TO: Mayor and Members of City Council
THRU: Kristoff T. Bauer, Deputy City Manager
FROM: Rob Stone, P.E., Director of Public Services
DATE: February 5, 2018
RE:
Title
Council Update on the Pedestrian Master Planning Study
end
COUNCIL DISTRICT(S):
Council District(s)
All
b
Relationship To Strategic Plan:
Goal IV: Fayetteville will be a highly desirable place to live, work and recreate with thriving neighborhoods and a high quality of life for all residents.
• To improve mobility and connectivity by investing in traffic flow strategies, sidewalks, trails and bike lanes
Executive Summary:
This is an update to Council about the upcoming tasks and progress of the Citywide Pedestrian Master Planning Study, Walking Fayetteville. This update includes the method utilized by the consultant for identifying draft recommendations and begins the final public input period, with the final public outreach meeting being conducted on February 15, 2018 at Westover Recreation Center. After review of these recommendations and comments from Council and the public, the final draft plan will be presented to City Council in April 2018.
Background:
City Council’s adopted FY2016 Strategic Plan included a Target for Action to implement pedestrian safety initiatives. To meet this direction, staff researched opportunities and learned that NCDOT was accepting grant applications for pedestrian and bicycle planning studies. On December 14, 2015, Council approved Resolution 2017-075 authorizing an application for grant funding through the NCDOT Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning Grant Initiative. On March 4, 2016, staff received notification of grant approval from the NCDOT Division of Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation. City Council approved a municipal agreement at the regular meeting on August 8, 2016, to partner with NCDOT for funding the study. The study began on April 20th, 2017 with a kickoff meeting that included a diverse group of stakeholders and was led by the City’s consultant, Stantec. Public outreach included workshops in the downtown area and at the College Lakes Recreation Center. The final workshop will be held at Westover Recreation Center on February 15, 2018. Also, an online survey was completed in the summer of 2017. An update was provided to Council at their September 5, 2017 work session.
The Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan will be an integral part of developing and executing a more complete pedestrian transportation system and will guide local and state efforts to improve conditions for pedestrians and other users of our transportation network. The recommendations will assist the City to develop construction project priorities, recommend positive changes to local policies and guidelines, develop awareness initiatives, and identify opportunities for the implementation of education, enforcement and safety programs.
As identified in the project scope, the recommendations will identify high-activity pedestrian focus areas by conducting “Opportunities and Constraints” evaluations to suggest detailed improvements in the areas. From this analysis, the plan will develop a list of projects that include sidewalk construction/maintenance projects, greenway construction projects, greenway maintenance projects, and intersection improvements. This list will also include projects near schools, connectivity projects to link existing sidewalks together, and projects to improve pedestrian crossings. The plan will also identify projects that should be integrated into the MPO transportation plan, and potential projects eligible for alternate funding sources. Cost estimates and priorities will be provided for projects, based on criteria such as potential pedestrian use, safety, and proximity to major attractors such as shopping centers, schools, and parks. The final draft plan will be presented to City Council in April 2018, and will include comments and recommendations provided by the public.
The Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan is being developed by NCDOT in coordination with City of Fayetteville staff and the consultant, Stantec.
Issues/Analysis:
This is an informational item.
Budget Impact:
The total estimated project cost is $110,000. This includes the required City 50% funding match of $55,000. These funds were included in the FY 17 budget.
Options:
This is an informational item.
Recommended Action:
This is an informational item.
Attachments:
Presentation