the bike lanes on 12 th Street. Bike route is recommended east of 11th Ave along 16th Street SE to connect the exciting bicycle trail in Bear Creek area. Pedestrian Improvements Recommended to fill the sidewalk gaps on the west side of Marion Road from 20th St SE to Melrose St SE intersection, From Melrose St SE to the existing sidewalk facility on the west side of Marion Road, On the east side of 11th Ave between 24th St SE and Pinewood St, East side of 11th Ave north of Spruce Meadow Dr. and south side of Th14 between 11th Ave and the bridge over bear creek. Transit Improvements Bus stop with shelter is needed along Pinewood Road east of 18th Ave SE. There is a big gap between the bus stop north of 24th Ave SE and Pearl Ct. New bus stop is needed in between those two stops. No bus shelter is located along Marion Road. One or two bus shelters are recommended. Also additional bus stop is recommended on 11th Ave SE. Roadway and Crossing Improvements Improvements are recommended for all major intersections along Marion Road and 11th Ave in Longfellow area. Median refuge at the intersection of 20th St and Marion Road and 20th St and 11th Ave SE is needed for the safe crossing. Marked crossing on Pinewood Road in front of the School and at the intersection of Pinewood at 11th Ave SE is recommended.

Anecdotal evidence suggested that Low Income and Environmental Justice populations are generally excluded from the planning process due to their limited understanding of the processes, and

25 Anecdotal evidence suggested that Low Income and Environmental Justice populations are generally excluded from the planning process due to their limited understanding of the processes, and particularly the challenges they face in a new living environment or due to their limited English Proficiency. To improve participation of the Environmental Justice population in Rochester, established Neighborhood Associations should be consulted. The goal is to educate and encourage Environmental Justice population group to participate in the planning processes in the early stages of planning. The result of analysis presents the general strategies for an interconnected network of primary and secondary corridors that should be the focus of investment in order to improve mobility and access limitations in the focus areas. The working group should ensure that adverse impacts that can not be mitigated are not concentrated in Low Income and Environmental Justice areas and should ensure investment equity in all neighborhoods.

Secure commitments from key departments in the local agencies to advance recommended improvement actions and securing funding through various grant programs; Forming a working group representing each

26 Secure commitments from key departments in the local agencies to advance recommended improvement actions and securing funding through various grant programs; Forming a working group representing each neighborhood to meet once or twice a year to provide input and update on access and mobility issues and providing a feedback to the local agencies; Appoint and involve Environmental Justice representatives to ensure that ongoing efforts are being made in identifying transportation issues, access, and mobility gaps and developing plans, programs, projects and mitigation measures; The working group should prioritize the major and minor improvement needs and recommend a project list for inclusion in the Capital Improvement Program (CIP).

Watertown Complete Streets Prioritization Plan. Public Meeting #1 December 14, 2017

Watertown Complete Streets Prioritization Plan Public Meeting #1 December 14, 2017 Goals for Public Meeting Overview of MassDOT Complete Streets Funding Program Educate the community on Complete Streets