WALK WILMINGTON : Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan

1. WALK WILMINGTON: Comprehensive Pedestrian Plan Steering Committee Meeting January 8, 2009

2. Vision • The City of Wilmington will become a pedestrian-friendly environment where citizens and visitors have safe and attractive alternatives for walking in and around the city.

3. Plan Goals • 1. SAFETY- All pedestrians can travel safely along and across Wilmington’s roads and paths • Reduce pedestrian crashes • Install new signalized pedestrian crossings • Educate drivers, pedestrians and police • 2. TRANSPORTATION CHOICE- Pedestrians of all abilities have comfortable and convenient options • Add two miles of sidewalk annually($420,000) • Address barriers such as bridges, arterials, missing links • Design streets to accommodate all users • Improve off-road connectivity (paths, greenways) • Ensure sidewalks and paths are maintained and accessible

4. Plan Goals • 3. BUILT ENVIRONMENT, LAND USE AND CONNECTIVITY- Development enhances the pedestrian experience and encourage walking • Modify regulations to promote pedestrian-scaled development • Require pedestrian connections to adjoining properties, sidewalks and neighborhoods • Locate and design schools so that they promote walking

5. Plan Goals • 4. EDUCATION, AWARENESS AND ENFORCEMENT- Drivers, pedestrians and officials understand pedestrian rights and laws. Increased pedestrian activity • Increase understanding of laws, rights and responsibilities to improve pedestrian and driver behavior • Encourage walking and bicycling through encouragement and promotion • 5. HEALTH- Wilmington’s residents are physically active and can make more pedestrian trips • Recommend daily levels of physical activity • Improve air quality through reduced routine car trips

6. Plan Goals • 4. ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT- Visitors and customers have an attractive and inviting walking environment • Pedestrian lighting in busy pedestrian areas • Include benches, plantings and other amenities in streetscape improvement projects • Continue to revitalize commercial areas (e.g. downtown Wilmington) that attract tourists and shoppers

7. Information and Data Collectionplanning inputs

8. Planning Context • Several complementary goals, priorities and strategies in other plans. • Choices: Wilmington Future Land Use Plan • Level of Service for Sidewalks (Strategy 1.1.2) • Wilmington Vision 2020: Downtown Waterfront Plan • Improve access to the Riverwalk along key pedestrian routes (Strategy 2, Action 1) Sidewalk Priority Areas Map from Choices: Wilmington Future Land Use Plan

9. Planning Context • WMPO Long Range Transportation Plan • Recommends corridor improvements to better accommodate pedestrians • Independence Blvd. • Oleander Drive • North and South Kerr Ave. • Cape Fear Historic Byway Corridor Management Plan • Multiple recommendations to enhance the pedestrian experience and promote tourism and economic development • “Encourage visitors to get out of their cars and safely explore the corridor…” • “Increase pedestrian and biking safety along the byway corridor…”

10. Planning Context • NCDOT Board of Transportation Strategic Plan • “Provide a safe and well-maintained interconnected transportation system that offers modal choices for the movement of all people and goods.” • NCDOT Board of Transportation Resolution: Bicycling and Walking in North Carolina, a Critical Part of the Transportation System (2000) • “Bicycling and walking shall be a routine part of the NCDOT’s planning, design, construction, and operations activities…” • “North Carolina cities and towns are encouraged to make bicycling and walking improvements an integral part of their transportation planning and programming.”

11. Planning Context • US DOT’s 2000 Guidance Memorandum- "Due consideration" defined as: • A presumption that bicyclists and pedestrians will be accommodated in the design of new and improved transportation facilities • The decision NOT to accommodate them should be the exception not the rule • Must be exceptional circumstances for denying access through design or prohibition

12. Stakeholder Input • “The existing built environment does not support pedestrian travel” • “The city is bisected by major roads that are barriers” • “Over 50% of bus stops do not have sidewalks.” • “Very few kids walk or bike to school.”

13. Online and In-Person Surveys • Web based survey available from February through June • In-person survey conducted at Downtown at Sundown, Saturday Farmer’s Market, Juneteenth Festival

14. Pedestrian Survey • Unsafe and uncomfortable crossings the most critical issue for pedestrians (online 67% , in-person 29%) • Factors making it unpleasant to walk • Missing sidewalks • Drivers not stopping for pedestrians • Heavy traffic and fast moving vehicles • Areas where improvements are needed • On major corridors – 80% • Near highway interchanges – 65% • Near parks and recreation areas – 50% • Near retail centers – 48% • Near schools – 40%

15. Field Analysis • Four Character Zones • Central Business District • Urban Core • Traditional Suburban • Auto-Oriented Suburban • Assessed conditions on arterials and non-arterials: • Connectivity • Crossings • Sidewalk Quality • Accessibility • Streetscape

16. Pedestrian Crash Statistics • Wilmington second for number of crashes per capita

17. Pedestrian Crash Statistics • Fatalities and disabling crashes concentrated along arterial roadways • Less severe crashes occurred on all road classifications

18. Pedestrian Crash Statistics • Cost of pedestrian crashes to Wilmington’s economy • Includes medical costs, public services, loss of productivity, employer cost, property damage and change in quality of life

19. Additional planning inputs • Recent developments and ongoing initiatives • Safe Routes to Schools • Neighborhood Traffic Management Program • WAVE Transit Route Restructuring • Cross-City Trail and River to the Sea Bikeway • Riverwalk Expansion • Upcoming developments • Traffic signal system upgrade • Pilot scramble intersection • North 3rd Street Streetscape project • Dawson and Wooster Street Pedestrian Safety Improvements • NCDOT Spot Safety Improvements

20. Pedestrian Facility Recommendations

21. Identify Areas of High Potential Pedestrian Activity Population Density + School Proximity + Park Proximity + Allowable zoning density = Relative level of potential activity

22. Map Existing Conditions • Existing sidewalks • Existing signalized intersections • Existing pedestrian signal heads • Identified arterials and collectors without sidewalks • Approx. 290 miles of missing sidewalk Note- maps under revision to correct data inaccuracies

23. Recommended Improvements • 15 miles of new sidewalks • 50 traffic signals • Add pedestrian signals to existing traffic signals ( • Install new traffic signals with pedestrian signals • Install pedestrian hybrid signals (HAWKs) and Rapid Flash Beacons • Identified areas with high pedestrian potential and missing sidewalk or crossing facilities • Prioritized facilities along arterial and collector roadways • Identified opportunities to close gaps or expand existing sidewalk systems • Identified needed sidewalk improvements for connection to Cross-City Trail and River to the Sea Bikeway • Identified crossing improvements for the Cross-City Trail and River to the Sea Bikeway

28. Policy Recommendations

29. Land Development Code Current Practice Recommendations Consolidate sidewalk provisions into one section (see Durham Unified Development Ordinance) Clarify that pedestrian connections to existing or proposed sidewalks are required for all construction Provide clear guidance on the design of pedestrian facilities in parking lots • Sidewalk requirements are currently located in multiple sections of the document • Vague provisions for exemption from requirement to build sidewalk • Unclear requirements for internal pedestrian circulation system design and connections to adjoining sidewalks

30. Fee in Lieu of Constructing Sidewalks Concept Recommendation Wilmington should consider developing a fee in lieu program City would identify pedestrian benefit zones (next slide) City would establish fee rates for necessary pedestrian facilities Money must be spent within a defined time period (e.g. 5 years in Asheville) • Allows applicants to contribute money to sidewalk fund instead of building sidewalk • Sidewalk projects can be phased or consolidated • Money can be used to build facilities in places where they are most needed- even off-site.

31. Pedestrian Benefit Zones Concept • Complements Fee in Lieu program • Ensures that funds collected are spent near the development and will benefit pedestrians in that zone • Zones should focus on improving continuity along corridors and road crossings

32. Education, Encouragement and Enforcement Education Encouragement Walk to School Day Annual event celebrating kids and parents walking Walking and Running Clubs Regularly scheduled events Clubs for all ages and abilities • Safe Routes to Schools • Provides funds to support projects and programs • NHTSA Child Pedestrian Safety Curriculum • Develops safe walking skills in elementary school kids • Collaboration with Media • Newspapers, web, radio and television

33. Education, Encouragement and Enforcement Enforcement • Police training • Pedestrian laws, rights and responsibilities • Accurate crash reporting • NCDOT officer training curriculum • Targeted enforcement • Improve driver and pedestrian behaviors • Jaywalking and failure to yield • Crosswalk stings • Speeding

35. Policy Requesting Sidewalks along and crossings of NCDOT Roadways Current Practice Recommendation City and WMPO should adopt policy requesting sidewalks and crossing facilities on all non limited access NCDOT road projects • Neither Wilmington nor WMPO have formal policy requesting sidewalks and crossing facilities on all non limited access NCDOT road projects.

36. Intersections and Roadway DesignPedestrian and Bicyclist Cut Throughs

37. Example of legal marked and unmarked crossings Shipyard Blvd. and Carolina Beach Rd. Vehicles stopped in the pedestrian crossing area Crosswalk Marking PoliciesSignalized and Uncontrolled Current Policy or Practice • Wilmington does not have a formal policy for when and how to mark crosswalks • City is required to ask for crosswalks on NCDOT roadway • Research found no NCDOT guidelines for marking crosswalks at signalized intersections • NCDOT Std. Practice C-36 addresses midblock crosswalks

38. Crosswalk Marking PoliciesSignalized and Uncontrolled Recommendations • Develop crosswalk marking guidelines • Adopt NCDOT pedestrian midblock crossing policy • Modify design details to show crosswalks • Mark crosswalks at signalized intersections across all crossings (legs) • Install pedestrian signals on signalized crossings greater than two lanes

39. Crosswalk Marking PoliciesSignalized and Uncontrolled Recommendations • Develop crosswalk marking guidelines • Adopt NCDOT pedestrian midblock crossing policy • Modify design details to show crosswalks • Mark crosswalks at signalized intersections across all crossings (legs) • Install pedestrian signals on signalized crossings greater than two lanes

40. Signals and SignageTurning Vehicles Yield to Pedestrians

41. Signals and SignageLeading Pedestrian Intervals (LPI) Current Policy or Practice Recommendation • Wilmington does not currently have a policy for using LPI at traffic signals • City should develop LPI policy • City should pilot LPI in high pedestrian demand areas (e.g. North 3rd St. at Chestnut Street) • Wilmington should consider LPI where there is high chance for auto-pedestrian conflicts

42. Signals and SignagePedestrian actuated signals Current Policy or Practice Recommendation • Many push buttons are not accessible • City uses push button activated signals at all pedestrian signals except downtown • City should adopt 2009 MUTCD policy for button siting and design • City should upgrade non compliant buttons • City should use concurrent signals in peak ped areas Push button is not accessible

43. HAWK Signal- Tucson AZ Signals and SignagePedestrian Hybrid Signal (HAWK) Current Policy or Practice Recommendation • Wilmington and NCDOT do not have current policy for pedestrian hybrid signals • HAWK signals are in use in several areas around the country (see movie) • City should adopt 2009 MUTCD policy for the pedestrian hybrid signal • Recommended locations for the signal include high volume multi lane arterials with long distances between signalized intersections(e.g. Wooster Street, Market Street)

44. Signals and SignageRapid Flashing Warning Beacons Current Policy or Practice Recommendation • Wilmington and NCDOT both use conventional flashing beacons • Neither agency has a policy for rapid flashing beacons (RFBs) • Wilmington should develop RFB policy based on FHWA interim approval recommendation • Wilmington should develop a standard sign detail • Wilmington should develop a policy restricting the use of the conventional flashing beacon

45. Intersections and Roadway DesignTurning Radius and Intersection Size NCDOT – large radius with no islands Recommendation: - Minimum necessary Wilmington – 35 foot radius

46. Raised crosswalk Island Channelization can shorten pedestrian crossings of wide roadways and minimize high speed right turns and promote motorist yielding for pedestrians. Source: Maryland SHA Intersections and Roadway DesignIsland Channelization Current Policy or Practice Recommendation • Island channelization is used infrequently in Wilmington by NCDOT and the city • Wilmington and NCDOT should provide island channelization between though and right turning traffic • Provides pedestrians with a place to land and wait for traffic • Reduces crossing times and subsequently signal cycle lengths

47. Intersections and Roadway DesignMedian Refuge Islands Current Policy or Practice Recommendation • Wilmington and NCDOT both install median islands on arterial roadways • However they are frequently very narrow or do not accommodate all types of pedestrians • Wilmington and NCDOT should provide median islands on all roadways with four or more travel lanes • Should be at least six feet wide • Should provide pavement level cut throughs or ADA compliant curb ramps • Must assess impact on intersection and roadway capacity Common median design in Wilmington Desired median width

48. Pedestrian Fatality Related to Speed Fatalities based on speed of vehicle. A pedestrian’s chance of death if hit by a motor vehicles traveling at different speeds 90% 80% 70% 60% 50% 40% 30% 20% 10% 0% 20 mphmph 30 mph 40 mph Killing Speed and Saving Lives, UK Department of Transportation Intersections and Roadway DesignPosted Speed Limit Reductions Considerations • Higher speeds contribute to increased likelihood of injury or death when hit • Reduced speed limits provides opportunity to reduce travel lane widths- • -Therefore pedestrian median refuges may be provided without increasing overall road width • Wilmington may request speed limit reductions/modifications along NCDOT roadways within city limits

49. Intersections and Roadway DesignPosted Speed Limit Reductions Recommendation • Wilmington should consider establishing speed limits based on roadway classification and character zone

50. Design Study AreasSouth College Road and New Centre Drive Shipyard Boulevard and Carolina Beach RoadEastwood Road and Military Cutoff Road