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Home My WebLink AboutCOUNCIL - AGENDA ITEM - 02/08/2022 - ACTIVE MODES PLANDATE: STAFF: February 8, 2022 Cortney Geary, Active Modes Mgr. WORK SESSION ITEM City Council SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION Active Modes Plan. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY The purpose of this item is to provide an update on progress developing the Active Modes Plan and seek feedback from Council. The Active Modes Plan will combine and update the 2011 Pedestrian Plan and 2014 Bicycle Plan as well as incorporating micromobility devices such as skateboards and scooters. The project team is finalizing the visioning and existing conditions phases and has started drafting recommendations and developing a prioritization framework. The plan is anticipated for Council adoption in August 2022. GENERAL DIRECTION SOUGHT AND SPECIFIC QUESTIONS TO BE ANSWERED 1. What feedback do Councilmembers have on the draft vision and goals? 2. What feedback do Councilmembers have on community engagement strategies? BACKGROUND / DISCUSSION The City is currently developing an Active Modes Plan, which will combine and update the City’s 2011 Pedestrian Plan and 2014 Bicycle Plan. The plan will incorporate not only pedestrians and bicyclists, but also micro-mobility devices such as scooters and skateboards. The geographic scope of the plan is the Growth Management Area and will incorporate key regional connections beyond the city’s jurisdictional boundaries. This update is focused on identifying key opportunities to significantly improve and expand the City’s existing active modes networks, and support facilities, policies, and programs. The plan will focus on making it easy, safe, and attractive for people of all ages and abilities to use active modes of transportation. The Active Modes Plan is a joint effort between the City and Colorado State University and is funded by both entities. The City funding is derived from bicycle and pedestrian Community Capital Improvement Program funds. The consulting firm Toole Design Group was selected to support the development of the plan through a competitive request for proposals process. Kicking off in September 2021, the project team is currently finalizing the Visioning and Existing Conditions phases and has started drafting recommendations and developing a prioritization framework. The plan is anticipated for Council adoption in August 2022. STRATEGIC ALIGNMENT The Active Modes Plan is strategically aligned with other key plans and initiatives including: 2020 Strategic Plan • Objective 6.1: Improve Safety for people using all modes of travel • Objective 6.3: Ensure equitable access to and expansion of all sustainable modes of travel February 8, 2022 Page 2 City Council 2021 - 2023 Priorities • Implementation of 15-minute community concept • Improved air quality City Plan • Principles T 6 and 7: Support walking and bicycling as safe, easy, and convenient travel options for all ages and abilities by building connected networks of facilities. • Other outcome areas including Environmental Health and Neighborhood Livability & Social Health Our Climate Future • Big Move 4: Convenient Transportation Choices EXISTING CONDITIONS To get a sense of the state of active transportation in Fort Collins today, the project team is analyzing existing conditions data. The analysis includes a review of data related to relevant planning, design, policy, and programmatic efforts; demographic data; land use and zoning; travel behaviors, speeds, and volumes; crash patterns; existing infrastructure location, type, and condition; critical destinations and connections; and resident requests received by the City for infrastructure improvements. Toole Design Group is currently finalizing the existing conditions report. The report will highlight existing issues and opportunities for active modes in Fort Collins. COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT The plan will be informed not only by data analysis, but also on feedback from the community. The project team is seeking broad feedback from stakeholders and the community at-large, with an emphasis on elevating the voices of historically underrepresented groups. A Technical Advisory Committee, composed primarily of City staff and partner agencies, and a Community Advisory Committee, composed of pedestrian and bicycle advocates and community members of diverse backgrounds, provide feedback at key junctures throughout the plan development. The Bicycle Advisory Committee, Transportation Board, and other interested Boards and Commissions are also engaged and providing input. To reach the community at-large, the project team is utilizing both traditional engagement methods such as visioning workshops and focus group meetings as well as non- traditional methods that “meet people where they are” such as pop-up events along trails and at community events. Two examples of engagement methods that have focused on reaching historically underrepresented groups include conducting focus groups with middle school students and contracting with Community Connectors, a local Latina-owned business which hires mobile home community residents to survey their neighbors. For the middle school focus groups, nearly 350 students participated in an in-person mapping activity led by the City’s Safe Routes to School Program. The students identified places they currently walk/bike/skate/scooter or would like to be able to as well as barriers to using active modes of transportation. Thanks to the work of the Community Connectors, 294 Spanish-speaking residents of mobile home communities in and around Fort Collins participated in the community survey. This represents 38% of all survey responses received. Total participation in the public engagement activities thus far is as follows: • Visioning questionnaire = ~350 participants • Community Survey = 771 participants • Mapping Activity = 879 participants; 1,376 submissions February 8, 2022 Page 3 VISIONING Based on all the feedback received from the community, the project team has drafted the following vision and goals. Each goal is supported by a set of specific objectives. The vision and goals will serve as an overarching framework guiding the prioritization framework, recommendations, and implementation strategy. Vision Active transportation is an integral part of daily life and the local cultural experience. Fort Collins is a place where walking, bicycling, and rolling are safe, accessible, and desired by people of all ages and abilities. Goals • Network Connectivity - Create continuous, low-stress bicycle and pedestrian networks. • Access - Foster a transportation network for all people regardless of skill level, age, background, or ability. • Safety and Comfort - Develop and maintain a safe and comfortable transportation network that prioritizes active transportation users. • Health and Equity - Provide equitable programs and opportunities for walking and bicycling that help improve physical activity and environmental health throughout the community. • Community Culture - Expand upon programs and education to strengthen the culture of respect and responsibility for all transportation system users. NEXT STEPS The project team is currently finalizing the vision, goals, and objectives and the existing conditions report. The timeline for the remaining phases of the plan is as follows. The team will seek feedback from stakeholders and the community at-large on the recommendations and prioritization framework as well as the draft plan: February - March 2022 - Recommendations and prioritization May - June 2022 - Draft Plan Review July 2022 - Final Plan Review August 2022 - Anticipated Council Adoption • Final City Council Presentation - August 2nd (tentative) ATTACHMENTS 1. Powerpoint Presentation (PDF) Cortney Geary, Active Modes ManagerWalk. Bike. Roll.Active Modes Plan UpdateATTACHMENT 1 Strategic Alignment2• Implementation of 15-minute community concept• Improved air quality•Transportation: T6&7Support walking and bicycling as safe, easy and convenient travel options for all ages and abilities by building connected networks of facilities.•Environmental Health•Neighborhood Livability & Social HealthStrategic PlanCity Council PrioritiesCity PlanTransportation & Mobility • 6.1 Improve Safety for people using all modes of travel• 6.3 Ensure equitable access to and expansion of all sustainable modes of travel 3Our Climate Future AlignmentThis project supports... Key Questions for City Council1. What feedback do Councilmembers have on the draft vision and goals?2. What feedback do Councilmembers have on community engagement strategies? 5Outline• Background• Community Feedback• Visioning• Next Steps1234 Background1 • Update and consolidate the 2011 Pedestrian Plan and 2014 Bicycle Plan+ Micromobility+ Vision Zero Action Plan+ 15-minute Neighborhood Analysis• Create a more formal walking program• Lay groundwork for achieving priority bicycle and pedestrian improvements guided by best practices:• Bicycle Friendly Communities• Walk Friendly Communities7BackgroundProject Purpose123 8BackgroundWho’s Involved? 9BackgroundWho’s Involved? 10BackgroundProject Schedule•Visioning workshop•Visioning Questionnaire •Project Survey & Online Map•Focus Group Sessions•Community Pop‐ups•Community tour•Analyses and mapping•Existing conditions report•Prioritization framework•Infrastructure•Policies and plans•CSU Corridor Concept Plans•Online Map•Community Pop‐ups•Focus Group Sessions•Prioritization lists•Cost estimates•Implementation strategy•Intersection design training•Administrative draft•Public draft•Online summary•Final draftSEPT NOV JAN MAR MAY JULOCT DEC FEB APR JUN AUGVisioningExisting ConditionsPrioritization & RecommendationsImplementation StrategyDraft & Final Plan1234520222021•Final presentation to City Council 11Background15-minute Neighborhood AnalysisKey Effort Elements• Establish citywide 15-minute vision• Review best practices• Develop broad and equitable public input• Collect data on existing neighborhood level patterns• Develop 15-minute city strategic action plan Community Feedback2 13Community FeedbackEngagement Methods• Visioning• Workshops• Pop-ups• Online questionnaire• Online & print community survey• Survey boxes at community centers• Community Connectors surveying mobile home community residents• Web map• Focus groups• Middle school focus groups• Meetings 14Visioning QuestionnaireIn 10 years…Walking in FC should be:More common place, comfortable, realistic, and accessible activity for all.Not only a means of commuting and reaching key destinations, but also a way to experience nature.Biking in FC should be:More common place, normalized, and accessible activity for all.Free (or at least more inexpensive) with more and high‐quality bike parking.Within a network with more direct routes and more capacity for all modes.Micromobility in FC should be:Free, safe to use, accessible, and allowed in more places.Easy enough to use that it becomes a primary mode of transportation, not just as a first/last mile option.Better regulated (scooters).~350Total participantsCommunity Feedback 15Existing ConditionsCommunity Survey Responses~75%Participants want to walk and/or bike more than they currently doTop Priorities for Walking ImprovementsSidewalk connectivityImproving intersections and crossingsIncreasing sidewalk widths123Top Priorities for Biking ImprovementsExpanding bicycle networkMore protected bike lanesMore underpasses/overpasses123771Total Responses38% Spanish 16Community FeedbackWeb Map Results1,376Total submissions879Total contributorsMost common concerns• Unsafe / uncomfortable crossing• Gap in the network• Driver behavior / speeds• Narrow sidewalk / bike facility / trail• Missing connection• Lack of lighting Visioning3 Active Modes Plan Vision (DRAFT)Active transportation is an integral part of daily life and the local cultural experience. Fort Collins is a place where walking, bicycling, and rolling are safe, accessible, and desired by people of all ages and abilities. Network ConnectivityCreate continuous, low‐stress bicycle and pedestrian networks.AccessFoster a transportation network for all people regardless of skill level, age, background, or ability.Safety & ComfortDevelop and maintain a safe and comfortable transportation network that prioritizes active transportation users.Health & EquityProvide equitable programs and opportunities for walking and bicycling that help improvephysical activity and environmental health throughout the community.Community CultureExpand upon programs and education to strengthen the culture of respect and responsibility for all transportation system users.Draft Goals Key Questions for City Council1. What feedback do Councilmembers have on the draft vision and goals?2. What feedback do Councilmembers have on community engagement strategies? Next Steps4 22Next StepsFebruary / March 2022Recommendations & prioritization criteriaMay / June 2022Draft plan reviewJuly 2022Final plan reviewAugust 2022Anticipated City Council adoptionFinal City Council presentation tentatively August 2nd For Questions or Comments, Please Contact:THANK YOU!Cortney Gearycgeary@fcgov.com