07-12-2018 Planning Commission Packet

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60 Bike and Trail Planning Besides driving or taking the bus, there is another option for residents of Little Canada to get around, active transportation. Biking and walking are not only effective at for short range mobility (and even medium range for accomplished bicyclists) they are also a great way for residents to stay active and healthy. Little Canada currently provides some bike facilities, however their design varies from dedicated bike lanes, to semi-protected shoulders, to completely separated trails. This is not uncommon for cities, as different bike infrastructure has different intended uses and up - front-costs, however it does require that the city be thoughtful in which ways it designs future bike infrastructure for optimal use. In addition to the existing trails, the city is also identified by the Metropolitan Council in its Regional Bicycle Transportation Network or RBTN. The RBTN was developed based upon the 2014 Regional Bicycle System Study, which saw a need to develop a cohesive plan for bicycle facilities in the future. The RBTN identifies critical corridors for enhanced bike infrastructure, and where specific alignments can help improve overall system connectedness. These alignments and corridors are split into two tiers, ranked by the priority of their development. Little Canada has a Tier 1 alignment along Edgerton, and both Tier 1 and 2 corridors. Tier 1 priority corridors/alignments are planned in locations where they can attract the most riders and where they can most effectively enhance mode choice in favor of biking, walking, and transit over driving alone. When planning for future local routes the Metropolitan Council provides a set of six guiding principles. The city of Little Canada will use these principles in the development of bike infrastructure along Edgerton or in other areas of the city. • Overcome physical barriers and eliminate critical system gaps. • Facilitate safe and continuous trips to regional destinations. • Accommodate a broad range of cyclist abilities and preferences to attract a wide variety of users. • Integrate and/or supplement existing and planned infrastructure. • Consider opportunities to enhance economic development.