THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE MASTER PLAN

THE WOODLANDS TOWNSHIP PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE MASTER PLAN

The Woodlands Township Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan

The 2016 Woodlands Township Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan (the Plan) was prepared for The Township under the guidance of The Township Board of Directors, Township staff, a Steering Committee comprised of representatives from the community and local governing jurisdictions,

and by the citizens of The Township. The Township would like to extend their special appreciation to the members of the Steering Committee and the public who contributed to this effort.

The Steering Committee was comprised of several representatives from the Village Associations, The Woodlands Development Corporation, Harris and Montgomery Counties, The Woodlands Road Utility

District, and Bike the Woodlands Coalition. The roster is as follows:

Ken Schumann, Parks and Recreation Advisory Council (Director's Appointment) Maryann Braid, Parks and Recreation Advisory Council (Alden Bridge) Tom Buffa, Village of Cochran's Crossing Marcello Lo Cicero, Parks and Recreation Advisory Council (Creekside Park) Kelly Sharer, Parks and Recreation Advisory Council (Indian Springs) Marti Meerscheidt, Parks and Recreation Advisory Council (College Park) Anthony Fasone, Parks and Recreation Advisory Council (Sterling Ridge) Dan Kolkhorst, Parks and Recreation Advisory Council (TWDC) George Mendes, Bike the Woodlands Coalition Randall Cade, Bike the Woodlands Coalition Robert Heineman, Woodlands Road Utility District Chris LaRue, Township Ad Hoc Transportation Committee Everett Ison, Panther Creek Village Association Rick Wong, Montgomery County Traffic Engineering Manager Dennis Johnston, Harris County Precinct 4 Parks Director Mike Howlett, Special Projects Coordinator - Harris County Parks Precinct 4

The Woodlands Township Board of Directors also provided input and advisement for this Plan. The authors would like to acknowledge their leadership for the creation of this Plan.

Ed Robb, ChairmanMike Bass, Vice ChairmanGordy Bunch, SecretaryLaura Fillault, TreasurerJeff Long, DirectorJohn McMullan, DirectorAnn Snyder, Director

Management and oversight for the production of the Plan was provided by all members of the Project Management Team.

The Woodlands Township StaffJohn Powers, Assistant General Manager – Community ServicesChris Nunes, Director of Parks and RecreationJohn McGowan, Assistant Director of Parks and RecreationChris LaRue, Transit Program Manager

Project ConsultantsJones and Carter, Inc.Chelsea Young, AICPColby Wright, PEJune Farrell, AICPAllie Isbell, AICPAdriana Teran, EITJames ParksBrittany AndersonKevin Krahn, PEBicycle Solutions, Inc.John CiccarelliM2L AssociatesMichael Mauer, ASLAKenny Jones

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Introduction

Acknowledgments

Steering Committee

The Woodlands Township Board of Directors

The 2016 Woodlands Township Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan (the Plan) was prepared for The Township under the guidance of The Township Board of Directors, Township staff, a Steering Committee comprised of representatives from the community and local governing jurisdictions,

and by the citizens of The Township. The Township would like to extend their special appreciation to the members of the Steering Committee and the public who contributed to this effort.

The Steering Committee was comprised of several representatives from the Village Associations, The Woodlands Development Corporation, Harris and Montgomery Counties, The Woodlands Road Utility

District, and Bike the Woodlands Coalition. The roster is as follows:

Ken Schumann, Parks and Recreation Advisory Council (Director's Appointment) Maryann Braid, Parks and Recreation Advisory Council (Alden Bridge) Tom Buffa, Village of Cochran's Crossing Marcello Lo Cicero, Parks and Recreation Advisory Council (Creekside Park) Kelly Sharer, Parks and Recreation Advisory Council (Indian Springs) Marti Meerscheidt, Parks and Recreation Advisory Council (College Park) Anthony Fasone, Parks and Recreation Advisory Council (Sterling Ridge) Dan Kolkhorst, Parks and Recreation Advisory Council (TWDC) George Mendes, Bike the Woodlands Coalition Randall Cade, Bike the Woodlands Coalition Robert Heineman, Woodlands Road Utility District Chris LaRue, Township Ad Hoc Transportation Committee Everett Ison, Panther Creek Village Association Rick Wong, Montgomery County Traffic Engineering Manager Dennis Johnston, Harris County Precinct 4 Parks Director Mike Howlett, Special Projects Coordinator - Harris County Parks Precinct 4

The Woodlands Township Board of Directors also provided input and advisement for this Plan. The authors would like to acknowledge their leadership for the creation of this Plan.

Ed Robb, ChairmanMike Bass, Vice ChairmanGordy Bunch, SecretaryLaura Fillault, TreasurerJeff Long, DirectorJohn McMullan, DirectorAnn Snyder, Director

Management and oversight for the production of the Plan was provided by all members of the Project Management Team.

The Woodlands Township StaffJohn Powers, Assistant General Manager – Community ServicesChris Nunes, Director of Parks and RecreationJohn McGowan, Assistant Director of Parks and RecreationChris LaRue, Transit Program Manager

Project ConsultantsJones and Carter, Inc.Chelsea Young, AICPColby Wright, PEJune Farrell, AICPAllie Isbell, AICPAdriana Teran, EITJames ParksBrittany AndersonKevin Krahn, PEBicycle Solutions, Inc.John CiccarelliM2L AssociatesMichael Mauer, ASLAKenny Jones

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Project Management Team

The Woodlands Township Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan

community 27 miles north of Houston, Texas, located within both Montgomery County and a small

over 205 miles of concrete pathways. The Woodlands Township is a master planned community created by George P. Mitchell in the 1970s that supports an overall vision to maintain the natural environment through its development.

developed from the original vision is managed by The Woodlands Development Company (TWDC). The Township is comprised of a series of Villages, that each have their own shopping district and neighborhood feel. The village names are: Alden Bridge, College Park, Sterling Ridge, Cochran’s Crossing, Research Forest, Indian Springs, Panther Creek, Creekside Park, Grogan’s Mill and Town Center.

As part of the original master planned community, an extensive forested pathway network was devised, that provides access from individual neighborhoods to schools, places of worship, and shopping centers. This pathway system was

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The Woodlands Township Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan is the first of its kind for The Woodlands, and will assist The

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the need to “complete development of systems to enhance mobility and provide safe walking, running and cycling

safety and mobility.

• The Woodlands Township Transit Plan that was completed in early

Woodlands. Specifically the Transit Plan recognized there are gaps in the pathway system to get to the major park and ride

• The South County Mobility Study that was prepared by the Houston-Galveston Area Council (H-GAC) briefly explored

Montgomery County, which includes The Woodlands. That study

unable to get into much detail specific to The Woodlands. This Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan will dig deeper than what that plan allowed as it relates to The Woodlands.

• The official feedback The Township received from The League of american Bicyclists

off-street for pedestrians.

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The Vision of The Woodlands Township Pedestrian and Bicycle Master Plan

Vision StatementThe Woodlands Township is a premier community that encourages walking and bicycling for all ages for everyday com-

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Goals

Provide an interconnected comprehensive pedestrian and bicycle network that includes off-street and on-street

Safety Provide a safe, comfortable, and convenient travel environment for people to walk, run, or ride their bikes in and around The Woodlands.

Funding

result from this Plan.

and regional levels.

Design

such as AASHTO and NACTO.

The Users: Who is this Plan for?

comfortable and safe place for people to walk, ride their bikes, run, or walk their pets. However, when looking at the

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Figure ES.1-

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Table ES.1-

Table ES.2

Table ES.3

Conroe

MONTGOMERY COUNTY, TEXAS &HARRIS COUNTY, TEXAS

VICINITY MAPScale: 1 inch equals 10 miles

1 inch equals 4,800 feetDisclaimer: This product is o ered for informa onal purposes andmay not have been prepared for or be suitable for legal, engineering,or surveying purposes. It does not represent an on-the-groundsurvey and represents only the approximate rela ve loca on ofproperty, governmental and/or poli cal boundaries or relatedfacili es to said boundary. No express warran es are made byJones & Carter, Inc. concerning the accuracy, completeness,reliability, or usability of the informa on included within this exhibit.

LEGEND

Park and Ride

School

SHORT, MEDIUM & LONG TERM RECOMMENDATIONS

Existing Pathways

Pathways Planned by "Others"*

Existing Trails

Park

Waterbody

Township Boundary

Recommended Bike Lane

Recommended Sidepath

Recommended Shared Use Path

Streets

*Subject to Change

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Bush ElementaryBush Elementary

Ride ElementaryRide Elementary

Smith ElementarySmith Elementary

Tough ElementaryTough Elementary

David ElementaryDavid Elementary

Lamar ElementaryLamar Elementary

Knox Junior HighKnox Junior High

Powell ElementaryPowell Elementary

Hailey ElementaryHailey Elementary

Galatas ElementaryGalatas Elementary

Buckalew ElementaryBuckalew Elementary

Deretchin ElementaryDeretchin Elementary

Collins IntermediateCollins Intermediate

Glen Loch ElementaryGlen Loch Elementary

Mitchell IntermediateMitchell Intermediate

McCullough Junior HighMcCullough Junior High

Wilkerson IntermediateWilkerson Intermediate

Timber Creek ElementaryTimber Creek Elementary

The Woodlands High SchoolThe Woodlands High School

Creekside Forest ElementaryCreekside Forest Elementary

The Woodlands College Park High School

The Woodlands College Park High School

The Woodlands High School 9th Grade Campus

The Woodlands High School 9th Grade Campus

Sterling RidgePark and RideSterling RidgePark and Ride

Research ForestPark and Ride

Research ForestPark and Ride

SawdustPark and Ride

SawdustPark and Ride

Figure ES.1: Overall Project Recommendations Network Map

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Name Descrip on Cost Es mate Central Bicycle Lane (Figure ES.2)

Development of a bicycle lane along Lake Woodlands Drive from Lake Front Circle to Kuykendahl Road.

$250,000

Retail Access Gap (Figure ES.3)

Development of a new pathway that would provide direct access to retail on the southwest corner of Research Forest Drive and Kuykendahl Road where no pathway currently exists.

$66,600

School Access Gap (Figure ES.4)

Adding a .61 mile sidepath along the south side of the Research Forest Drive will ensure that students are able to reach their schools without crossing a major roadway.

$370,000

Barrier Access Gap (Figure ES.5)

By providing a connec on to the por on of The Woodlands located on the east side of Interstate 45, these residents will be able to access the core of The Woodlands retail, educa onal, and recrea onal facili es.

$740,000

Sterling Ridge Park & Ride Access Gap (Figure ES.6)

Adding sidepaths leading to the Park & Ride stemming from the exis ng pathways will give pedestrians and bicyclists safe access to the Park & Ride Facility.

$51,800

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Appendix D

Cost TOTAL Short-Term Medium-Term Long-TermShared Use Path $ 4,126,784.43 $ 12,614,449.26 $ 15,611,646.77 Sidepath $ 1,902,182.53 $ 235,239.43 $ 5,102,109.78 $ 7,243,019.80

$ 32,352,880.46

Bike Lane $ 2,583,514.44 $ 2,563,090.63 $ 8,278,350.53 $ 13,424,955.60TOTAL $ 8,612,481.40 $ 15,412,779.32 $ 28,992,107.08 $ 53,017,367.80 1

Table ES.2: Fast-Track Projects(Note: these project costs are already included in the overall costs in Table ES.1)

Figure ES.3: Recommended Retail Access Sidepath Project

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Figure ES.4: Recommended sidepath along the south side of Research Forest to allow safer access to and from the schools

Figure ES.5: Sterling Ridge Park & Ride showing recommended sidepath addi ons

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Plan Overview This chapter gives an overview of the plan purpose, why there is a Plan, and benefits of planning for pedestrians and cyclists. Chapter 2 Planning Process: and public involvement efforts. Chapter 3 Vision & Goals: help achieve the overall vision.

Chapter 5 The Pedestrian and Bicycle Network: This chapter introduces the overall on-street and off-street

Chapter 6 Wayfinding Program: enhanced with pathway wayfinding signage. Chapter 7 Programs & Policies: This chapter discusses policies and programs that are currently in place as well as

pedestrian and bicyclist realm.

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Title Brief Descrip on Es mated Cost Range

Project No. 1 Digital Wayfinding A digital interac ve trail map, GPS mapping, and/or Google Global Trekker

$30,000 - $40,000

Project No. 2 QR Tag Codes QR codes added to exis ng pathway signage to assist users with wayfinding

$47,000 - $55,000

Project No. 3 Upgrade Junc on/Crossing Posts

Update exis ng sign posts with more informa on than a stop sign – including street intersec on informa on

$170,000 - $175,000

Project No. 4 Cochrans Crossing, Panther Creek, Creekside Park Junc on/Crossing Signs

Add bollards at junc ons/crossings where there currently are none and update with new informa on

$176,000 - $230,000

Table ES.3: Wayfinding Recommendations Cost Summary