Northwest Metroport Chamber Mayors’ Roundtable

Natalie Bettger

Deborah Humphreys

August 6, 2010

Designing Livable Communities

About NCTCOG

The North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) serves a

16-county region of North Central Texas, which is centered

around the two urban centers of Dallas and Fort Worth.

The Transportation Department, one of eight NCTCOG

departments, supports the Regional Transportation Council (RTC).

The two form the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO),

which guides transportation policy for the twelve-county

Metropolitan Planning Area (MPA).

The MPO serves the region by developing transportation plans

and programs that address the complex needs of the rapidly

growing Dallas-Fort Worth area.

About NCTCOG

NCTCOG has over 230 member governments including 16

counties, numerous cities, school districts, and special

districts

Recently expanded MPA from 9 to 12 counties

Geographically the 2nd largest MPA in the nation

Larger than 34 states in population with 6.6 million

residents

Larger than 9 states in land area

NCTCOG16 County Region

NCTCOG Metropolitan Planning Area

Boundary

Overview

How do you measure a livable city? What are the

indicators?

What does design have to do with it?

What can Cities do to create more competitive and

livable communities?

Human Health Indicators

Health–Obesity, diabetes, heart disease, mental

health

Social–Crime, education, isolation

Environmental–Air quality, water quality, brown

fields

1999

Obesity Trends* Among U.S. AdultsBRFSS, 1990, 1999, 2008

(*BMI 30, or about 30 lbs. overweight for 5’4” person)

2008

1990

No Data <10% 10%–14% 15%–19% 20%–24% 25%–29% ≥30%

Source: CDC Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System

Sustainability – Assigning Value to

the Future Energy

consumption

Renewable

resources

Land-efficient

development

patterns

Cultural Identity- Values, Culture

and Tradition

Natural setting

Historical and cultural preservation

Events and traditions

What does design have to do with it?

Postwar urban planning- systems and efficiency driven

What does design have to do with it?

Infrastructure to support sprawl

What does design have to do with it?

Regulations that control sprawl

What does design have to do with it?

Results do

NOT vary…

The Ten Principles of Smart Growth Mix land uses.

Take advantage of compact design.

Create a range of housing opportunities and choices.

Create walkable communities.

Foster distinctive, attractive communities with a strong

sense of place.

Preserve open space, farmland, natural beauty, and critical

environmental areas.

Strengthen and direct development toward existing

communities.

Provide a variety of transportation options.

Make development decisions predictable, fair, and cost-effective.

Encourage community and stakeholder collaboration in

development decisions.Source: http://www.smartgrowth.org

Make Existing Places Thrive

Strategy Tools & Policies

Invest public and private funds in

existing places

•Fix-it-first

•Historic Preservation and the Main Street Approach

•Parks and natural resource areas as destinations

•Streets and streetscape improvements

•Targeted new development

Encourage private sector investment

•Infill development incentives

•Overcoming barriers to infill

•Redevelopment readiness certification

•Split-rate tax

Build on past community investments •Adaptive reuse

•School rehabilitation

Foster economic development in

existing downtowns

•Local business survey

•Business recognition program

Source: Putting Smart Growth to Work in Rural Communities

Make Existing Places Thrive

Historic Main Street

Parks as a destination

Make Existing Places Thrive

Streets and streetscape improvements

School rehabilitation

Create Great New PlacesStrategy Tools & Policies

Update strategic and policy documents

to accommodate new growth through

compact and contiguous development

•Visioning

•Places worth preserving

•Designated growth areas

•Infrastructure grid and transportation options

•Distinctive local character

Reform policies to make it easy for

developers to build compact, walkable,

mixed-use places

•Policy alignment

•Walkability

•Parks and open space

•Traditional neighborhood development

•Form-Based Codes

•Context-sensitive design

•Green street design

•Low-impact development

Recognize and reward developers

that build great places using smart

growth and green building approaches

•Smart growth recognition programs

•Green building

Source: Putting Smart Growth to Work in Rural Communities

Design is an Integrative Activity

Parks and

Open Space

Community

driven sense

of place

Multi-modal

transportation

options

Restoration,

multi-use

developments,

density

Design is an Integrative Activity

Making places – space, activity and path

Sensory-driven planning

Adaptable to the place – culturally relevant

Process for Creating Healthy

Communities

The Planning Process – vision, policies,

regulations and implementation

The Political Process – high level support

pushes favorable regulatory bills

Planning

Plans

Regulations

Zoning/Guidance

Vision Implementation

The Planning Process

The Political Process

The Political Process

Providing Choice

Capturing Community Values – it is a qualitative question

Alternative mode split – transit, bicycling, walking

Providing Choice – Community Values

Providing Choice – Great

Neighborhoods

Putting it all together Pedestrian orientation

Neighborhood friendly streets and paths

Transportation

networks and

interconnected streets

Parks and open space

Mixed uses

Neighborhood centers

Buildings and spaces

of human scale

Relegated parking

Affordability with dignity

Redevelopment

Site planning that respects terrain

Next Steps

1. Conduct an assessment of current

conditions.

2. Engage in a collaborative visioning

process to help the community

determine what it wants to be

like in the future.

3. Develop and implement policies

that will enable the community to

achieve its vision.

What is NCTCOG doing to make North

Central Texas more livable?

NCTCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian

ProgramDeveloped to address the various activities related to implementing bicycle and pedestrian facilities as an alternative mode of regional transportation. Tasks include:

Providing technical assistance to local governments and communities

Coordinating regional planning events

Promoting multi-modal planning at the local level

Assisting with the prioritization of federal and local funds allocated for facilities

Creating safety programs and outreach materials

Mapping existing and planned multi-use trails and on-street bicycle routes

Sponsoring workshops and conferences

Collecting and compiling facility user numbers

Calculating the air quality benefits accrued after constructing facilities in the region

The Regional Veloweb

Concrete surface

Design speed of 25 miles per hour

Recommended width of 12 feet to accommodate a variety of users

Grade separated crossings

Few, if any, signalized or stop sign intersections

Easy access from roadways, particularly on-street bicycle routes

Easy access to common trip destinations

A 644-mile interconnected network of off-street trails designed to provide

safe efficient mobility to pedestrians and cyclists.

Design Considerations:

The Regional Veloweb Map

The Regional Veloweb The existing Regional Veloweb map was developed in 1997.

Currently updating the Regional Veloweb to include in the Mobility 2035: The

Metropolitan Transportation Plan.

The Regional Veloweb was designed to create regional connections and

increase bicycle and pedestrian transportation mobility and accessibly.

Recommended routes and trails included in the Regional Veloweb are

considered high priority projects and are often used as part of the evaluation

process when funding becomes available for various Regional Transportation

Council (RTC) programs.

Regional Veloweb in the Communities of the

Northwest Metroport: Existing Conditions* City of Justin Currently no planned City Trails or Regional Veloweb alignment.

City of Haslet

Planned Regional Veloweb alignment runs along Henrietta Creek.

City of Roanoke No City trail plan, but Planned Regional Veloweb alignment runs along

Henrietta Creek.

Town of Northlake Planned Regional Veloweb alignment runs along Henrietta Creek.

Towns of Trophy Club City trail plan with existing trails, but currently no planned Regional Veloweb

alignment or planned connections to the Regional Veloweb.

Towns of Westlake City trail plan with existing trails, but currently no planned Regional Veloweb

alignment or planned connections to the Regional Veloweb.

*According to NCTCOG data and acquired City plans.

Regional Veloweb in the Communities of the Northwest

Metroport: Possible Future Connections Map - DRAFT

Regional Veloweb in the Communities of the

Northwest Metroport: Possible Future Connections

City of Haslet

Existing Planned Regional Veloweb route.

City of Justin

Proposed connection to the Town of Northlake beginning at the City

Municipal Complex Park, south on Pafford Ave, east on 1st

St./Downe Rd to the planned Town of Northlake alignment.

City of Roanoke

Two possible connections: 1) alignment following the existing Union

Pacific Railroad along US Hwy 377 with connections in the north to

the Planned Regional Veloweb through Roanoke Park, and in the

south to the Town of Westlake (possible alternative would be to utilize

the Cade Branch Denton Creek alignment); 2) alignment in the north

to the Planned Regional Veloweb, through Roanoke Park and east

along Schooling Rd. to the Town of Trophy Club. *According to NCTCOG data and acquired City plans.

Regional Veloweb in the Communities of the

Northwest Metroport: Possible Future Connections

Town of Northlake

Proposed connection to the Planned Veloweb route following the

Denton Creek alignment.

Town of Trophy Club

Proposed connection going west along Schooling Rd, connecting into

the City of Roanoke and following the proposed connection to the

Planned Regional Veloweb route.

Connection south to the Town of Westlake beginning at existing trail

in The Highlands and south on Trophy Club Dr. / Westlake Pkwy. to

proposed alignment in the Town of Westlake.

Town of Westlake

Proposed connection to the City of Roanoke following the alignment

of Marshall Branch Denton Creek east to existing City trail.*According to NCTCOG data and acquired City plans.

Policy Actions for the Regional Veloweb Local governments should: include the Regional Veloweb and connections to the Regional

Veloweb in all transportation planning documents, Preserve right-of-way for future trail expansion and

development, especially in master planned development locations within proximity to the Regional Veloweb,

connect local facilities to the Regional Veloweb, and be responsible to the Regional Veloweb plan and implement

new points of access to add continuity to the Regional Veloweb.

Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation

and the Regional Veloweb

Various options for facilitating accessibility to the Regional Veloweb include the following on-street treatments, in addition to off-street trails:

shared-use lanes,

dedicated bicycle lane,

cycle tracks,

wide outside lanes, and

shoulders.

On-street facilities can be explored by the community for a variety of transportation purposes, including trips to work, to the local store, to the park, etc.

On-street facilities are a great option at a sustainably less cost than the typical multi-use trail.

NCTCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety

and Education Outreach ProgramDeveloped to provide Regional bicycle and pedestrian safety and education outreach

2001 “I Count/Yo Cuento” Campaign

National Bike to Work Day Campaign

Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory

Committee (BPAC)

Create outreach materials which

include: Regional Maps, Brochures,

and Pamphlets

Host training/education events

Participate in and present at various

Regional events

Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory

Committee (BPAC) Assembled to provide technical expertise, public outreach support,

review of regional bicycle and pedestrian planning, and assistance in

the selection of bicycle and pedestrian projects funded by the

Regional Transportation Council and the Executive Board of the

North Central Texas Council of Governments (NCTCOG) on an

as-needed basis.

Member designation through the Surface Transportation Technical

Committee (STTC).

Consists of 51 members including local cities, counties, and

transportation providers.

Quarterly meetings open to community members and interested

parties.

NCTCOG Sustainable

Development Funding ProgramRegional Transportation Council (RTC) Local Funds

RTC has programmed over $80 million towards projects that improve air quality within the Region under the following Programs

Local Air Quality (LAQ) Program

6 bicycle and pedestrian projects selected in the 2005-2006 Call for Projects (CFP)

Sustainable Development Program

• Since 2001, the SD Program has

funded an additional 93 Sustainable

Development Planning and

Infrastructure projects

Regional Toll Revenue (RTR) Funds

Additional Sources of Funding Transportation Enhancement (TE) Program

TE offers funding opportunities to help expand transportation choices and

enhance the transportation experience through 12 categories of non-traditional

activities related to the surface transportation system, including:

pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure and safety programs,

landscaping and scenic beautification, and

preservation of abandoned railway corridors, including conversion and use

for pedestrian and bicycle trails.

The Enhancement Program has allocated more than $125 million in funds to the DFW region through 2005

The American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) brought $43,480, 971 to the Region for Stimulus Enhancement Projects

Congestion Mitigation and Air Quality Improvement Program (CMAQ)

Projects funded under this program must demonstrate an air quality benefit

Additional Sources of Funding, cont. Surface Transportation Program – Metropolitan Mobility (STP-

MM)

Flexible funding that may be used by states and localities for a variety of projects

Texas Parks and Wildlife (TPWD) Trail Grants

TPWD administers the National Recreational Trails Fund in Texas under the approval of the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA). This federally funded program receives its funding from a portion of federal gas taxes paid on fuel used in non-highway recreational vehicles.

Questions

Natalie Bettger

Senior Program Manager

nbettger@nctcog.org

(817) 695-9280

Deborah Humphreys

Transportation Planner II

dhumphreys@nctcog.org

(817) 608-2394

NCTCOG Bicycle and Pedestrian Homepage:

http://www.nctcog.org/trans/sustdev/bikeped/

Contact Information