Introduction, Existing
Conditions and TrendsActive Transportation Plan 2018
Presentation to the Springfield Trails Advisory Committee
April 24, 2018
By Katharine Otto, AICP. Regional Planner
All images and graphics by SWCRPC unless otherwise noted
Transportation Planning at
SWCRPC
RPC Staff
Town Staff
State Staff
Town Officials
Local Groups
State Officials
General Public
Inventories – Town Roads,
Culverts, Bridges
Counts – Traffic, Pedestrians
Prioritize state funded projects
Help towns manage construction
projects
Help VTrans with outreach for
statewide projects
Organize training for town officials
and staff
Assist with grant applications
Plan to address needs
History
1997 Southern
Windsor County
Bicycling and
Walking Plan
2006 Southern
Windsor County
Bicycling and
Walking Plan
2014 Regional
Transportation
Plan
Road cross section concept - Page 24 from the 2014 SWC Regional Transportation Plan
What is Active Transportation?
“Active transportation” is
physically active travel
including bicycling,
walking, running, people
with mobility assistance
devices like wheelchairs,
etc1
For a more detailed explanation see
the Active Transportation Plans for
Chittenden County
(https://www.ccrpcvt.org/our-
work/our-plans/regional-bikeped-
plan/) and Mad River Valley
(https://mrvmoves.org/)
Who is involved in “active
transportation”? And where?
• Sidewalks
• Downtowns and villages
• Bike lanes
• Multi-use paths
• Connections to recreation
places
• Road shoulders
• Backroads
• Connections to shops
• Connections to public
transit
What does “active transportation”
do in our daily lives?
Makes our transportation network more complete
Provides transportation options for people without their own vehicle
•What would you do if you couldn’t drive?
Fosters economically vibrant downtowns and villages
•Would you visit a downtown without a sidewalk?
Fosters a bicycle tourism industry
•Would you cycle along roads with no shoulders and fast traffic?
Facilitates healthy living•How do you stay active?
Improves environmental health•How much pollution does driving your car
add to our air, land and waterways?
Helps us to achieve our energy goals
•How often do you drive alone when you could have walked or biycycled?
Existing Facilities
1 mile of bike lane
3 miles of multi-use path
28 miles of legal trails
41 miles of sidewalk
67 miles of class 4 town highways
135 miles of state highway
569 miles of town highway (classes 1 – 3)
How are we travelling?
Drive
alone
77%
Walk
6%
Other
17%
Commute to Work
No cars
7%
1 car
35%2 or
more
cars
58%
Vehicles in a household
Data from US Census Bureau American Community Survey (ACS) Five Year Average 2012 - 2016
How much are we walking?
500 – 600 on Ludlow Main St (summer
and fall)
300 – 400 on Ludlow Main
St (winter)
100 – 200 on Springfield
Main St
50 – 150 on Toonerville
Trail in Springfield
Data from SWCRPC Annual Bicycle and Pedestrian Reports
Websites and walking routes
Map my walk
Events
Walking Wednesdays
Way to Go Commuter and
School Challenges
Safe Routes to Schools
How much are we running?
Regular events
Springfield Dam Run
Edgar May Thanksgiving Day 5k
Vermont 50 Ultra Run
Vermont 100 Ultra Run
Trot it Off 5k
Harpoon Octoberfest Road Race
Websites and running routes
Map my run
Strava
WalkJogRunhttps://labs.strava.com/heatmap/#10.76/-72.70964/43.38200/hot/run
Ludlow
Springfield
Windsor
West
Windsor
Claremont
Chester
How much are we bicycling?
Regular events
Point to Point Ride
Websites and bicycling routes
Map My Ride
Strava
Local bicycle shops and
other groups
https://labs.strava.com/heatmap/#10.76/-72.70964/43.38200/gray/ride
Ludlow
Springfield
Windsor
West
Windsor
Claremont
Chester
What else are we doing?
Other types of travel
Horseback riding
Mountain biking
Hiking
Winter usage
Children walk to school
Runners and walkers on
cleared shoulders and
sidewalks
Winterized bicycles
Snowshoeing
While some of these activities are
primarily off-road and a
recreational purpose, active
transportation can be key for
providing connections. For
example you can use the state
roads to make a loop-hike on Mt
Ascutney.
Some users, such as horseback
riders around Reading and West
Windsor use a lot of the class 4
roadways as part of their network.
Trends
New technologies to find travel routes
New technologies to make non-car options
easier
Increased pressures on
funding
New technologies
change safety issues
New prioritization processes
Increasing elderly
population
Changed preferences of younger generations
Increased awareness of
ADA guidance
New Complete Streets law
How far would you go?
Method of
travel
Average
minutes per trip
Average
miles per trip
Destinations
Bicycle 12.3 mins 2.4 miles School, recreation area
Walk 11.6 mins 0.6 miles Dog walks, post office
All modes 19.1 mins 8.8 miles
Data from National Household Travel Survey 2009
Discussion
Usage
Where do you find information about where to walk, bicycle, run, etc?
Do you track your activity? If yes, where? Or what do you know friends
or visitors use?
What events happen in your town regularly? Weekly, monthly, annually
What trends have you noticed over the last 10 years or so?
How far would you walk or bicycle?
Needs
What places are priorities in town for improvements?
What places in the region do you use that need improvements?
Project website and updates:
http://swcrpc.org/atp/
More information: Katharine Otto
[email protected] 802-674-9201
