Search results matching tag 'design'

Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Training for Caltrans Staff

jake@railstotrails.org — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 15:57:32 GMT

A report by the Healthy Transportation Network on the primary bicycle- and pedestrian-related technical training strategies and opportunities provided by Caltrans to its staff.

Report Project Manager: Laura Cohen, Rails-to-Trails Conservancy's Western Region Director.

Better Bikeways — Innovative Facilities For Safer Bicycling in California

steve@railstotrails.org — Wed, 14 Sep 2011 18:12:15 GMT

This report produced by the RTC Western Region Office discusses four innovative bicycle facility designs being implemented in California, along with additional intersection and marking treatments that can help improve safety and increase ridership.

These innovative facilities increase the perception of safety that is a key component to attract more Americans to ride bikes. They achieve a greater perception of safety by physically separating bicyclists from motor vehicle traffic or calming the traffic to reduce the threat of a collision. The innovations can be implemented within existing street rights-of-way and have been pioneered in Europe, Portland, New York and various California cities. Connecting these facilities to existing shared-use paths can create a huge boost in ridership and have the additional benefits of calming traffic through neighborhoods and improving traffic flow in business districts.

Across the Arterial: Mid-block Shared-Use Path Crossings of Multilane Roadways in California

StephenMRTC — Thu, 27 Jan 2011 18:32:52 GMT

Successful shared-use paths offer a continuous and extended recreation and transportation experience. Avoiding vehicular conflict is a major challenge in urban environments where shared-use paths intersect the roadway network on a regular basis. Many urban shared-use paths follow former rail lines or channelized watercourses that intersect multilane roads well away from signalized intersections, and that often intersect at skewed angles that impact visibility. Geometric constraints, financial resources and incompatible adjacent land uses can require trail planners to contemplate and implement at-grade crossings.

This brief overview of treatments is intended as an introduction for both planners and community members.

Despite the challenges, the studied crossings offer numerous measures that can increase the safety of these at–grade crossings and make crossing major roadways easier for trail users. The improvements fall into the following functional categories, which will be expanded on and are best used together for a comprehensive solution:

Reduce rail users’ exposure to traffic and crossing distance.
Increase mutual awareness and visibility.
Manage traffic speed and flow.

This study was funded by the Healthy Transportation Network (HTN), a project of the California Active Communities (CAC) within the California Department of Public Health (CDPH). The HTN is a statewide project funded by the Caltrans Statewide Transportation Enhancements Activities Program, and is a collaboration of the following five organizations:California Bicycle Coalition; California Department of Public Health, California Active Communities; California WALKS; Local Government Commission; and Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, Western Regional Office.

Feasibility Study: Trail Program: Use of Recycled Pavements

StephenMRTC — Tue, 31 Aug 2010 19:32:11 GMT

Prepared by Callander Associates for City of San José Departments of:

Environmental Services
Parks, Recreation, and Neighborhood Services
Public Works

July 11, 2007

This study was prepared on behalf of the City of San José (California) to explore the feasibility of using recycled pavements in the construction or resurfacing of trails. The report concludes that the use of recycled materials is both financially and environmentally feasible, and the use of recycled materials in trail construction is warranted. Three types of recycled material were evaluated: recycled base aggregate, rubberized asphalt, and recycled hot-mix asphalt.

Recycled base aggregate is a cost effective material that is readily available and may have performance advantages over virgin base aggregate.
Rubberized asphalt is more costly than conventional asphalt and current availability for small scale projects is limited, but it does have performance advantages.
Recycled hot-mix asphalt is also currently difficult to procure but may in time become a more readily available material. It is more costly and appears to perform similarly to conventional asphalt.

There are possible negative environmental impacts associated with these recycled materials, primarily with regard to water quality. Potential mitigation measures are suggested in this study.

Shared Path Widths

StephenMRTC — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 22:27:22 GMT

Project Aim: to determine appropriate widths and develop a tool for off-road pedestrian and cyclist paths.

Megan Fowler and Warren Lloyd (ViaStrada Ltd)
Cameron Munro (SKM, Melbourne)
Undertaken for VicRoads, Victoria, Australia

Lafitte Greenway Sustainable Water Design

StephenMRTC — Mon, 23 Aug 2010 15:42:39 GMT

Waggonner & Ball Architects, August 2010.

"Initiated by the Friends of Lafitte Corridor and made possible by a Greater New Orleans Foundation Environmental Fund grant, this report presents strategies for sustainable water design within the Lafitte Greenway redevelopment. The study was divided into three sections: historical research, data collection and analysis, and the development of illustrative water design potentials for the Lafitte Greenway."

Ludlam Trail: Design Guidelines and Standards

StephenMRTC — Wed, 18 Aug 2010 22:13:29 GMT

The purpose of the Ludlam Trail Design Guidelines and Standards is to provide specific guidance for the design and development of the Ludlam Trail and provide general guidelines and standards for urban trails and paths throughout Miami-Dade County by building upon the Miami-Dade County Parks and Open Space System Master Plan and its Great Greenways, Trails and Water Trails vision.

These guidelines and standards were developed to work in concert with other regional and specific studies and planning efforts. In addition, these guidelines and standards intend to inform decision makers on future designs of urban trails and paths within Miami-Dade County. Eight study areas were identified along the Ludlam Trail corridor based on a number of opportunities, and a desire to highlight representative areas which demonstrate unique and common issues designers will face while planning the Ludlam Trail. Each study area was selected for a combination of existing conditions at Ludlam corridor or on other trail corridors through Miami-Dade County. Each study area was observed in detail, researched and analyzed for best practices principles, lessons learned and recommendations.

The needs of a wide variety of users were identified and consolidated into a set of recommendations and standards for the Ludlam Trail and urban trails in general. The end product is a detailed graphical plan, section, and illustrative perspective for each detail study area that provides provide decision-makers, engineers and designers with design guidelines for Ludlam Trail that can be used as a general resource on other paths throughout Miami-Dade County.

May 2010.

Prepared by Rails-to-Trails Conservancy, AECOM and Miami-Dade County Park and Recreation Department.

Contra Costa County Trail Design Resource Handbook

StephenMRTC — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 15:50:59 GMT

Prepared for: Contra Costa County City-County Engineering Advisory Committee and Contra Costa County Departments of Public Works and Community Development

By: Wilbur Smith Associates and 2M Associates

March 2001

The purpose of the Contra Costa County Trail Design Resource Handbook is to facilitate and ensure consistency in the design and construction of bicycle trails throughout the county. Because mobility by bicycle, either on roadways or designated bikeways, does not stop at city limits, there is a need for a consistent countywide approach.

This resource manual is intended to be a model and a reference in the design of bicycle trails for Contra Costa's nineteen cities, the County, and park districts. Cities are encouraged to reference and/or adopt this handbook, where appropriate, as part of their own Bicycle Plans and/or General Plans.

Trail Signage Guidelines (City of San José Trail Program)

StephenMRTC — Thu, 17 Jun 2010 00:27:07 GMT

April 2010

Prepared by:
Callander Associates Landscape Architecture Inc.
325 S. First Street, Suite 300
San José, CA 95113

Prepared for:
City of San José Department of Parks, Recreation and Neighborhood Services

Under the direction of:
City of San José Department of Public Works - City Facilities Architectural Services Division

The purpose of this document is to provide the required tools for trail planners, designers, and contractors to deploy a cohesive trail signage program throughout the City of San José’s Trails Network.

Policy and Standards for Pedestrian Crossings - City of Columbia, Missouri

StephenMRTC — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 21:07:44 GMT

City of Columbia, Missouri
Department of Public Works
Policy Resolution 134-00
October 30, 2000

It shall be the mission of the Public Works Department to provide for pedestrian crossings of public streets in such manner to increase the safety of pedestrian users and encourage pedestrian traffic in accordance with the concepts of a walkable community.