Memphis Walkability Toolkit

Transcription

1 Memphis Walkability Toolkit

2 Thanks to Our Partners This Walkability Toolkit was developed through a partnership between Livable Memphis, the Memphis Center for Independent Living and the Memphis Regional Design Center (now the University of Memphis Design Collaborative) to equip community members with a specific tool to measure the accessibility of sidewalks to all members of society. Funding and assistance from America Walks was integral in developing and testing of the toolkit.

3 Purpose of the Walkability Toolkit This toolkit is meant to assist neighborhood associations, CDCs, and/or community volunteers who want to improve the conditions of sidewalks in their communities. The toolkit works best when the survey is followed by a targeted campaign to advocate for sidewalk and other pedestrian improvements. This toolkit also contains advocacy strategies for repairing and maintaining sidewalks in your neighborhood.

4 Components of the Toolkit Why Does Walkability Matter? Assessing Pedestrian Infrastructure & Walkability What to Look For Assessment Checklist Available Mobile Apps See Click Fix Memphis 311 App Memphis Parcel Survey App (for Sidewalks) Requires an organizational account Advocacy Tools for Sidewalk Repair Draft Letters to Property Owners & Reporting Tools Property Owner s Guide to Sidewalk Maintenance Repair Resources Local Contacts and Contractors

5 Walkability: Why? Safety Health & Well-Being Walkability & Livability Equity & Economics Sustainability

6 Walkability: Safety Every year there are between pedestrian injuries and between pedestrian fatalities in Memphis. Many of these injuries involve children and are preventable. Transportation for America s Dangerous by Design 2014 report ranks Memphis #5 of the most dangerous large metros, based on T4A s Pedestrian Danger Index.

7 Walkability: Safety The Memphis Pedestrian & School Safety Action Plan, completed in 2015, analyzed citywide crash data to help prioritize pedestrian improvement projects. Between , there were 1,800 pedestrian crashes in Memphis, including 75 fatalities.

8 Walkability: Health & Well-Being The 2012 F as in Fat, a report funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, predicts that by 2030, Tennessee will have an obesity prevalence rate of 63.4%, placing us as one of the most obese states in the county. The financial consequence of this rate of prevalence results in an annual additional medical cost of $3.6 billion for Tennessee.

9 Walkability: Equity & Economics Walkable urban regions in the U.S. have a 41 percent higher Gross Domestic Product over non-walkable regions. C. Leinberger, George Washington U. & President of Locus The cost of owning and operating a single vehicle averages close to $9,000/year, ($750/month) Given per capita income for Memphis ($18,000- $24,000), many people could spend the majority of their entire incomes on housing and transportation alone. Mid-South Regional Greenprint

10 Walkability: Equity & Economics Nearly 1/3 of the U.S. population is transportation disadvantaged and without reliable access to food, medical care, employment or educational opportunities.

11 How to Use the Walkability Toolkit Read through all sections of the Walkability Toolkit to know what you ll be looking for and why. Choose your walk route and if possible, map it out. Decide which assessment tool (paper or app) to use. Start your walk. When you encounter an issue, log it using your mobile device or survey tool, being sure to clearly identify the property address or location. Photograph issues if possible and note the location (the mobile apps will associate pics with the reports).

12 Assessing Pedestrian Infrastructure 1. Missing Sidewalks a. There are properties with missing sidewalks or sidewalk panels 2. Impediments to Path of Travel a. Permanent clear path of travel is less than 36 b. At turning points/corners, sidewalk is not wide enough for a wheelchair to turn 40 c. There are trash cans, leaves, temporary structures, or obstacles that do not leave 36 of clear travel d. There is a height clearance less than Uneven Surfaces, Grates, and Gaps a. There is a change in level over ½ b. There is a hole, gap, or broken sidewalk wider than 2 c. There is a drainage cover that is not secure d. Grating has gaps larger than ½ running in the direction of travel 4. Cross Slopes and Driveways a. There is a noticeable cross slope b. Driveway flares steeper than 1:12 or 8.33% c. There is a compound slope (multiple slopes) in the path of travel d. The driveway apron (sidewalk crossing a driveway) is steeper than a 2% slope 5. Intersections, Crosswalks, and Curb Ramps a. Intersections did not have curb ramps for wheelchairs, strollers and wagons b. Crosswalk does not align with curb ramp c. Crosswalk is not marked, is faded or unrecognizable

13 Assessing: Missing Sidewalks There are properties with missing sidewalks or sidewalk panels

14 Assessing: Impediments to Travel Permanent clear path of travel is less than 36 Turning point is less than 40 Obstacles do not leave 36 of clear travel Height clearance less than 80

15 Assessing: Uneven Surfaces & Gaps There is a change in level over ½ There is a hole or gap wider than 2 Drainage cover is not secure or grating has gaps > ½ There is damage from tree roots

16 Assessing: Cross Slopes & Driveways Noticeable cross slope or steep driveway apron Compound / multiple slope in the path of travel

17 Assessing: Crosswalks & Ramps No curb ramps for wheelchairs, strollers and wagons Crosswalk does not align with curb ramp Crosswalk is not marked, is faded or unrecognizable

18 How to Use the Toolkit The Tools The old fashioned way! Printable checklist Memphis 311 App See-Click-Fix Reports to city staff and user can track progress Memphis Parcel Survey Requires account to use No auto-report to city Bluff City Snapshot app

19 Memphis 311 App: See-Click-Fix If Sidewalk option isn t shown, choose Other.

20 See-Click-Fix: Memphis 311 App If Sidewalk option isn t shown, choose Other.

21 Memphis Parcel Survey App Select Sidewalk Survey

22 Memphis Parcel Survey App

23 Memphis Parcel Survey App The Memphis Parcel Survey app allows an organization to track multiple issues in a neighborhood or block over time. However, it requires an account and does not currently interface with the City of Memphis reporting system, so tracking and reporting must be done manually.

24 Memphis Parcel Survey App Special thanks to CD Council member Binghampton Development Corp. for creating the Memphis Parcel Survey app contact to learn more.

25 Advocacy Tools After conducting your Walkability Assessment, here are a few steps you can take: Send a letter to property owners alerting them to the problem(s), their responsibility to maintain their sidewalks, and assistance programs they might use. Submit a complaint using the Memphis 311 app, online at or by calling 311. Reach out to your neighborhood association, community development corporation, or other organization about walkability, coordinating sidewalk repairs, and other neighborhood issues.

26 Tools: Ex. Letter to Property Owners Date Property Owner Address Dear neighbor, Sidewalks are an important asset for our neighborhood especially for children, seniors, and people with disabilities. In order to make our neighborhood a better place for residents, (Neighborhood Association, CDC, etc.) has been identifying hazardous sidewalk conditions and reaching out to property owners about their roles in making our neighborhood a safe place for people to walk. Did you know that maintaining sidewalks is generally the responsibility of private property owners, as stated by Memphis City Ordinance? While the city may address things like curbs, ramps, drains, and issues caused by utility poles, keeping the sidewalk itself in good repair is the responsibility of the home or business owner. The city does offer assistance to certain homeowners, based on their age, ability, and income. We would sincerely appreciate your assistance with this matter. Should you have questions regarding the City s specifications for sidewalk repair, please call the city s 311 help line or visit Respectfully, Your neighbor

27 Tools: Sidewalk Repair Assistance For owner-occupied residential properties whose owner has been notified of their responsibility to make repairs to damaged sidewalks in accordance with Memphis City Code of Ordinances, Sec , 100% financial assistance is available for those who meet certain criteria: 100% disabled & household income is $25,000 or less Aged 65+ & household income is $25,000 or less Meets poverty threshold based on household size & income

28 Tools: Additional Resources City of Memphis Sidewalk Resources: Pedestrian & School Safety Action Plan: -and-publications/publications/ Livable Memphis Walkability Toolkit: List of bonded sidewalk repair contractors

29 Memphis Walkability Toolkit Thanks for your interest in making your city and neighborhood a better place for people to walk. For questions about using the Toolkit, please contact us at or at info@livablememphis.org. Be sure to find us online at and Livable Memphis is a program of the Community Development Council of Greater Memphis.