EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA WALKABLE COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE TWO FEET AND TWO WHEELS CAN TRAVEL: CREATING WALK AND BIKE FRIENDLY COMMUNITIES PRESENTED BY RICH MORRISON ACCOMACK COUNTY PLANNING DIRECTOR
EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA WALKABLE COMMUNITIES INITIATIVE The Eastern Shore of Virginia Walkable Communities Initiative is being led by: Mission Statement: Creating a better Eastern Shore Vision: We imagine a healthier Eastern Shore merging from livable communities where children and adults have healthy eating choices at home, school, and work
THE EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA Two counties Accomack County Northampton County Incorporated towns Accomack County: 14 Northampton County: 6 Unincorporated towns Accomack County: 32 +/- Northampton County: 2 +/-
INITIAL EFFORTS FOCUSED ON FOUR INCORPORATED TOWNS Cape Charles Exmore Onancock-Onley Chincoteague
EASTERN SHORE OF VIRGINIA WALKABLE COMMUNITIES FUNDING The Eastern Shore Healthy Communities Coalition obtained a grant from the Virginia Department of Health to promote active living on the Eastern Shore of Virginia. The Walkable Institute (WALC) was hired to help with this effort. The four towns shown in the previous slide were selected as initial focus areas. The town names are as follows: Cape Charles, Exmore, Onancock-Onley, and Chincoteague. Between July 28 and August 1, 2012, each of these towns were visited by the WALC team. Stakeholders, the public, and anyone with an interest were invited to participate.
CAPE CHARLES FIELD WORK ADA Compliance Striping Accessory Dwelling Units Signage and Way Finding Mini Circles Sidewalk Width
EXMORE FIELD WORK Street Trees Turning Radii Building Setbacks Crossings Pocket Park Surface Lot
ONANCOCK/ONLEY FIELD WORK Intersection Treatment Creating an Edge Road Diet Terminating Vista Connectivity Through a Paseo Liner Buildings
CHINCOTEAGUE FIELD WORK Right Sized Travel Lanes Turning Radii Intersection Treatment Bike Lanes Mini Circles Roundabouts
CAPE CHARLES WALKING SUMMARY
CAPE CHARLES RECOMMENDATIONS ADA COMPLIANCE STRIPING SIGNAGE/WAY FINDING ACCESSORY DWELLING UNITS [right/below] The alleys overlooking the park are an ideal location for accessory dwelling units
CAPE CHARLES RECOMMENDATIONS MINI CIRCLES [right] SIDEWALK WIDTH [pictures below]
PHOTOVISION FOR CAPE CHARLES
EXMORE WALKING SUMMARY
EXMORE RECOMMENDATIONS STREET TREES: Exmore s main commercial district needs greening because people like shopping under the shade and shelter of a tree canopy. TURNING RADII: [right]
EXMORE RECOMMENDATIONS BUILDING SETBACKS: Buildings should watch over the street and make visitors feel comfortable. Exmore should not allow setback buildings in the heart of downtown. [right] CROSSINGS: Different materials can be used to make crossings more visible day and night.
EXMORE RECOMMENDATIONS POCKET PARK [left-top] Given Exmore s growing reputation as a center for artisans, pocket parks are increasingly important. SURFACE LOT [left-bottom]
PHOTOVISION FOR EXMORE
ONANCOCK/ONLEY WALKING SUMMARY
ONANCOCK/ONLEY RECOMMENDATIONS INTERSECTION TREATMENT: A double lane roundabout at the U.S. Route 13 and 179 intersection would address many community concerns about encouraging active transportation between On-ley and Onancock. CREATING AN EDGE [right] LINER BUILDINGS
ONANCOCK/ONLEY RECOMMENDATIONS ROAD DIET: Route 179 is overbuilt and a road diet could reallocate space for sidewalks and bike lanes. TERMINATING VISTA CONNECTIVITY THROUGH A PASEO [right]
PHOTOVISION FOR ONANCOCK/ONLEY
CHINCOTEAGUE WALKING SUMMARY
CHINCOTEAGUE RECOMMENDATIONS RIGHT SIZED TRAVEL LANES: Encourage 20-30 mph speeds in by restriping its lanes because the current wide lanes encourage higher speed than what is posted. TURNING RADII: Many intersections on Chincoteague encourage high speed turning movements because motorist can turn in and out without slowing down. INTERSECTION TREAMENT: Given the diverse modes on Chincoteague, new intersection tools should be considered such as mini-roundabout.
CHINCOTEAGUE RECOMMENDATIONS BIKE LANES: Bolder edge striping and markings for bike lanes are needed on Chincoteague to ensure that motorist recognize that they are to share the road and so bicyclists understand how to navigate as road sections change. MINI CIRCLES ROUNDABOUTS: A sense of arrival is needed on Chincoteague and a mini roundabout could accomplish this.
PHOTOVISION FOR CHINCOTEAGUE
OVERALL OBSTACLES TO ACTIVE LIVING Streets have a high design speed which encourages speeding and discourages active transportation. Intersections are designed for the through-movement of vehicles and do not provide support for pedestrians or bicyclists. Streets are fat and because they are so over-built, they are riskier and less enjoyable for pedestrians and bicyclists. Complete streets are almost wholly missing from the Eastern Shore. U.S. Route 13 does not support livability. Destination branding is absent, making it challenging for visitors to know the many amenities of the Eastern Shore.
NEXT STEPS Implementation of recommendations Continued dialogue about benefits of walkable/bike-able communities Expand initiatives beyond four initial focus areas -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Any questions?
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE VISIT: http://www.eshealthycommunities.org/ Contact Information: Patti Kiger, Eastern Shore Healthy Communities P.O. Box 1980 Norfolk, VA 23501 kigerpg@evms.edu