Smart Growth Transportation Funding Forum April 9, 2015 Please join the Coalition for Smart Growth, Lancaster General Health, and the Lancaster County Planning Commission in thanking our sponsors...
Opening & Smart Growth Transportation Indicators Beth Koser-Schwartz, MSN RN Healthy Weight Management Coordinator Lancaster General Health
Policy Scan: Healthy & Safe Physical Environments yes no Does the municipal comprehensive plan include: 63% 38% goals for walkability? 47% 53% goals for bikeability? 18% 82% a goal to adopt at least one Complete Streets design element? yes no Has the municipality: 6% 94% conducted a walkability audit? 3% 97% conducted a bikeability audit? 0% 100% adopted a Complete Streets policy? 3% 97% completed a Bicycle Friendly Community application? 3
4
Background Mission Increase the number of adults and children maintaining a healthy weight Program Convened by Lancaster General Health in 2007, Lighten Up involves over 100 community partners from multiple sectors to advance strategies to meet goals Working Groups o School & Community Gardens o Active Transportation o Well Workplace o Awards o Community Event 5
Active Transportation Working Group LiveWELL Lancaster County Lighten Up Lancaster County RRTA Coalition for Smart Growth LCPC Rep. Sturla's Office Lancaster County Conservancy Working Group Lancaster LINK Municipalities Engineers LIMC City Planning & Public Works LCBGH Higher Education Lancaster League of American Bicyclists 6
Partner: Coalition for Smart Growth Sponsors forums related to countywide active transportation movement Engages the community and influences decisionmakers to implement smart growth principles Provides education as it relates to the ten principles of Smart Growth 88
Benefits of Active Transportation Community leaders Government officials Employers & businesses Grantmakers Access to places for physical activity* Improve streetscape design* Mixed-use development Zoning regulations: land use policy Bicycle/pedestrian master plans Increase green spaces/parks* Joint use agreements* Subsidize public transportation* Scientifically Supported Some Evidence * Likely to decrease disparities Work already being conducted 9
Active Transportation Goals Increase the number of Lancaster County residents who live in a community with policies and plans supportive of healthy community design that promotes physical activity. 10
Active Transportation Goals Goals for Municipalities Include Complete Streets policy elements in comprehensive plans Adopt an Official Map that identifies proposed new or improved sidewalks, trails, bicycle lanes or facilities, pedestrian crossings Provide more miles of sidewalks Provide higher miles of average or above average roadways based on the bicycle level-of-service analysis 11
Active Transportation Goals Increase the number of: Residents who commute by alternate modes of transportation Bicyclists counted at Lancaster City bike count locations Bikes on buses by 5% Municipalities holding walk audits Decrease the number of: Bike and pedestrian crashes 12
Active Transportation Goals Indicators Businesses designated as Bike- Friendly Businesses School districts that have completed a Safe Routes to School audit or applied for funding Universities designated as Bike- Friendly Universities Businesses Schools Municipalities 13
Bicycle and Pedestrian Plans This summer, 3 groups will be starting these plans: Lancaster County Planning Commission Lancaster Inter-Municipal Committee (LIMC) Lancaster City 14
Healthy Schools Initiative 4 districts have received Safe Routes to School (SRTS) engineer-led audits: o Ephrata Area o Manheim Central o Manheim Township o Solanco Walk- and bike-to-school days Construction toolkit Coalition for Smart Growth 15
Questions?
Lancaster County Smart Growth Transportation (SGT) Program Harriet Parcells, AICP Lancaster County Planning Commission
Smart Growth Transportation Supports Lancaster County Goals Mobility options (walking, bicycling, transit) Smart growth, mixed-use development Social justice Enhanced energy efficiency, quality of life Better health through active transportation
Brief History of the SGT Program Sept. 2009 Nov. 2009 Nov. 2011 June 2012 Jul. 2013 Nov. 2013 April 2015 Presentation to LCTCC by Jim Shultz (10,000 Friends) Smart Growth Transportation Task Force established First SGT Program applications sent out (were due Jan. 2012) LCTCC approves funding for four SGT projects Second round of SGT, TAP applications (were due Aug. 2013) LCTCC approved funding of 7 SGT projects, 1 TAP Workshop on program successes; round 3 NOI issued
Funding LCTCC has set aside $1 million/year (to rise to $1.5 million/year in FY 2017) of its federal Surface Transportation-Urban funds for SGT projects that qualify. Applications accepted every 2 years (coordinated with the TIP update) $2 million for each funding round (to rise to $3 million in 2017)
Evaluation Criteria Core Criteria Consistent with county comprehensive plan In Designated Growth Area Demonstrates ability to pay local share Viable implementation strategy Weighted Criteria Supports economic development and quality of life Increases mobility options Preserves environmental, historic, & cultural integrity Implements a current transportation plan Encourages public-private partnerships in project funding
Mulberry Street: Two-Way Conversion Sponsor: City of Lancaster Project Costs LCTCC $ 675,000 Municipal $ 75,000 Change Mulberry Street to a 2-way street from W. James to W. Vine as part of city traffic calming plan. Benefits reduced speeds, pedestrian safety, improved access
Bicycle sharrow to indicate that bikes share the road with cars
Possible Scenario Parallel parking on both sides, curb extensions, trees
Elizabethtown Bicycle & Pedestrian Path (Phase 3) Sponsor Elizabethtown Borough Project Costs for Phase 3 LCTCC $ 329,743 Borough $ 630,872 Earlier phases completed and funded from other sources.
Northwest River Trail Signage Lead Sponsor East Donegal Township Project Costs LCTCC $ 59,000 Municipal $ 6,000 Purchase and install informational signs to direct trail users to trail access points, nearby towns, and facilities and services along the corridor.
SGT Projects: FY 2013-14 Project Municipality LCTCC Funds Total Cost (incl. LCTCC $) Ped. & Bicycle Pathway Extension Elizabethtown $ 329,743 $ 960,615 PA 772 Ped. Safety Improvements Mount Joy Borough 400,000 1,703,500 Mulberry Street Two- Way Conversion NW Lancaster Co. River Trail Signage Lancaster City 675,000 750,000 East Donegal 59,000 65,000 FY 2013-14 Total $ 1,463,743 $ 3,479,115
SGT Projects: FY 2015-16 Project Muni. LCTCC Funds Total Cost (incl. LCTCC $) Comprehensive Bike Plan Lanc. City $ 48,000 $ 60,000 Non-Motorized Trans. Study LIMC 48,000 60,000 Doe Run Rd. Ped. Improvements Penn Twp. 858,378 1,192,618 Bridgeport Area Trans. Study E. Lampeter 187,200 237,500 PA 741 Multimodal Safety Imp. Stras. Twp. 397,200 500,000 Duke St. Connector/Realignment Millersville 497,200 2,608,856 Downtown NS Rail Relocation Lititz 500,000 3,000,000 FY 2015-16 Total $ 2,535,978 $ 7,658,974 TOTAL FOR BOTH CYCLES $3,999,721 $ 11,138,089
Updates to SGT Program for FY 2017-18 Funding Increased to $1.5 million/year ($3 million for 2- year cycle). Project Phasing Applicants asked to consider phasing. Application Elements NEPA Purpose and Need Statement is a new requirement for studies. For link to more information, see FAQ. Sidewalk Ordinance Requirement For applications including sidewalk construction, all involved municipalities must have approved sidewalk ordinance covering Urban/Village Growth Areas. 30
Weighted Scoring Criterion 5 Criterion 4 Encourages public-private funding) Implements a transportation study goal 5 points 10 points 10 points 5 points Bonus Points Scoring changed to prioritize certain types of adopted policies and regulation 4 points Complete Streets policy and regulation 3 points Smart Growth, mixed use or density bonus option in the municipal zoning code 2 points Adopted Official Map (in accordance with MPO) with a transportation element 1 point Access management ordinance 31
Earlier Schedule Begins about a month earlier than in prior years April 9 June 1 July 31 Notice of Intent (NOI) distribution Applications issued Due to LCPC Budget Cost estimates must be prepared and signed by a licensed engineer Contingency Factor 30% should be built into cost estimate to cover potential underestimates 32
Questions?
Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) Lauri Ahlskog, AICP Lancaster County Planning Commission
Background Combined 3 programs: Transportation Enhancements (TE) Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Recreational Trails Purpose of Federal TAP Funds community-based "non-traditional" projects that strengthen cultural, aesthetic, and environmental aspects of the nation's intermodal transportation system SRTS funds projects and activities that support and encourage students to walk and bicycle to school
Criteria for Applicants Who can apply? Local governments Regional transportation authorities Transit agencies Natural resource or public land agencies School districts, local education agencies, or schools Tribal governments Any other local or regional governmental entity with responsibility for oversight of transportation trails that state determines to be eligible Not eligible Nonprofits (but they can partner)
Eligible Projects Same as previous Transportation Enhancements and Safe Routes to School, but: o Only 10 categories o No studies Must relate to surface transportation
Other Considerations Funding is approximately $808,000 Applicant pays all pre-construction Transportation Alternatives Program funds 100% of construction, including construction inspection and contingency Federal process applies to all phases
Evaluation Criteria 1 Alternative means of transportation 2 Comprehensive plan consistency 3 Regional or local impact / benefit 4 Make connections to live, work, play, shop, school 5 Project financing
Questions?
Complete Streets Activities June 2014-March 2015 Harriet Parcells, AICP Lancaster County Planning Commission
Progress on Complete Streets: 2014 Resolutions and Policies LCTCC LCPC City of Lancaster Elizabethtown Borough Lancaster Township June July May Aug. Sept. Workshops Introduction to Complete Streets Implementing Complete Streets June 5 public workshop June 6 municipal workshop Sept. 16 Millersville Borough Sept. 17 Mount Joy Borough
Lancaster County Complete Streets Webpage www.lancastercountyplanning.org
Other Activities Work with Municipalities Approving Complete Streets resolutions and policies Incorporating Complete Streets language into municipal SALDOs, zoning ordinances places 2040: Lancaster County Integrated Comprehensive Plan Incorporating Complete Streets concepts into the plan update
Questions?
Walkability Audits Benjamin S. Craddock, PE, President Lancaster Civil Engineering Co.
Completed Audits Lancaster City Village of Intercourse (Leacock Township) Manheim Township East Lampeter Township West Lampeter Township Pequea Elementary School Penn Township Elizabethtown Borough West Hempfield Township Marietta Borough 50
Benefits Awareness Support Community 51
Questions?