THE MEDINA COUNTY BICYCLE TRANSPORTATION PROJECT

1. THE MEDINA COUNTY BICYCLE TRANSPORTATION PROJECT Project Sponsor: Medina County Engineer

2. OBJECTIVE TO INCREASE THE USE OF BICYCLES FOR TRANSPORTATION IN MEDINA COUNTY

3. STRATEGIES • Develop a County-wide bicycle transportation route system • Publish route system map • Sign the system • Accommodate bicycles in all road reconstruction • Engage commercial, industrial & government sectors in bicycle accommodation • Engage safety forces in traffic law enforcement

4. MEDINA COUNTY BICYCLIST NEEDS SURVEY For what purpose do you ride? • Recreation = 92% • Exercise = 77% • Transportation = 17% (Based on total number of questioners)

5. MEDINA COUNTY BICYCLIST NEEDS SURVEY Would you use your bike for commuting & errands if there were: • A network of signed routes on streets & roads? Yes = 86% • Designated bike lanes on streets & roads? Yes = 92% • Bike paths in place of sidewalks? Yes = 96% • Bike access to commercial areas? Yes = 88% • Bike access to employment areas? Yes = 83% • Bike racks at stores & restaurants? Yes = 92% • Brunswick to Strongsville high speed bikeway? Yes = 66% (Based on number of replies to each question)

6. MEDINA COUNTY BICYCLIST NEEDS SURVEY Would you allow your children to ride a bike to school if there were: • A network of signed bike routes on streets & roads? Yes = 61% • Designated bike lanes on streets & roads? Yes = 59% • Bike paths in place of or in addition to sidewalks? Yes = 74% (Based on number of replies to each question)

7. FIRST TASK Develop a bicycle route system that serves as the framework for bicycle transportation within the County, its cities and villages

8. ROUTE SYSTEM DESIGNOBJECTIVES • Identify most direct & suitable routes connecting cities and villages • Provide access or near access to priority destinations • Commercial centers • Industrial concentrations • Hospitals & health facilities • Libraries • Schools • Parks

9. ROUTE SYSTEM DESIGN • Commute zone criteria for priority destinations • 3 mile radius for commercial, industrial & government facilities, & parks & hospitals • 1 mile radius for high schools & libraries, ½ mile radius for grade schools • Drew commute zones for each facility on County highway map

10. ROAD SELECTION FACTORS • ADT & truck mix • Highway characteristics • Lane width • Sightlines • Hills • Curbs or shoulders • Proximity to destinations

11. ROUTE SYSTEM DESIGN CHALLENGES • High ADT major & many minor arterials • Narrow rural roads without shoulders • State & US highways –narrow or no shoulders • Brunswick: US 42 & SR 303 • I-71/SR 18 intersection • Medina: • East/west RR & single thru N/S major arterial • Residential/commercial polarization • Wadsworth: I-76

12. ROUTE SYSTEM & MAP DEVELOPMENT • Marked candidate routes on a County road map • Verify candidate routes & adjust • Draft preliminary map & post County Engineer web • Review copies to all townships, cities, villages, County Parks Bd. & County Planning Commission • Summit County Engineer connecting routes • Incorporate comments • Commissioners approval Feb.11, 2008

13. ROUTE SYSTEM The Results • Good routes connecting cities & villages • Good access or near access to County Parks • Good access to hospitals • Schools: • Grade schools some on route, others off route but imbedded in residential areas with low ADT streets • Good access middle & high schools & libraries in urban areas • 3 rural districts & 1 rural library - near access

14. ROUTE SYSTEM DESIGNThe Results - continued Commercial areas: All commercial areas bounded & crossed by route system • Brunswick: • US 42 & SR 303 unsuitable for bicycle travel • Limited access boundary & cross routes, side streets & linking drives • Medina: • US 42/N. Court St. good access from boundary & cross routes & linking drives • SR 18 at I-71: east & west commercial areas isolated – east areas on route - west areas via local side roads • Wadsworth: • From south of I-76 – only very experienced cyclists • From north of I-76 – good access from routes, local residential streets & linking drives

15. Brunswick

16. MEDINA

17. WADSWORTH

18. ROUTE SYSTEM DESIGNThe Results – continued Industrial Areas Liverpool Twp: area is on E/W route & access from east & south via N/S route & subdivisions. Medina: route passes through industrial area, high ADT & truck traffic, slow movement, poor pavement

19. MAP CONTENTS • Color coded N/S (numbered) & E/W (lettered) routes • Detail city & village maps • Several proposed routes • I-71 bikeway, SR 303 to SR 82 • SR 18 MUP & I-71 bike/ped bridge • Wadsworth city route & I-76 bike/ped bridge • Three links: County Park, Medina outer loop & Medina Twp. trail

20. MAP CONTENTSContinued • Routes to Cuyahoga, Lorain, Summit & Wayne counties • 50 ft contour intervals • ORC bicycle laws • Bicycle safety tips & safe ride instructions • Local bicycle resources • Liability disclaimer

21. SIGN THE ROUTE SYSTEM • Sign to ODOT signing standard • Signing schedule: • Approximate number of signs = 700 • Approximate installed cost = $120K

22. ROUTE SIGN

23. ADDITIONAL PARTICIPATION • County Planning Commission: • Reviewing subdivision plans • Safety Forces: • Increase motor vehicle law enforcement • Know bicycle provisions in ORC • Commercial Sector • Bike racks at commercial establishments • Improved bike access & egress at commercial centers • Industrial/government Sector: • Include bicycle facilities in all highway reconstruction • Bike parking at government and industrial facilities