Regional Overview of Joint Bicycle
and Pedestrian Initiatives in the Old
Colony Region
Presented By:
Kyle Mowatt, Old Colony Planning Council
Bill McNulty, Old Colony Planning Council
Tim Kochan, MassDOT Highway Division, District 5
Role of District 5 Transportation Planner &
Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator
•
•
•
•
Provide planning liaison to 81 cities and towns and 6 RPAs in conjunction
with the District 5 Project Development Section
Coordinate with MassDOT’s OTP in the development and implementation of
regional and statewide plans, programs, policies and projects
Advocate for policies, programs and projects that enhance municipally
owned and state highway owned transportation infrastructure
Assist District Project Development Engineer in matters relating to project
development:
– Administration of Project Need Forms (PNF) and Project Initiation Forms (PIF)
– Advancement of project proposals to MassDOT’s Project Review Committee
(PRC) for approval and implementation
•
Serve as District 5 Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator to implement
MassDOT’s policies and goals:
– “Complete Streets”
– “GreenDOT Implementation Plan”
District 5 Service Area
•
•
13 RPAs / MPOs in the Commonwealth
6 MPOs in District 5
-
Boston (18 communities)
SE MA Region
Old Colony
Cape Cod
Martha’s Vineyard
Nantucket
District 5 MPOs
Planning/Design Process
• Proposals are initiated by:
– MassDOT:
• District Office
• Office of Transportation Planning (OTP)
– Municipalities
– Regional Planning Agency (RPA)
– State Legislative
– Congressional Earmarks
Planning/Design Process
• Projects are developed to address
identified needs:
– Safety
– Congestion
– Multi-modal Accommodation
– Improved Accessibility
– Economic Development
– Air Quality / Greenhouse Gas (GHG)
Emissions
GreenDOT Goals
MassDOT’s GreenDOT Policy goals are organized under several
sustainability themes including:
- Reduce GHG emissions
- Improve life cycle impacts of
investments
- Improve statewide air
quality
Air
Materials
- Design a multi-modal
transportation system
- Consume less energy
Energy
- Promote healthy
Policy/Planning transportation + livable
communities
Role of OCPC Transportation Planning
Staff
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Sixteen member communities
Coordinate with local, regional, state and federal officials in
the development of plans and programs
Consult with local government and transit organization officials to
identify transportation needs
Collect and analyze data
Provide technical assistance to member communities
Engage in public outreach activities
Represent the OCPC on various transportation committees and task
forces
Participate in diverse transportation forums throughout the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
OCPC Multimodal Planning
Efforts
Bicycle and Pedestrian Connectivity and Livability Study
Phase One
Bicycle and Pedestrian Connectivity and Livability Study
Phase Two
Bicycle and Pedestrian Level of
Service (LOS)
Easton Pedestrian Level of Service Results
Easton Bicycle Level of Service Results
Good
Poor
Bicycle and Pedestrian Level of
Service (LOS)
Data Collection Tools
Between Segments
Bicycle and Pedestrian Level of
Services (BLOS and PLOS)
models developed by the 2010
Highway Capacity Manual
At Intersections
Pedestrian Infrastructure Index model developed by FHWA to evaluate the pedestrian conditions at intersection
South Coast Rail
Technical Assistance Study: Town of
Easton
• Roche Bros. Plaza and Easton Village are potential South Coast Rail (SCR) station locations.
• Connect Priority Development Areas (PDAs) throughout town with bike lanes and/or sidewalks.
• Promote bicycling as a relevant choice for transportation.
Give Your Old Bike a New Life
• Bikes collected at the Old Colony Planning Council and Massasoit Community College.
• Travis Cycle made repairs to the bicycles.
• Bikes donated to Stairway to Recovery and Boys & Girls Club of Brockton.
• Around 30 bikes donated.
Bay State Bike Week
• To Promote cycling as a mode of transportation.
• Events included a Long Ride (17 Miles) through the town of Easton, Bunny Hop competition, and a group ride.
• Bike safety lessons for kids.
Old Colony Bicycle Parking
Program
• Modeled after successful program created by Boston
MPO
• Communities reimbursed for cost of bicycle racks
installed in public areas.
– Shipping and installation comprises community match
• Programmed For FFY 2012, 2013, 2014, and 2016
• $50,000/Program Year
– FFY 2012 Funding: Transportation Enhancements (TE)
– FFY 2013, 2014, and 2016 Funding: Congestion Mitigation and
Air Quality Program (CMAQ)
Community Involvement and
Cooperation
• Plymouth Trails, Transportation, Parks and Recreation
Group
– Jordan Hospital, Town of Plymouth, GATRA, Wildlands Trust,
Others, OCPC
• South Street Pedestrian Safety (West Bridgewater)
– Town of West Bridgewater, Representative Christine Canavan,
The First Church of West Bridgewater, Concerned Citizens,
OCPC
– Earmark for new sidewalks in transportation bill (State)
• Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force
Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Task
Force
• Started in 2010
• Meets 3-4 times per year
• Community
Representatives,
MassDOT District 5,
MassDOT OTP, MassBike,
Private Enterprises,
Citizens, Other
Stakeholders
Plymouth Safe Routes To School
Plan
• Working with Town of Plymouth (Planning, DPW, Public
Schools) and Jordan Hospital
• Funded in-part through Mass In Motion Grant
(Community Transformation Grant)
• Goal: By September 2014, 50 percent of Plymouth
Elementary and Middle School aged children
participating in Safe Routes To School
Plymouth Complete Streets Plan
• Working with Town of Plymouth and Jordan Hospital
• Funded in-part through Mass In Motion Grant
(Community Transformation Grant)
• Develop a Complete Streets Plan/Policy for the Town
– Promotes walking, bicycling, and active transportation modes
• Map of Existing Sidewalks, Trails, Paths
• Infrastructure Plan for future roadway improvements
• Interactive signage (QR Codes) on trails and
tourist/recreational destinations
Projects Containing Multimodal
Improvements
MassDOT has numerous projects currently undergoing
design or construction in the Old Colony Region including:
•
•
•
•
Brockton – Route123 / Manley Street / V.A. Hospital
Brockton – Safe Routes to School (Brookfield Elementary
School)
Easton – Route 138 / Route 106
Plymouth – Samoset Street (Route 44)
Belmont Street (Route 123) at Manley Street
and VA Medical Center - Brockton
• Under Construction
• Road Safety Audit Completed March 2011
• Existing Issues:
– Very narrow shoulders
– Obstacles (utility poles) located within sidewalks
– Lack of curb reveal
– Multiple struck pedestrians in recent years, including fatalities
– Disabled persons from VA Hospital, particularly those wheelchair bound, have great difficulty crossing
Belmont Street (Route 123) at Manley Street
and VA Medical Center - Brockton
Brockton – Route123 / Manley Street / V.A.
Hospital (In Construction)
Project Description :
– Traffic Signal upgrades at Route 123 / V.A. Hospital and the Route 123 /
Manley Street intersections
Planned Multimodal Improvements:
–
–
–
–
–
–
Minor widening to provide 4 foot paved bike accommodating shoulders
Reconstruction of sidewalks (both sides) to 5.5 feet
Installation of granite curbing with 6 inch reveal
Reconstruction of wheelchair ramps at the intersections
Reconstruction of pedestrian refuge island at V.A. Hospital driveway
Upgrading of traffic signals to include enhanced pedestrian signals
Brockton – Route123 / Manley Street / V.A.
Hospital Design
Proposed Pedestrian
Refuge Island
Project Locus Map
Safe Routes to School (SRTS) - Brockton
•
•
•
Planned FFY 2013 TIP
The City of Brockton and
Brookfield Elementary School
parents have expressed
concern regarding the conflicts
between vehicles and
pedestrians
Existing Issues:
– Lack of sidewalks on Jon Drive
and Sully Road creates conflict
between pedestrians, bicyclists
and motorists
– Insufficient wheelchair
accommodation
– Insufficient bicycle parking at
Brookfield Elementary School
Brockton – Safe Routes to School (SRTS)
(Under Design)
•
Project Description :
– Safe Routes to School construction at the Brookfield Elementary School
•
Planned Multimodal Improvements :
– Construction of new 5 foot wide sidewalks on Jon Drive and Sully Road
– Installation of concrete wheelchair ramps
– Installation of 42 foot by 12 foot concrete bike rack pad and bike rack at
Elementary School
Brockton – Safe Routes to School (SRTS)
Design
Bike Rack Plan
Project Locus Map
Bike Rack Detail
Foundry Street (Route 106) at Turnpike
Street (Route 138) – Easton
• Programmed in Old Colony TIP
• Road Safety Audit Completed 2009
• Existing Issues: –
–
–
–
Very narrow shoulders
No Crosswalks
No Pedestrian Crossing Controls or Bicycle Activation
Narrow Sidewalks
Easton – Route 138 / Route 106
(Under Design)
Project Description :
– Traffic Signal and geometric improvements at Route 138 and Route 106
Planned Multimodal Improvements :
–
–
–
–
–
–
Reconstruction and minor widening of all roadway approaches
Construction of 4 foot paved bike accommodating shoulders
Reconstruction and widening of sidewalks at all approaches to 5.5 feet
Installation of traffic signals with enhanced pedestrian signals
Installation of bicycle loop detectors in approach travel lanes
Construction of dedicated turn lanes at all approaches
Easton – Route 138 / Route 106 Design
Project Locus Map
Proposed Typical Cross Section
Samoset Street (Route 44) – Plymouth
• FFY 2013
(Old Colony TIP)
• Gateway to Downtown
Plymouth
• Existing Issues:
– Narrow shoulders
– Deteriorated sidewalks
– Lack of curb reveal
Plymouth – Samoset Street (Route 44)
(Under Design)
Project Description :
– Reconstruction of Route 44 (Samoset Street) from Route 3 (NB
Ramp) easterly to Water Street
Planned Multimodal Improvements :
– Minor widening to provide uniform 4 foot wide paved bike
accommodating shoulders
– Reconstruction of existing sidewalks to 5.5 feet
– Installation of sloped granite edging where sidewalks don’t exist
– Traffic signal upgrades at two intersections
– Installation of bicycle loop detectors and pedestrian activated
traffic signals at one intersection
Plymouth – Samoset Street (Route 44) Design
Project Locus Map
Proposed Typical Cross Section
Completed Projects
Numerous projects containing multimodal improvements
have been completed in the Old Colony Region including:
• Seaside Trail – Plymouth
• Silver Lake Pedestrian Crossing - Kingston
Plymouth Seaside Trail
•
•
•
Opened in 2005
1.5 Mile Paved / Crushed Stone Path Along Former Railroad Right‐of‐Way from Hedge Road to Nelson Street Park
Transportation Enhancements Project
Silver Lake Pedestrian Crossing
(Kingston)
• Locally Initiated and Funded Project
• OCPC worked with Town through Local Highway Technical Assistance program to further enhance Route 27 Reconstruction project and improve pedestrian safety at Silver Lake School Campus (Middle School and High School)
• Solar powered, pedestrian actuated (motion sensors) Rectangular Rapid Flashing Beacons (RRFB) installed, along with retroreflective signage, at crosswalks
Methods for Addressing Multimodal
Accommodation
The following five slides will summarize various initiatives
undertaken by both the OCPC and MassDOT that address
multimodal accommodation vis-à-vis the 5 Es*
*Established by the League of American Bicyclists
Engineering
Category Description :
•
Features and improvements constructed to promote cycling in the
community
– Accommodation for cyclists on public roads
– Construction of well-designed bike lanes and multi-use paths in the community
– Availability of secure bike parking facilities
MassDOT/OCPC Initiatives :
•
•
•
•
Complete Streets design philosophy – all MassDOT reconstruction projects
must consider accommodation for pedestrians and bicycles
Accelerated Bridge Program – must consider improvements to pedestrian
and bicycle accommodations on targeted structurally-deficient bridges
Regional OCPC Bike/Pedestrian Level of Service (LOS) Studies
Safe Routes to School (SRTS) – Brockton : Brookfield Elementary School
sidewalks and bicycle pad/rack
Education
Category Description :
•
Availability of education for both cyclists and motorists regarding safe
cycling practices
– Teaching cyclists how to ride safely
– Teaching motorists how to share the road safely with cyclists
– Distribution of safety techniques to the public
MassDOT/OCPC Initiatives :
•
•
•
Bicycle Facility Data – online bicycle mapping tool developed by MassDOT
and incorporated into Roadway Inventory to be updated annually
MassDOT/Bay State Roads – collaboration to provide “Complete Streets”
training for municipal, regional and state planners/stakeholders (OCPC and
MassDOT District 5 staff participation)
Invite Bill DeSantis, Corporate Director for Bicycle and Pedestrian
Transportation at VHB, Inc. (Providence) to provide his presentation
demonstrating how communities can implement low cost improvements for
providing on-road bike accommodation (TBA)
Encouragement
Category Description :
•
Promotion and encouragement of bicycling in the community
MassDOT/OCPC Initiatives :
•
•
•
•
•
Bay State Bike Week (BSBW) – annual event aimed at reinforcing
MassDOT’s GreenDOT goals and promoting bicycling and walking as
effective, healthy modes of transportation
OCPC - planning / promoting BSBW events throughout region
Moving Together – annual bicycling and walking conference held, with
MassDOT and OCPC assistance, to promote these means of transportation
Old Colony Bicycle Parking Program – CMAQ funded installation of bicycle
racks in public areas region-wide
OCPC / Massasoit Community College – collection/donation of used
bicycles to social service agencies in Brockton
Enforcement
Category Description :
• Law enforcement practices that promote a safe environment for cyclists
– Paulsen Bill – enacted in 1996 making Massachusetts one of only three states to
have a state law requiring the state Department of Transportation to incorporate
bicyclist and pedestrian accommodations into the design and construction of all
public works projects
– Chapter 525 of the Massachusetts Session Laws – signed by Governor Deval
Patrick in 2009, this law established a required bicycle safety enforcement
course for all regional and municipal law enforcement officers
MassDOT/OCPC Initiatives :
• South Coast Rail Technical Assistance Study: Town of Easton – addressed
public sentiment for increased police enforcement for motor vehicles failing
to yield for pedestrians in downtown crosswalks
• Same Roads. Same Rules. - MassBike in partnership with: Massachusetts
Department of Transportation, Executive Office of Public Safety and
Security, Department of Public Health and the Department of Conservation
and Recreation have established a campaign to implement a common set of
rules emphasizing mutual bicyclist / motorist safety and respect
Evaluation & Planning
Category Description :
•
Evaluation of current bicyclist safety and promotional programs as well as the implementation of
future accommodation plans
MassDOT/OCPC Initiatives :
•
The District 5 Project Development Section, in the review of PNFs/PIFs submitted by
municipalities, advocates for the proponent to document that they have evaluated and discounted
existing on-road opportunities for accommodating bikes and peds before proposing costly off-road
proposals such as rails to trails projects
•
Highway Safety Improvement Program (HSIP) Top Crash Cluster Interactive Maps
– HSIP Bicycle Clusters Map – interactive map depicting the locations of high crash volume
areas involving cyclists
– HSIP Pedestrian Clusters Map – interactive map depicting the locations of high crash volume
areas involving pedestrians
– These maps allow for easy identification of high-risk areas that may require improvements to
ensure the safety of bicycle and pedestrian traffic
•
Old Colony Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Task Force
•
Safe Routes to School Planning (Brockton & Plymouth)
•
Plymouth Complete Streets and Safe Routes to School Planning in conjunction with Jordan
Hospital and school system
•
South Coast Rail Technical Assistance Study: Town of Easton – effort to connect recreational and
commercial areas with bike lanes and/or sidewalks
•
OCPC – ongoing safety studies in Stoughton to include bicycle and pedestrian accommodations
in Stoughton Square and a segment of Route 138
•
OCPC – ongoing bottleneck study in Bridgewater of Route 104 including bicycle and pedestrian
safety and accommodation
Comments / Questions?
Kyle Mowatt, Old Colony Planning Council
kmowatt@ocpcrpa.org – (508) 583-1833 ext. 214
Bill McNulty, Old Colony Planning Council
wmcnulty@ocpcrpa.org – (508) 583-1833 ext. 207
Tim Kochan, MassDOT Highway Division District 5
Timothy.Kochan@state.ma.us – (508) 884-4254