Transportation Plan - 2009, amended

5.4 Bicycle and Pedestrian Network, cont’d

valid given the changes in direction from these numerous partners as well as the updated priorities contained in this Plan. Town of Morrisville Ordinances. The Town of Morrisville created new ordinance language in September 2006 that described pedestrian and cycling facility terms, where bi- cycles and walking are allowed; and safe cycling and walking behavior. The terms from this ordinance stem sometimes from other sources like the North Carolina Gen- eral Statutes, and are used to define facility types in the design section of the Trans- portation Plan . Most importantly, this ordinance states (by omission) that bicycles are allowed on sidewalks, which runs counter to safety studies that suggest riding on sidewalks is from 2 to 24 times more dangerous than riding a bicycle in the road and that sidepaths and sidewalks encourage more wrong-way cycling (which further increases the chance of injury). The ordinance does require that when multi-lane (four lanes or wider) roadways are constructed or widened in the town, the outer lane should be a wide outside lane of at least 14 feet. Wide outside lanes allow cars to more safely pass cyclists on the roadway. Other ordinance language affecting bicycle/pedestrian travel is scattered throughout the ordinance, for example, the 4% density bonus allowed for the construction of each 1,000 feet of greenway con- structed in Planned Unit Development overlay areas (Section 3.2.3). Section 5.4.2 of the Morrisville Design and Construction Ordinance specifies developer requirements for sidewalks, including their installation on both sides of all town streets. Morrisville’s subdivision and zoning ordinances also codify development practices that get realized in private (and public) development actions. The ordinance is impres- sive in its requirements for off-street parking placement and design, requiring pedestrian walkways and/or greenspace every third aisle and, in many areas, for parking lots to be located in side or rear yards. Parking areas often create “dead zones” for pedestrians and frequent curb cuts produce conflict points for cyclists, so the additional attention paid to these details is appreciable. One area of the parking ordinance to reconsider is the Type 3 Area parking requirements for areas of “lower community prominence” where it is not clear that the parking location requirements still hold. These areas on non-residential collector streets can serve as integral, low-volume corridors for cyclists and pedestrians, and should be treated similarly to other streets, especially given the large amount of land that may be developed as institutional or industrial/commercial uses east of NC 54. The aesthetics of greenway areas are specifically addressed through screening requirements (e.g., Section 3.3(a) and 4.2(a)(1)) as demonstrated in the photo. These ordinances are implemented through a development review process, which is aided (as much for the developer as the staff) by a development review checklist. This checklist contains a review of bicycle and pedestrian accommodations, and again could serve as a model for other communities to adopt. More specificity on these requirements may be necessary to fully impart the significance of the location and design. Town of Morrisville Adopted Plans. In addition to the Transportation Plan, three types of plans already adopted by the Town have a particular bearing on the recommended proj- ects and policies that need to be considered in this comprehensive transportation plan: parks/greenways, small area, and downtown revitalization. Each of these three is consid- ered briefly in the following paragraphs. • Parks, Recreation, Greenways & Open Space Comprehensive Master Plan (2006). The Plan identifies standards for the provision of community facilities likes parks and softball fields, but does not recommend a standard for greenways (e.g., miles of greenway per resident). Proposed greenways are indicated in stream, utility ease- ment, and rail (south of Morrisville-Carpenter Road) corridors. A survey conducted in conjunction with the Plan indicated a relevant need for more bicycle lanes and greenways, as well as more opportunities for youth and seniors to be active. • North Morrisville-Shiloh Small Area Plan (2002) . This Plan was created to preserve the heritage of the Shiloh Community and guide future development plans. There are several implied elements that indirectly affect project recommendations, par- ticularly: incorporating the Shiloh Cemetery into a heritage trail plan; the mixed use and commercial development mixtures in some areas; and an overpass of the rail- road at Lichtin Boulevard (now Carrington Mill Road). The most direct mention of bicycle/pedestrian accommodations is the area west of NC 54 and Church Street, which was recognized for its potential for greenways and park development: A well spaced network of stream and drainage corridors for potential greenway linkages benefits the North Morrisville/Shiloh Area west of NC 54. In addition, an overhead transmission line passes through the area on a north south axis, creat- ing an easement underneath. Collectively, this network affords the opportunity to provide for pedestrian/trail access (1) from residential areas to major open space areas (2) from residential areas to the Shiloh village center (3) from areas south of McCrimmon Parkway up into the Shiloh community (and vice versa). Trail development along natural drainage corridors will require the dedication of easements parallel to these streams. • State of North Carolina Standards, Policies, and Law. In 2000, the N.C. Board of Transportation, which has individual project and policy approval authority for al- most all of the work conducted by NCDOT, adopted a resolution declaring bicy- cling and walking a critical part of the transportation system. The resolution states that the Board of Transportation: …concurs that bicycling and walking accommodations shall be a routine part of the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s planning, design, construc- tion, and operations activities and supports the Department’s study and consid- eration of methods of improving the inclusion of these modes into the everyday operations of North Carolina’s transportation system.

Example of screening techniques.

Bike lanes and multi-use path along Parkside Valley Drive.

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5 Recommendations