Wilmington, North Carolina Pedestrian Master Plan

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Wilmington, North Carolina Pedestrian Master Plan Steering Committee Meeting May 8, 2008

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Wilmington, North Carolina Pedestrian Master Plan. Steering Committee Meeting May 8, 2008. Meeting Agenda. Introduction State of the Pedestrian Environment Physical Policy Regulations Highlights of Online Survey Break Let’s take a walk! Priority Identification Areas Next steps. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Transcript of Wilmington, North Carolina Pedestrian Master Plan

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Wilmington, North Carolina

Pedestrian Master PlanSteering Committee Meeting

May 8, 2008

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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

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Understanding pedestrians

The pedestrian mode is more complex than

any other

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• 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

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Understanding pedestrians

Walk Decision Factors

DistanceComfort

Convenience

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Distance

Short trips: .25 to .5 mile

Understanding Pedestrians

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Comfort

Pedestrians are affected by every aspect of the physical

environment

Understanding pedestrians

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ConveniencePedestrians want the most direct route possible.

Almost nothing will divert them from this direct route.

Understanding pedestrians

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Barriers to Walking

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UNCW at Randall

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Coddington Elementary

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Carolina Beach and Shipyard

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Audubon Neighborhood

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The Pedestrian Environment

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Forest Hills

Chestnut Heights

Greenville Loop

Inland Greens

Downtown

Older Neighborhoods

Newer Subdivisions/Annexed Areas

Major Arterials

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Downtown

• Many accommodations for pedestrians:– Rich sidewalk network– Highest concentration

of signalized intersections

– Relatively narrow crossing distances

– Attractive walking environment

– Relatively slow traffic speeds

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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

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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

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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

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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

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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

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Shipyard Road

Carolina Beach Road

Randall at UNCW

Near Holly High School

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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

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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)

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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

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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

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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

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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”

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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.

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Regulatory Environment

• Technical Standards and Specifications Manual– Sidewalks– Curbramps– Driveways

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Online Survey Highlights

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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

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Pedestrian Survey

• Most critical pedestrian issue:– 67% of respondents

cited unsafe crossings and intersections

– 23% identified missing or poorly maintained sidewalks

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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

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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%

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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

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Intersection Walking Tour

2nd and Chestnut

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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

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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?

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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

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Questions?