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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-069 CCR Member Dan Ryan introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption: RESOLUTION NO. 2013-69 RESOLUTION ADOPTING A COMPLETE STREETS POLICY WHEREAS, the City of Brooklyn Center committed to establishing a Complete Streets Policy as part of the City's Active Living Hennepin County Partnership; and WHEREAS, the Complete Streets Policy promotes equal consideration for all modes of transportation; and WHEREAS, the Complete Streets Policy. promotes public health and physical activity through the constructed environment; and WHEREAS, walking and biking offer additional means to access businesses and encourage economic development; and WHEREAS, designing transportation corridors with all users in mind from the start reduces costly retrofits; and WHEREAS, on June 10, 2013, the City Council Work Session included an overview presentation by City staff of the Complete Streets Policy; and WHEREAS, the City Council voiced its support and desire to formally consider the Complete Streets Policy for adoption. NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the City Council of the City of Brooklyn Center hereby adopts the Complete Streets Policy that will be used and implemented to guide future transportation improvement projects in the City of Brooklyn Center. June 24 2013 Date Mayor ATTEST: City Clerk The motion for the adoption of the foregoing resolution was duly seconded by member Kris Lawrence-Anderson and upon vote being taken thereon, the following voted in favor thereof. Tim Willson, Carol Kleven, Kris Lawrence-Anderson, Lin Myszkowski, and Dan Ryan; and the following voted against the same: none; whereupon said resolution was declared duly passed and adopted. RESOLUTION NO. 2013-69 Complete Street Policy of the City of Brooklyn Center Adopted by City Council on June 24, 2013 Y �1 a e Complete Streets Policy Adopted by City Council June 24,2013 RESOLUTION NO.2013-69 City of Brooklyn Center Complete Streets Policy Page 2 • Government agencies need to do more with less. Roadways need to be planned and designed using a comprehensive process to ensure that costly future roadway retrofits are avoided. In addition to providing transportation alternatives,complete street policies encourage the integration of physical activity into daily routines through activities such as biking,walking and/or taking transit. Such activities promote active living which has the following benefits: • Improves physical and mental health • Decreases risk of chronic disease • Reduces medical costs associated with chronic disease • Reduces transportation costs • Reduces pollution and improves air quality • guilds safer,stronger communities • Increases quality of life The City of Brooklyn Center joined Active Living Hennepin County (ALHC), a partnership of cities, businesses, state and local agencies, and the county. The goals of ALHC members are; increasing opportunities for active living in their communities through policy change, infrastructure planning, marketing and communications, mentoring new and potential organizations, and hosting workshop events.The funding provided by ALHC through Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota and the State Health Improvement Program (SHIP) was instrumental in the development of this policy which was considered and adopted through City Council resolution on June 24,2013. Complete Streets Policy Adopted by City Council June 24,2013 RESOLUTION NO. 2013-69 City of Brooklyn Center Complete Streets Policy Page 4 • Lessens oil dependence. Alternative transportation options include those which are more energy efficient. • Improves environmental health. Reducing vehicle use consequently diminishes noise impacts and emission pollutants that negatively impact air and water quality. • Supports an efficient transportation system. An integrated transportation system increases overall capacity and reduces congestion. • Supports community and economic development The desire to live and work in highly walkable neighborhoods, especially by both empty nesters and young professionals, is a highly documented phenomenon that occurred in the last two decades. In fact, now major real estate agencies provide "walkability scores on home listings as this has become such an important aspect of finding a home to homebuyers. Homeowners are searching for neighborhoods with great accessibility, local amenities and attractions and exciting, lively commercial areas. In fact, a national study has shown that home values in more walkable neighborhoods have higher values. Additionally, businesses that provide access to all users and a safe design attract more business. • Fosters strong communities. Neighborhood vibrancy is increased by opportunities for community residents to interact and reach community destinations such as schools and parks. • Cost effectiveness. Complete Streets aims to design road projects with all users in mind from the beginning. This ensures that roads are built with pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit riders in mind the first time, rather than retrofitted after a tragedy has occurred and when costs will be much greater. Also, including amenities for pedestrians, bicyclists, and transit riders from the beginning of a design project, rather than mid-way or near the end of a project, reduces time and costs related to engineering design. There may also be ways to save costs through design of smaller roads. Challenges The implementation of complete streets must also address a number of challenges: • Requiring public outreach and education to enhance user understanding and overcome resistance to change (e.g., construction of sidewalk in street right-of- way perceived as encroachment in residential front yards) • Encouraging public participation during the planning process. • Requiring staff training on new planning,design and operations approaches„ • Developing design solutions for locations with constrained conditions and/or right-of-way widths or natural barriers. • Balancing the needs of multiple transportation modes safely and efficiently. Complete Streets Policy Adopted by City Council June 24,2013 RESOLUTION NO. 2013-69 City of Brooklyn Center Complete Streets Policy Page 6 POLICY This policy includes the following elements: Vision. In order to create a Complete Streets network, all streets and trail projects, including design, planning, reconstruction,rehabilitation, maintenance, or operations by the City of Brooklyn Center shall be designed and executed in a responsible, equitable and financially reasonable way to accommodate and encourage travel by bicyclists, pedestrians, public transportation, emergency and commercial vehicles in a balanced manner.Additionally,the Brooklyn Center Complete Streets Policy is intended to: • Benefit the community by improving safety, transportation options, public health, community and economic development,cost effectiveness,and the environment. • Inspire the community to transform social norms and bring the community together. • Prepare Brooklyn Center for the future with respect to changing demographics and economics. All Modes, Purposes and Users. This Complete Streets policy recognizes the different transportation users , modes and purposes and encourages city leaders and staff, as well as residents and business owners, to consider the range of needs and recognize the importance of planning and designing transportation systems for all modes,purposes and users. Connectivity.While it is important to create an interconnected transportation system in which users can easily and safely reach many potential destinations, this policy recognizes Complete Streets is not "all modes on all roads but rather allows for the balancing of the needs of all users. Jurisdiction. The transportation network within the city consists of transportation systems constructed, maintained and operated by different units of government including the city, Hennepin County, Three Rivers Park District, Metropolitan Council/Metro Transit, the State of Minnesota and the federal government. This policy applies only to the transportation systems under the jurisdiction of the City of Brooklyn Center and will be encouraged by the City on all other jurisdictional roadways within the city as feasible. Both Hennepin County and the state of Minnesota have adopted Complete Streets resolutions. As a result, any funding for projects passing through either of these agencies to the city should follow a Complete Streets approach. Additionally,this policy commits the city to work closely and foster strong relationships with other jurisdictions, including the above referenced jurisdictions within the city and neighboring communities,particularly the cities of Brooklyn Park,Crystal, Robbinsdale, and Minneapolis in creating multimodal and interconnected transportation systems that serve the city and extend beyond its borders. Finally, in the event of development or redevelopment within the city, all private roads should aim to follow this Complete Streets policy. Complete Streets Policy Adopted by City Council June 24,2013 RESOLUTION NO.2013-69 City of Brooklyn Center Complete Streets Policy Page 8 There are a number of design options and tools available to implement Complete Streets, each with a unique set of benefits and disadvantages.A Complete Street may include: • Sidewalks • Bike lanes(or wide paved shoulders) • Special bus lanes • Comfortable and accessible public transportation stops • Frequent and safe crossing opportunities • Median islands • Accessible pedestrian signals • Curb extensions/bump outs • Narrower travel lanes/road diets • Roundabouts • Traffic calming improvements • Improvements to create safer and more comfortable pedestrian spaces including buffer space, pedestrian-scaled lighting,street furniture,.refuge islands, landscaping and public art • Wayfindingsignage • Environmental improvements such as tree planting, storm water ponding and pervious space The city will generally follow'accepted or adopted design standards from the resources listed above when implementing improvements to fulfill this policy but will consider innovative or non-traditional design options where a comparable level of safety for users is present. Considering innovative or new ideas is especially important when working within the context of a fully developed city.The city should consider adopting its own design guidelines as a way to reflect the unique needs of Brooklyn Center. Context Sensitivity. The Minnesota Complete Streets legislation states Complete Streets should be designed "in a manner that is sensitive to the local context and recognizes that needs vary in urban, suburban, and rural settings." This policy agrees with that statement. In the.city's case, the context is different at the neighborhood level, that is, Complete Streets may be designed different in residential, commercial, industrial and mixed use neighborhoods. Context sensitivity is to be considered alongside network connectivity,flexibility,innovation and the unique needs of various users. Complete Streets Policy Adopted by City Council June 24,2013 RESOLUTION NO. 2013-69 City of Brooklyn Center Complete Streets Policy Page 10 Implementation Planning Establishing plans and protocols is a critical step in creating a community-supported, safe, comfortable and convenient transportation network that serves all modes. Effective planning results in design guidance and implementation clarity that allows the community and project_designers to efficiently. move forward on individual complete streets projects in a collaborative and cost-efficient manner. The culture of complete streets must be integrated throughout the City and institutionalized through planning documents, operations, and design manuals. Complete streets concepts should be incorporated into visioning and planning documents, including comprehensive plans, neighborhood plans, active living plans, and transportation plans. A community's zoning ordinance, subdivision ordinances, and/or design policies should be updated to reflect the community's complete streets approach as those documents are scheduled for updating.Ideally, all modes of transportation should be integrated into one design policy,as this will reinforce the complete streets methodology of considering all modes of transportation early in the design process. Development Resources The implementation of this Complete Streets policy will require city resources and staff time.A summary of anticipated activities along with their timing and frequency is present in the table below: Process Element Timing/Frequency Staff training Continuous Adopt design standards Update periodically Amendments to the City Code&Comp Plan Consider when updating code&plan Implement and evaluate performance measures Periodically Coordinate with other jurisdictions Continuous Regularly apply for grants Continuous Review feasible funding sources and adopt revisions Annually with CIP update to city CIP Staff training. It is important for the city's staff to be up to date and aware of new laws,funding sources, best practices, trends and tools related to Complete Streets. Staff should be encouraged to attend topically related training and education events and opportunities. Adont design guidelines. The city should consider adopting its own design guidelines as a way to reflect the unique needs of Brooklyn Center and to provide a consistent baseline from which projects can be designed. Amendments to the City Code and Comorehensive Plan. The City Code and Comprehensive Plan may require revisions to allow for Complete Streets or to make it easier to implement. In particular,the Complete Streets Policy Adopted by City Council June 24,2013 RESOLUTION NO. 2013-69 City of Brooklyn Center Complete Streets Policy Page 12 • Facility users(include all modes) •Adjacent residents and neighborhood organizations •Adjacent businesses and business associations • Elected officials and focal/county boards and commissions • Other city/county departments Regional planning organizations • Regional transit authorities •State agencies(e.g.,DNR, DOT,SHPO) • Federal agencies(e.g., FHWA, NPS) •Watershed districts/management organizations •Advocacy and special interest groups(e.g., bicycling organizations,preservation organizations) • Local emergency responders •Utilities and railroads Complete Streets Policy Adopted by City Council June 24,2013 RESOLUTION NO. 2013-69 City of Brooklyn Center Complete Streets Policy Project Information Project location (municipality): Roadway Jurisdiction: Project/Roadway Name: Project Start Point: Project End Point: Project Manager Define Existing and Future Land Use and Urban Design Context 1. Do any adopted plans call for the_development of bicycle,pedestrian,transit or roadway facilities on,crossing,or adjacent to,the proposed project?if yes,list the applicable plan(s). Guidance:Possible sources of this information include Comprehensive Plans,Transportation Plans,Bicycle or Pedestrian Master•Plans or area-specific studies developed by applicable City County and/or State Agencies. 2. Are there any local,county,statewide or federal policies that call for incorporating multimodal facilities? Guidance:Policies at the state and federal level mayimpact a project due to fcnidingsources. A2 COMPLETE STREETS IMPLEMENTATION RESOURCE GUIDE Complete Streets Policy Adopted by City Council June 24,2013 RESOLUTION NO. 2013-69 City of Brooklyn Center Complete Streets Policy 6. Existing vehicle speed conditions. a. What is the posted speed limit for the project and associated intersecting streets? b. Provide speed data,if available. t c. Are excessive speeds an issue in the project area? 1 3 7. Describe crash data,if available,and known conflict locations. Guidance:Crash data will likely not be available for pedestrians and bicycles. Crash trends and known conflict points should include neighborhood input and antidotal data,such as areas of known°near misses",or areas where seasonal activities cause safety issues,such as sports arenas or fairgrounds. ,r Fill a. Are there any crash trends behvecn specific modes? b. Are there known conflict points between specific modes? A-4 COMPLETE STREETS IMPLEMENTATION RESOURCE GUIDE I I Complete Streets Policy Adopted by City Council June 24,2013 RESOLUTION NO. 2013-69 City of Brooklyn Center Complete Streets Policy 10. What multimodal accommodations exist in the project and on streets that it intersects? Guidance:Multimodal accommodations may include transit routes,sidewalks,trails,and designated on-street bicycle facilities,such as bike lanes,sharrows or signed bike mutes. 11. If there are no multimodal accommodations, how for away are the closest parallel facilities? Guidance:Designated transit routes or bikeways may not ebst within the community,and therefore,may not be applicable. 12. What multimodal amenities exist in the project? Guidance:multimodal amenities may include benches,bike racks/lockers,trash receptacles,crosswalks,traffic signals,mature tree canopy,transit stopstshelters,and wayfinding signage. 13. Describe any particular user needs/challenges along the project corridor that you have observed or have been informed of. Guidance: User needs may consist of lack of facilities (worn dirt pathways),traffic congestion, difficulty accessing bus stops or sidewalks due to snow piles at intersections,at-grade crossings of railroads or high volume roadways,and steep terrain. A•b COMPLETE STREETS IMPLEMENTATION RESOURCE GUIDE Complete Streets Policy Adopted by City Council June 24,2013 RESOLUTION NO. 2013-69 City of Brooklyn Center Complete Streets Policy 18. Sketch in or attach the initial cross-sections)that depicts desired street elements. Guidance:Initial cross-sectionshould be clearly dimensioned and indicate any additional right-of-way required. Additional cross-sections are advisable for specific situations or if corridor.segments greatlyvary- Example Cross Section WAit- 35i.VP 'ViIor_ -tlb.Watr -F'WF_t' ,IKf? .nt�K DWD WALK- { e�rrlszy L.aNP— 4614L 'i ��jl Cif tit 5� ft� it j �f Sr G` tl z{ !ww ! q' GG' CEKisrisci pawl r 19. Describe any constraints associated with the initial crass-section. Guidance:Potential constraints include lack of right-of-way,esAstingsiruc tares,existingmaturetrees orenviron- mental features,topography or number of driveways. 20. Sketch in or attach alternative cross-sections. Guidance:Alternative cross sections shrnitd be modifications of the initial cross-section that respond to identi- fled constraints. All modes should receive equal consideration and.accountability in the development of alternatives. A8 COMPLETE STREETS IMPLEMENTATIOR RESOURCE GUIDE Complete Streets Policy Adopted by City Council June 24,2013 RESOLUTION NO. 2013-69 City of Brooklyn Center Complete Streets Policy I Implementation 24. Identify project milestones,roles and responsibilities for project implementation 25. How will access for all modes be maintained during project construction? Guidance: Reference resource includes MnDOT Context Sensitive Solutions (CSS)Webinaz;Maintaining Pedestrian Access Through Construction&Maintenance Work Zones 26. Facility Maintenance a. What agency will be responsible for on-going maintenance for each mode? b. What specific seasonal and long-term maintenance is needed for each made? m o COMPLETE STREETS IMPLEMENTATION RESOURCE GUIDE Complete Streets Policy Adopted by City Council June 24,2013