City of Waterloo Complete Streets Policy Chris Hodgson P. Eng City of Waterloo Complete Streets Forum 2011 April 28-29 Toronto
Waterloo context: Current population Major employers Universities and student population Future growth
City of Waterloo Transportation Master Plan Policy Framework for a City Accessible to All Federal Policies Transportation : A Clean Transportation System Public Health : Healthy Living Environment : A Sustainable Future Provincial Policies Planning: Places to Grow Better Choices, Brighter Future Public Health: Healthy Eating and Active Living Transportation: Integrated, Enhance Quality of Life Region of Waterloo Vision: An inclusive, thriving and sustainable community committed to maintaining harmony between rural and urban areas and fostering opportunities for current and future generations. City of Waterloo Strategic Plan: Our Living Environment; Healthy and Safe Community; Economic Vitality
Key pillars to complete streets: Planning Design Maintenance Operations Communications Asset Management Implementation
Planning and Design: Planning 484km of sidewalks today 160km of bikeways and trails today Development approval process Design Designed and implemented first bicycle lay-bys in 2010 First bike box this year Looking at cycle track and raised bicycle lane options
Maintenance and Operations: Pedestrian and cyclist needs at construction zones
Maintenance and Operations: Maintenance of streets for cyclists
Maintenance and Operations: Maintenance of streets for pedestrians and cyclists
Maintenance and Operations: Maintenance of sidewalks for pedestrians
Maintenance and Operations: Winter maintenance
Maintenance and Operations: Snow and ice removal from the pedestrian and cycling realm
Maintenance and Operations: Snow and ice removal from the pedestrian and cycling realm
Maintenance and Operations: Snow and ice removal from transit stops
Maintenance and Operations: Winter maintenance of primary trails
Communications: Communicating complete streets to community Determine role and responsibility of advisory committee Collaborate with municipal partners
Asset Management: Supporting parking policies and programs
Asset Management: End of trip facilities
Asset Management: Audit the pedestrian/cycling realm Annual review of the active transportation network Establish performance standards Data collection procedures and analysis
Implementation: Restructure Rewrite Retrain Create a working group
City of Waterloo Transportation Master Plan Proposed Complete Streets Policy A Complete Streets Policy is intended to be applied comprehensively but with flexibility to reflect local context. The Complete Streets policy should: Incorporate the principle of Complete Streets into all transportation projects except where cyclists and pedestrians are prohibited by law, or there is a demonstrated absence of need. Safe crossings of facilities that prohibit use by pedestrians and cyclists are still required. All exceptions must be justified and approved at a senior staff level. Integrate Complete Streets with a complementary Linked Greenways or Trail Corridors policy that supports active transportation in a variety of non-street corridors such as parkland, natural areas, woodlands, river and creek corridors, stormwater management facilities, utility corridors, transit and rail corridors, etc. Planning of streets and street networks City-wide, in secondary plans and plans of subdivision Design of street networks, corridors, intersections, site-specific improvements and traffic calming Design of new construction, reconstruction, retrofit and resurfacing roadway projects Construction within or adjacent street rights-of-way including maintaining pedestrian and cyclist access and mobility through construction zones and in traffic management plans Operation of streets and intersections, including signage, pavement markings, traffic control and illumination Maintenance of streets and alternatives for pedestrians and cyclists, i.e. trails, including seasonal and repair work. Seasonal includes maintaining the surface free of disabling debris, water, snow, and ice. Repair includes attention to spot repairs, hazards and overall wear or deterioration Public consultation and communications Advisory committee responsibilities and function Review of roadways within the City under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Transportation, Ontario (MTO), or the Regional Municipality of Waterloo (RMOW) Collaboration with the RMOW on travel demand management (TDM) initiatives Audits of streets and alternatives for pedestrians and cyclists, i.e. trails Annual reviews of the development and implementation of the sidewalk, trails and bikeway network Establishment of performance standards that reflect the safety, convenience and needs of all users Data collection procedures and analysis that benchmark and track how well streets are serving all users Implementation Restructure City procedures associated with the above responsibilities, where required, including budgetary and funding models Rewrite any City standards and guidelines, and refer to design standards, guidelines and practices that encompass all users, drawing on the latest demonstrated, beneficial initiatives Retrain staff including planners, architects, landscape architects and engineers to understand and incorporate the needs of all users in their daily work Create a working group of staff lead by a senior staff member to oversee the implementation, restructuring and retraining Proposed Complementary Policies Proposed short-term policy development required to address specific pedestrian and cyclists issues: Bicycle and pedestrian-friendly sites End-of-trip facilities (bicycle parking by-law and showers / change facilities) Trail maintenance in winter Sidewalk winter maintenance Active and safes route to school collaboration Hazard reporting for all users Advisory committee (technical committee or subcommittee to TTAC) RMOW and adjacent municipalities trail, bike and walking portal collaboration Sidewalk retrofit prioritization program Collaborate with RMOW and adjacent municipalities on route continuity, design and signage strategy for bikeways and trails Walking, cycling and trail audit program to identify and program upgrades so that the active transportation infrastructure is fully integrated and maintained Collaborate with the RMOW and adjacent municipalities on implementing Transportation Demand Management policies and programs Intersection control policy considering the needs of all street users to travel through / across intersections Supportive parking policies and practices
Taking the opportunity: Davenport Road Multi-Use Corridor Improvement
A complete streets vision
A complete streets reality
A complete streets reality
A complete streets reality
A complete streets reality
A complete streets reality New bike lay-by Future bike box
THANK YOU Chris Hodgson P. Eng Project Manager, City of Waterloo Christopher.Hodgson@waterloo.ca