City of Alexandria, Virginia
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MEMORANDUM
DATE: MAY 7, 2014
TO: THE HONORABLE MAYOR AND MEMBERS OF CITY COUNCIL
FROM: RASHAD M. YOUNG, CITY MANAGER/s/
DOCKET TITLE:
TITLE
Consideration and Receipt of Complete Streets Update and Policy Reenactment.
BODY
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ISSUE: Complete Streets 2013, accomplishments, upcoming projects, and reenactment of the Complete Streets Policy.
RECOMMENDATION: That City Council (1) Receives an update on the Complete Streets Program and (2) Re-enacts a Complete Streets Policy by adopting the proposed resolution (Attachment 1).
BACKGROUND: Complete Streets is the term used to describe a comprehensive, integrated transportation network with infrastructure and design that allows for safe and convenient travel along and across streets for all users, including pedestrians, bicyclists, riders and drivers and users of public transportation, as well as drivers of other motor vehicles.
In April 2011, City Council adopted a Complete Streets Policy which was drafted and initiated by the Alexandria Transportation Commission, and in January of 2013 a Complete Streets Coordinator was hired to manage the program. Alexandria is a leader in Complete Streets, with the first designated Complete Streets Coordinator in the region, which demonstrates the City's commitment to multimodal transportation and safety. Because the Complete Streets Coordinator had been with the City for three months when the two year mark occurred, staff proposed delaying the reenactment until the program had been established for a full year.
Complete Streets is consistent with the City Council Strategic Plan, and directly supports Goal Three, which calls for a
"multimodal transportation network that supports sustainable land use and provides internal mobility and regional connectivity for Alexandrians." It is also consistent with the 2008 Transportation Master Plan which calls for the City to
"make walking a part of people's everyday lives by providing pleasant, safe and accessible connections that encourage and reward the choice to walk" and to "Implement a citywide bikeway network to serve all users and trip types, provide end-of-trip facilities, improve bicycle/transit integration, implement encouragement programs and improve safety." The Complete Street Policy recommended for reenactment, also includes exceptions in circumstances when the policy does not apply.
DISCUSSION: A key aspect of the Complete Streets Program is public outreach. Introduction to Complete Streets and the program's initiatives have been given to a number of City Boards and Commissions, as well as sixteen civic association and community meetings. A Complete Streets Program website and Call.Click.Connect. forms have been created, where project information and requests can be easily accessed.
In October of 2013, an expert from the National Complete Streets Coalition provided a training that was funded by a grant from the MetLife Foundation's Partnership for Livable Communities. Over thirty staff members from the departments of Transportation and Environmental Service, Recreation, Parks and Cultural Activities, and Planning and Zoning attended the training.
Numerous Complete Streets infrastructure improvements have taken place over the last year to improve the safety of roadway users and provide a more multimodal environment. Projects include the installation of pedestrian crossing enhancements, bicycle facilities, signal modifications and upgraded signage. For a complete table of improvements see Attachment 2. Additionally, a number of grant projects have been designed and will be implemented in FY 2015. The Complete Streets program accomplishments are listed below.
Complete Streets 2013 Program Accomplishments
· Achieved Silver Level Designation as a Bicycle Friendly Community
· Applied for and approved by COG for a $400,000 New Freedom Grant for pedestrian improvements at transit stops
· In consultation with the Department of Planning and Zoning, developed a Complete Streets checklist to ensure that a Complete Streets review is conducted for all new development
· Created a Complete Streets tabulation to be included on the cover page for all development plans submitted for approval (Attachment 3),
· Updated Bicycle Parking Guidelines to require more bicycle parking spaces for new developments
· Worked with the Alexandria Commissions on Aging and Persons with Disabilities to update the brick sidewalk policy
In 2014, major Complete Streets initiatives include the development of Complete Streets Guidelines (in conjunction with the Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Update) and a study to improve pedestrian access to transit stops.
The Complete Streets Policy states that the "resolution will be reviewed for reenactment two years from the date it is adopted." A Complete Streets Program update was provided to the Transportation Commission and the Traffic and Parking Board at public hearings on April 2, 2014 and April 28, 2014, respectively. The Transportation Commission supported the re-enactment of the Complete Streets Policy (Attachment 4), and the Traffic and Parking Board supported the reenactment with recommended additions to the resolution (Attachment 5). Based on the information provided showing the success of this program, it is recommended that Council reenact this policy and strike the language requiring reenactment from the document (Attachment 1).
FISCAL IMPACT: By the end of fiscal year 2014, it is anticipated that over $1,000,000 will have been used to design and implement projects. The adopted CIP includes $1,000,000 of funding for FY 2015 for Complete Streets projects, and staff will continue to pursue additional grant funding. Also in FY 2015, $100,000 was funded in the adopted budget for operational maintenance funding of the Complete Streets program.
ATTACHMENTS:
Attachment 1: Complete Streets Policy Re-enactment
Attachment 2: Complete Streets Infrastructure Improvements Table
Attachment 3: Complete Streets Tabulation for Development Plans
Attachment 4: Transportation Commission Letter to City Council
Attachment 5: Traffic and Parking Board Recommendation to City Council
Attachment 6: PowerPoint presentation
STAFF:
Mark Jinks, Deputy City Manager
Richard J. Baier, P.E., LEED AP, Director, T&ES
Craig Fifer, Acting Director, Office of Communications & Public Information
Sandra Marks, Acting Deputy Director, Transportation, T&ES
Jerome Fletcher, Special Assistant to the City Manager
Antonio Baxter, Division Chief, Strategic Management Services, T&ES
Carrie Sanders, Acting Division Chief, Transportation Planning, T&ES
Hillary Poole, Complete Streets Coordinator, T&ES
Kathleen Leonard, Public Information Officer, T&ES