RECOMMENDATIONSTOIMPROVEPEDESTRIAN&BICYCLISTSAFETYINMODESTO’SAIRPORTNEIGHBORHOOD
August2016
ByJaimeFearer,CaroJauregui,TonyDang,WendyAlfsen,CaliforniaWalks;JillCooper,UCBerkeleySafeTREC
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RecommendationstoImprovePedestrian&BicyclistSafetyinModesto’sAirportNeighborhoodB Y J A I M E F E A R E R , C A R O J A U R E G U I , T O N Y D A N G , W E N D Y A L F S E N , C A L I F O R N I A W A L K S ; J I L L C O O P E R , U C B E R K E L E Y S A F E T R E C
INTRODUCTION
IncollaborationwiththeCatholicCharitiesDioceseofStockton,theStanislausCountyHealthServicesAgency,andtheTuolumneRiverTrust,theAirportNeighborhoodofModestowasidentifiedasasitefortheCommunityPedestrianandBicyclistSafetyTrainingprogrambasedontheresidents’interestinandneedfortechnicalassistanceandresourcestoimprovepedestriansafety,bicyclistsafety,walkability,andbikeability,particularlyasitrelatestosaferoutestoschoolforelementaryandjuniorhighschoolstudents.TheAirportNeighborhoodisgeographicallysplitbetweenthejurisdictionsoftheCityofModestoandStanislausCounty.
FollowingplanningconversationswiththeCatholicCharitiesDioceseofStockton,HealthyStartFamilyResourceCenter–OrvilleWrightElementarySchool,TuolumneRiverTrust,andtheStanislausCountyHealthServicesAgency,thecommunityinvitedtheUniversityofCaliforniaatBerkeley’sSafeTransportationResearchandEducationCenter(SafeTREC)andCaliforniaWalks(CalWalks)totheAirportNeighborhoodtofacilitateacommunity-drivenpedestrianandbicyclistsafetyaction-planningworkshop.CalWalksfacilitatedtheworkshoponMay19,2016,whichconsistedof:1)anoverviewof
multidisciplinaryapproachestoimprovepedestrianandbicyclistsafety;2)twowalkabilityandbikeabilityassessmentsalongtwokeyrouteswherestudentswalkandbiketo/fromschoolandcommunityparks;and3)smallgroupactionplanningdiscussionstofacilitatethedevelopmentofcommunity-prioritizedrecommendationstoinformtheCityandCounty’sactivetransportationeffortsaswellasthecommunity’seffortsensuresaferoutesto/fromschoolsandparksinandnearthe
AIRPORT NEIGHBORHOOD WITH COUNTY PORTION OUTLINED1
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AirportNeighborhood.Thisreportsummarizestheworkshopproceedings,aswellasideasidentifiedduringtheprocessandrecommendationsforpedestrianandbicyclistsafetyprojects,policies,andprograms.
BACKGROUND
CommunityPedestrian&BicyclistSafetyTrainingProgram
TheCommunityPedestrianandBicyclistSafetyTraining(CPBST)programisajointprojectofUCBerkeleySafeTRECandCalWalks.FundingforthisprogramisprovidedbyagrantfromtheCaliforniaOfficeofTrafficSafety(OTS)throughtheNationalHighwayTrafficSafetyAdministration(NHTSA).ThepurposeoftheCPBSTistotrainlocalneighborhoodresidentsandsafetyadvocatesonhowtoimprovepedestrianandbicyclistsafetyandtoeducatethemonhowtocollaborateeffectivelywithlocalofficialsandagencystafftomakecommunitiessaferandmorepleasanttowalkandbike.Thehalf-daytrainingisdesignedtoprovideparticipantswithbothpedestrianandbicyclistsafetybestpracticesandarangeofprovenstrategies(the6E’s:Empowerment&Equity,Evaluation,Engineering,Enforcement,Education,andEncouragement)toaddressandimprovepedestrianandbicyclistsafetyconditionsandconcerns.Participantsarethenguidedonawalkabilityandbikeabilityassessmentofnearbystreetsbeforesettingpedestrianandbicyclistsafetyprioritiesandactionablenextstepsfortheircommunity.ForasummaryofoutcomesfrompastCPSTworkshops,pleasevisit:www.californiawalks.org/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/CPST-Annual-Report-2015.pdf
SelectedPedestrian&BicyclistSafetyConditionsintheAirportNeighborhood
Inplanningdiscussionsandsitevisits,thefollowingsafetyconcernswerenoted:
LackofSidewalks&DrainageWithintheAirportNeighborhood,sidewalksaregenerallypresentonstreetswithintheCityofModesto’sjurisdictionandaregenerallynotpresentonstreetswithinStanislausCounty’sjurisdiction.Inadditiontothelackofsidewalks,theCountyportionoftheneighborhoodlacksstormdrainagethatcreatesadditionalhazardsforpeopletravelingbyfootorbicycleduetofloodedandmuddyconditionsalongthestreet,resultinginresidentswalkingfurtherintothetravellaneoftheroadway.Stormwaterdrainagealsopresentschallengeswheresidewalksdocurrentlyexist,withlargepuddles
formingatcornersandincurbrampareaswheretheyexist.ManyoftheexistingsidewalksonthestreetsintheCityportionoftheneighborhoodareindisrepairwithcracks,brokenconcrete,missing
LACK OF SIDEWALKS, ESPECIALLY IN UNINCORPORATED COUNTY PORTION OF NEIGHBORHOOD
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curbramps,andsectionsupliftedbytreeroots.Araillinerunseast/westthroughtheneighborhoodandcrossesallofthenorth/southstreets,thoughonlythecrossingatSantaRosaAvenuehasadequatesidewalks.Noneoftherailroadcrossings,includingatSantaRosa,haspedestrian-scalecrossinggatearms.HighTrafficSpeeds&WideStreetsManyoftheneighborhoodstreetshaveverywideright-of-waysfortraditionaltwo-laneresidentialroads.Researchhasdemonstratedthatwidestreetsandwidetravellanesareassociatedwithhighervehiclespeeds,1whichaffectsafetyforpeoplewalkingandbicycling.Inadditiontoencouraginghighervehicletravelspeeds,widestreetscreatelongercrossingdistancesforpedestrians.Themajorthoroughfareatthenorthendoftheneighborhood,YosemiteBoulevard,isStateRoute132.ThesegmentthatrunsalongtheAirportNeighborhoodisclassifiedasafour-laneprincipalarterialwithapostedspeedlimitof45MPH.2Limitedsignalized,markedcrossingsalongYosemiteBoulevardexistatSantaRosaAvenue,SantaCruzAvenue,LaLomaAvenue,andEmpireAvenue(thoughtheeastlegofthecrosswalkisnotopen).ThecrossingatWilsonAvenueismarkedandaccompaniedbyanolderstylepedestrianbeacon.ThecrossingsatLasPalmasAvenueandSantaAnaAvenuearebothmarkedasschoolcrossingsandhavenoaccompanyingbeaconsorsignalization.LackofBicycleFacilitiesMarkedbicyclefacilitiesdonotexistontheneighborhoodstreetsoralongYosemiteBoulevard.Onthesouthendoftheneighborhood,bothLegionParkandTuolumneRiverRegionalPark(TRRP)havemulti-usepaths(or“ClassI”bicyclefacilities),thoughtherearenobicyclefacilitiesorwayfindingtoconnectthecommunitytotheparkpaths.EarlyProgresstoImprovePedestrianSafetyInJanuary2016,theCityofModestobeganworkontheinstallationofhigh-visibility,4-waycrosswalkmarkingsatthecornerofMontereyandEmpireAvenues,adjacenttoOrvilleWrightElementarySchool.Whileonthewalkabilityasessmentsduringtheworkshop,participantsnotedandvoicedsupportfortheeffectivecornerparkingrestrictions/daylightingsafeandADA-compliantcurbrampsthatwerealsoinstalledatthislocation. 1SeeKayFitzpatrick,PaulCarlson,MarcusBrewer,andMarkWooldridge,“DesignFactorsThatAffectDriverSpeedonSuburbanArterials":TransportationResearchRecord1751(2000):18–25.2SeeCaltransDistrict10,“StateRoute132TransportationConceptReport,”October2014.Availableathttp://www.dot.ca.gov/dist10/divisions/Planning/advancedplanning/docs/TCR's/SR-132TCRfinal10_10_2014.pdf
POOR DRAINAGE SYSTEMS LEADING TO LARGE PUDDLES
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TheAirportNeighborhood’sPedestrianandBicyclistCollisionHistoryBetween2010-20143,therewere396pedestriancollisions,including16fatalitiesand52severeinjuries,and406bicyclistcollisions,including6fatalitiesand29severeinjuries,inModesto.InrelationtotheAirportNeighborhood,pedestrianandbicyclistcollisionsareconcentratednearandalongYosemiteBoulevard.Nearlytwo-thirds(65%)ofpedestriancollisionsinModestocanbeattributedtoadriverviolation,whileroughlyathird(35%)canbeattributedtoapedestrianviolations.
ThetoptwoPrimaryCollisionFactors(PCFs)inpedestriancollisionsintermsofdriverviolationswere:PedestrianRight-of-WayViolations4(37.9%)andUnsafeSpeed(4.4%)—accountingforover42%ofdriverviolations.Whileamajorityofcollisionsinvolvedpedestrianscrossinginacrosswalkatanintersection(47.2%),28.1%ofpedestriancollisionsinvolvedapedestriancrossingnotinacrosswalk,5and14.3%involvedapedestrianwalkingontheroadway.
ForbicyclistcollisionsinModesto,bicyclingonthewrongsideoftheroad(againsttraffic)constitutedthelargestpercentage(32.5%),followedbyfailuretoyieldtovehicletrafficwiththeright-of-way(23.8%).
MAY19WORKSHOPCommunity-basedorganizationsrequestedaworkshopto1)provideCity/Countystaff,communityorganizations,andresidentswithatoolkitforpromotingpedestrianandbicyclistsafetytoinformfuturecomprehensiveactivetransportationplanningandimprovementefforts,includingtheplanningfortheAirportNeighborhoodUrbanGreeningMasterPlanandthecreationofaWalkingSchoolBusprogramforOrvilleWrightElementarySchool;2)strengthentheopenandcollaborativerelationshipbetweencommunity-basedorganizations,residents,andCity/Countyagencies;and3)developconsensusregardingpedestrianandbicyclistsafetyprioritiesandactionablenextstepsfortheAirportNeighborhood.
3Pleasenotethat2014collisiondataisprovisionalandnotyetfinal.4PedestrianRight-of-WayViolationsaredefinedasinstanceswhereadriverfailstoyieldtoapedestrianinamarkedorunmarkedcrosswalkwhenthepedestrianhastherightofway(e.g.,whenthepedestrianhasa“Walk”signalatasignalizedintersection).5Pedestrianshavetheright-of-wayinmarkedandunmarkedcrossings,anddriversarelegallyrequiredtoyieldtopedestriansintheseinstances.However,whenpedestrianscrossoutsideofmarkedorunmarkedcrossings,pedestriansmustyieldtheright-of-waytodrivers.Thisisnotthesameastheterm“jaywalking,”whichreferstocrossingoutsideofamarkedorunmarkedcrossingbetweentwosignalizedintersections.Apedestrianislegallyabletocrossoutsideofamarkedorunmarkedcrossingbetweentwointersectionswhereoneornoneoftheintersectionsissignalizedbutonlyifthepedestrianyieldstheright-of-waytooncomingdrivers.
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PrecedingtheMay19workshop,theplanningcommitteeconductedapreliminarywalkabilityassessmentinordertobetterunderstandhowsafetheroutesaretoandfromOrvilleWrightElementarySchool.InearlyNovember2015,CalWalkssharedtheMicroscaleAuditofPedestrianStreetscapes(MAPS)audittoolswiththeplanningcommittee6andprovidedaSpanishtranslationoftheMAPS-Miniassessment.AppendixAcontainstheresultsoftheassessmentconductedby36volunteersfromtheneighborhood,community-basedorganizations,andmembersoftheStanislausCountySheriff’sDepartment.TheseresultsweresharedattheJanuary29,2016,meetingoftheAirportNeighborhoodCollaborative,andbothCountySupervisorDickMonteithandCityCouncilmemberBillZoslockiwereinattendancealongsideCity/Countyagencystaffandresidents.
PARENTS AND RESIDENTS LEARNING ABOUT THE 6 E’S APPROACH TO PEDESTRIAN & BICYCLIST SAFETY
TheMay19workshopwashostedfrom9:00am-2:00pmattheAirportNeighborhoodCommunityCenterwithbreakfast,lunch,andchildcareprovidedtoencouragecommunityresidentparticipation;residentswereencouragedtojoinatanypointduringtheworkshop.TheworkshopwasfacilitatedinSpanish,whilestaffsimultaneouslypresentedinEnglishviainterpretationheadsets.Thirty-six(36)
6“AuditingthePedestrianEnvironment:ABriefToolforPractitioners&CommunityMembers”:http://activelivingresearch.org/blog/2015/09/auditing-pedestrian-environment-brief-tool-practitioners-community-members
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individualsattendedtheworkshop,representingawidevarietyoforganizations,City/Countyagencies,andthecommunity-at-large,including:
• CityofModesto;• StanislausCounty;• CaltransDistrict10;• CaliforniaOfficeofTrafficSafety;• ModestoPoliceDepartment;• CatholicCharitiesDioceseofStockton;• HealthyStartFamilyResourceCenter–
OrvilleWrightElementarySchool;• TuolumneRiverTrust;
• StanislausCountyHealthServicesAgencyHealthyStart;
• StanislausCountyAnimalServices;• CenterforHumanServices;• StanislausCountyCouncilof
Governments;• CommunityChats/CharlasComunitarias
yPromotoras;and• LocalResidents.
ReflectionsfromWalkability&BikeabilityAssessment
Walkabilityassessmentswereconductedalongtwokeyrouteswherestudentswalkandbiketo/fromschoolandwhereresidentstravelto/fromcommunityparks.Participantswereaskedto1)observeinfrastructureconditionsandthebehaviorofallroadusers;2)applystrategieslearnedfromthe6E’spresentationthatcouldhelpovercomeinfrastructuredeficienciesandunsafedriver,pedestrian,andbicyclistbehaviorinandaroundtheAirportNeighborhood;and3)identifypositivecommunityassetsandstrategieswhichcanbuildupontheseassets.Followingthewalkabilityassessment,theparticipantssharedthefollowingreflections:
• TheDiversityofWorkshopParticipants:WorkshopparticipantsnotedthatbothonMay19andattheJanuary2016AirportNeighborhoodCollaborativemeeting,attendeescamefrommanydifferentbackgrounds.Notonlywereresidentsandcommunity-basedorganizationsrepresented,butalsoagencystafffromtheCity,County,andState.Thisshowedneighborhoodleadersthattheywerenotaloneinworkingtoimprovesafety,andthattheirvoicesandconcernsarebeingheardbygovernmentofficials.
• NewandEffectiveInfrastructure:OnemonthaftertheJanuary2016Collaborativemeeting,theCityofModestobeganworkontheinstallationofhigh-visibility,4-waycrosswalkmarkingsatthecornerofMontereyandEmpireAvenues,adjacenttoOrvilleWrightElementarySchool.Whileonthewalkabilityasessmentsduringtheworkshop,participantsnotedandvoiced
PARTICIPANTS DISCUSSING CONDITIONS DURING WALKABILITY ASSESSMENT
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supportfortheeffectivecornerparkingrestrictions/daylightingsafeandADA-compliantcurbrampsthatwerealsoinstalledatthislocation.
• AbundantParks&OpenSpace:Participantshighlightedthenumerousparksandopenspacepreserveslocatedinandaroundtheneighborhood,includingMonoPark,OregonPark,LegionPark,andTuolumneRiverRegionalPark(TRRP).Unfortunately,wayfindingandcompletewalkingandbikinginfrastructureislackingattheneighborhoodleveltodirectresidentsandvisitorstoaccessthesewonderfulrecreationalfacilities.
• AbundantRight-of-Way:Participantspointedoutthewidestreetsintheirneighborhoodasbothachallengeandopportunity.Whilethecurrentautomobileright-of-wayencouragesspeedingandotherdangerousbehaviors,italsomeansthatthespaceneededtocreatedsaferinfrastructureforpeoplewalkingandbikingisavailable,includingthepossibleadditionofClassIIbicyclelanesandconflictzonemarkings.
• ChallengesCrossingMajorThoroughfare:ParticipantsnotedseveralchallengeswithcrossingYosemiteBoulevard,includinglimitedsignalizedandmarkedcrossings,longcrossingdistances,faded
crosswalkmarkings,andlackofdaylightingatcorners.• Missingand/orPoorlyMaintainedSidewalks:ParticipantsechoedthechallengesCalWalks
observedduringtheJanuary2016sitevisit,includingthedisrepairofCitysidewalks(cracks,brokenconcrete,missingcurbramps,andsectionsupliftedbytreeroots)andthelackofsidewalksandstormdrainageintheunincorporatedCountyportionoftheneighborhood.
• InsufficientCrosswalks:ThroughouttheneighborhoodandatintersectionsatYosemiteBoulevard,participantspointedoutmissingcornercurbramps,lackofADAcompliance,missingorblockedcrosswalks,lackofmarkedcrosswalksorfadedmarkings,andagenerallackofcornerparkingrestrictionsordaylighting.
• Blight,LooseDogs,andOvergrownVegetation:Inadditiontothe“hard”barrierstosafewalkingandbikingintheneighborhood,participantsalsopointedoutsomeofthe“soft”barriers,includingexcessivetrashandgraffitiinsomeareas;anabundanceofloosedogsthataffectresidents’feelingsofsafetywhilewalkingorbiking;andovergrownvegetationthatmayblocksightlines,sidewalks,orevenoverheadstreetlights.
EXAMPLE OF PHYSICALLY SEPARATED BICYCLE FACILITIES RECENTLY INSTALLED BY THE CITY OF MODESTO
EXAMPLE AGGRESSIVE DOGS OBSERVED DURING WALKABILITY ASSESSMENT
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EXAMPLE OF ILLEGAL DUMPING OBSERVED DURING WALKABILITY ASSESSMENT
UNSAFE CROSSING BEHAVIOR OBSERVED ON YOSEMITE AVENUE DURING WALKABILITY ASSESSMENT
CommunityResidentRecommendations
Followingthewalkabilityassessment,CalWalksfacilitatedsmall-groupactionplanningdiscussionsinbothEnglishandSpanish.Workshopparticipantsweretaskedwithdiscussingtwosetsofquestions:ThefirstfocusedonidentifyingandprioritizinginfrastructureimprovementsforstudentsandresidentswalkingandbikingintheAirportNeighborhood,andthesecondfocusedonidentifyingandprioritizingnon-infrastructureactivitiesthatcouldbeimplementedtoeducateandencouragestudentstowalkandbiketoschoolsafely.Workshopparticipantsprovidedthefollowingrecommendationsforinfrastructureimprovements:
• SidewalkInstallation&Maintenance:ParticipantshighlightedtheneedtoprioritizesidewalkmaintenancewithintheCityofModestoandsidewalkinstallationwithintheCountyside.Additionally,residentsraisedtheneedtoaddressdrainageandovergrownvegetationissues.Citystaffrecommendedreal-timeissuereportingvia311andthenew,multi-lingualGoModesto!app.7
7FormoreinformationontheGoModesto!app,pleasevisithttp://www.modestogov.com/326/GoModesto.
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• ImprovedCrossings:ThroughouttheneighborhoodandatintersectionsatYosemiteBoulevard,participantshighlightedmissingcornercurbramps,lackofADAcompliance,missingorblockedcrosswalks,lackofmarkedcrosswalksorfadedmarkings,andagenerallackofcornerparkingrestrictionsordaylighting.Residentswereparticularlyinterestedinseeingmorehigh-visibilitycrosswalkmarkingslikethoserecentlyinstalledatMontereyandEmpireAvenuesandfortheinstallationofpedestrian-scalecrossingarmsatalloftheneighborhood’s
railroadcrossings.• Street-andPedestrian-ScaleLighting:Participantsrecommendedimprovedandincreased
street-andpedestrian-scalelightingthroughouttheneighborhood.Forsomeofthecurrentstreetlighting,aquickandrelativelylow-costfixwouldbetoclearsurroundingvegetationtoimprovetherangeofthelightshining.
• SpeedBumpsandStopSignsonMontereyAvenue:SeveralparticipantscalledfortheinstallationofspeedbumpsandstopsignsalongMontereyAvenuetofacilitatesafertravelaroundOrvilleWrightElementarySchool.NowthattheMontereyandEmpireAvenueintersectionisafour-waystop,residentswouldliketoseesimilartreatmentsalongMontereyatbothThrasherandKerrAvenues.
• ImprovedBusStops:ThebusstopsintheAirportNeighborhoodprimarilyconsistoftransitsignpolesandnothingmore.Participantswouldliketoseebenchesandprotectionfromthesunviabussheltersateachofthebusstopsasalonger-termimprovement.
• MaintenanceofLocalParksandTrails:Participantsnotedalotofblightandvegetationinvariousspotsaroundthecommunityincludingparks.Themothersinthegroupnotedthattheywouldbemorewillingtotaketheirfamilies,includingsmallchildren,tolocalparksandalongtheTuolumneRiveriftheywerewellmaintained,specficially,ifsomeofthevegetationwasremovedtomaintainopenspace.Overgrown
PARTICIPANTS ENGAGED IN SMALL GROUP ACTION PLANNING FOLLOWING THE WALKABILITY ASSESSMENT
EXAMPLE OF EXISTING BUS STOP THAT HAS NO SHELTER AND DOES NOT CONNECT TO SIDEWALKS
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vegetationandlackofmaintenancehasattractedillegalbehavior,whichhasdiscouragedthecommunityfromenjoyingtheirparks.
Workshopparticipantsprovidedthefollowingrecommendationsfornon-infrastructureactivities:
• WalkingSchoolBus/SafeRoutestoSchool:TheconceptofaWalkingSchoolBusprogramwaspopularamongparticipants,andresidentsaddedthattheywouldliketopartnerwiththeModestoPoliceDepartmentandtheStanislausCountySheriff’sDepartmenttoleadtheWalkingSchoolBusroutesastheykickoffandtoremainengagedasparticipantsthroughouttheschoolyear.Additionally,participantsrecommendedtheestablishmentofdesignateddrop-offzonesatOrvilleWrightElementaryforparentsandcaretakersdrivingtheirchildrento/fromschool,aswellasreplacingthebikerack(s)toencouragemorestudentstoridetheirbikestoschool.
• Pedestrian/BicyclistSafetyEducationProgramming:Participantsexpressedtheneedforongoingpedestrianandbicyclistsafetyeducationtrainingandencouragementthroughworkshops,adedicatedPedestrian&BicyclistAwarenessWeek,outreachatcommunityeventsandthelocalfoodfestival,ongoingcommunicationwithparentleaders/parentcafé,andprizesandrecognitionforgoodbehaviorandmilestones.
• SiSePuede!/WeCanDoIt!:Throughouttheworkshopthemessagewasclearthatparticipantswanttobeconsistentinprioritizingtheirownneeds.Therewasanoverarchingcalltostayunitedandempowered,tonotgiveuponchildren’ssafetyandtheirfuture,andtocontinuetoworkonunityandcommunicationamongresidents.
CaliforniaWalks/SafeTRECRecommendations
CaliforniaWalksandSafeTRECalsosubmitthefollowingrecommendationsforconsiderationbycommunityadvocates,theCityofModesto,StanislausCounty,andCaltrans:• EngageCommunityPartnersontheFinalizationandImplementationoftheAirport
NeighborhoodUrbanGreeningMasterPlan:CalWalksandSafeTRECencouragetheStanislausCountyDepartmentofPlanning&CommunityDevelopmentstafftomeaningfullyengageresidentsandcommunity-basedorganizationpartnersinthecreationofafinaldraftoftheAirportNeighborhoodUrbanGreeningMasterPlanandinitsimplementationonceadopted.8Asthisworkshophasshown,thereisconsiderablecommunitysupportandmomentumbehindtheelementsoftheplan,includingactivetransportationcirculationthroughtheneighborhood,SafeRoutestoSchool,connectingresidentstotheirparksandopenspace,andimprovingstormwaterrun-offoptions.
• EngageCommunityPartners,theCityofModesto,andStanislausCountyonPlanningandImplementationtoandalongYosemiteBoulevard/SR132:CalWalksandSafeTRECrecommendCaltransDistrict10TrafficOperationsandCommunityPlanningengageresidents,community-basedorganizationpartners,andagencystaffatboththeCityandCountyonissuesofsafepedestrianandbicyclistaccessalongandacrossYosemiteBoulevard.Specifically,existingmarkedcrossingsonYosemiteBoulevardareeligibletoreceivesafetyimprovementspursuanttoCaltrans’CrosswalkEnhancementPolicy.9Additionally,inthenextupdatetotheTransportationConcept
8FormoreinformationonthebackgroundbehindthedevelopmentoftheAirportNeighborhoodUrbanGreeningMasterPlan:http://www.stancounty.com/bos/agenda/2011/20110712/d02.pdf.9CaltransTrafficOperationsPolicyDirective,12-03"CrosswalkEnhancementsPolicy,"Availableatwww.dot.ca.gov/trafficops/policy/12-03.pdf
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Reportforthecorridor,westronglyrecommendthatcommunityresidentsbeengagedintheprocess.Intheinterim,weencourageCaltranstoproactivelyengagecommunity-basedorganizationsandresidentstoshareinformationaboutcurrentandongoingCaltransprojectsthatwillimpacttheresidents.
• CollaboratewithCommunityPartnerstoStrengthenApplicationstoSecureAdditionalFundingforTransportationPlanning&Implementation:Manynewandexistingsourcesofstateandfederaltransportationfundingforwalkingandbikingprojectsareincreasinglyincludingprioritiesrelatedtocommunityengagementinthetransportationplanninganddecision-makingprocesses.Thestate’sActiveTransportationProgram,forexample,ratesproposalshigherforconductingmeaningfulandeffectivecommunityoutreachforawalkingorbikingproject;e.g.,involvingresidentstoparticipateearlyduringtheprojectconceptionphaseand/ormadetheplanningprocessopenandaccessiblebyhostingworkshopsormeetingsduringhoursthatsuitedtheresidents,providedtranslationandchildcareservices,andwerehostedinplacesthatwereeasytoaccessbytransit.Formallypartneringwithcommunity-basedorganizationswhohaveestablishedrelationshipswithresidents—eitherbyprovidingdirectfundingforoutreachactivitiesorbypartneringwithanorganizationtohelpscopeorwriteanapplication—canleadtostrengthenedandsuccessfulfundingapplications.
• EngagewithExistingCommunity-BasedCoalitionsFocusedonPedestrian/BicyclistSafety&Walkability:TheAirportNeighborhoodCollaborative(“Collaborative”)—convenedbyHealthyStartFamilyResourceCenteratOrvilleWrightElementarySchool—isaverystrongassetfortheneighborhoodandprovidesastrongfoundationasacommunity-basedcoalitiontoadvanceeffortstoimprovewalkingandbikingintheneighborhoodandwithintheCityofModesto.TheCollaborative’smembersincludeCatholicCharitiesofStockton,theTuolumneRiverTrust,andtheStanislausHealthServicesAgencyinadditiontotheresidents.TheCity,County,andCaltrans—particularlytheplanning,publicworks,planning,andothertransportationdepartments/divisions—shouldleverageCollaborative’sforumtobettereducate,inform,andultimately,partnerwithresidentstodevelopandimplementcommunity-identifiedandprioritizedtransportationprojectsthataddressresidents’everydaytransportationneeds.
• Organizean“EmeraldNecklace”/”CadenadeParques”Walking&BikingTour:CalWalksandSafeTRECrecommendcommunityadvocatesworkwiththeCityandCountytohostawalkingandbikingtourfromdifferentpointsintheneighborhoodtotheparksandparktrails.ThesetourscouldhighlightpedestrianandbicyclistaccessandsafetyneedsforCityandCountyplanners.TuolumneRiverTrustmayalsobeinterestedinco-hosting“pop-up”or“tacticalurbanism”10eventswiththeCountyplannersworkingontheAirportNeighborhoodUrbanGreeningMasterPlantodemonstratewhatpotentialpedestrianandbicyclinginfrastructureprojectsmaylooklikeandgeneratefamiliarityandexcitementwiththeparksandplannedimprovementsacrosstheneighborhood.
• Walking/BicycleInfrastructure&WayfindingtoConnectParks:Oneresultofanongoing“EmeraldNecklace”/”CadenadeParques”Walking&BikingTourwouldpotentiallybeimplementationofimprovedwalkingandbicycleinfrastructure—thiscanrangefromsidewalksandphysically-separatedbikewaystomulti-usepathsandtrails—andwayfindingtoconnectresidentsandvisitorstoMonoPark,OregonPark,GeorgeA.RogersPark,LegionPark,andTuolumneRiverRegionalPark(TRRP).CalWalksandSafeTRECrecommendthatduringbothplanningandimplementationoftheseparkconnections,thatsaferoutestoschoolbetakenintoaccountbecauseroutesusedby
10Forexamplesoftacticalurbanismandhowitrelatestoactivetransportationplanning,pleasevisithttp://www.street-plans.com/.
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studentsmaymirrorsomeoftheEmeraldNecklaceroutesandpossiblybeincludedinthewayfindingaswell.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTSWewouldliketothanktheAirportNeighborhoodforinvitingusintotheircommunityandforhostingtheCommunityPedestrianandBicyclistSafetyTraining.ThankyoutoEdwardAguilar,EdgarGaribay,EsmeraldaGonzalez,andArmandoNunezfortheirfullcommitmenttoandleadershipofcommunity-driventransportationplanningandmeaningfulengagementwithcommunityresidents.WewouldalsoliketothankHealthyStartFamilyResourceCenter–OrvilleWrightElementarySchoolforgenerouslydonatingthemeetingspaceandchildcarefortheworkshop,aswellasTuolumneRiverTrustforgenerouslydonatingbreakfastandlunchforworkshopparticipants.WewouldliketoacknowledgethecommunitymembersandCity,County,andStateagencystaffwhoseattendanceatandparticipationintheworkshopand dedicationtopedestrianandbicyclistsafetymeaningfullyinformedandstrengthenedtheworkshop’soutcomes.FundingfortheCommunityPedestrianandBicyclistSafetyTrainingprogramwasprovidedbyagranttoUniversityofCaliforniaatBerkeleySafeTransportationResearch&EducationCenter(SafeTREC)fromtheCaliforniaOfficeofTrafficSafetythroughtheNationalHighwayTrafficSafetyAdministration.
APPENDIXAAirportNeighborhood
WalkabilitySurveyResultsNovember2015
Airport Neighborhood Walkability Survey Results
November 2015
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Purpose
• Community residents identified and prioritized several neighborhood improvement projects
• Pedestrian and bicycling safety around neighborhood school was first priority
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Partners• Community Chats/Charlas Communitarias• Healthy Start• Tuolumne River Trust• Catholic Charities• Stanislaus County Public Health • Stanislaus County Council of Governments• Stanislaus County Sherriff’s Department• Parent Resource Center – Airport Location
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Partners in Action!
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Methodology• Utilized the Microscale Audit of Pedestrian
Streetscapes – Mini Version Survey tool (MAPS-mini)
• 36 Volunteers– 20 Residents– 6 CBO Staff– 10 Sherriff’s Dept. (2 Patrol Cars, 2 Walking, 6 Cadets)
• 7 Groups with a Lead Surveyor
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Charlas in Action!
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Route-Level Data Collection
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Monterey, Empire, Oregon, Santa Cruz, Kerr, Benson, and Thrasher
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Surveys
• Surveys were completed per block and for each side of the road
• A total of 39 Surveys were completed
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Survey Results
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Survey Results
*Only one bench or places to sit.11
Transit Stops
• There are 4 transit stops in the Airport community
• Along the streets for the Walkability Assessment there are 4 transit stops
• Only one stop has a bench with no cover• None of the other transit stops have either a
bench or cover
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Transit Stop: Oregon Dr. at the Park
Looking East on Oregon Dr. Facing Transit Stop on Oregon Dr.
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Survey Results
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Survey Results
• Street lights are present on Empire, Oregon, Santa Cruz, and Monterey
• Some street lights are partially blocked by overgrown trees
• No street lights exist on connector streets: Benson (CONFIRM Kerr and Thrasher)
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Street Lights
No street lights: Benson Ave. Partially blocked street light
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Survey Results
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Graffiti/Tagging
• Some graffiti and tagging can be found throughout the community
• During the Walkability Assessment graffiti was found primarily on stop signs and vacant locations (business and/or residence)
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Graffiti/Tagging
Corner of Oregon Dr./Kerr Ave. Kerr Ave at Oregon Dr.
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Survey Results
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Survey Results
• No bikes paths are on the target streets nor in the community at large
• Bike paths do exist in the local Legion Park and TRRP Park; however, there are no bike paths connecting the community to the parks
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Bike Paths
North on Empire Ave. at Oregon Dr.
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Survey Results
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Sidewalks Present• Generally:– Sidewalks are present on streets in City of Modesto
jurisdiction– Sidewalks are not present on streets in Stanislaus
County jurisdiction• On Oregon Drive there are sidewalks adjacent to
the park, but not on the other side of the street• There are several unsafe routes with sidewalks
that have cracks, root swelling, or are in disrepair
24
No sidewalks on Oregon Drive
Between Santa Cruz and Empire
25
Survey Results
26
Poorly Maintained Sidewalks
• On every street walked there were poorly maintained sidewalks with cracks, holes, and broken concrete
• Some sidewalks were very unsafe for walking, bicycling, or strollers because of large roots forcing the sidewalks up
27
28
Survey Results
29
Survey Results
30
Trees, Awnings, Overhangs
• There are some areas that have tree overgrowth and fence hazards which impact a safe sidewalk commute
• Some trees are overhanging, impacting electrical lines and blocking stop sign views
31
32
Survey Results
33
Pedestrian Walk Signal
• There are no pedestrian walk signals along the Walkability Assessment streets
• There are pedestrian walk signals at the intersections of Santa Cruz and Yosemite Blvd. and Empire and Yosemite Blvd.
34
Pedestrian Crosswalks
At Orville Wright Elementary At Santa Cruz and Oregon Dr.
35
Survey Results
36
Ramp at Curbs
• It appears all corner curbs had ramps• However, many of the ramps were in need of
maintenance or repair
37
Ramps
38
Survey Results
39
Marked Crosswalks
• Many crosswalks in the community are marked, but not clearly
• Many, if not all, are in need of repainting• Some have major cracks and are unsafe for
walking• New crosswalks at the corner of Empire and
Monterey would increase safety for students walking to and from school
40
Crosswalks
41
Observations Beyond the Survey• Need more crosswalks for students to get to and
from school• Need more lighting; need to repair lighting• Need flashing lights near school• Need crosswalks near major intersections• Trees growing into powerlines/need trimming• Awareness of dogs/cats• Lack of sidewalks in residential area• Need stop signs at school intersections
42
Thank You!
Questions?
43
