IMPROVING MULTIMODAL TRANSPORTATION THROUGH PENNDOT CONNECTS ANGELA WATSON, AICP PENNDOT MULTIMODAL OFFICE
PENNDOT CONNECTS POLICY • Secretary’s Directive – December 2016 • Design manual changes for project planning and development to incorporate PennDOT Connects - June 2017 • Linking Planning and NEPA redone to become PennDOT Connects project initiation • Long Range Transportation Plan guidance modifications - June 2017 • Connects meetings on all new 2017 TIP projects - underway • Connects Pre - 2019 TIP Meetings, June - December 2017
PLANNING IN A 21ST CENTURY STATE DOT “State DOTs are no longer just held accountable for the transportation system; they are also held accountable for how the system supports and improves quality of life for communities.”
Transportation Research Board, National Cooperative Highway Research Program (NCHRP) Report 798: The Role of Planning in a 21st Century State Department of Transportation—Supporting Strategic Decisionmaking, 3/23/2016
PLANNING AND ENGINEERING COLLABORATION Community Conditions
PennDOT Better Goals Connects Communities
Community Development Vision, Values and Aspirations Quality of Life & Livability Sense of Place & History Community Vitality Land Use
• Build Partnerships that invest in sustainable transportation
Collaboration Opportunities Comprehensive Planning • Leverage Resources to improve communities Corridor Studies/Plans Long-Range Transportation Plan • Lead & Innovate for a PennDOT Connects more livable Pennsylvania • Deliver Projects that Better improve economic Transportation competitiveness, Systems access to work, and overall quality of life
Transportation System Performance
Project Development & Delivery Transportation Choices Safety & Operations Asset Management Mobility & Access
COMMUNITY COLLABORATION
• Investing in a community with each project. • Involving communities at the beginning of the planning process. • Learning what elements may be important to include in the project to support a community’s vision.
EARLY INVESTMENT…LONG-TERM BENEFITS
More Time Up Front Better Projects Better Communities
Initial impact: 2017-2020 TIP • 280 projects • $2 Billion +
WORKING WITH COMMUNITY VISION • Municipal or Regional Comprehensive Plan • Master Plans • Corridor Studies • Bicycle Plans • Sidewalk Policies & Regulations • SALDO/Zoning Consistency
PENNDOT BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN CURRENT INITIATIVES • Bicycle and Pedestrian Integration Work Group • Design Manual update • Revise Bicycle Occupancy Permit • Update Rumble Strip Guidelines
• Statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan update • Walkable Communities Initiative (with DOH and DCNR)
BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN IMPLEMENTATION WORKGROUP PennDOT shall make accommodations for bicycling and walking a routine and integral element of planning, project development, design, construction, operations, and maintenance. • Improve safety, reduce crashes, and lower fatality rates • Enhance pedestrian connectivity • Expand networks of bicycle lanes
BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN IMPLEMENTATION WORKGROUP Recommendations: • Shoulder improvements and bicycle pavement markings as part of resurfacing & maintenance projects • Standard of care guidance for long-term maintenance of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure • Guidance for reasonable access for bike/peds through construction zones • Long-term communication/training strategy
DESIGN MANUAL UPDATES • PennDOT issued a policy change in May 2017 to remove the Bicycle Occupancy Permit from its design manual.
• Design Manual Revisions include Bicycle Facility Contextual Guidance
STATEWIDE BIKE/PED MASTER PLAN http://www.penndot.gov/TravelInPA/RideaBike/Pages/Master-Plan.aspx • Vision and framework for improving conditions for walking & bicycling in PA • Identify Priority Areas • Equity Analysis • Health Analysis • Establish and Update Goals and Performance Measures • Provide Guidance for regional & local bicycle and pedestrian plans • Peer State Analysis best practices - funding, design guidance & policy • Develop Implementation Strategy
Counties with the Highest Concentration of Vulnerable Plus the Greatest Health Disparities: • Berks • Forest • Cameron
These populations are disproportionately impacted by a lack of transportation options and more likely to experience limited access to jobs, health care, social interactions, and healthy foods.
*Forest and Union Counties likely skew higher due to significant prison population Source: US Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2016 5-Year Estimates
STATEWIDE BIKE/PED MASTER PLAN Percent of commuters walking, biking, or taking transit to work Pennsylvania
Massachusetts
Virginia
Oregon
Washington 0.00%
2.00%
4.00%
6.00%
8.00%
10.00% 12.00% 14.00% 16.00%
• Evaluate how PA compares • Highlight successful programs and policies in each state • Utilize findings as a factor for the PA Plan recommendations
• Peer and aspirational states have considerably more staff dedicated to bike/ped than PA • Peer and aspirational states have larger role in installing and maintaining sidewalks • Virginia most similar in terms of state roadway miles owned by DOT, demographics, share of urban vs. rural roads • PA compares favorably on trail development, funding for bike/ped, and establishing policies and plans • Aspirational states have robust education and encouragement programs
WALKABLE COMMUNITIES • Obesity, chronic disease, and inactivity rates are on the rise in PA • In PA, more than 1 in 7 residents have a disability • Of those residents, 25% have an ambulatory disability • PA has the opportunity to improve walking and biking access to create healthy communities that provide safe and convenient opportunities for people to walk, bike, and use public transit.
Source: CDC.gov/healthyplaces
BICYCLE/PEDESTRIAN DESIGN – BEST PRACTICES
THANK YOU! Angela Watson Multimodal Special Projects (TOD, transit, bike/ped) angelwatso@pa.gov
Multimodal Transportation Fund (MTF) http://www.penndot.gov/ProjectAndPrograms/ MultimodalProgram/Pages/default.aspx Dave Bratina, MTF Coordinator
Roy Gothie Statewide Bicycle/Pedestrian Coordinator rgothie@pa.gov
djbratina@pa.gov Transportation Alternatives Program (TAP) https://spportal.dot.pa.gov/Planning/AppReg/ Pages/default.aspx Chris Metka, TAP Coordinator cmetka@pa.gov