Section 5: Bike and Pedestrian Existing Conditions: One defining feature of Glynn County appreciated by both residents and visitors is the extensive sidewalk and bike path system. The City of Brunswick, St. Simons Island, and Jekyll Island have many miles of sidewalks and bike paths. The flat terrain and the temperate year-round weather make recreational activities such as walking, cycling, skateboarding, and in-line skating popular. Figure 5-1 illustrates the extensive bike and pedestrian system that exist within Glynn County. Figures 5-2 and 5-3 show the Coastal Route (State Bike Route 95) and the Southern Crossing Route (State Bike Route 10) that serves Glynn County. The Coastal Route follows U.S. 17 through the county, connecting Brunswick with Effingham and Camden Counties. The route runs through 25.8 miles of Glynn County and features the Hofwyl- Broadfield Plantation. The Southern Crossing Route traverses through 24.9 miles of Glynn County entering from Brantley County on U.S. 82 and connects with the Coastal Route on U.S. 17. The Southern Crossing Route features Jekyll Island, where the route terminates. It begins in the southwest corner of the state and passes through Bainbridge, Thomasville, Valdosta, Waycross, and ends in Glynn County. Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Study Brunswick Area Transportation Study, or BATS, hired the consulting firm Post, Buckley, Schuh & Jernigan, Inc., or PBS&J, to conduct a local assessment of bicycle and pedestrian needs within the county. The firm issued its final report entitled Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Study. General Recommendations in the plan included: Bicyclists and pedestrians should have a safe and convenient way to travel throughout the county, whether for recreation, fitness, commuting, running errands, etc. Motorists, bicyclists, and pedestrians need to be better educated in the laws and ordinances which govern their movements and the interaction between modes. Bicyclists and pedestrians, in general, should be separated wherever possible. American Association of State and Highway and Transportation Officials, and Georgia Department of Transportation design standards for bicycle facilities should be followed, unless extenuating circumstances render these standards impractical or impossible. Construction of new pedestrian facilities and reconstruction of existing facilities should meet American Disabilities Act, or ADA, requirements at all times or Long Range Transportation Plan 2010-2035 5-1
alternate solutions should be implemented in unusual situations if design standards prove impossible to maintain. Bicycling and walking should be encouraged as alternative modes of transportation which have significant health benefits and are environmentally friendly. To encourage use of these alternative modes, auxiliary facilities should be provided where feasible, such as bicycle storage areas at major destinations, water fountains, and comfort stations along major routes and shower/changing facilities at places of work. Long Range Transportation Plan 2010-2035 5-2
Figure 5-1 Long Range Transportation Plan 2010-2035 5-3
Figure 5-2 Long Range Transportation Plan 2010-2035 5-4
Figure 5-3 Long Range Transportation Plan 2010-2035 5-5
Recommended improvements and new facilities are depicted on the figures on the following pages. Projects will be completed based on the importance of the link established in the overall network, the elimination or reduction of one or more safety hazards, cost, intangible benefits to the community, and the practical time frame for implementation based on related planned or programmed projects. Construction costs for sidewalks and bicycle paths are estimated to be $ per linear foot or $ per square foot in dollars. Sources of funding that were identified in the PBS&J study included Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act Enhancement Program funding, the incorporation of bicycle and pedestrian facilities into the overall design for larger scale roadway projects, and ordinance(s) requiring developers to install facilities, special assessments on abutting property owners, public and private fundraisers, and volunteer efforts by civic organizations and advocacy groups. East Coast Greenway: The Coastal Georgia Land Trust developed a plan for a 450-mile regional trail system which would link the Coastal Georgia region to Florida and South Carolina. The 450- mile section through Georgia is called the East Coast Greenway, Georgia s portion of the trail is called the Coastal Georgia Greenway, and Glynn County s portion is the Golden Marshes Trail. The network will link towns, attractions, recreational sites, historic and cultural sites, waterways, and natural habitats of the coast. A series of trails suitable for bicycles, joggers, equestrians, canoeists, kayakers, and other non-motorized users will be built. The centerpiece of the Coastal Georgia Greenway is a continuous trail connecting South Carolina to Florida. The route will follow various north-south routes, including the U.S. Highway 17 corridor, abandoned rail corridors, and historic canal corridors. Figure 5-4 shows the recommendations for the Glynn County portion of the system include greenways, on-road bicycle facilities, bicycle and pedestrian facilities, equestrian trails and ferries. Long Range Transportation Plan 2010-2035 5-6
Figure 5-4: East Coast Greenway Source: http://www.eastcoastgreenway.org The plan suggested that the following locations be considered for Glynn County as part of a regional recreation trail network: Long Range Transportation Plan 2010-2035 5-7
Altamaha Boulevard Greenway Trail (Harry Driggers Blvd.) linking Spur 25 to U.S 17 (5.75 miles of 7-foot wide paved multi-purpose trail)- North Glynn County Park is designated trail head (Phase 1: 3.4 miles is complete; 2.35 miles remaining) U.S. 17 from the McIntosh County Line to the Camden County Line Jekyll Island Causeway Water route from Jekyll Island to St. Simons Island (already provided by private water taxi service) Brunswick-Altamaha Canal Old Jesup Highway U.S. 341 from Old Jesup Highway to Downtown Brunswick, then deviating from U.S. 341 to Coffin Park and U.S. 17 GA 99 from U.S. 17 to U.S. 82 Atlanta Gas Light easement U.S. 17 to Perry Lane Road Old Highway 25 from Everett to Sterling CSX Rail corridor from McIntosh County Line to Camden County Line U.S. 82 from GA 99 to the CSX Rail Corridor Georgia Coast Rail-Trails: The Georgia Coast Rails to Trails project will transform the rail corridor between Riceboro and Kingsland into hiking and biking trails that winds through marshes and forests, and across rivers and creeks. The trail would offer coastal residents and visitors a healthy outdoor adventure, access to an unspoiled ecological system, and exceptional educational opportunities. Figure 5-5 shows the section that would spread through Glynn County. Glynn County s contribution would be 21.8 miles long. The section starts at the Camden County and Glynn County line and runs to the south bank of the Altamaha River. This section has been divided into four segments: Camden County/ Glynn County Line to US 82 This is approximately 4.4 miles long and varies in width. There is one 50-foot long concrete bridge. Long Range Transportation Plan 2010-2035 5-8
U.S. 82 to GA 32- this segment is approximately 5.5 miles long and 25 wide. There are two bridges in this section. GA 32 to U.S. 341- This segment is approximately 7.7 miles long and varies in width. There are eight bridges in this section of the route. US 341 to Altamaha River park- This segment is approximately 3.5 miles long and varies in width. There are four bridges in the section of the rail corridor. Construction of the proposed route would cost approximately $22,747,725 just for the four sections in Glynn County. Long Range Transportation Plan 2010-2035 5-9
Figure 5-5: Rails-to-Trails Glynn County Long Range Transportation Plan 2010-2035 5-10
Future Direction There are several bicycle and pedestrian planning efforts underway in the BATS area. The connectivity between the proposed improvements in order to create a safe and efficient multimodal network must be monitored as the various improvements are selected for funding and are implemented. The bicycle and pedestrian network must provide connectivity not only within itself, but to other modes of transportation such as the transit network and to appropriate activity centers and neighborhoods. Figure 5-6 shows potential expansion and connectivity of facilities. BATS staff will work with Glynn County and the City of Brunswick to develop ordinances requiring the construction of sidewalks near activity center development such as schools, subdivisions, retail centers, medical centers, and intermodal facilities. Maintenance of the existing and new bicycle and pedestrian facilities is critical to the development of a safe, useable transportation network. The incorporation of ADA standards in the construction of these facilities is imperative to ensure the accessibility by all persons desiring to use the system. The implementation of bicycle or sidewalk facilities should be incorporated into larger roadway projects when possible to reduce the mobility costs associated with the construction of such facilities. All buses serving the BATS area should be equipped to carry bicycles to ensure multimodal connectivity. Finally, amenities such as bicycle racks, drinking fountains, and benches should be included at activity centers to promote bicycle and pedestrian friendliness in the BATS area. Long Range Transportation Plan 2010-2035 5-11
Figure 5-6 Long Range Transportation Plan 2010-2035 5-12