Wilmington, North Carolina Pedestrian Master Plan
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Transcript of Wilmington, North Carolina Pedestrian Master Plan
Wilmington, North Carolina
Pedestrian Master PlanSteering Committee Meeting
May 8, 2008
Meeting Agenda
1. Introduction2. State of the Pedestrian Environment
1. Physical2. Policy3. Regulations
3. Highlights of Online Survey4. Break5. Let’s take a walk!6. Priority Identification Areas7. Next steps
Understanding pedestrians
The pedestrian mode is more complex than
any other
• Percent of all trips made on foot: 5%
• Percent of all traffic deaths that were pedestrians: 12%
References: Mean Streets 2002, percentages reflect an average over 2 year period of 2000-2001, NHTSA
Understanding pedestrians
Understanding pedestrians
Walk Decision Factors
DistanceComfort
Convenience
Distance
Short trips: .25 to .5 mile
Understanding Pedestrians
Comfort
Pedestrians are affected by every aspect of the physical
environment
Understanding pedestrians
ConveniencePedestrians want the most direct route possible.
Almost nothing will divert them from this direct route.
Understanding pedestrians
Barriers to Walking
UNCW at Randall
Coddington Elementary
Carolina Beach and Shipyard
Audubon Neighborhood
The Pedestrian Environment
Forest Hills
Chestnut Heights
Greenville Loop
Inland Greens
Downtown
Older Neighborhoods
Newer Subdivisions/Annexed Areas
Major Arterials
Downtown
• Many accommodations for pedestrians:– Rich sidewalk network– Highest concentration
of signalized intersections
– Relatively narrow crossing distances
– Attractive walking environment
– Relatively slow traffic speeds
Physical Environment - Downtown
Castle and South 5th
• Pedestrian signals• Marked crosswalks• Sidewalks and curb ramps• Buffers/planting strips
• North/south routes heavy and faster traffic
• East/west (non-arterial) routes lower speeds and volumes
• Watch out for turning vehicles
• Pavement markings need to be maintained
• Push buttons may be inaccessible to pedestrians with disabilities
Older Neighborhood - Forest Hills
• Many accommodations for pedestrians:– Rich sidewalk
network– Attractive walking
environment– Generous street
buffers– Narrow crossing
distances– Low traffic volumes– Slow traffic speeds
Newer Neighborhoods
• Fewer accommodations for pedestrians– Low traffic volumes and
speeds– May not have sidewalks– Low external connectivity– Informal paths
– Wide roadway/intersection widths
– May not have curb/gutter– Frequently annexed into
city– Sidewalks often not
requiredLandsdowne Neighborhood
Near Parsley Tree Elementary
Newer Neighborhoods
• Good things happening in recent developments– Interesting/effective
crossing treatments– Good internal circulation– Other amenities
• Wayfinding• Street furniture
– Working on external connections
Fairview Neighborhood
Major Arterials
Biggest challenges• Often lacking ped
accommodations– Long crossing
distances– May not have
traffic signals– Crosswalks– Sidewalks
• Traffic Characteristics– High traffic
speeds \ volumes– Heavy vehicles
Near Coddington Elementary
Almost 1.5 miles
Shipyard Road
Carolina Beach Road
Randall at UNCW
Near Holly High School
Policy and Program Environment
• Started program reconnaisance - interviews– Neighborhood Traffic Management
Program– Traffic Signal Operations– TRC Plan Review– Planning Division– Parks and Recreation– WAVE Transit– New Hanover County Public Schools
– Additional interviews scheduled
Policy and Program Environment
• Policy/planning documents under review– Future Land Use Plan 2004-2025– 2030 Long Range Transportation Plan – Neighborhood and Corridor plans
• Carolina Beach Rd. Corridor Plan• College Road Corridor Plan• Dawson and Wooster Corridor Plan• Oleander Drive Corridor Plan• Other plans
– 2006 Wilmington MPO Crash Report– 2004 Wave Transit Improvement Plan– Transportation Improvement Program
(MTIP)
Federal Legislation“Bicycle transportation facilities and pedestrian walkways shall be considered, where appropriate, in conjunction with all new construction and reconstruction of transportation projects, except where bicycle and pedestrian use are not permitted” (23USC 217).
Policy and Program Environment
Policy and Program Environment
USDOT’s 2000 Guidance Memorandum
"Due consideration" defined as:
• A presumption that bicyclists and pedestrians will be accommodated in the design of new and improved transportation facilities
• The decision NOT to accommodate them should be the exception not the rule
• Must be exceptional circumstances for denying access through design or prohibition
Regulatory Environment
• Local Regulations and Standards– Wilmington Land Development Code– Wilmington Technical Standards– Maintenance and operation codes
• State Regulations– NCGS Chapter 20 Part 11- Pedestrians’
Rights and Duties:• Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks if no
traffic control signals are present• Pedestrians must yield to vehicles if not crossing at
a marked crosswalk or an intersection
Regulatory Environment
• Wilmington Land Development Code Highlights– Sidewalks required in many zoning districts– CBD to be considered “…primarily as a
pedestrian oriented domain”– Many provisions for MX Mixed Use districts
to promote walkability• Maximum block lengths• Minimum wayfinding• Building location• “Pedestrian scale, tree-lined streets with on with on
street parking encouraged”
Regulatory Environment
• Subdivision code requires sidewalks in the following circumstances:
• On at least of one side of the right-of-way of all thoroughfares adjacent to the property to be developed.
• On each side of the right-of-way of all thoroughfares that run through property to be developed if the subdivider intends to construct any portion of the thoroughfare as access to his development
• On each side of the right-of-way of all local streets extending through the property to be developed.
Regulatory Environment
• Technical Standards and Specifications Manual– Sidewalks– Curbramps– Driveways
Online Survey Highlights
Survey Highlights
• Online survey developed to ask questions about pedestrian conditions in Wilmington
• Distributed online in English and Spanish• Advertised in Wilmington Star News and
MPO website• Even distribution of male/female
respondents
Pedestrian Survey
• Most critical pedestrian issue:– 67% of respondents
cited unsafe crossings and intersections
– 23% identified missing or poorly maintained sidewalks
Pedestrian Survey
• Frequent walking trips– 70% walk for exercise– 11% walk to the bus stop– 14% walk to work– 37% walk for errands– 10% walk all the way to
school
Pedestrian Survey
• Areas where improvements are needed– On major corridors – 80%– Near highway interchanges – 65%– Near parks and recreation areas – 50%– Near retail centers – 48%– Near schools – 40%
Pedestrian Survey
• Written in responses– I strongly endorse more & better walking / running/
green space in this community.– Everything I need is within walking distance, but I
drive because the traffic is too dangerous!– Downtown neighborhoods generally have sidewalks
and we use them often. Other neighborhoods have few sidewalks - and people must walk in the streets.
– Many site specific recommendations for crosswalk/intersection improvements
Intersection Walking Tour
2nd and Chestnut
2nd and Chestnut
• Issues to be aware of:– Turning vehicles– Pedestrian signals– Crossing distances– Pavement marking condition– Signal timing– Sidewalk configuration/condition
– Urban design and appearance
Discussion
• Where should we focus our efforts?– Help identify three areas that need
detailed analysis
– Should we focus on ideas that can be used elsewhere?
– Or
– Focus on especially challenging areas?
Next Steps
• Launch online survey• Continue existing conditions analysis• Complete policy/regulatory analysis• Critique of existing conditions
• Begin drafting sections of plan
• Upcoming meetings– Bike/Pedestrian Committee– Public meeting
Questions?