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Methodology for Linking Greenways and Trails

with Public Transportation in Florida

Sara Hendricks, Senior Research Associate

Center for Urban Transportation Research, University of South Florida

CUTR Webcast, March 3, 2016

Motivation to develop transit/trails connectivity: to Enhance Livability

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What is a Greenway? Greenway: a linear open space…for

recreational use…for pedestrian or bicycle passage, linking parks, nature reserves, cultural features… or historic sites…(Charles Little 1990)

The mission of the Florida Greenways and Trails System is “…to create a network of greenways and trails throughout Florida, connecting one end of the state to the other…”(FDEP 2015)

“Shared use paths are paved facilities physically separated from motorized vehicular traffic by an open space or barrier and either within the highway right-of-way or an independent right-of-way.” (FDOT 2015)

Wouldn’t it be great if we could start from scratch?

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How to prioritize locations for transit/trail improvements? Take advantage of opportunities where

redevelopment funds or highway improvement funds are already planned to be used.What data is available to you?

Pavement preservation program

MPO construction projects

MPO trails

County greenways

Locations of Community Redevelopment Areas

Brownfield areas

Urban Job Tax Credit Areas

Reduced Transportation Impact Fee Areas

Municipal Planning Areas

How to prioritize locations for transit/trail improvements?

Select locations already having highest travel activity Select the bus routes with the highest current ridership

Prioritize locations along those bus routes where public trails cross streets served by public transit or that run in close proximity to a street crossing.

Identify locations along public trails where count data indicate higher levels of walking and bicycling relative to other trail locations

Trail segments with highest usage near points of access where bus routes cross could provide a means of prioritization.

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How to prioritize locations for transit/trail improvements?

Census tracts with home locations having higher numbers of bicyclists

Census tracts with home locations having higher numbers of public transit riders

Focus improvements near homes of bicyclists and transit riders

Study Method

Literature review

Case studies

Develop method for evaluating trail connectivity with public transit

Demonstrate method in two Florida counties

Evaluate, provide conclusions, recommendations

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Case studies lend different methodological approaches based on different goals and data availability

MetroPlanOrlando

Reduce SOV mode share

Close system gaps

Prioritization matrix of

weighted criteria

WMATA Washington,

D.C.

Replace car travel to rail stations with

bike/ped

Identify needed improvements near stations

Station area typology aids analysis by category

H-GAC METRO

Increase METRO ridership

Provide on-site bike

infrastructure

Regression analysis to

identify factors associated with

bike/transit trips

Oregon Metro

Increase activity, access, safety,

equity

Develop complete bike and pedestrian

networks

Bicycle travel demand model

and facility functional

classification

Links to Other Reports with Methodologies

Alta Planning and Design. Oregon Metro. 2013. “Regional Bicycle Network Evaluation: Technical Report for the Regional Active Transportation Plan.” Portland, OR: Oregon Metro. April. http://rim.metro-region.org/webdrawer/webdrawer.dll/webdrawer/rec/296175/view/Planning%20and%20Development%20-%20Regional%20Tran~ion%20-%20Technical%20report%20for%20the%20Regional%20Active%20Transportation%20Plan%20-%20April%202013.PDF

Asakura Robinson Company LLC, Traffic Engineers, Inc., and Nancy R. Edmonson Transportation Consulting. 2014. “METRO Bike & Ride Access & Implementation Plan.” Houston: Houston-Galveston Area Council and METRO. January. http://www.h-gac.com/taq/sub_regional/docs/METRO-Bike-Ride-study.pdf.

MetroPlan Orlando. 2015. “Technical Report 6: Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan.” Final Plan for Adoption. 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan. Final Adopted Plan.Orlando, FL: MetroPlan. http://metroplanorlando.com/files/view/2040-lrtp-bicycle-pedestrian.pdf.

Parsons Brinckerhoff and Toole Design Group. 2010. “Metrorail Bicycle & Pedestrian Access Improvements Study.” Washington, D.C.: Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. Accessed December 19, 2015. http://planitmetro.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/12/Metrorail-Bicycle-Pedestrian-Access-Improvements-Study-_Final.pdf.

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Recommend a method that is consistent, uniform, repeatable…

Enhance Livable

Communities in Florida

Improve transit/trail connectivity

Select travel market and trip

purpose of interest

Use GIS analysis to identify

transit/trail links that connect O/D

Steps in Method to Link Trails with Public Transportation

Seek community

input

Select travel market and trip purpose

Map trail network

Map transit routes and

stops

Identify demographic data sources

Map trip origins and destinations

Define subarea(s)

Develop a typology of crossings having similar

characteristics

Conduct site observations and

inventories

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Selected Study AreaHillsborough and Pinellas Counties, Florida

Steps in Method to Link Trails with Public Transportation

Seek community

input

Select travel market and trip purpose

Map trail network

Map transit routes and

stops

Identify demographic data sources

Map trip origins and destinations

Define subarea(s)

Develop a typology of crossings having similar

characteristics

Conduct site observations and

inventories

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Seek Community Input Community input can provide guidance to focus upon a planning goal, travel

markets of interest and trip purposes of interest.

Consult the community’s planning documents: LGCP, LRTP, TDP, parks and recreation master plans.

Contact planners from the transit agency, local government departments of public works, transportation, land development, MPO, parks and recreation.

Talk to citizens from bicycle clubs, greenways and trails organizations, citizen’s advisory committees for public transit, bicycling and pedestrian facilities, and livable communities.

Web sites, public surveys, public workshops, focus groups, stakeholder meetings.

Steps in Method to Link Trails with Public Transportation

Seek community

input

Select travel market and trip purpose

Map trail network

Map transit routes and

stops

Identify demographic data sources

Map trip origins and destinations

Define subarea(s)

Develop a typology of crossings having similar

characteristics

Conduct site observations and

inventories

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What makes a transit/trail connection important?

Select a goal for transit/trail connectivity as defined by a particular travel market and trip purpose “Enable low income people to access jobs.”

“Enable adult students to access college and trade school campuses.”

“Enable seniors to access recreation centers.”

“Enable car-dependent suburban areas to access shopping opportunities.”

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Steps in Method to Link Trails with Public Transportation

Seek community

input

Select travel market and trip purpose

Map trail network

Map transit routes and

stops

Identify demographic data sources

Map trip origins and destinations

Define subarea(s)

Develop a typology of crossings having similar

characteristics

Conduct site observations and

inventories

Map the trail network

In Hillsborough County there are several existing trails.

County government and MPOs play a prominent role in trail development.

Data were mapped using GIS spatial analysis

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Steps in Method to Link Trails with Public Transportation

Seek community

input

Select travel market and trip

purpose

Map trail network

Map transit routes and

stops

Identify demographic data sources

Map trip origins and

destinationsDefine

subarea(s)

Develop a typology of crossings having similar

characteristics

Conduct site observations and

inventories

Map transit routes

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Map locations of transit stops near trails

Hillsborough Trail Locations within 2000 feet of HART Bus StopsTrail Name Description/Limits Jurisdiction Status Length in

miles

Upper Tampa Bay TrailPhases I, II, III

Memorial Highway/Montague St to Peterson Road

Hillsborough Existing 7.0

Town ‘N Country Greenway Trail

Sheldon Road to south of George Road

Hillsborough Existing 2.0

South Tampa Greenway

MacDill Trail at Gadsden Park Tampa Existing 1.5

Bruce B. Downs Trail

Amberly Drive to Hunters Green Blvd, parallels Bruce B. Downs Blvd.

Tampa Existing 4.4

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Steps in Method to Link Trails with Public Transportation

Seek community

input

Select travel market and trip purpose

Map trail network

Map transit routes and

stops

Identify demographic data sources

Map trip origins and destinations

Define subarea(s)

Develop a typology of crossings having similar

characteristics

Conduct site observations and

inventories

Identify data sources to describe location of travel market and trip destinationhttps://edg.epa.gov/data/Public/OP/SLD/SLD_userguide.pdf

Category Market Description Data

Design Walkable neighborhoods

Communities with greater intersection density are more supportive of non-motorized and public transit modes. By identifying walkable areas, investments in these areas may support increase use of public transit and nonmotorized modes.

EPA Smart Location Database

Density Transitsupportive areas

Enhancing bicycle and transit connections in areas with transit supportive population and employment densities are more likely to improve the rider and bicyclist access to goods, services and employment opportunities.

EPA Smart Location Database Residentialand Employment Density Calculations

Transit service

Transit service areas

Locations with better transit service offer greater transit accessibility to employment and other destinations. Areas with greater service frequency and access to transit stops would enhance bicyclist access to more destinations

EPA Smart Location Database Jobs Transit Accessibility Calculation

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Steps in Method to Link Trails with Public Transportation

Seek community

input

Select travel market and trip purpose

Map trail network

Map transit routes and

stops

Identify demographic data sources

Map trip origins and destinations

Define subarea(s)

Develop a typology of crossings having similar

characteristics

Conduct site observations and

inventories

Map concentrations of home location of target market

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Map concentrations of employment locations

Map concentrations of home and work locations

Areas between job and home locations warrant a closer look, especially if these areas contain transit service that overlaps with trails.

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Steps in Method to Link Trails with Public Transportation

Seek community

input

Select travel market and trip purpose

Map trail network

Map transit routes and

stops

Identify demographic data sources

Map trip origins and destinations

Define subarea(s)

Develop a typology of crossings having similar

characteristics

Conduct site observations and

inventories

Define a subarea within which to look closer

Upper Tampa Bay Trail was selected to evaluate first.

Longer length

On fringe of transit service area: creates transportation value of the trail

Using EPA SLD, more jobs were accessible within a 45-minute transit trip

Trail alignment not redundant with streets

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Steps in Method to Link Trails with Public Transportation

Seek community

input

Select travel market and trip purpose

Map trail network

Map transit routes and

stops

Identify demographic data sources

Map trip origins and destinations

Define subarea(s)

Develop a typology of crossings having

similar characteristics

Conduct site observations and

inventories

Develop a typology that organizes transit/trail crossings into sets having similar characteristics Categorizing by some shared

characteristics helps deal with large numbers of candidate crossings to prioritize

Helps generalize operating conditions and attributes as they affect bicyclists and pedestrians

Enables development of general improvement concepts

We developed three types or scenarios:

1. Where a trail and a transit route intersect and connect (scenario 1)

2. Where a trail and a transit route intersect but do not connect (scenario 2)

3. Where a trail and transit route are aligned close to each other but do not intersect (scenario 3)

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Steps in Method to Link Trails with Public Transportation

Seek community

input

Select travel market and trip purpose

Map trail network

Map transit routes and

stops

Identify demographic data sources

Map trip origins and destinations

Define subarea(s)

Develop a typology of crossings having similar

characteristics

Conduct site observations and

inventories

Three transit/trail crossing locations were selected for further evaluation

Hillsborough County

1. HART Bus Route 39 with Upper Tampa Bay Trail at Sheldon Road

2. HARTFlex Town ‘N Country with Upper Tampa Bay Trail at LinebaughAvenue

3. HART Northwest Transfer Center with Upper Tampa Bay Trail at Channel Park Trailhead by W. Waters Avenue Bridge

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Transit/Trail Crossing Inventory Tool Template is available for download

Modifiable by user

Can be completed in field using tablet PC

Design Guidelines Resources:

AASHTO. 2012. Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities. 4th Edition.

AECOM. 2011. Miami-Dade County Trail Design Guidelines and Standards: Ludlam Trail Case Study. Prepared for Miami-Dade County Park and Recreation Department. Miami, FL. June. http://www.miamidade.gov/parksmasterplan/library/trail-design-report.pdf

Petritsch, Theodore A. and Christopher B. Fellerhoff. 2014. “Shared Use Path—Roadway Intersections; Guidelines for Assigning Priority and Determining Traffic Control at Shared Use Path/Roadway Intersections, Pinellas County, FL.” Lutz, FL: Sprinkle Consulting. August. http://www.pinellascounty.org/mpo/Traffic%20Studies/10_A_Trail%20Guidelines%20Report.pdf.

University of North Carolina Highway Safety Research Center. 1999. “Trail Intersection Design Guidelines.” Tallahassee, FL: Florida Department of Transportation. Revised. http://atfiles.org/files/pdf/trailintersect.pdf.

Florida Department of Transportation. 2016. Plans Preparation Manual. Vol.1. Chapter 8. Topic #625-000-007. Tallahassee, FL: FDOT. January 1. http://www.dot.state.fl.us/rddesign/PPMManual/2016/Volume1/Chap08.pdf

Hillsborough Scenario 1, HART Route 39 and Upper Tampa Bay Trail at Sheldon Road

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Hillsborough Scenario 2, HARTFlex Town ‘N Country and Upper Tampa Bay Trail at Linebaugh Avenue

Rocky Creek floods, inundating part of the trail under the bridge along LinebaughAvenue

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A crosswalk would provide an alternative passage across Linebaugh Avenue.

Hillsborough Scenario 3: HART Northwest Transfer Center and Upper Tampa Bay Trail at W. Waters Avenue Bridge

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Observations about transit/trail connectivity

Trail locations may not be optimal for transportation.

Gains in comfort when bicycling and using public transportation may encourage linking the modes.

Trail/transit connections can serve a variety of goals; differing analysis methodologies reflect that.

System redundancy is important to bicyclists and pedestrians.

Many trails are closed at sunset.

On-street roadway improvements link trails to transit.

Recommendations to strengthen transit/trail connectivity

Transit/trail linkages should be considered at the transportation planning stage.

Program of ongoing data collection will help the planning effort.

Signs, maps, brochures, websites, and mobile phone apps should cross-promote transit and trails.

Develop and promote a multimodal route finding system

Use crowd sourcing for continual transit and trail user feedback

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Recommendations to strengthen transit/trail connectivity

Use local knowledge to identify needed amenities

Provide bikes in buses

Provide additional trail access points

Consider economic development at transit/trail crossings

Include transit riders on the BPAC and a BPAC representative on transit advisory committees

Questions?

http://www.nctr.usf.edu/wp-content/uploads/2016/02/FDOT-BDV26-977-03-rpt.pdf

Sara Hendricks

Center for Urban Transportation Research

University of South Florida

813-974-9801

Hendricks@cutr.usf.edu

Here is the link to the report: