Title
Update on Alameda Active Transportation Plan and Draft Recommendations
Body
Date: July 23, 2020
To: Honorable President Christine Chilcott and Members of the Social Service Human Relations Board
From: Rochelle Wheeler, Senior Transportation Coordinator
BACKGROUND
Last year, the City embarked on updating its decade-old Bicycle and Pedestrian Plans as one combined Active Transportation Plan (ATP). The goal of the project, launched in August 2019, is to bring the City’s plans into alignment with current best practices and the City’s current infrastructure and development, and to create a roadmap for a safer, more walkable and bikeable city.
The first phase of work focused on setting the foundation for the planning work: understanding the existing conditions, informing the community about the Plan and soliciting input. An Equity Framework was developed as well to ensure that, with each task, equity is considered and incorporated.
The City and consultant team conducted an extensive public engagement process, including:
• Creating a comprehensive website (www.ActiveAlameda.org <http://www.ActiveAlameda.org>) to inform the public about the project, let people know how to participate and increase project visibility.
• Conducting the first Open House, held in November 2019, with over 150 adults and children in attendance.
• Attending and presenting at 13 events and meetings to solicit input on walking and biking in Alameda, largely focused on under-represented communities, such as children, seniors, people of color and the homeless.
• Establishing a Community Advisory Group with 11 individuals representing a broad array of interests and backgrounds to help guide the plan development and amplify knowledge of the plan in the community.
• Developing interactive web-based maps with existing walking and biking infrastructure as a way to gather even more input on how the community feels about the built environment for walking and biking. Over 2,100 public comments were added to the maps on locations and routes where people either like or dislike walking or riding, feel unsafe walking or riding, or have been almost hit by a vehicle while walking or riding. Exhibit 1 is a summary of these comments, with maps.
Some key themes from this outreach phase included:
• Safety for children to walk and bike to school is a high priority.
• A desire for drivers to travel more slowly, especially along streets near schools.
• An interest in improving connections to the City’s existing and planned multi-use trails and separated bike lanes, and creating more north-south connections.
• While sidewalk coverage is good in Alameda, there are many places where it is difficult to cross the street due to lack of designated crossings or uncomfortable existing crossings (e.g., Fernside Bl, Otis Dr, and Lincoln Ave).
• Major streets (e.g., Central Ave, Constitution Way, Lincoln Ave, Encinal Ave, and Webster St) create barriers, resulting in circuitous or high-stress bike routes.
• Improvements to bicycle and pedestrian connections between Alameda and Oakland and new crossing options, especially around the Posey/Webster Tubes, and the Fruitvale Ave bridge, are needed.
• A desire for increased education for drivers, bicyclists, scooter riders and skateboarders about how to share the road and sidewalk safely.
DISCUSSION
Over the past five months, the project team has used this public input and an evaluation of existing conditions to develop draft network, program and policy recommendations that will be presented to the community for input starting the week of July 13th. As well, comments will be solicited on the draft ATP vision and goals, and on prioritization criteria. All of these materials, with survey questions to gather input, are posted to the project web page (www.ActiveAlameda.org <http://www.ActiveAlameda.org>/Recommendations), and the City will be taking comments through mid-August. This staff report presents a high-level overview of the draft recommendations.
Draft Vision and Goals
A key guiding component of any planning document is the vision and goals. Given the many new plans that were adopted after the Pedestrian and Bicycle Plans were adopted (in 2009 and 2010 respectively), staff saw an opportunity to update and also refresh the existing vision and goals.
Draft Vision: Alameda is a city where people of all ages, abilities, income levels and backgrounds can safely, conveniently, and comfortably walk, bike, and roll to their destinations, including transit. By prioritizing active transportation, the community is improving public health and safety, mitigating climate change, and enhancing quality of life.
Draft Goals:
• Safety: Increase the safety of all people using active transportation.
• Mode Shift: Increase walking and bicycling to [TBD] percent of all trips by 2030.
• Connectivity and Comfort: Develop a well-connected network of active transportation facilities that are comfortable and convenient for people of all ages and abilities.
• Equity: Provide equal access to active transportation facilities for all people in Alameda and ensure that transportation improvements and programs are implemented equitably throughout the city.
• Community: Promote and inspire safe and fun walking, bicycling and rolling to foster a strong culture of walking and bicycling.
Draft Network Recommendations
Distinct approaches were used to develop the pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure recommendations. All of the documents and maps for review can be found at www.ActiveAlameda.org/Recommendations <http://www.ActiveAlameda.org/Recommendations>
• For pedestrian infrastructure, the City’s roadway network was categorized into four street types (neighborhood street, neighborhood connector, main street, and commercial or industrial street) based on the surrounding land uses and street characteristics. Two overlays were added, one for schools and one for community destinations, which includes parks, senior centers, libraries and hospitals. For the community destinations, the overlay includes the streets immediately surrounding the destination, with the goal of ensuring that there is high quality access by foot at its perimeters. A matrix of possible design treatments, such as curb extensions, raised crosswalks, and pedestrian-scale lighting, are matched to each street type. For the overlays, a higher level of safety and access treatments are recommended than what would already be typically used on that street type.
• For the bicycle network, a connected network of low-stress bicycling facilities that serve people of all ages and abilities was developed. This network greatly expands the existing and planned bicycling network, and will increase access to safe cycling across all of Alameda.
• Trails and walkways are a key part of the active transportation network, and are incorporated as part of both the walking and biking networks. A need for enhanced maintenance and widening of trails to bring them up to current best practices is identified.
Draft Program and Policy Recommendations
In addition to infrastructure improvements, programs and policies support safe and convenient walking and biking. Many program and policy actions are recommended, grouped according to the draft Plan goals. They address safety, education, outreach, engagement and institutional processes. As with the other draft recommendations, the programs and policies can be found at: www.ActiveAlameda.org/Recommendations <http://www.ActiveAlameda.org/Recommendations>
Input from Commissioners
At the SSHRB meeting, input is welcome on any of the items presented in this staff report and found on the project web page. Staff are also interested in any suggestions for opportunities to collect broad and diverse community feedback during the public comment period, especially during these times when meeting in person is not possible.
Next Steps
A virtual Open House will take place on Wednesday, July 29th from 5:00 - 6:30 p.m., and additional “listening sessions” are being scheduled. Information will be posted to the project web page. The comment period is approximately one month, ending in mid-August. In the fall, the public input will be considered and incorporated, the projects and programs will be prioritized, and an implementation plan will be developed. The full draft Plan will be presented to the community for input in early 2021, with Council adoption expected in the Spring.
RECOMMENDATION
Provide input on the Active Transportation Plan draft recommendations.
Respectfully submitted,
Department Director's Name, Department Director's Title
By,
Rochelle Wheeler, Senior Transportation Coordinator
Exhibit:
1. Alameda ATP Online Map Summary
2. Presentation