Agenda - Public Works Committee - 09/15/2009

Home

PEDSAFE : recommended guidelines/priorities for sidewalks and walkways Page 60f 12 analysis, or if there is a large amount of capital available for sidewalk construction. If there are a lot of competing projects, a more sophisticated point system can be useo to explain to the public why certain projects were funded and others were not. A point system can be developed in many ways; the system should be simple and produce desired outcomes. Any and all of the criteria Ilsted above can be assigned a range of numbers and then be used to analyze the need for Improvement at given locations. For example, a corridor could be assigned points based on the number of "walking along roadway" crashes over a 5-year period, the number of buses that travel the corridor during peak times, and the proximity to elementary schools. This method is time- consuming because it will be necessary to analyze multiple locations with sidewalk needs to create a list of priority projects. of arterial streets that were within school walking zones, a pedestrian generator area, and a neighborhood commercial area that did not have sidewalks on either side of the street. There were nearly 4.6 km (:3 mt) of arterial streets that were within school walking areas, but outside of neighborhood commercial areas and pedestrian generators that did not have sidewalks on either side of the street. This was compared to a citywide deficiency of more tha.n 32 km (20 mt) of arterial streets that lacked sidewalks on both sides of the street. By developing these and other numbers, the pedestrian program was able to put together packages of Information that demonstrated what could be accomplished with additional funding. What everyone thought to be an unsolvable multi-million-dollar problem was reduced to a series of smaller, fundable projects that declslonmakers could endorse. The result was Increased funding and a n~w optimism that meaningful progress could be made on solving Seattle's sidewalk deficiencies, 3. Prioritized Llst- Both the overlapping priorities and the paints methods will produce an Initial list of prioritIzed projects. The next step Is to refine the list so that It works, using common sense. One important consideration is that when roadways are resurfaced, rehabilitated, or replaced, curb ramps must be added if there are pedestrian walkways., In additIon, the U.S. Department of Justice considers bus stops to be pedestrian walkways requiring access for people with disabilltles, so areas hear transit should be given priority accordingly. Improving pedestrian crossings, particularly on arterial streets, may also be an important part of some projects. Other Important questions include: Are priority locations ones that might be expected? Are there many surprises? Are priority locations In line with community priorities and expectations? Are some priorities at locations with very low pedestrian use? If the answer to these questions is "yes," then the criteria or the methodology should be evaluated and possibly revised to create outcomes that better reflect expectations and desires. The methodologies should be used topriorlti:ze known needs, not to create a new set of priorities that don't make sense. The final step is to create packages of fundable projects. The prioritization process should result in reasonable packages that decision-makers can embrace and support. For example, It may be possible to install sidewalks on both sides of every arterial within a half-mile of every elementary school for $5 million over a period of 5 years. Or, it may be . possible to replace sidewalks in neighborhood commercial areas for $2 million over a period of 3 years. The objective is to take what may appear to be an unsolvable problem (endless need for more funds) and to package it in such a way that It begins to address some of the most critical pedestrian needs in a community. Sidewalk Design Guidelines . Sidewalk Placement In Large and Small Cities Continuous sidewalks should be placed along both sides of aU fully Improved arterial, collector, and local streets in urban .and suburban areas. Sidewalks should connect to side streets and adjacent buildings. Accessible crossings should be provided across median islands, frontage road medians, and other raised islands. Sidewalks, Walkways, and Shoulders In Rural Areas A safe walking area must be provided outside the motor veh.icle traffic travelway. Sidewalks along rural roads should be well separated from the travelway. Isolated residential areas should have a pedestrian connection to the rest of the rural http://www. walkinginfo. org/pedsafe/moreinfo sidewalks. cfm 8/19/2009