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policy and planning : types of planning activities


The rising awareness of bicycle and pedestrian issues in transportation planning has brought with it a new era of planning for these modes. Planning strategies range from small scale (such as a study to improve bicycle and pedestrian access to a neighborhood bus stop) to large scale (such as a statewide master plan for bicycling and walking).

While there are some common elements (such as public participation) that nearly all bicycle and pedestrian planning projects should include, they otherwise can vary greatly depending upon the particular situation. An effective, interconnected system of bicycle and pedestrian facilities requires planning at a variety of levels. This section describes different types of bicycle and pedestrian plans and includes a list of example plans following each description. The example plans include a description of the plan and contact information.

Additionally, there are many good sources of information about planning bicycle and pedestrian-friendly communities listed in the resources section of this website.


Statewide Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning:

At the state level, bicycle and pedestrian plans establish policies, goals, and actions for state agencies (i.e. within a state department of transportation and transit agencies) to accommodate and improve conditions for biking and walking. These plans often include design standards/guidance for local and regional governments, and typically address education and safety issues as well.

Example plans
    Wisconsin Department of Transportation — Adopted in December 1998, the Wisconsin Bicycle Transportation Plan 2020 provides a blueprint for more and safer bicycle trips with recommendations and roles for a variety of government agencies and groups. Follows the model of the National Bicycling and Walking Study.
    www.dot.state.wi.us/dtim/bop/bp-index.htm
    Contact: Tom Huber, Wisconsin DOT, P.O. Box 7913, Madison, WI 53707. (608) 267-7757

    Pennsylvania Department of Transportation — One of the first ISTEA-generated statewide bicycle plans. The PennDOT plan included extensive public outreach and an intensive "in-reach" program for PennDOT staff and agencies. The plan incorporates an n extensive design manual.
    Contact: Dave Bachman, PennDOT, P.O. Box 2047, Harrisburg, PA 17105. (717) 783-8444

    Washington State Department of Transportation — Back in 1993, Washington State DOT adopted a Pedestrian Policy Plan focused on local and regional planning for pedestrians, necessary pedestrian facility types and locations, and who should pay for them.
    www.wsdot.wa.gov/hlrd/sub-defaults/
    pedestrian-default.htm
    Contact: Julie Mercer Matlick, WSDOT, P.O. Box 47393, Olympia, WA 98504. (360) 705-7505

    Oregon Department of Transportation — A comprehensive pedestrian planning and design document.
    www.odot.state.or.us/techserv/bikewalk
    Contact: Michael Ronkin, Bicycle and Pedestrian Program Manager, ODOT, Room 210-Transportation Building, Salem, OR 97310. (503) 986-3555.

Regional Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning:
At the regional level, bicycle and pedestrian planning is usually carried out by Metropolitan Planning Organizations (MPO's) or similar regional agencies. The main objectives of these planning projects are usually to coordinate between jurisdictions, develop planning and design guidance for local governments, establish regional priorities for funding, and to develop a unified regional approach to land use and transportation issues.

Example plans
    Birmingham Regional Planning Commission, Alabama — The BRPC was honored by the Alabama chapter of the American Planning Association for their 1996 Bicycle, Pedestrian and Greenway Master Plan. The plan has spurred the hiring of a bicycle coordinator for the region and $7 million in local spending on facilities recommended by the plan.
    Contact: Meg Scully, BRPC, 2112-11th Ave S, Suite 220, Birmingham, AL 35205. (205) 251-8139.

    North Central Texas Council of Governments — Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities Planning and Design Guidelines, developed in December 1995 provides guidance on planning and designing facilities that improve bicycle and pedestrian mobility.
    www.nctcog.dst.tx.us/trans/bikeped/
    plandesign/index.html
    Contact: Mike Sims, Senior Environmental Planner, NCTCOG, P.O. Box 5888, Arlington, TX 76005-5888. (817) 695-9226

    Maricopa Association of Governments, AZ — Maricopa Association of Governments (MAG) is the metropolitan planning organization for the Phoenix metro area. Their recently completed Pedestrian Plan 2000 is a good example of a comprehensive plan that identifies pedestrian demand and alternative design solutions to create a high quality pedestrian experience.
    Contact: Dawn Coomer, MAG, 302 North 1st Avenue, Suite 300, Phoenix, AZ 85003. (602) 254-6300. Email address: dcoomer@mag.maricopa.gov

Local Planning:
At the local level, bicycle and pedestrian plans often address critical gaps in the bicycle and/or pedestrian network, and may provide local cross section standards based on roadway type. They sometimes include zoning and subdivision code revisions that allow higher densities, mixed land uses, traditional neighborhood developments (TND's), establish when and where sidewalks should be installed during new development, and often address traffic calming techniques. Local pedestrian plans may include a specific list of pedestrian projects for inclusion in the local Transportation Improvement Program (TIP).

Example plans
    City of Santa Barbara — A comprehensive plan for integrating bicycling infrastructure into the city's street network, including on- and off-road facilities and ancillary facilities such as bicycle parking, signing and other amenities.
    www.ci.santa-barbara.ca.us/departments/public_works/
    transportation/alternative/
    Contact: Rob Dayton, City of Santa Barbara, 630 Garden Street, Santa Barbara, CA.

    City of Portland, Oregon — During the 1990's the City of Portland has developed an extensive bicycling infrastructure including on- and off-street routes, bicycle parking and other ancillary facilities. The network continues to grow based on a Master Plan that can be found at:
    www.trans.ci.portland.or.us/traffic_management/
    bicycle_program/BikeMasterPlan/Default.htm
    Contact: Roger Geller, City of Portland, 1120 SW Fifth Ave, Room 730, Portland, OR 97204. (503) 823-7671

    City of Chicago, Illinois — Mayor Daley announced in the early 1990's that Chicago would become a bicycle-friendly city by the year 2000. A simple seven-page plan launched a series of improvements to existing facilities, and the striping of several miles of bike lane each year. The plan has also spawned more detailed bicycle improvement plans for a citywide facilities network.
    www.cityofchicago.org/Transportation/Bikes/bicycle.htm
    Contact: Ben Gomberg, Bicycle Program Coordinator, 30 N. LaSalle Street Suite400, Chicago, IL 60602. (312) 744-8093 (602) 254-6300. Email address: dcoomer@mag.maricopa.gov

    City of Tuscon, Arizona — With a network of more than 240 miles of bikeway already on the ground, the Tucson Bikeway Improvement Plan identifies more than 50 additional miles of striped bike lanes that will be added to the system by 2001.
    www.ci.tucson.az.us/transpor/planning/
    Contact: Tom Fisher, City of Tucson, 201 North Stone - 6th Floor, Tucson, AZ 85726. (520) 791-4372

    City of West Palm Beach, Florida — The Transportation Element of the city's 1998 Comprehensive Plan establishes a new traffic hierarchy in which traffic calming is a key strategy in promoting walking and pedestrian safety.
    Contact: Tim Stillings, Planning Department, P.O. Box 3366, West Palm Beach, FL 33402. (561) 659-8031.

    City of Portland, Oregon — The City has adopted a two-part plan: Part One outlines the policies and plans for improving conditions for walking and Part Two is a detailed design manual for pedestrian facilities.
    www.trans.ci.portland.or.us/Sidewalks_and
    _Pedestrians.html
    Contact: Pedestrian Coordinator, City of Portland, 1120 SW Fifth Ave, Portland, OR 97204.

    City of Madison, Wisconsin — Adopted in September 1997, Madison's visionary plan for walking incorporates planning, design, maintenance and long-term goals and objectives. Madison was one of the first communities to adopt a separate plan for walking.
    www.ci.madison.wi.us/reports/execsum2.pdf
    Contact: Arthur Ross, City of Madison, P.O. Box 2986, Madison, WI 53701. (608) 266-6225

    City of Tuscon, Arizona — Closely matching the City's bicycling plan, Tucson has adopted an ambitious plan to improve conditions for walking that is clearly identifiable in the City's annual workplan.
    Contact: Tom Fisher, City of Tucson, 201 North Stone - 6th Floor, Tucson, AZ 85726. (520) 791-4372

    Arlington County, Virginia — Arlington County is one of the nation's densest urban areas and has developed a pedestrian plan that builds on the accessibility of two major transit corridors in the County. An extensive sidewalk-building program is complimented by a neighborhood traffic calming program, all directed by citizen task forces.
    www.co.arlington.va.us/dpw/planning/ped/ped.htm
    Contact: Ritch Viola, Arlington County DPW, 2100 Clarendon Blvd - Suite 717, Arlington, VA 22201

Transit Access Studies:
Transit access studies represent another level of bicycle and pedestrian planning. They typically include analysis and improvements to a specific zone immediately adjacent to (or surrounding) transit stations and/or transit stops, as well as on-site pedestrian and bicycle accommodations.


Example plans
    Maryland Transit Access 2000 — This report prepared by the Maryland State Transit Administration identifies bicycle and pedestrian access routes to every transit station in Maryland, and evaluates the quality of the routes.

    Delaware Transit Access Corridor Study — The Delaware Department of Transportation sponsored this study that assessed the multimodal linkages and opportunities for public/private partnership on six roadway corridors throughout the state. The recommendations include creation of park and ride bicycle maps, provision of bike parking at park and ride lots and community outreach efforts.
    www.state.de.us/deldot/bike
    Contact: Delaware Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinator, Del DOT, P.O. Box 778, Dover, DE 19903.

Trails and Greenway Plans:
These studies typically concentrate on an off-road system of pathways that supplement sidewalks and bikeways within the roadway network. The paths or trails included in these plans should be planned and designed to meet the needs of various users including bicyclists and pedestrians. The primary purpose of these studies may be to support alternative transportation, or they may have a recreation focus as well.



Corridor Plans / Site Specific Studies:
These studies focus on a specific roadway corridor or revitalization area, and may address a wider variety of transportation and community planning issues along with bicycle and pedestrian improvements. These plans can be used to direct future growth along the corridor, or may focus more on physical planning issues such as traffic calming, streetscape improvements, improvements to pedestrian, bicycle and motor vehicle flow, removing barriers to improve accessibility, or other types of improvements.