Agenda - Council - 10/13/2009 - Laserfiche WebLink

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PEDSAFE : recommended guidelines /priorities for sidewalks and walkways Page 2 of 12 Basic Principles Many communities may wish to revisit their roadway planning and rehabilitation criteria. Policies, standard plans, subdivision regulations, and right -of -way requirements should be considered to make sure that sidewalks are Included in new construction and rehabilitation projects. A. Goals and Objectives Typically, communities should focus on: (1) improving conditions for people who are currently walking (including • improved accessibility to sidewalk facilities for pedestrians with disabilities), (2) increasing levels of walking, and (3) reducing the number of crashes involving pedestrians. Setting targets will help In the development of criteria for installing and retrofitting sidewalks. B. Pedestrian Facilities There are several ways in which pedestrians can be accommodated in the public right -of -way: 1. Sidewalks -- Sidewalks, provided on both sides of a street, are generally the preferred pedestrian facility. They provide the greatest degree of comfort for pedestrians and the presence of sidewalks has been associated with increased safety for pedestrians. The Uniform Vehicle Code defines a sidewalk as that portion of a street between the curb lines, or the lateral lines of a roadway, and the adjacent property lines, intended for use by pedestrians. In most cases, sidewalks are paved, usually in concrete. To comply with Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines, newly constructed sidewalks must be accessible to people with disabilities. 2. Off -Road Paths— An off -road path—paved or unpaved —can be an appropriate facility in rural or low - density suburban areas. Paths are generally setback from the roads and separated by a green area or trees. Paths can be flexible in that they can deviate from the exact route of a road in order to provide more direct access for key destinations. Paths that generally follow the roadway alignment are sometimes known as "side paths." 3. Shoulders— Wide shoulders on both sides of a road are the minimum requirement for providing at least a possible place for people to walk. They are not as safe as paths or sidewalks, but they are better than nothing, Shoulders are also beneficial for motorists and bicyclists, and future sidewalks or paths should be created in addition to, not to replace the shoulders. 4. Shared Streets— In very limited unusual circumstances, it may be possible to allow shared use of a street for people walking and driving. These are usually specially designed spaces such as pedestrian streets or "woonerfs," and guidelines for developing these kinds of places can be found elsewhere In the FHWA's Pedestrian Facilities Users Guide: Providing Safety and Mobility. C. New Construction and Retrofitting Places for people to walk should be provided in all new construction. Retrofitting will require priorities to be set, and these guidelines are intended to help Identify where the need is greatest for adding sidewalks and other facilities. New Construction A, New Sidewalk Installation All new construction must include places for people to walk, on both sides of a street or roadway. New construction In urban and suburban areas should provide sidewalks. Recommended guidelines for new, sidewalk and walkway installation are given in Table 1 below. B. Phased Development of Sidewalks In developing areas and rural areas, it may be acceptable—although less desirable --to start with shoulders and unpaved paths and then phase in sidewalks as development accelerates. Criteria for installing sidewalks along with new development should be implemented with the following in mind: http : / /www. walkinginfo. org /pedsafe /moreinfo_sidewalks. cfm 8/19/2009