Wilmington, North Carolina Pedestrian Master Plan

1. Wilmington, North CarolinaPedestrian Master Plan Steering Committee Meeting May 8, 2008

2. Meeting Agenda • Introduction • State of the Pedestrian Environment • Physical • Policy • Regulations • Highlights of Online Survey • Break • Let’s take a walk! • Priority Identification Areas • Next steps

3. Understanding pedestrians The pedestrian mode is more complex than any other

4. Percent of all trips made on foot: 5% Percent of all traffic deaths that were pedestrians: 12% Understanding pedestrians • References: Mean Streets 2002, percentages reflect an average over 2 year period of 2000-2001, NHTSA

5. Understanding pedestrians Walk Decision Factors Distance Comfort Convenience

6. Distance Short trips: .25 to .5 mile Understanding Pedestrians

7. Comfort Pedestrians are affected by every aspect of the physical environment Understanding pedestrians

8. Convenience Pedestrians want the most direct route possible. Almost nothing will divert them from this direct route. Understanding pedestrians

9. Barriers to Walking

10. UNCW at Randall

11. Coddington Elementary

12. Carolina Beach and Shipyard

13. Audubon Neighborhood

18. The Pedestrian Environment

19. Chestnut Heights Inland Greens Forest Hills Greenville Loop Downtown Older Neighborhoods Newer Subdivisions/Annexed Areas Major Arterials

20. Downtown • Many accommodations for pedestrians: • Rich sidewalk network • Highest concentration of signalized intersections • Relatively narrow crossing distances • Attractive walking environment • Relatively slow traffic speeds

21. Physical Environment - Downtown Castle and South 5th • Pedestrian signals • Marked crosswalks • Sidewalks and curb ramps • Buffers/planting strips • North/south routes heavy and faster traffic • East/west (non-arterial) routes lower speeds and volumes • Watch out for turning vehicles • Pavement markings need to be maintained • Push buttons may be inaccessible to pedestrians with disabilities

22. Older Neighborhood - Forest Hills • Many accommodations for pedestrians: • Rich sidewalk network • Attractive walking environment • Generous street buffers • Narrow crossing distances • Low traffic volumes • Slow traffic speeds

23. Newer Neighborhoods • Fewer accommodations for pedestrians • Low traffic volumes and speeds • May not have sidewalks • Low external connectivity • Informal paths • Wide roadway/intersection widths • May not have curb/gutter • Frequently annexed into city • Sidewalks often not required Near Parsley Tree Elementary Landsdowne Neighborhood

24. Newer Neighborhoods • Good things happening in recent developments • Interesting/effective crossing treatments • Good internal circulation • Other amenities • Wayfinding • Street furniture • Working on external connections Fairview Neighborhood

25. Major Arterials Biggest challenges • Often lacking ped accommodations • Long crossing distances • May not have traffic signals • Crosswalks • Sidewalks • Traffic Characteristics • High traffic speeds \ volumes • Heavy vehicles Near Coddington Elementary Almost 1.5 miles

26. Randall at UNCW Shipyard Road Near Holly High School Carolina Beach Road

27. Policy and Program Environment • Started program reconnaisance - interviews • Neighborhood Traffic Management Program • Traffic Signal Operations • TRC Plan Review • Planning Division • Parks and Recreation • WAVE Transit • New Hanover County Public Schools • Additional interviews scheduled

28. Policy and Program Environment • Policy/planning documents under review • Future Land Use Plan 2004-2025 • 2030 Long Range Transportation Plan • Neighborhood and Corridor plans • Carolina Beach Rd. Corridor Plan • College Road Corridor Plan • Dawson and Wooster Corridor Plan • Oleander Drive Corridor Plan • Other plans • 2006 Wilmington MPO Crash Report • 2004 Wave Transit Improvement Plan • Transportation Improvement Program (MTIP)

29. Policy and Program Environment • Federal Legislation • “Bicycle transportation facilities and pedestrian walkways shall be considered, where appropriate, in conjunction with all new construction and reconstruction of transportation projects, except where bicycle and pedestrian use are not permitted” (23USC 217).

30. Policy and Program Environment • USDOT’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

31. Regulatory Environment • Local Regulations and Standards • Wilmington Land Development Code • Wilmington Technical Standards • Maintenance and operation codes • State Regulations • NCGS Chapter 20 Part 11- Pedestrians’ Rights and Duties: • Pedestrians have right of way at crosswalks if no traffic control signals are present • Pedestrians must yield to vehicles if not crossing at a marked crosswalk or an intersection

32. Regulatory Environment • Wilmington Land Development Code Highlights • Sidewalks required in many zoning districts • CBD to be considered “…primarily as a pedestrian oriented domain” • Many provisions for MX Mixed Use districts to promote walkability • Maximum block lengths • Minimum wayfinding • Building location • “Pedestrian scale, tree-lined streets with on with on street parking encouraged”

33. Regulatory Environment • Subdivision code requires sidewalks in the following circumstances: • On at least of one side of the right-of-way of all thoroughfares adjacent to the property to be developed. • On each side of the right-of-way of all thoroughfares that run through property to be developed if the subdivider intends to construct any portion of the thoroughfare as access to his development • On each side of the right-of-way of all local streets extending through the property to be developed.

34. Regulatory Environment • Technical Standards and Specifications Manual • Sidewalks • Curbramps • Driveways

35. Online Survey Highlights

36. Survey Highlights • Online survey developed to ask questions about pedestrian conditions in Wilmington • Distributed online in English and Spanish • Advertised in Wilmington Star News and MPO website • Even distribution of male/female respondents

37. Pedestrian Survey • Most critical pedestrian issue: • 67% of respondents cited unsafe crossings and intersections • 23% identified missing or poorly maintained sidewalks

38. Pedestrian Survey • Frequent walking trips • 70% walk for exercise • 11% walk to the bus stop • 14% walk to work • 37% walk for errands • 10% walk all the way to school

39. Pedestrian Survey • 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%

40. Pedestrian Survey • Written in responses • I strongly endorse more & better walking / running/ green space in this community. • Everything I need is within walking distance, but I drive because the traffic is too dangerous! • Downtown neighborhoods generally have sidewalks and we use them often. Other neighborhoods have few sidewalks - and people must walk in the streets. • Many site specific recommendations for crosswalk/intersection improvements

41. Intersection Walking Tour 2nd and Chestnut

42. 2nd and Chestnut • Issues to be aware of: • Turning vehicles • Pedestrian signals • Crossing distances • Pavement marking condition • Signal timing • Sidewalk configuration/condition • Urban design and appearance

43. Discussion • Where should we focus our efforts? • Help identify three areas that need detailed analysis • Should we focus on ideas that can be used elsewhere? • Or • Focus on especially challenging areas?

44. Next Steps • Launch online survey • Continue existing conditions analysis • Complete policy/regulatory analysis • Critique of existing conditions • Begin drafting sections of plan • Upcoming meetings • Bike/Pedestrian Committee • Public meeting

45. Questions?