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HomeMy WebLinkAbout55C - RESO ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLANREQUEST FOR COUNCIL ACTION CITY COUNCIL MEETING DATE: CLERK OF COUNCIL USE ONLY: JUNE 18, 2019 TITLE: APPROVED ADOPT A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE ❑ As Recommended SANTA ANA ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION ❑ As Amended PLAN ❑ Ordinance on 1� Reading ❑ Ordinance on 2n° Reading (STRATEGIC PLAN NO. 5, 6B) ❑ Implementing Resolution ❑ Set Public Hearing For CONTINUED TO FILE NUMBER CITY MA AGER RECOMMENDED ACTION Adopt a resolution approving the Santa Ana Active Transportation Plan. DISCUSSION Recognizing that Santa Ana residents need mobility options, the Santa Ana City Council directed staff, through the City's 5-year Strategic Plan, to develop a master plan of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure to ensure Santa Ana residents have access to safe streets, regardless of their transportation mode. In partnership with the Southern California Association of Governments (SCAG), the City of Santa Ana secured a Transportation Planning grant to develop a Citywide Active Transportation Plan ATP from the State of California Department of Transportation in June 2016. SCAG's role for the project was administrative oversight, including procurement of the consultant team and payment of invoices. The City of Santa Ana Public Works Agency was responsible for coordinating outreach efforts and day-to-day Project Management throughout the development of the ATP. Outreach for this community -based plan began in the fall of 2017 and concluded in the spring of 2019. Outreach efforts included the establishment of an Active Transportation Working Group that met monthly throughout the duration of the project, pop-up booths at community events, door-to- door outreach in high -collision neighborhoods, and six community workshops held throughout the City. These comprehensive efforts identified top priority corridors throughout the City and educational needs. The Santa Ana Active Transportation Plan includes recommendations, conceptual renderings, and cost estimates for those priority corridors, identifies education/encouragement programs and policies to promote and support Active Transportation modes in Santa Ana. City staff will use the final plan to pursue grant funds for the implementation of the proposed projects outlined in the plan. 55C-1 Resolution Approving the Santa Ana Active Transportation Plan June 18, 2019 Page 2 A requirement of the Transportation Plan is projects identified in grant funds received for the a th implementation. An Exec Exhibits 2 and 3. resolution of th e adopted pla utive Summary ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT City Council i are more and link to vii development of the Santa Ana Active approving the Plan (Exhibit 1). Further, competitive when pursuing grants for :w the entire document are included as There is no environmental impact associated with this action. Individual environmental reviews will be conducted for each recommended improvement at the time of implementation. Those types of projects typically qualify for Categorical Exemptions. STRATEGIC PLAN ALIGNMENT Approval of this item supports the City's efforts to meet Goal #5 — Community Health, Livability, Engagement & Sustainability, Objective #6 (focus projects and programs on improving the health and wellness of all residents), Strategy B (incorporate the improvement of walking and biking lanes as well as the development of a citywide bike master plan into the Circulation Element of the City's General Plan). FISCAL IMPACT There is no fiscal impact associated with this action. PLS Executive Virector Public Wo s Agency FSS/EWG/TH/CW Exhibits: 1. Resolution 2. Santa Ana Active Transportation Plan - Executive Summary 3. Santa Ana Active Transportation Plan may be reviewed at hftp://www.santa-ana.org/active-transportation 55C-2 EXHIBIT 1 jmf6/3/19 RESOLUTION NO.2019-XXX A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA APPROVING THE SANTA ANA ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SANTA ANA AS FOLLOWS: Section 1. The City Council of the City of Santa Ana hereby finds, determines and declares as follows: A. Recognizing that as many as fifty percent or more of Santa Ana residents rely on walking, bicycling, and public transit as their primary means of transportation, the City Council of Santa Ana, through the City's 5-year strategic plan, directed staff to develop a master plan of bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure to ensure that residents have access to safe streets, regardless of their mode of transportation. B. This master plan, known as the "Santa Ana Active Transportation Plan," has been completed with funding from the California Department of Transportation secured in partnership with the Southern California Association of Governments. The plan was developed through extensive outreach to the community beginning in 2017 and concluding in early 2019. C. The Santa Ana Active Transportation Plan includes an inventory of existing bike and pedestrian infrastructure and identifies deficiencies, develops and prioritizes improvements, and strengthens pedestrian and bicycle policies. The plan recognizes the importance of addressing barriers that prevent nonmotorized trips from being safe, especially for the younger and lower -income populations who cannot afford, operate, or choose to forgo vehicle ownership. D. Numerous environmental, health, and economic benefits are attributable to bicycling and walking, especially as substitutes for travel by motor vehicle. In addition to these benefits gained from an enhanced active transportation infrastructure, there is also the potential to alleviate issues for disadvantaged populations that are disproportionally impacted by rising transportation costs. E. In formulating the Santa Ana Active Transportation Plan, numerous planning documents were consulted, including the Santa Ana General Plan, the Santa Ana Strategic Plan, the Safe Mobility Santa Ana Plan, the Downtown Santa Ana Complete Streets Plan, the Central Santa Ana Complete Streets Plan, and the Safe Routes to School Plan. Resolution No. 2019-XXX Page 1 of 3 55C-3 jmf 6/3/19 F. The Santa Ana Active Transportation Plan includes cost estimates for priority projects to enhance the City's active transportation infrastructure, as well as potential funding sources. G. Following approval of the Santa Ana Active Transportation Plan by the City Council, City staff will pursue grant funds for the implementation of these projects. Section 2. The City Council of the City of Santa Ana hereby approves the Santa Ana Active Transportation Plan, a copy of which is attached as Exhibit A and will be on file at the offices of the Public Works Agency of the City for public inspection. Section 3. This Resolution shall take effect immediately upon its adoption by the City Council, and the Clerk of the Council shall attest to and certify the vote adopting ADOPTED this _ day of APPROVED AS TO FORM: Sonia R. Carvalho, City Attorney By: W, 7g, -f.L John M. Funk Assistant City Attorney AYES: NOES: ABSTAIN: NOT PRESENT: Councilmembers Councilmembers Councilmembers Councilmembers 2019. Miguel A. Pulido Mayor Resoldon No. 2019-XXX Page 2 of 3 55C-4 jmf 6/3/19 CERTIFICATE OF ATTESTATION AND ORIGINALITY I, Norma Mitre, Acting Clerk of the Council, do hereby certify the attached Resolution No. 2019-_ to be the original resolution adopted by the City Council of the City of Santa Ana on 2019. Date: Acting Clerk of the Council City of Santa Ana Resolution No. 2019-)00C Page 3 of 3 55C-5 55C-6 I nana sa a ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN Final Draft June 2019 Executive Summary 55C-7 Santa Ana Active Transportation Plan 2019 Executive Summary I. Introduction The Santa Ana Active Transportation Plan (ATP) provides recommended actions, projects and programs to support increasing bicycling and walking as well as improve non -motorized travel infrastructure to provide safer, walkable streets throughout the City for residents that are dependent on these modes. This ATP builds upon the projects from previous complete street planning efforts to close the gaps in the City's bicycle and pedestrian network. Incorporated plans include the City's General Plan, Downtown and Central Santa Ana Complete Streets Plans, Safe Mobility Santa Ana and Safe Routes to School Plan. This ATP includes a summary of the community engagement efforts, inventory of existing bike and pedestrian infrastructure, identification of deficiencies, developing and prioritizing improvements, and strengthening active transportation policies. For many residents, walking, bicycling and transit use is their only means of transportation. The population of Santa Ana is relatively young with over 30 percent of the population being under the age of 19, while only 8 percent being classified as seniors (over the age of 65). Median household income is $57,151 with 20 percent of residents reporting incomes below the national poverty level. Of the households surveyed in 2017, most households have access to one or more vehicles, with over six percent reporting lacking access to a vehicle. According to the surveys completed as part of this plan, over 46 percent of respondents said they walk daily and over 8 percent bicycle daily. Sixty-six percent say they drive to school. To access parks, 51 percent walk while 55 percent drive. Numerous environmental, health, and economic benefits are attributable to bicycling and walking, especially as substitutes for travel by motor vehicle. The evolving state of practice in active transportation ranges from enhanced bicycle treatments to programs promoting bicycle, pedestrian, transit use and other mobility options and social equity. This plan provides a summary of these benefits and provides a toolbox that highlights the latest bicycle and pedestrian treatments being implemented today and the legislation that provides guidance. Overview of the Document The Santa Ana Active Transportation Plan is organized by the following chapters: 1. Introduction 2. Existing Conditions & Analysis 3. Goals and Policies and Recommended Programs 4. Recommended Projects 5. Funding Sources II. Existing Conditions Understanding the existing conditions in Santa Ana and the adjacent region is imperative for future planning efforts. The following highlights a few of the existing conditions data that provided the baseline information for analysis and community engagement. Fortunately, the City collects and maintains a robust dataset that expedited data collection and analysis. Over 47 percent of the existing 42 miles of bikeways consists of multi -use paths and most of them are along Maple Street, Flower Street, Bear Street, Alton Avenue, and the Santa Ana River channel. The remaining 53 percent are made of on -street bicycle facilities such as bike lanes, buffered bike lanes and 55C-8 bicycle routes or bicycle boulevards. Santa Ana is one of the first cities in Orange County to implement protected bikeways along Bristol Street. W6pi rJGaM'E . ,. ♦ ALI l I ',�llGIL 41 Nt . s {�1 Ig3 aiil lt^l J it I r, n _ ru❑I' rrn rousn _l t i jr _— — ��U Jh i ill = i yarn v L 1 .1 ¢.t,imy e�kawan . � � r T f�anr �-�r . `'I � �� � �.' � • —Uazs 1. MWULse P.. �DJss IR &1e Raute -. ar � I •-Klass W:C,1T,e —Oas, N: Cycle Tratl[ I Parks OGry BaoWmy Existing Bicycle Facilities Bicycle and pedestrian collision data were obtained from the Statewide Integrated Traffic Records System (SWITRS) collision dataset managed by the California Highway Patrol (CHP), which captures reported bicycle -vehicle, pedestrian -vehicle, and bicycle -pedestrian collisions that resulted in injury or property damage in Santa Ana in the five-year period of 2013 through 2017. In the past five years there were 788 bicycle -related collisions and 767 pedestrian -related collisions, 66 of which resulted in fatalities. The bulk of both collision types resulted in injury or complaint of pain (87 percent), with 13 percent resulting in severe injury or death. Most collisions (69 percent) occurred in daylight conditions or lighted conditions, with 31 percent occurring in either unlighted conditions or at dawn/dusk. Ya 55C-9 wa E.v caove r !Je 7-1 g4 & J rartrau vnu.e- colrsinns i3013.20M / • Pe egt io Coll a Biyde C.IBw I /• Pe ike Rnra, / High Density Lmt Density Mcity soun&lq Bicycle and Pedestrian Collisions (2013-2017) YKnn .m vnw w: u� \ \ / % Ill. Outreach The ATP planning process was conducted in an open, inclusive and transparent manner to ensure that community members of Santa Ana were included throughout the entire course of the project. Community input and involvement were crucial to identify barriers to walking, bicycling, skateboarding and accessing transit. The ATP's outreach plan was tailored to utilize a variety of engagement strategies with a proven track record of effectiveness. This included both traditional strategies, as well as innovative ones designed to engage sectors that may be harder to reach. The four primary community engagement strategies that were utilized for the ATP were: • Community workshops • Active Transportation Working Group (ATWG) • Direct outreach efforts • Multimedia communications These strategies allowed to inform the public about the ATP, actively engaging community members and stakeholders in the process, and providing meaningful input. Project Branding To generate public interest and to create a unique identity, the team branded the project with two logos designed specifically for this project. Santa Ana's built environment and its historic water tower, as well as the multi -modal goals of the ATP, were used as inspiration for the logo and colors. The project's N 55C-10 branding was used in all outreach materials, including flyers, surveys, online map, and workshop exhibits and produced and Spanish and English. Community Workshops A total of six community -wide workshops were conducted throughout the ATP planning process with an average attendance of 50 people. Residents and various stakeholders were engaged in open discussions regarding the community's needs, which assisted in developing the priorities for the recommended active transportation projects. The events took place in key areas of the City where higher collision rates have resulted in pedestrian and cyclist injuries and fatalities, as identified in the Safe Mobility Santa Ana Plan (SMSA). Locations also factored geographic distribution around the City and locations that had easy access for all residents. The workshops were designed to encourage participation and included a series of activities, such as ice breakers, presentations, voting exercises and design charrettes. During the workshops, residents were asked to identify barriers to walking, bicycling, skateboarding and accessing transit in Santa Ana. Subsequently, participants were then asked to provide potential solutions to these issues. The first four workshops were aimed at gathering issues and concerns, and to begin developing ideas on the improvements participants wanted to see. The second group of workshops, the Recommendations Workshops were conducted towards the end of the project where participants can review and comment on the corridors and programs being developed. Workshop were conducted at the following locations: General Input, Issues and Solutions Workshops Workshop #1: Roosevelt Elementary School Workshop #2: Heritage Museum Workshop #3: Delhi Park Workshop #4: Rosita Park Recommendations Workshops Workshop #5: St Peter Church Workshop #6: Memorial Park Active Transportation Working Groups The Active Transportation Working Group (ATWG) was a key component of the Community Outreach and Engagement Plan. Health and traffic safety institutions, non-profit and faith -based partners, and community members and neighborhood association stakeholders 55C-11 were invited to join the ATWG and become advisors and champions for the ATP. The ATWG consisted of 15-18 key stakeholders that included representatives from local public and regional institutions, community residents, and representatives from faith -based organizations and community -based organizations. Participating organizations include: • Health and traffic safety institutions • Non-profit and faith -based organizations • Community members and neighborhood associations • Elected and appointed boards and committee members The ATWG advised and supported the project team throughout the course of the project by providing feedback on several aspects of the project, including community outreach strategies and prioritization methodology. Members played a supporting role in the community outreach strategies by helping finalize the location, dates, agenda, and activities for each community workshop. Additionally, ATWG members conducted outreach within their own networks through personal announcements and social media posts. Direct Outreach Efforts The goal of the direct outreach efforts was to meaningfully and actively engage the community during the development of the ATP. To achieve this, a variety of methods were used to connect with the community, including: • A one-to-one direct outreach plan to inform people about the purpose of the ATP. This was the most intensive and effective method of communication and included group presentations, tabling at key events, pop-up events, and intensive door-to-door outreach. • A multimedia communications strategy plan, to expand even further the reach of the direct outreach. Door-to-door outreach and pop-up events 55C-12 Multi -media Communications Therefore, a comprehensive multimedia communications plan was employed that included social media, printed media, radio, videos, and text messaging. Facebook and Instagram accounts were specifically created for the ATP with the purpose of posting pictures, flyers, and updates. This also allowed the public to follow the process and interact with the project team on an ongoing basis. The "Santa Ana Moves Like This!" project slogan and hashtag was also created to keep the public updated about the planning process and upcoming events. Additionally, LHA's social media accounts were also used to promote the ATP and its events. Survey Results A total of 531 people completed the survey and provided comments. The results were analyzed and used for the development of the potential project list. They also provided the City with a current view of people's opinions, concerns, and desires for pedestrian and bicycle facilities. The following figures depict results from the survey. About 82 percent of respondents walk more than once a week, while only 21 percent of respondents' bike more than once a week. Over 66 percent of respondents drive to work or school and 55 percent of them drive to the park. In addition, when asked what would make walking and biking better in Santa Ana, respondents answered street lighting and bike lanes on the street respectively. These results communicate the importance of improving the walking and biking infrastructure in the City. 65% aikr Lane= Bike Pau`s Away uqh Iq St mLT'm Bike P"inq Same, Tlafirt other the st'"t (rani tlx Stroet S,�_ds III. Key Issues Community input from the outreach events were collected via surveys that were prepared to determine satisfaction levels of current pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure, along with desired improvements. Issues regarding street lighting, lack of bike lanes on the street and safe pedestrian crossings were identified. These results communicate the importance of improving the walking and biking infrastructure in the City. IV. Goals & Policy Summary Through a series of exercises during the community workshops, programs and sample goals and policies were presented to gather feedback. These goals and policies were then refined into the following eleven goals developed for the plan. 55C-13 Goals Goal 1: Develop a comprehensive non -motorized network and infrastructure to provide safe, fun, convenient, healthy, and environmentally- friendly travel throughout the City for all ages and abilities. Goal 2: Design non -motorized infrastructure to allow users of all ages and abilities to access schools, neighborhoods, parks, employment and commercial centers. Goal 3: Maintain non -motorized infrastructure to allow users of all ages and abilities to access schools, neighborhoods, parks, and employment and commercial centers. Goal 4: Develop safety and monitoring programs to encourage non -motorized travel within the City. Goal 5: Develop non -motorized multimodal resources that meet both commuter and recreation needs. Goal 6: Develop programs to increase awareness of active transportation benefits and to encourage residents to use non -motorized modes to school, work, recreation, and shopping. Goal 7: Coordinate City non -motorized improvement plans with interagency transportation plans and funding programs. Goal 8: Promote inclusive and sustainable economic growth by developing non -motorized facilities and improving existing infrastructure in commercial areas. Goal 9: Develop an active transportation network that ensures residents of all ages and abilities have access to safe streetscapes, especially the more vulnerable sectors of our community, such as low- income populations of color, children, and seniors whose primary mode of transportation is walking, biking, skateboarding, and public transportation. Goal 10: Incorporate practices that ensure responsible, equitable, and sustainable active transportation planning and development by evaluating the potential impacts and pro -actively mitigating the negative consequences, such as displacement of residents and businesses. Goal 11: Foster equitable enforcement practices that encourage rather than penalize multi -modal behaviors and prioritize education, particularly among low-income communities who rely solely on active transportation. V. Recommendations & Priority Projects Summary After analyzing the findings obtained from the planning process, which included community and stakeholder input, several short-term and long-term improvements were made. These recommendations are meant to serve as a guide to help the City in allocating funds as they become available through various sources. Chapter 5 addresses the physical recommendations to help improve the non -motorized environment in Santa Ana. The ATP lists almost 100 miles of recommended projects with information such as location, route type, and facility type. Project Prioritization Developing the project prioritization criteria was a combined data -driven and interactive process consisting of cumulative scores derived from the various inputs (criteria). To be consistent with regional efforts in project prioritization, the criteria from OCTA's various bikeway strategies and Active 55C-14 Transportation Plan was presented, then vetted and approved by the Active Transportation Working Group. In addition, the criteria are also consistent with neighboring cities and national best Practices. Criteria included; Bike and Pedestrian Collisions, Public Support, Level of Traffic Stress, CalEnviroscreen, Completes the Network, Completes the Corridor, Economic Efficiency, Bike -Pedestrian Propensity Model. The prioritization process uses a weighted score determined by the Active Transportation Working Group and follow up workshop input. Once the prioritization process was completed, a total of 35 priority projects were selected to go into further design detail. The remaining projects are important nonetheless and can be used for future recommendations. These projects will create a network of complete streets that will improve non - motorized and transit use throughout Santa Ana. Each priority project represents a variety of street types that currently lack safe access and mobility for pedestrians, bicyclists, and other non -motorized modes. The following table is a summary of the top 35 recommended projects. nn L] C 0 os i I t o -o- t -� •6 1ZZ g, Proposed Bikewoya swnuv�4a:Uv )_ �. J� —�nmSLhfW4Use Pc:n // T F r -ST —. Doss aese[anez ( j —� f ��ix�Ll-.r.0,_.�X � •^� � f _il ...noss as. a�nereaex«ous i , L nNt -rTj ^i � ,�.. "I —nns Ht ax.. Roure ' / t _--0- 1•^c•• I MrT —aessrmwuuse ren � -.� � -, � T 1 rf"• O i . �O!r —Crass M. ayde na<i J j .� Q, — D• 1 Htevlaauynoposeealeways �, ! � 1 i Top 35 Projects The following table summarizes all 65 projects in terms of mileage. Recommended Projects Summary Facility Type Miles Class I: Multi -Use Path 9.55 H 55C-15 Class II: Bike Lanes 21.63 Class JIB: Buffered Bike Lanes 5.40 Class III: Bike Route 20.96 rClass IIIB: Bike Blvd 8.05 Class IV: Cycle Track 33.64 Total 99.23 miles ,:aocs:raRorr l._ rxwr,En Reposed Baewan I-1 a�1 4i a11 l.7�AA —Klass L FWIU Use Pam • r.:{'� _ — Class R ede Lams oxr„aw ,rtcr r 1 Tilil �... •� �+pasz neeatteree eae Lscs _ ...�—__� —KlasspLake Rmle �. +, ..Chas: HE ake ere Ir 1 11 M f`5 r aass IV. We Tra4 ' Existing Sikerean — Pnss I MWU USe Pa.} 1 J T 1 1'i Class ll, axe R.I. � I�-- �. .Hasa ma: ake aka / t i I�t 1 t L —CIns N Cyde Track - aaNasaseEMD—I..S rM I. 1 .,,.�- - II -1 a RgwsedbyCaNaeACe f —_ T �,� �Y� Parks Mcf" naary Recommended Bicycle Network Costs: Top 35 Priority Projects: $39,922,000 Other Priority Projects: $15,233,000 Total Priority Projects: $55,155,000 Recommended Programs Due to a long history of routine accommodation for pedestrians (i.e. sidewalks, crosswalks, dedicated signals, etc.), programs targeting walking are relatively uncommon. Conversely, the historic lack of routine accommodation for bicyclists has fostered confusion about the role of bicycles in the overall 9 55C-16 transportation system and has necessitated an impressive diversity and breadth of bicycle -related programs. Despite a common emphasis on projects, bicycle programs remain an important element of a successful active transportation plan. Program recommendations for active transportation planning have traditionally been guided by the "Six Es' approach developed by the League of American Bicyclists. The Six Es represent Engineering, Education, Encouragement, Enforcement, Equity, and Evaluation. This ATP recommends programs that include a complementary menu of initiatives, many of which are multi- faceted, to effectively address the area of concern and provide desired outcomes. The following lists a sample of the programs by their "E." Equity, the sixth "E," should be integrated into each of the other "Es" to provide a comprehensive program that meets the needs of all residents in Santa Ana. Education: Safety Assemblies, Bike Safety Workshops, Pedestrian and Bike Traffic Safety Fairs Engineering: Enhanced bicycle and pedestrian treatments, traffic control signs, curb and high visibility pavement markings, signal timing, parking controls and traffic safety monitoring. Encouragement: National Bike Month, Open Street Events, Walk to School Day, 5K Running/Walking events, walking tours, food and/or female focused bike rides. Enforcement: Educate Police Department Staff Regarding Bicycle and Pedestrian Issues, Designate a Law Enforcement Liaison Responsible for Bicycling and Walking Concerns Evaluation: Active Transportation Advisory Committee, Conduct Regular Bicycle and Pedestrian Counts, Regular Review of Collision Data Funding Sources A funding sources chapter is included in this ATP to provide the City with the resources to continue successfully applying for federal, state, and local government grants. Only a fraction of that funding is used to develop policies, plans, and projects to improve conditions for bicyclists and pedestrians. Even though appropriate funds are available, they are limited and often hard to find. Almost every implemented active transportation or complete street program and infrastructure in the United States has had more than one funding source and it often takes a good deal of coordination to pull the various sources together. FG7 55C-17 55C-18 SANTA ANA ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN Santa Ana Active Transportation Plan is available here: http://www.santa-ana.orq/active-transportation ACTIVE TRANSPORTATION PLAN EXHIBIT 3 55C-19 55C-20