Complete Streets: Assessing Accessibility in Naperville, IL
Created for The City of Naperville By: Nora Flynn Urban Planning Student University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign October 2, 2015
Table of Contents Cover Page...1 Table of Contents...2 Executive Summary...3 Introduction...4 Methods and Data...5 Conclusions...9
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Executive Summary This report discusses how the Naperville, IL can strive for complete street policy in order to improve transportation for the city, focusing on increased accessibility to and around downtown. Public transportation and bicycle infrastructure are two features of complete streets that would improve Naperville for many residents. Currently, it is difficult to live in Naperville without a car. But by implementing new transit features and options, downtown Naperville will be able to continue to grow as a central location for the city by becoming available to people regardless of car ownership.
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Introduction
aging new development and higher property values. WalkScore.com is a website that gives locations a score For most Americans, the primary mode of transporfrom 1-100, based on how walkable it is.4 They evalutation is driving a car. Historically, the government ate car dependence and access to public transit. A real has invested resources into creating a transnationestate market survey found that places with a one point al highway system to accommodate and encourage widespread automobile use. Communities have grown WalkScore increase saw increased home values by $700 to $3,000, indicating walkability as a desirable feature.3 their transportation infrastructure in the interests of automobile drivers. Urban planning calls into question 4 How Walk Score Works. (2015). Retrieved October 1, 2015, from https://www. whether this kind of growth is detrimental to commu- walkscore.com/how-it-works/ nities. The degree of influence automobile transportation has on cities today was not necessarily a concern when they were being built. In more recent years, city planners across America have decided that streets designed specifically for cars were not the best way to go. They instead propose the idea of complete streets, roads that have a purpose apart from being driven on. This report will explore complete streets and how they could fit into the community of Naperville, IL.
Background
What exactly is a complete street? The National Complete Streets Coalition describes them in simple terms as being “streets for everyone�.1 No matter the transportation choice, complete streets are designed to ensure safety and increase efficiency. The definition of a complete street can vary from location to location. A suburban neighborhood will not have the same transportation needs as a city with 10 million people. But in many cases, complete streets will include public transit options, designated bike paths and lanes, and clearer crosswalks to improve safety and accessibility. Wider sidewalks, benches, and green space encourage pedes- Figure 1: Fatality Analysis Reporting System (FARS) Encyclopedia, National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, Washington D.C., 2013. trian usage, which in turn can help local businesses Safety benefits have been a compelling argument for and improve community connections.2 proponents of complete streets. In 2004, there were Complete streets can help the economy. Smart Growth 42,884 traffic related fatalities. By 2013, that number had dropped to 32,719. However, as seen in Figure 1, America cites that in Dallas, TX, those who choose the decrease in fatalities applies only to vehicle occuother modes of transit over driving save on average $9,026 per year.3 The switch also helps local businesses. pants. Although there are fewer overall, motorcyclists, pedestrians, and pedalcyclists now make up a greater Adding bike lanes and wider sidewalks can increase foot traffic in the area and as a result, local businesses proportion of traffic related deaths. The difference in will have higher sales. Streets with foot traffic become improvement may be due to street design prioritizing more desirable locations for private investors, encour- automobile occupant safety, putting those who choose alternative and more physically vulnurable modes of 1 What are Complete Streets? (2015). Retrieved October 2, 2015, from http://www. transportation at greater risk. smartgrowthamerica.org/complete-streets/complete-streets-fundamentals/com-
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plete-streets-faq 2 Benefits of Complete Streets. (2015). Retrieved October 1, 2015, from http:// www.smartgrowthamerica.org/complete-streets/complete-streets-fundamentals/ benefits-of-complete-streets/ 3 Complete Streets Stimulate the Local Economy. (2015). Retrieved October 1, 2015, from http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/documents/cs/factsheets/cs-economic.pdf
But how does this apply to Naperville, IL? At a population of 141,853 that is growing yet, it is difficult to generalize the completeness of all the streets in Illinois’
fifth largest city.5 We have selected a specific part of Naperville to examine, downtown and the surrounding college campus and neighborhoods. The segment is bound by the BNSF railroad track, Charles Avenue, Highland Avenue, and Main Street to the north, east, south, and west, respectively. According to WalkScore.com, downtown has a WalkScore of 84, which is described as being an area where most errands can be made on foot. However, the city has an overall score of 34 which makes it a car dependent city.6 Downtown Naperville was selected because even though it contains walkable features, accessibility to alternative modes of transportation in the city as a whole is lacking. Benches, green space, and wider sidewalks are placed around downtown. Naperville is particularly notable for its 1.75 mile Riverwalk along the DuPage River as an attraction that boosts walkability.7 The city has developed a thriving shopping, leisure, and entertainment but visitors are reliant on cars if they wish to enjoy it. This report will examine features of complete streets and improved transportation, and what place they have in Naperville’s future. 5 Naperville, IL. (2010). Retrieved October 1, 2015, from http://factfinder.census. gov/faces/nav/jsf/pages/community_facts.xhtml 6 Living in Naperville. (2015). Retrieved October 1, 2015, from https://www. walkscore.com/IL/Naperville 7 Naperville Riverwalk. (2013). Retrieved October 1, 2015, from http://www. naperville.il.us/riverwalk.aspx
Methods and Data Public Transit
Figure 2: Profile of Selected Housing Characteristics. U.S Bureau of the Census, Census 2000. http://censtats.census.gov/data/IL/1601751622.pdf
Naperville is a city of cars. As seen in Figure 2, the majority of households own at least one vehicle. As a result, public transportation is not designed to bring people to and from downtown. Pace buses currently operate in the area but twenty-two of the routes run only on weekdays to bring commuters to and from the train station. There is only one route, 530, that stops in downtown and operates on Saturday. The bus runs East from Aurora towards Naperville. Of the twelve stops on the route, only three are within Naperville city boundaries, including the final stop at the Metra Station. From Monday to Saturday, the route begins departures after
Source: Google Maps.
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7:00 AM and ends before 7:00 PM. There are no routes on Sunday.8 Although this route exists, it is extremely limited in where it stops and when it runs. For most of the city, there is no public transportation option during times other than the start and end of the work day.
Who Benefits From Public Transit?
Certain populations may be more restricted by the lack of public transportation than others. Children who cannot legally drive and older adults who may be unable to drive have limited independence in a car centric city such as Naperville. Shown in Figure 3, 37% of Naperville’s population is either under 14 years or older than 60. Predictions from the U.S. Census Bureau estimate that in the next 35 years, the number of Americans over the age of 75 will double.9 As Americans grow older, transportation needs will change. According to a Smart Growth America survey,
80% of older adults believed that public transportation was a better option for seniors as opposed to driving alone, especially at night.10Complete streets that include public transportation allow the elderly to continuing participating in their communities by providing travel alternatives that do not rely on the ability to operate a motor vehicle. Additionally, public transit may reduce the injury risks seniors take while walking. In 2008, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reported that people 64 years or older made up 21% of all pedestrian fatalities while representing only 13% of the population.11 It is important to consider changes regarding safety that can be made now to accommodate the country’s changing demographics.
10 Older Adults. (2015). Retrieved October 1, 2015, from http://www.smartgrowthamerica.org/complete-streets/complete-streets-fundamentals/factsheets/ older-adults 8 Pace Bus - Route 530. (2015). Retrieved October 1, 2015, from http://www. 11 National Pedestrian Crash Report. (2008, June 1). Retrieved October 1, 2015, pacebus.com/sub/schedules/route_detail.asp?RouteNo=530 from Older Adults. (2015). Retrieved October 1, 2015, from http://www.smart9 Injury Prevention & Control. (2014, October 7). Retrieved October 1, 2015, from growthamerica.org/complete-streets/complete-streets-fundamentals/factsheets/ http://www.cdc.gov/motorvehiclesafety/pedestrian_safety/index.html olderadults
Figure 3: Profile of General Population and Housing Characteristics: 2010, U.S Department of Commerce, U.S. Census Bureau, 2010
Children, who in 2010 made up over 23% of the city’s population, can also benefit from public transit implementation. One of the main streets leading into downtown Naperville from residential neighborhoods is Washington Street as shown. Currently, sidewalks are narrow and there is no separation from the busy, four lane street. For children living outside of the neighborhoods directly adjacent to downtown, traveling alone on bicycle or foot could be dangerous as a result of their decreased visibility due to size. In 2012, U.S. Department of Transporta6
Source: Google Maps Street View.
tion reported that over 20% of children killed in traffic crashes were pedestrians. 12Safe and reliable public transportation can reduce risk of injury for children traveling to and from downtown. Another group that would benefit from public transportation options are people with disabilities. Disability demographics were not taken in the 2010 census, but the 2000 census recorded 7.9% of Naperville’s population as having a disability. At the time, this was 9,261 people.13 Figure 4 below the reasons given by persons with disabilities for never leaving home. This survey allowed respondents to choose multiple reasons and was administered by the Bureau of Transportation Statistics. Not having a car is the most common given reason, followed by the lack of availability or cost of public transportation. Naperville has changed the physical landscape of downtown to include clearer crosswalks, audible crosswalk buttons, and sloped curbs to accommodate a range of physical and sensory disabilities among residents. However, if those residents are unable to drive themselves to downtown, there is still a degree of isolation for them in the community. The city has clearly taken these differences into consideration but an accessible public transportation system would offer disabled persons greater independence and freedom. 12 Traffic Safety Facts: 2012 Data. (2014, April 1). Retrieved October 1, 2015, from http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811888.pdf 13 Profile of Selected Social Characteristics: 2000. (2000). Retrieved October 1, 2015, from Traffic Safety Facts: 2012 Data. (2014, April 1). Retrieved October 1, 2015, from http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/Pubs/811888.pdf
Although there are benefits, implementing public transportation routes into an already congested area is not an easy task. Residential neighborhood streets can support additional traffic from buses but more complications may arise within the boundaries of downtown Naperville. On busy days, traveling through downtown in a car can be a slow process due to the heavy pedestrian traffic. For public transportation vehicles on a schedule, this could make the entire system inefficient and unappealing. In order to combat this risk, bus stops would probably have to be located in more peripheral areas of downtown. Since downtown is already a highly walkable neighborhood, providing bus service from neighborhoods to intersections within a block of central streets would solve the problem of accessibility to the general area without significantly disrupting current traffic patterns.
Bicycles
Cyclists are a segment of road users that feel current infrastructure does not suit their needs. In 2002, of cyclists in communities that had neither bike paths nor lanes, 17% felt endangered while riding and 48% were dissatisfied with community design.14 Figure 5 compares this with attitudes within communities with either bike lanes or paths or both. As a result, people who would like to bike often are not able to. The same study identified 90 million adults who said s(he) bikes, but out of those only 57 million reported having biked at least once in the past month.14 Complete street policies that include bike infrastructure will encourage people to choose it as an alternative mode of transportation. Smart Growth America found in communities that had made street improvements saw a 49% overall increase in biking. They also reported that high rates of obesity, diabetes, and high blood pressure are more prevalent in states with lower levels of biking and walking.2 According to the CDC 17% of children and 34.9% of adults are obese.15,16As obesity rates continue to climb in America, it is important that communities consider the opportunities provided to physically active.
14 National Survey of Pedestrian and Bicyclist Attitudes & Behaviors, Bureau of Transportation Statistics and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC, 2002. Figure 4: Figure 4: Issue Brief Number 3, Bureau of Transportation Statistics, U.S. Department of Transportation, April 2003. https://www.rita.dot.gov/bts/sites/rita.dot. 15 Child Obesity Facts. (2015, June 19). Retrieved October 1, 2015, from http:// gov.bts/files/publications/special_reports_and_issue_briefs/issue_briefs/number_03/ www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/childhood.html pdf/entire.pdf 16 Adult Obesity Facts. (2015, September 21). Retrieved October 1, 2015, from http://www.cdc.gov/obesity/data/adult.html
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Figure 5: National Survey of Pedestrian and Bicyclist Attitudes & Behaviors, Bureau of Transportation Statistics and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, U.S. Department of Transportation, Washington, DC, 2002.
Naperville has very limited bike infrastructure. Within the streets of downtown and surrounding neighborhoods, there is currently only one bike lane located on Jefferson Avenue. However, within downtown there are no specific lanes or paths for bikers. Street design reflects the city’s dependence on cars. Most corridors with two lanes of traffic have parking on both sides of the street. Bikers in these areas are forced to choose between riding on the sidewalk with pedestrians or the street with automobiles.
about existing paths or lanes in 2011.18 It is in the best interest of the city to expand its bicycle infrastructure to encourage more frequent and safer riding to downtown. Naperville may be a car dependent city but an increase in transportation options will help create a more inclusive community for non-drivers and help combat current public health issues. Many streets outside of central downtown have the room to accommodate bike lanes. The space to expand is there, but the demand isn’t. Residential neighborhoods tend to have consistent sidewalks and wider streets with slower speeds that reduce the risk of biking alongside traffic. The greatest demand for bike lanes are is in central downtown, but there is an opportunity to expand with changing transportation needs. Four lane streets may require some redevelopment due to the higher speeds and larger traffic volumes. However, since they are in areas with lower density building and less pedestrian traffic, it should not significantly affect parking.
Source: Google Street View
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Parking availability within downtown is important for maintaining a busy and vibrant downtown. There are two large parking garages, ample street parking, and several other lots where cars can park for free.17 However, the city has done comparatively little to incorporate bike lanes and safety into downtown. The most recent comprehensive bike plan for the city was released in 2006 and the most recent information
In order to include bike lanes within downtown Naperville’s streets, there would have to be a decrease in street parking. This may result in parking shortages during construction and possibly after completion. Considering that the parking garages and surface lots would remain as is, it is likely that the reduction in parking will not be too severe. In time, biking will probably become a more popular mode of transportation, further reducing the need for available parking.
17 Downtown Parking. (2013). Retrieved October 1, 2015, from http://www. naperville.il.us/downtownparking.aspx
18 Biking Maps, Guides, Plans. (2013). Retrieved October 1, 2015, from http://www. naperville.il.us/bikemap.aspx
Conclusions
Downtown Naperville is far from being a completely un-walkable city. It has a truly unique and successful downtown atmosphere that has attracted over a hundred businesses and restaurants. But the fact still remains that in order to easily live in Naperville, one must have access to a car. While this works for a large portion of the population, it leads to groups such as the elderly, children, and people with disabilities to be restricted in their mobility around the city. In order to plan inclusively for residents from all backgrounds, the city should focus on shifting away from automobile centric infrastructure through adopting complete street policies. The greatest difference can be made through improvements in public transportation and bike infrastructure. Moving forward, it is recommended that the city designs a bus system that operates within residential neighborhoods during weekends. Due to congestion within downtown, stops should be placed closer to the perimeter of the neighborhood. Possible stop locations include the intersection of Jackson Ave. and Maine St. where half of the small surface parking lot could be converted into a bus stop. Another viable location is the corner of Main St. and Benton Ave., next to the
current Van Buren Parking Garage. Both locations are highlighted in orange. Recommendations for bicycle improvements are focused on the addition of bicycle lanes in current central downtown streets. In order to do so street parking would have to be reduced in order to increase the width of the street enough to safely add bike lanes. Main St. between Chicago Ave. and Benton Ave. has been identified as a corridor that will adapt well to the change. Jefferson Ave. between Brainard St. and Main St. is also a strong possible location for bike lane implementation. Both streets were selected due to their current two sided street parking and high levels of pedestrian traffic and are indicated by yellow. These changes are the first steps towards building a community that is able to grow beyond its current circumstances in order to improve. Complete streets offer a wide variety of benefits to a community, much of which Naperville has already achieved through its downtown district. The next step, to look beyond the automobile in a sprawling suburban city, is a challenge but will provide a foundation for changes in years to come.
Source: Google Maps Street View
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