Title
Transportation 2050 Mobility Program Prioritization (Ordinance S-43515)
Description
Request City Council approval to (1) conduct project assessments for sidewalk improvements on major streets to make transit bus stops Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessible and (2) move forward with 11 areas for mobility assessments that will focus on safe pedestrian and bicycle facilities improvements funded by Transportation 2050 (T2050).
Report
Summary
Due to the significant commitment for new bicycle and pedestrian facilities in the T2050 Plan, a separate T2050 program, Mobility Improvements, was established to implement additional projects that increase Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) accessibility and mobility through new sidewalks and multi-modal connectivity through new bicycle facilities. Unlike other T2050 projects focused specifically on major streets (arterials and major collectors), the Mobility Improvements sub-program funding will be used for mobility projects on all streets (arterial, collector and local), with a particular emphasis on improving connectivity and access to major transportation and transit corridors.
To meet the T2050 bicycle and pedestrian facilities commitments, the Mobility Improvements Program is allocated 15 percent of the Street Transportation Department’s T2050 funds.
Staff has identified and presented factors and data analysis to the Citizens Transportation Commission and Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee for consideration in the development of a prioritization process to evaluate system mobility needs that meet the goals of the T2050 program. This analysis includes data about: location of High Intensity Activated Crosswalk (HAWKS) and Rectangular Rapid Flash Beacon (RRFB); daily bus boardings; ADA non-accessible bus stops (the route to the bus stop does not meet ADA accessible provisions that can include: surface, slope, ramps, curb ramps, etc.); ADA non-compliant bus stops (the bus stop infrastructure does not meet ADA requirements); zero-car households; schools lacking infrastructure to support walk/bike trips; bikeway gaps; bus boardings with bicycles; households below the poverty threshold; population 0-9 and 65+ years of age; and serious and fatal bicycle and pedestrian crashes.
Based on the analysis of the data sets, two primary areas of focus are proposed for Mobility Improvement projects:
A) Major Street Sidewalk Improvements - With T2050’s emphasis on connectivity and accessibility to transportation options and street improvements that support transit service and operations, staff proposes an allocation of Mobility Improvements program funding towards ADA non-accessible bus stops in need of sidewalk improvements as reflected in Attachment A. The locations needing improvements are prioritized based on daily bus boardings at each bus stop location.
B) Mobility Improvement Areas for Further Study - Based on the data set scoring process, 39 distinct areas have been identified that have a high need for bicycle and pedestrian facilities projects, due to the amount of people walking and bicycling in these areas and the existing gaps in the transportation system. These areas are depicted in Attachment B. To better understand the specific needs of each area, staff proposes to complete area mobility assessments for the first 11 areas.
Financial Impact
The Mobility Improvements Program is allocated 15 percent of the Street Transportation Department’s T2050 funds, which calculates to just over $4.2 million in FY2017 and $4.4 million in FY2018. It is estimated that about $25,000 to $75,000 will be used by staff to complete the assessment of sidewalks on major streets, and about $750,000 to $1,000,000 is needed to complete the mobility area assessments.
Concurrence/Previous Council Action
At its Feb. 23, 2017 meeting, the Citizens Transportation Commission unanimously recommended approval to conduct additional project assessments for major street sidewalk improvements for ADA non-accessible bus stops. At its March 30, 2017 meeting, the Citizens Transportation Commission unanimously recommended approval to move forward with 11 areas for mobility assessments that will focus on safe pedestrian and bicycle facilities improvements funded by T2050. On April 11, 2017, the Transportation and Infrastructure Subcommittee unanimously recommended Council approval of both items as well.
Department
Responsible Department
This item is submitted by Deputy City Manager Mario Paniagua and the Street Transportation Department.