Complete Streets in North Carolina Piedmont Transportation Professional Forum: Complete Streets – Concepts & Strategies for Local Implementation – December 12, 2012 Jay A Bennett, PE NCDOT – State Roadway Design Engineer

Factors Leading to NC’s Adoption of Complete Streets Policy • Auto-oriented mindset no longer serving needs of population • North Carolina’s continuing growth and urbanization; increasing demand for transportation choices

Factors Leading to NC’s Adoption of Complete Streets Policy • Shifts in NCDOT’s overall approach: • Transportation not only about moving cars, but also about moving people and connecting and supporting communities • Increased emphasis on local collaboration to design project that fits community context • Change in mission statement

NCDOT’S Revised Mission Statement (Approved April 5, 2012) Connecting people and places safely and efficiently, with accountability and environmental sensitivity to enhance the economy, health and well-being of North Carolina. “Children and adults can lead measurably healthier lives by incorporating 30 or more minutes of activity each day”

Development Phases Creation of policy • Adopted by Board of Transportation July 2009 • Requires NCDOT to: • Consider and incorporate multi-modal alternatives • Consider needs of all users on new and improved infrastructure projects • Collaborate with local areas

Development Phases Development of Implementation Guidelines • Finalized after 2 public comment periods • Advisory group included NCDOT staff, MPO/RPO, municipalities, transit and federal agencies

Complete Streets Planning and Design Guidelines Chapter 1: Implementing Complete Streets Chapter 2: Incorporating Complete Streets in the Planning and Design Process Chapter 3: Understanding Context and Designing for All Users Chapter 4: Planning and Design Elements Chapter 5: Planning and Designing Complete Intersections Chapter 6: Designing for Transit in Complete Streets Chapter 7: Accommodating Pedestrians and Bicyclists on Structures Chapter 8: Implementing Complete Streets in Maintenance and Operations Projects Chapter 9: Street Elements: Design Elements for Context Based Solutions

Designing complete streets requires both an understanding of future and existing land use and transportation contexts, and an understanding of how different treatments affect peoples’ ability to safely and comfortably use the street.

Bicycle Lanes

Sidewalks

Multi-Use Paths

Development Phases Implementation • Training • Led by Bicycle and Pedestrian Division • Training program currently under development • Training will begin in 2013 and will last 1 year • 24 trainings statewide, 2 days each • Audience: NCDOT engineers and planners, RPO/MPO staff, local governments, private consultants • Training geared to stakeholders with broad range of roles/responsibilities

Development Phases Implementation • Training • Division 7 – Greensboro/Triad – April 2013 • Division 8 – Aberdeen – August 2013 • Division 9 – Winston-Salem – February 2013 • Division 11 – Wilkesboro – September 2013 • Division 11 – Boone – June 2013

Development Phases Implementation (Cont.) • Identifying 2 projects from each transportation division to apply Complete Streets principles/practices • Example: U-4909 (Union Cross Road) Winston-Salem and Kernersville: Widening to multi-lanes

Example: Stantonsburg Road/ 10th Street Connector, Greenville

Example: U-2803 (Smith Level Road) Carrboro

Successes Complete Streets in North Carolina

Street Conversion with Bicycle Lanes, Morganton

South Blvd and Woodlawn Rd Intersection Enhancement (Charlotte)

King Street (Boone NC)

US 321 Blowing Rock

NC 58 Emerald Drive

Hillsborough Street Redesign (Raleigh)

Front Street Redesign (Wilmington)

Challenges • Conflicting policies – old philosophies/practices vs. new vision • Ex.: Policy requiring municipalities to provide 50% of funding for sidewalk projects; while the same is not required for automobile accommodations • Buy-in within NCDOT • Challenge – without new funding, existing resources and manpower must be used to implement

Challenges • Competition between modes for limited funding • Complete Streets solution - pull money together for improvement projects to provide best multimodal options at best cost • Timing • Not always feasible to delay project to acquire additional land for Complete Streets features • Solution: Incorporate features from the start of project planning

Challenges • Public perception • Understanding relationship between transportation and public health/community development • “People already don’t use the sidewalk - why are you building more of them?” • If we can make people more comfortable and connect them to places they need to go, there will be more use of these facilities

Questions? Jay A. Bennett, PE – State Roadway Design Engineer [email protected] 919-707-6200

www.completestreetsnc.org www.WalkBikeNC.com www.WatchForMeNC.org