2017.12.20 Parks Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Image Placeholder 194TRANSPORTATION2040 COMPREHENSIVE PLAN UPDATE DRAFT Dec14-17 for review only DRAFT Dec14-17 for review only DRAFT Dec14-17 for review only Accessibility is a very important consideration for non-motorized design� All new pedestrian and bicycle facilities must meet the ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) accessibility guidelines established in PROWAG� The guidelines in PROWAG address the design needs of people with physical and/or visual impairments� Accessibility will become increasingly important over the next 20 years due to demographic changes� Baby boomers are aging and the population over age 65 is increasing� People over 65 are more likely to have physical and/or visual impairments that affect their ability to get around� To address accessibility issues, it is recommended that the City develop an ADA transition plan to bring sidewalks, trails, and intersections into compliance with ADA� Non-Motorized Transportation Design Considerations Design dimensions for sidewalks are recommended to be five-feet or wider, with a minimum of a four-foot wide boulevard between the sidewalk and the curb� Increased separation improves pedestrian comfort and provides space for street signs and snow storage� Several types of bicycle facilities exist within the metropolitan area, with each having its own benefits and limitations depending on the surrounding environment and intended audience� Bicycle facilities include: off-street facilities, protected bikeways, buffered bicycle lanes, conventional bicycle lanes, bicycle boulevards, and wide paved shoulders� Multi-use trails are recommended to be a minimum of eight-feet wide� Regional trails are recommended to be a minimum of ten-feet wide due to higher use and the design requirements to comply with federal funding� Trails must have a two-foot wide clear zone on either side to reduce hazards for bicyclists and provide a recovery zone if a bicyclist leaves the edge of the trail� The clear zone can be paved or turf surface� No signs, furnishings, trees, or other obstructions can be in the clear zone� Paved shoulders should be a minimum of four-feet wide if intended for bicycle and pedestrian use� Four-foot wide shoulders are adequate on streets with traffic volumes below 1,000 vehicles per day. Six- to eight-foot shoulders are recommended when traffic volumes exceed 1,000 vehicles per day� A wider shoulder improves pedestrian and bicyclist safety and comfort when vehicle traffic speeds and volumes are higher� As non-motorized facilities are planned and designed, the City should consult additional planning and design resources, including: • MnDOT Bikeway Facility Design Manual • Minnesota Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices • MnDOT Complete Streets Implementation Resource Guide • Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities – American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials • Guide for the Planning, Design, and Operation of Pedestrian Facilities – American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials • Public Rights of Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG) – US Access Board