WALK WILMINGTON: Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan Steering Committee Meeting January 8, 2009.

WALK WILMINGTON: Comprehensive Pedestrian

PlanSteering Committee Meeting

January 8, 2009

Vision

• The City of Wilmington will become a pedestrian-friendly environment where citizens and visitors have safe and attractive alternatives for walking in and around the city.

Plan Goals

• 1. SAFETY- All pedestrians can travel safely along and across Wilmington’s roads and paths– Reduce pedestrian crashes– Install new signalized pedestrian crossings– Educate drivers, pedestrians and police

• 2. TRANSPORTATION CHOICE- Pedestrians of all abilities have comfortable and convenient options– Add two miles of sidewalk annually($420,000)– Address barriers such as bridges, arterials, missing links– Design streets to accommodate all users– Improve off-road connectivity (paths, greenways)– Ensure sidewalks and paths are maintained and accessible

Plan Goals

• 3. BUILT ENVIRONMENT, LAND USE AND CONNECTIVITY- Development enhances the pedestrian experience and encourage walking– Modify regulations to promote pedestrian-scaled

development– Require pedestrian connections to adjoining

properties, sidewalks and neighborhoods– Locate and design schools so that they promote

walking

Plan Goals

• 4. EDUCATION, AWARENESS AND ENFORCEMENT- Drivers, pedestrians and officials understand pedestrian rights and laws. Increased pedestrian activity – Increase understanding of laws, rights and responsibilities

to improve pedestrian and driver behavior– Encourage walking and bicycling through encouragement

and promotion

• 5. HEALTH- Wilmington’s residents are physically active and can make more pedestrian trips– Recommend daily levels of physical activity– Improve air quality through reduced routine car trips

Plan Goals

• 4. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT- Visitors and customers have an attractive and inviting walking environment– Pedestrian lighting in busy pedestrian areas– Include benches, plantings and other amenities in

streetscape improvement projects– Continue to revitalize commercial areas (e.g.

downtown Wilmington) that attract tourists and shoppers

Information and Data Collection

planning inputs

Planning Context

– Choices: Wilmington Future Land Use Plan

• Level of Service for Sidewalks (Strategy 1.1.2)

– Wilmington Vision 2020: Downtown Waterfront Plan

• Improve access to the Riverwalk along key pedestrian routes (Strategy 2, Action 1)

• Several complementary goals, priorities and strategies in other plans.

Sidewalk Priority Areas Map from Choices: Wilmington Future Land Use Plan

Planning Context

• WMPO Long Range Transportation Plan– Recommends corridor improvements to better accommodate

pedestrians• Independence Blvd.• Oleander Drive• North and South Kerr Ave.

• Cape Fear Historic Byway Corridor Management Plan– Multiple recommendations to enhance the pedestrian

experience and promote tourism and economic development• “Encourage visitors to get out of their cars and safely explore

the corridor…”• “Increase pedestrian and biking safety along the byway

corridor…”

Planning Context

• NCDOT Board of Transportation Strategic Plan– “Provide a safe and well-maintained interconnected

transportation system that offers modal choices for the movement of all people and goods.”

• NCDOT Board of Transportation Resolution: Bicycling and Walking in North Carolina, a Critical Part of the Transportation System (2000)– “Bicycling and walking shall be a routine part of the

NCDOT’s planning, design, construction, and operations activities…”

– “North Carolina cities and towns are encouraged to make bicycling and walking improvements an integral part of their transportation planning and programming.”

Planning Context

• US DOT’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

Stakeholder Input

• “The existing built environment does not support pedestrian travel”

• “The city is bisected by major roads that are barriers”

• “Over 50% of bus stops do not have sidewalks.”

• “Very few kids walk or bike to school.”

Online and In-Person Surveys

• Web based survey available from February through June• In-person survey conducted at Downtown at Sundown,

Saturday Farmer’s Market, Juneteenth Festival

Pedestrian Survey

• Unsafe and uncomfortable crossings the most critical issue for pedestrians (online 67% , in-person 29%)

• Factors making it unpleasant to walk– Missing sidewalks– Drivers not stopping for pedestrians– Heavy traffic and fast moving vehicles

• 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%

Field Analysis

• Four Character Zones– Central Business District– Urban Core– Traditional Suburban– Auto-Oriented Suburban

• Assessed conditions on arterials and non-arterials:– Connectivity– Crossings– Sidewalk Quality– Accessibility– Streetscape

Pedestrian Crash Statistics

• Wilmington second for number of crashes per capita

Top 10 North Carolina Cities for Pedestrian Crashes (2001-2005)

Number of Crashes

Percent of NC Total Population

Crashes per 10,000 People

Asheville 246 2.02 71,119 34.59 Wilmington 324 2.66 99,623 32.52 Gastonia 220 1.81 67,776 32.46 Charlotte 1730 14.20 671,588 25.76 Greensboro 595 4.88 247,183 24.07 Durham 510 4.18 217,847 23.41 Raleigh 840 6.89 375,806 22.35 Fayetteville 343 2.81 171,853 19.96 High Point 171 1.40 86,211 19.84 Winston-Salem 298 2.45 215,348 13.84

Pedestrian Crash Statistics

– Fatalities and disabling crashes concentrated along arterial roadways

– Less severe crashes occurred on all road classifications

Pedestrian Crash Statistics

• Cost of pedestrian crashes to Wilmington’s economy– Includes medical costs, public services, loss of productivity, employer cost, property damage and

change in quality of life

Cost of Pedestrian Crashes (1997-2005)

Injury TypeCumulative Injuries

1997-2005Cost per Injury1 Total

K Type Injury (fatality) 20

$4,200,00

0 $

84,000,000

A Type Injury (disabling) 45 $240,000 $

10,800,000

B Type Injury (evident) 207 $71,000 $

14,697,000

C Type Injury (possible) 240 $35,000 $

8,400,000 O Type Injury (property damage only) 29 $4,800

$ 139,200

 Unknown 26

 Total 567 $ 118,036,200

1 Estimate in 2007 dollars

Additional planning inputs

• Recent developments and ongoing initiatives– Safe Routes to Schools– Neighborhood Traffic Management Program– WAVE Transit Route Restructuring– Cross-City Trail and River to the Sea Bikeway– Riverwalk Expansion

• Upcoming developments– Traffic signal system upgrade– Pilot scramble intersection– North 3rd Street Streetscape project– Dawson and Wooster Street Pedestrian Safety Improvements– NCDOT Spot Safety Improvements

Pedestrian Facility Recommendations

Identify Areas of High Potential Pedestrian Activity

Population Density

+School Proximity

+Park Proximity

+Allowable zoning

density

=

Relative level of potential activity

Map Existing Conditions

• Existing sidewalks

• Existing signalized intersections

• Existing pedestrian signal heads

• Identified arterials and collectors without sidewalks– Approx. 290 miles

of missing sidewalk

Note- maps under revision to correct data inaccuracies

Recommended Improvements

• 15 miles of new sidewalks• 50 traffic signals

– Add pedestrian signals to existing traffic signals (– Install new traffic signals with pedestrian signals– Install pedestrian hybrid signals (HAWKs) and Rapid Flash Beacons

• Identified areas with high pedestrian potential and missing sidewalk or crossing facilities

• Prioritized facilities along arterial and collector roadways

• Identified opportunities to close gaps or expand existing sidewalk systems

• Identified needed sidewalk improvements for connection to Cross-City Trail and River to the Sea Bikeway

• Identified crossing improvements for the Cross-City Trail and River to the Sea Bikeway

Policy Recommendations

Land Development Code

Current Practice– Sidewalk requirements are

currently located in multiple sections of the document

– Vague provisions for exemption from requirement to build sidewalk

– Unclear requirements for internal pedestrian circulation system design and connections to adjoining sidewalks

Recommendations– Consolidate sidewalk

provisions into one section (see Durham Unified Development Ordinance)

– Clarify that pedestrian connections to existing or proposed sidewalks are required for all construction

– Provide clear guidance on the design of pedestrian facilities in parking lots

Fee in Lieu of Constructing Sidewalks

Concept• Allows applicants to

contribute money to sidewalk fund instead of building sidewalk

• Sidewalk projects can be phased or consolidated

• Money can be used to build facilities in places where they are most needed- even off-site.

Recommendation• Wilmington should consider

developing a fee in lieu program

• City would identify pedestrian benefit zones (next slide)

• City would establish fee rates for necessary pedestrian facilities

• Money must be spent within a defined time period (e.g. 5 years in Asheville)

Pedestrian Benefit Zones

Concept• Complements Fee in

Lieu program• Ensures that funds

collected are spent near the development and will benefit pedestrians in that zone

• Zones should focus on improving continuity along corridors and road crossings

Education, Encouragement and Enforcement

Education• Safe Routes to Schools

– Provides funds to support projects and programs

• NHTSA Child Pedestrian Safety Curriculum– Develops safe walking

skills in elementary school kids

• Collaboration with Media– Newspapers, web, radio

and television

Encouragement• Walk to School Day

– Annual event celebrating kids and parents walking

• Walking and Running Clubs– Regularly scheduled

events– Clubs for all ages and

abilities

Education, Encouragement and Enforcement

Enforcement• Police training

– Pedestrian laws, rights and responsibilities

– Accurate crash reporting– NCDOT officer training

curriculum

• Targeted enforcement– Improve driver and pedestrian

behaviors• Jaywalking and failure to yield

– Crosswalk stings– Speeding

Policy Requesting Sidewalks along and crossings of NCDOT RoadwaysCurrent Practice• Neither Wilmington nor

WMPO have formal policy requesting sidewalks and crossing facilities on all non limited access NCDOT road projects.

Recommendation• City and WMPO should

adopt policy requesting sidewalks and crossing facilities on all non limited access NCDOT road projects

Intersections and Roadway DesignPedestrian and Bicyclist Cut Throughs

Crosswalk Marking PoliciesSignalized and Uncontrolled

Current Policy or Practice• Wilmington does not have a formal policy for when

and how to mark crosswalks• City is required to ask for crosswalks on NCDOT

roadway• Research found no NCDOT guidelines for marking

crosswalks at signalized intersections• NCDOT Std. Practice C-36 addresses midblock

crosswalks

Shipyard Blvd. and Carolina Beach Rd.Vehicles stopped in the pedestrian crossing area

Example of legal marked and unmarked crossings

Recommendations• Develop crosswalk marking

guidelines• Adopt NCDOT pedestrian

midblock crossing policy• Modify design details to

show crosswalks• Mark crosswalks at

signalized intersections across all crossings (legs)

• Install pedestrian signals on signalized crossings greater than two lanes

Crosswalk Marking PoliciesSignalized and Uncontrolled

Recommendations• Develop crosswalk marking

guidelines• Adopt NCDOT pedestrian

midblock crossing policy• Modify design details to

show crosswalks• Mark crosswalks at

signalized intersections across all crossings (legs)

• Install pedestrian signals on signalized crossings greater than two lanes

Crosswalk Marking PoliciesSignalized and Uncontrolled

Signals and SignageTurning Vehicles Yield to Pedestrians

Signals and SignageLeading Pedestrian Intervals (LPI)

Current Policy or Practice• Wilmington does not

currently have a policy for using LPI at traffic signals

Recommendation• City should develop LPI policy• City should pilot LPI in high pedestrian

demand areas (e.g. North 3rd St. at Chestnut Street)

• Wilmington should consider LPI where there is high chance for auto-pedestrian conflicts

Signals and SignagePedestrian actuated signals

Current Policy or Practice• Many push buttons are not accessible• City uses push button activated

signals at all pedestrian signals except downtown

Recommendation• City should adopt 2009 MUTCD policy for

button siting and design• City should upgrade non compliant buttons• City should use concurrent signals in peak

ped areas

Push button is not accessible

Signals and SignagePedestrian Hybrid Signal (HAWK)

Current Policy or Practice• Wilmington and NCDOT do not have

current policy for pedestrian hybrid signals• HAWK signals are in use in several areas

around the country (see movie)

Recommendation• City should adopt 2009 MUTCD policy for the

pedestrian hybrid signal• Recommended locations for the signal include high

volume multi lane arterials with long distances between signalized intersections(e.g. Wooster Street, Market Street)

HAWK Signal- Tucson AZ

Signals and SignageRapid Flashing Warning Beacons

Current Policy or Practice• Wilmington and NCDOT both use

conventional flashing beacons• Neither agency has a policy for

rapid flashing beacons (RFBs)

Recommendation• Wilmington should develop RFB policy based on

FHWA interim approval recommendation• Wilmington should develop a standard sign detail• Wilmington should develop a policy restricting the

use of the conventional flashing beacon

Intersections and Roadway DesignTurning Radius and Intersection Size

Wilmington – 35 foot radius

NCDOT – large radius with no islands

Recommendation:- Minimum necessary

Intersections and Roadway DesignIsland ChannelizationCurrent Policy or Practice

• Island channelization is used infrequently in Wilmington by NCDOT and the city

Recommendation• Wilmington and NCDOT should provide island

channelization between though and right turning traffic– Provides pedestrians with a place to land and wait for

traffic– Reduces crossing times and subsequently signal cycle

lengths

Island Channelization can shorten pedestrian crossings of wide roadways and minimize high speed right turns and promote motorist yielding for pedestrians. Source: Maryland SHA

Raised crosswalk

Intersections and Roadway DesignMedian Refuge IslandsCurrent Policy or Practice

• Wilmington and NCDOT both install median islands on arterial roadways– However they are frequently very narrow or

do not accommodate all types of pedestrians

Recommendation• Wilmington and NCDOT should provide median islands on

all roadways with four or more travel lanes– Should be at least six feet wide– Should provide pavement level cut throughs or ADA compliant curb

ramps

• Must assess impact on intersection and roadway capacity

Common median design in Wilmington

Desired median width

Considerations• Higher speeds contribute to

increased likelihood of injury or death when hit

• Reduced speed limits provides opportunity to reduce travel lane widths-

• -Therefore pedestrian median refuges may be provided without increasing overall road width

• Wilmington may request speed limit reductions/modifications along NCDOT roadways within city limits

Intersections and Roadway DesignPosted Speed Limit Reductions

Intersections and Roadway DesignPosted Speed Limit Reductions

Recommendation

WMPO Functional Classification

Character ZoneLocal or Neighborhood Collector

Urban Collector Arterial

Limited Access Arterial or Freeway

Central Business District 25 25 25 85th percentile

Urban Core 25 25 25 85th percentile

Traditional Suburban 25 35 35 85th percentile

Automobile-Oriented Suburban 25 35 45 85th percentile

• Wilmington should consider establishing speed limits based on roadway classification and character zone

Design Study Areas

South College Road and New Centre Drive

Shipyard Boulevard and Carolina Beach RoadEastwood Road and Military Cutoff Road

South College Road and New Centre Drive

New Centre Drive and South College Road

South College Road and New Centre Drive

Questions?