Sussex County, NJ Complete Streets November 14th Presentation

8/13/2019 Sussex County, NJ Complete Streets November 14th Presentation

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Steering Committee Meeting #3November 14, 2013 10 a.m.


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Introductions


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Study Overview


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Study Team


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The Steering Committee serves as the technical advisorybody that informs, provides guidance and collaborates withthe Study Team as it moves through the planning process.

Three (3) Steering Committee Meetings, each occurring prior to the firstthree Public Meetings.

Meeting 1 (June): Kick-off presented the project scope andapproach, finalized the public outreach component, and gainedadditional insight regarding the need for and desired outcomes ofthe Study.

Meeting 2 (September): Discussed the summary findings of thepreliminary analysis (including stakeholder interviews, field visits,SWOT analysis, Alternative Strategies, etc.), as well as reviewedand finalized the approach for subsequent public meetings.

Meeting 3 (Today):The Team and Steering Committee will discussdraft recommendations and an implementation strategy prior to apublic presentation.

Steering Committee


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Purpose of the Study

Identify Complete Streets approaches forSussex Countys roadways and trail crossingsin order to better accommodate the travelneeds of motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists,

transit riders, seniors, children, andindividuals with disabilities.

Study Overview


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Study Overview

Work Program Schedule


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Public Outreach


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Outreach Activities

Steering Committee Meeting 2

September 12, 2013

Community Open House September 30, 2013, 2013

Virtual Meeting

October 4 31, 2013


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Community Outreach

Requested Feedback Complete Streets Priorities

Walking & Biking in Sussex County

Pilot Projects

Sussex County Street Typologies

Complete Street Audit

Main Themes of Community Feedback: Walking and biking are desirable activities in Sussex County, but pedestrian and

bicyclist safety is a concern.

The safety of children, elderly and handicapped are of particular concern in

prioritizing Complete Streets improvements. Education and enforcement of pedestrian, bicycle and equestrian safety laws is

imperative.

Reducing traffic congestion should go hand in hand with pedestrian and bicyclesafety improvements.

Proactive implementation of Complete Streets will enhance economic

development in Sussex County, particularly ecotourism.


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Vision, Goals andObjectives


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The Visio n fo r the Susse x Co un ty C om p le te Stre e ts

Stud y is to p rom o te sa fe ty , p ub lic he a lth a nd

ec o nom ic d eve lo p m en t th ro ug h st ra teg ies, p o lic ies

a nd g o a ls tha t c o nsid er the t ra ve l nee d s o f p o ten t ia l

use rs inc lud ing m o to rists, p e d e stria ns, b ic yc lists,

tra nsit rid e rs, se nio rs, c hild re n a nd ind ivid ua ls w ith

d isa b ilit ie s a like thro ug h t he p ro visio n o f e nha nc e d

tra nsp o rta t io n o p t io ns, w hile p re se rv ing the uniq ue

rura l c ha ra c te ristic s o f Susse x C o un ty .

Vision


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Ensure that the safety and convenience of all users of thetransportation system are considered, including motorists,pedestrians, bicyclists, users of mass transit, people withdisabilities, the elderly, freight providers, emergencyresponders, and adjacent land users.

Increase Sussex Countys attractiveness as a destinationfor recreation opportunities.

Goals

Source: NJ Monthly, Paulinskill Trail


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Use complete streets strategies to create healthier, moreactive communities.

Boosteconomic development of town centers, villagesand neighborhoods in Sussex County.

Ensure that the complete streets design solutions fit withinthe context(s) and character of the community.

Promote the use of complete street principles, as well asthe latest in best practices and design standards, as part

of all surface transportation network new construction,reconstruction, and maintenance projects.

Implement complete streets improvements that are cost-effective in both the short and long term.

Goals, continued


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Existing Conditions


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Lack of safe crossings and long crossingdistances.

Missing sidewalks.

Deteriorated condition of sidewalks.

No marked bicycle infrastructure.

High speed traffic.

Multiple driveways. Physical barriers to complete streets.

Challenges to Complete Streets


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Schools

Shopping centers

Town and village centers Medium- / high-density neighborhoods

Bus stops

Recreation facilities

Capitalize on Opportunitiesand Multimodal Trip Generators


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Transect-BasedImplementation Plan


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Applying the Typologies:

1. Project Identification

2. Collection of Baseline Data3. Preliminary Stakeholder Engagement and

Field Audit

4. Should this be a Complete Street Design?

5. Apply Types and Overlays

Transect-based Implementation Plan


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Applying the Typologies:

6. Final Stakeholder Engagement

7. Internal Agency Review

8. Final Project Checklist

9. Construction

10. Operating and Evaluation

Transect-based Implementation Plan


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A wa lk ing p rior ity M a in Stree t w ith loc a l a nd reg io na l de st ina t ion s. Ma y b e c lo sedto tra f f ic to fa c ilita te fest iva ls, a rt e ve nts, or din ing . If op e n to tra f f ic , the p re va ilingsp ee d sho uld b e low eno ug h for a l l users to m ix c om forta b ly .

Primary User Shared space for walking, bicycling, and driving.Secondary User Bicycling

Other Users VehiclesTarget Speed 15 mphDesign Speed 15 mph

Features may include: Wide sidewalks

Visually interesting textures Benches Placemaking

Low travel speeds

A distinct identity

Custom lighting.

Stakeholder Keywords: Halloween Street, Spring Street (Newton), Broad Street(Branchville)

Overlay: Destination Street


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A w a lka b le c luste r of re sid en t ia l, c omm e rc ia l, an d ind ustria l b uild ing slo c a ted a t a c rossro a d s. M a y a lso d esig na te a m ixed use no d e in a

re sid e nt ial a re a .

Primary User Trucks/VehiclesSecondary User WalkingOther Users BicyclingTarget Speed 25 mphDesign Speed 25 mph

Features may include: Narrowed travel lanes On-street parking Sidewalks, street trees, benches Bicycle parking Building fronting the sidewalk Pedestrian-scale lighting

Overlay: Village/Hamlet


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A tra f f ic c a lm e d zo ne / c o rrid o r for w a lk ing a nd b ic yc ling . Fe a ture s sa fe c ro ssing s

and enhanc ed wa lking a nd b ic y c lin g a c c om m od a t ions.

Primary User Walking and bicycling

Secondary User Vehicles

Other Users NA

Target Speed 20-25 mphDesign Speed 25 or less

Features may include:

Significant speed reductions

Advanced warning signage and pavement markings

Sufficient shoulders

An adjacent trail or sidewalks,

High visibility crosswalk treatment paired with a pedestrian refuge island,HAWK signals,

Enhanced sidewalk/roadway lighting

In-pavement lighting.

Overlay: School Zone/Trail Crossing/TrailConnector


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Overlay: Scenic/Historic Highway

A c o rrid o r w ith histo ric o r na tura l fea ture s tha t ei ther e nha nc e thetra nsp o rta t io n e xp e rie nc e o r d ra w use rs.

Primary User VehiclesSecondary User BicyclingOther Users NA

Target Speed 35-45 mphDesign Speed 45 mph

Features may include: Narrow travel lanes Limited shoulders

Signage for points of interest Vehicle pull offs for points of interest

Stakeholder Keywords: Old Mill Road


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Overlay: Preservation Zone

Lo c a t io ns w he re g e o g ra p hic fea ture s o r a d e sire fo r c o nse rva t io n o fla nd , wild life, o r na tura l re so urc e s w ill nec e ssita te tra d e -o ffs in m o b ility top re se rve the sa fe ty o f a ll use rs.

Primary User Shared space for vehicles, bicycling, and walkingSecondary UserNA

Other Users NATarget Speed Depends on primary street typeDesign Speed Depends on primary street type

Features may include: Lack of center striping Reduced width shoulders Reduced travel speeds for zones where a limited right of way

necessitates sharing of the travel lanes with pedestrians bicyclists,

and other users


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Overlay: Transit Stop

Rura l a nd lo c a l tra nsit sto p s p ro vid e e xp a nd s m ob ility o p t io ns fo r a ll use rsa nd c a n b e a p p lied to fu ture p a ssen g er ra il sta t io ns.

Primary User BusesSecondary UserMay include people arriving by walking, bicycling, and

driving. A priority should be given to pedestrian safety.

Other Users NATarget Speed NADesign Speed NA

Features may include: Secure bicycle parking Ample lighting A shelter equipped with seating Information kiosks with system maps and schedules Vehicle parking and enhanced access for pedestrians and bicyclists.


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Roadway and Intersection Retrofits


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Education andEnforcement


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Common education opportunities forcomplete streets.

Education and Enforcement


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Strategies Prepare a press kit or social media

campaign.

Prepare a fact sheet and includebicycle and pedestrian educationmaterials in mailings.

Host bike or walk to work events.

Utilize students as a valuable

resource to communicate thecomplete streets message. (ie. SafeRoutes to School and educationalevents such as bike rodeos)



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Common Enforcement challengesand responses.



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Strategy: Progressive Enforcement

Phase 1: Education and Awareness. Using television, radio,newspapers, media events, and social media outlets, high riskbehaviors are identified, and proper lawful behavior is explained.

Phase 2: Interactions and Warnings. Law enforcement personnelremind individuals of traffic safety laws, and be provided withliterature on safe behaviors.

Phase 3: High Visibility Enforcement. Targeted enforcementactions should be conducted in cooperation with local media.Having local media onsite provides a multiplier effect, allowingan enforcement action to yield a larger education benefit.



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Draft CompleteStreet Policy


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Purpose

Now, therefore, it is the intent of Sussex County Board of Freeholdersin enacting this ordinance to:

improve safety for road users; provide safe and convenient travel options for all County

residents;

provide affordable and equitable means of accessing importantdestinations and services for those who do not drive, including

seniors, low-income citizens, people with disabilities, and children; enhance the scenic quality of the Countys roads;

create more attractive streets and towns that foster improvedeconomic and community vitality; and

foster opportunities for active recreation and tourism.

DRAFT COMPLETE STREET POLICY


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Complete streets can be achieved through network-level,single project, or incrementally through a series of small

improvements or maintenance activities that focus on how

people connect to destinations. Supportive land use

strategies and designs also help to achieve completestreets goals.

A complete streets approach does not require specific

complete streets elements on every roadway; rather, itinvolves a process by which the needs of the current and

potential users of a roadway are considered, along with the

benefits and costs of any improvements.


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The rural character of Sussex County requires a context-specific complete streets approach, where:

Improvements are prioritized in areas and alongroadways with the largest current and/or future need;

Improvements fit the character of the roadway, thecurrent and planned land uses, and the surroundingarea;

The needs of all current and future users of transportationfac ilities are balanced.



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Policy Complete streets improvements shall be incorporatedinto projects if and when there is demonstration that theirinclusion fulfills a need and will provide a reasonable return

on public investment when all financial considerations,including operations and maintenance, are considered.

This shall include:

(D) Establishing procedures to identify opportunities for cost-effective, high-value complete streets improvements intransportation facility retrofit projects, including resurfacing,rehabilitation, and reconstruction;



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Next Steps /Action Items


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Next Steps / Action Items

Complete Streets Recommendationsfor Pilot Locations

Draft Implementation Plan, Policy andFinal Report

3rdPublic Meeting December 5th


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Next Steps


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Thank You!

Documents

Sussex County, NJ Complete Streets November 14th Presentation