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Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Update 1 CHAPTER 1 Plan Overview ---PAGE BREAK--- Town of Normal, Illinois 2 This page intentionally left blank. ---PAGE BREAK--- Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Update 3 Introduction Walking, bicycling, and other forms of non- motorized travel are integral components of the Town of Normal’s multimodal transportation system. With the Constitution Trail as the spine of the active transportation network, many Normal residents can walk or bike to school, work, parks, retail and restaurants, transit, and other nearby destinations. In recent years, the Town of Normal has solidified its commitment to active transportation through continued sidewalk and curb ramp improvements, expansion of the trail system, new on-street bikeways, and a Complete Streets policy to integrate walking, biking, and transit considerations into all roadway projects. The Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Update (the plan) encapsulates the Town of Normal’s vision, project recommendations, programs, policies, and strategies to create a safer, more comfortable, and more connected environment for active transportation (walking, bicycling, using a wheelchair or other mobility assistance devices, and other forms of non- motorized travel). Building on the 2009 Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan, this plan update documents progress made over the last eleven years and identifies new projects to support active transportation based on community input and best practices and bicycle and pedestrian planning and facility design. This is a long-range planning document, and the recommendations included in this plan will take years to implement. The plan serves as a guide for Town staff and elected officials to invest in transportation infrastructure that supports bicycle and pedestrian safety, connectivity, accessibility, and comfort. In addition to capital projects, the plan’s recommendations and implementation strategies also include programs, policies, and other actions to build a culture and environment in which bicycling and walking are valued as viable transportation and recreation options. This chapter provides an overview of the plan contents and highlights key plan elements, including the plan’s vision and goals, community engagement process and feedback from residents to guide the planning process, key recommendations, and implementation strategies. ---PAGE BREAK--- Town of Normal, Illinois 4 Current Conditions The Current Conditions chapter documents built environment conditions for walking and bicycling, focusing on the coverage and quality of active transportation facilities, popular destinations and land uses that generate trips, connections to the transit system, and current plans and policies that relate to this planning effort. The chapter’s detailed examination of sidewalks, trails, on-street bikeways, and recent bicycle and pedestrian crash history provides the foundation for community dialogue and ultimately the plan’s recommendations to better connect people to everyday destinations throughout Normal. During this research and analysis phase of the planning process, general themes emerged that would set the stage for discussions among Town staff and with the steering committee and Normal residents. Active transportation and assets include the Constitution Trail, the established sidewalk system, particularly within Uptown and the surrounding neighborhoods, continued investments in bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure, and excess roadway capacity to support Complete Streets roadway reconfigurations that offer safer, more separated facilities for walking and biking. Weaknesses and issues to address include limited network connectivity, particularly for the young but growing on-street bikeway network, significant barriers like Veterans Parkway and the railroad, limited wayfinding signage, gaps in the sidewalk and trail system, challenging intersections and trail crossings, and ADA compliance issues. Cyclists stopped at the Constitution Trail Vernon Avenue at-grade crossing. The recent resurfacing project on West Shelbourne Drive included dedicated bike lanes connecting residents to the Constitution Trail. ISU students crossing Vernon Avenue at School Street. ---PAGE BREAK--- Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Update 5 Community Engagement Through numerous engagement activities and communication channels, Normal residents have helped the Town better understand community needs and values, craft a vision for the future of walking and biking, and identify specific projects and strategies to make active transportation and recreation safer, more comfortable, and more accessible for people of all ages and abilities. The engagement process included steering committee oversight, an online survey that garnered 431 responses, an open house in the Fall of 2019, a public comment period in the Summer of 2020, and numerous stakeholder meetings to expand the plan’s reach and expand the conversation to a wider audience. This chapter summarizes the plan’s engagement process and highlights key themes and ideas that have shaped the direction and content of the plan. The input provided by community residents during the planning process helped to shape the plan, from early stages of identifying key issues and opportunities to later stages of network development and refinement. Through these public engagement and input activities, two pictures of Normal began to emerge. First, a community that has made great strides to support walking and biking, but still has work to do. Residents value the Constitution Trail (as a transportation and recreation asset), walkable areas like Uptown and surrounding neighborhoods, the sidewalk network, and many parks, schools, and commercial destinations within walking distance of many homes and neighborhoods; however, there are concerns that must be addressed to unlock true potential for walking and biking. These include challenging roadway crossings along the Constitution Trail, overcrowding on popular sections of the trail, the lack of comfortable connections to many destinations in eastern Normal, and the lack of connectivity and access to the trail system for a number of neighborhoods in the community. The second picture of Normal that emerged during the planning process envisioned a future for the community in which walking and bicycling were safe, comfortable, and routine activities for residents and visitors. This picture included an expanded trail and on-street bikeway system, safer crossings along major roads like Main Street and Veterans Parkway, and a culture of respect and responsibility among all road and trail users. These two visions of Normal provided valuable insight into the needs, values, and aspirations of community residents, setting the stage for the development of plan goals, objectives, and recommendations. Children drawing their favorite places to walk and bike at the October 2019 open house. ---PAGE BREAK--- Town of Normal, Illinois 6 Vision, Goals, and Objectives Advancing walking and bicycling in Normal requires a clear direction and framework for organizing and allocating resources, coordinating with community partners, and maintaining progress towards a desired end state. To achieve this, the Town has developed a vision for the future of walking and bicycling, with supporting goals and objectives organized into six overarching values: Connectivity, Safety, Equity, Quality of Life, Environment, and Economy. This chapter of the plan presents the plan vision and supporting goals and objectives as a framework for plan recommendations and implementation. VISION STATEMENT “Walking, bicycling, and accessing transit in the Town of Normal are safe, easy, and routine parts of daily life for people of all ages and abilities.” CONNECTIVITY - Create a complete, interconnected system of streets and pathways that support walking, bicycling, and other forms of active transportation. SAFETY - Enhance safety and accessibility for active transportation and recreation. EQUITY - Incorporate social equity into transportation decision-making, outreach, and engagement. ECONOMY - Leverage public resources and active transportation infrastructure to secure external funding for projects, support economic development, promote recreational tourism, and increase access to employment opportunities. QUALITY OF LIFE - Improve community health and livability through complete streets and inviting public spaces. ENVIRONMENT - Strengthen Normal’s commitment to the environment through pedestrian and bicycle improvements that protect natural resources, reduce motor vehicle emissions, and connect people to natural ecosystems. GOALS ---PAGE BREAK--- Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Update 7 The Active Mobility Network Recommendations for safe, interconnected, low-stress facilities for walking and bicycling are core elements of the Town’s strategy and vision for walking, biking, and active transportation and recreation. From sidewalks and trails to on- street bikeways, physical improvements to the built environment can have direct, measurable impacts on walking and biking activity, safety, and comfort. This chapter presents the Town’s approach to designing facilities for all ages and abilities, describes the various facility types that form the building blocks of the walking and biking networks, and offers a series of pedestrian and bicycle projects that, when combined with existing trails and bikeways, form a continuous system of facilities to support safe and comfortable trips on foot and bike. The tables below summarize the recommendations for walking and bicycling by facility type. Recommendations like shared use paths, sidepaths, intersection improvements, and trail crossing enhancements are listed in both tables because they support walking and bicycling. These recommendations are also shown in the pedestrian and bicycle network recommendations maps on the following pages. Table 1. Recommended Pedestrian Improvements Facility Type Project Count Miles Pedestrian Priority Corridors 41 70.76 Sidewalk Infill 23 3.24 Shared Use Paths 24 16.24 Sidepaths 44 40.73 Intersection Improvements 41 N/A Mid-Block Crossing Improvements 1 N/A Trail Crossing Enhancements 11 N/A Total 185 130.97 Table 2. Recommended Bicycle Improvements Facility Type Project Count Miles Signed Connection 15 3.12 Shared Lane 17 6.45 Bike Boulevard 26 8.12 Advisory Bike Lane 5 2.22 Bike Lane 19 10.10 Buffered Bike Lane 7 6.87 Separated Bike Lane 6 4.63 Shared Use Path 24 16.24 Sidepath 44 40.73 Intersection Improvements 41 N/A Mid-Block Crossing Improvements 1 N/A Trail Crossing Enhancements 11 N/A Total 216 98.48 ---PAGE BREAK--- Town of Normal, Illinois 8 This page intentionally left blank. ---PAGE BREAK--- Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Update 9 ¥ 55 ¥ 39 ¥ 74 Rivian Mtwy White Oak Rd Eagle Rd Normal Ave Parkside Rd Ethell P k wy Grove St Willow St College Ave Raab Rd Northtown Rd Fort Jesse Rd M a l l L o o p R d Airport Rd Baugh Dr Towanda Ave Jersey Ave Renai s s a nce Dr Virginia Ave Vernon Ave Towanda Barnes Rd Wylie Dr Grandview Dr Mulberr y S t Center St Dr Martin Luther King Jr Dr Dela S helbourne Dr Cottage Ave Spear Dr Ziebarth Rd Ogelthorpe Ave Ironwoo d C c D r Franklin Ave Longwood Ln Jumer Dr Pamela Dr Sheridan Rd Beech St Hovey Ave Shepard Rd Us 150 Hwy A St Linden St Greenbriar Dr School St Degarmo Dr Main St Se d on a D r Alley Fell Ave Henry St Bl air Dr Beau fort St Pine S t Arrowhead Dr Spri n g Ri d ge D r University St Broad Creek Rd Norma Dr S u s an Dr Veterans Pkwy Wisteria Ln Orr Dr Kerrick Rd Woodfield Rd Hedgewood Dr Crimson Ln Erin Dr Park Ridge Rd Dillon Dr Old Route 66 Riss Dr North P oi n te Dr Gregory St Woo d bine R d Rainb ow Av e P a r kvie w Dr Keystone Rd M ont e rey Rd Courtlan d Ave Walnut St Bryan St Baldocchi Dr Clearwate r A ve Adelaide St H an s on Dr Rob e r t Dr Garden Rd Oak St 1450 North Rd Maple St Seminary Ave Kingsley St W hispering P ines Cc L n Searle Dr Broadway 1900 East Rd Ropp Rd Landmark Dr Ha ckberry Rd Emerson St Iaa Dr Locust St General Electric Rd Bone Dr Dr Old Peoria Ct Eagle C res t Rd H ershey Rd Rave Rd Ban d e co n W ay Merc y Creek Dr Mabel Rd A rbor w a l k Dr Lambert Dr H a verhill C c Park Taft Dr Truman Dr Hoover Dr Johnson Dr Jacobssen Dr Oakwood Ave Berrywood Ln Leslie Dr Maple Hill Rd Pipeline Rd 1700 North Rd Gill St R a venwood C i r Sun set Rd Ironma n R d Martin Luther King Park Maxwell Park Fell Park Hidden Creek Nature Sanctuary Fransen Nature Area One Normal Plaza Kelly Detention Basin Shepard Park Underwood Park Anderson Park Ironwood Park Fairview Park Champion Fields Savannah Green Park Ironwood Golf Course Weibring Golf Club- Illinois State University Rosa Parks Commons Oak Street Baseball Field All Seasons Golf Learning Center Northpoint School / Park Eagle Crest Park Clearwater Park Bittner Park Suburban East Park Stevenson School / Park White Oak Park Tipton Park (South Entrance) Carden Park Calvary Acres Recreation Area East Detention Basin Dawes Park Evergreen Park General Electric Park Hawthorne Commons Park Hedgewood Park Hungarian Park People's Park Blackstone Trails McGraw Community Park Ewing Park I Ewing Park II Ewing Park III Tipton Park (North Entrance) Heartland Head Start Preschool Central Catholic High School Chiddix Junior High School Calvary Christian Academy Glenn Elementary School Kingsley Junior High School Grove Elementary School Stevenson Elementary School Parkside Elementary School Northpoint Elementary School Sugar Creek Elementary School Parkside Junior High School Normal Community West High School Normal Community High School Colene Hoose Elementary School Epiphany Elementary School Fairview Elementary School Hammitt Elementary School Hammitt High School Oakdale Elementary School Prairieland Elementary School Mulberry School University High School Thomas Metcalf School Midwest Christian Academy Shining Star Learning Center Little Jewels Learning Center, Normal Illinois State University Heartland Community College C olle g i a t e Bloomer Line Illinois Central Oakdal e/North Fork Trail South Fork T r a i l Route 66 PEDESTRIAN NETWORK RECOMMENDATIONS EXISTING PROPOSED FACILITIES Sidewalk Shared Use Park Trail Schools Parks Commercial and Mixed Land Uses Town of Normal Limits DESTINATIONS + BOUNDARIES 0 0.5 1 MILE ¹ 10 MIN 20 MIN WALK Intersection Improvements Midblock Crossing Improvements Trail Crossing Enhancements Pedestrian Priority Corridors OTHER IMPROVEMENTS Map 1. Proposed Pedestrian Network Recommendations ---PAGE BREAK--- Town of Normal, Illinois 10 This page intentionally left blank. ---PAGE BREAK--- Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Update 11 ¥ 55 ¥ 39 ¥ 74 Rivian Mtwy White Oak Rd Eagle Rd Normal Ave Parkside Rd Ethell P k wy Grove St Willow St College Ave Raab Rd Northtown Rd Fort Jesse Rd Mall Loo p R d Airport Rd Baugh Dr Towanda Ave Jersey Ave Renai s s a nce Dr Virginia Ave Vernon Ave Towanda Barnes Rd Wylie Dr Grandview Dr M ulberry St Center St Dr Martin Luther King Jr Dr Dela S helbourne Dr Cottage Ave Spear Dr Ziebarth Rd Ogelthorpe Ave Ir o n w o o d Cc Dr Franklin Ave Longwood Ln Jumer Dr Pamela Dr Sheridan Rd Beech St Hovey Ave Shepard Rd Us 150 Hwy A St Linden St G reenbr i ar Dr School St Degarmo Dr Main St Se d on a D r Alley Fell Ave Henry St Bl air Dr Beau fort St Pine S t Arrowhead Dr Spri n g Ri d ge D r University St Broad Creek Rd Norma Dr Susa n D r Veterans Pkwy Wisteria Ln Orr Dr Kerrick Rd Woodfield Rd Hedgewood Dr Crims o n Ln Erin Dr Park Ridge Rd Dillon Dr Lincoln St Old Route 66 Riss Dr N or t h Po i nte Dr Gregory St Woo d bine R d Rainb ow Av e P a r kvie w Dr Keystone Rd M ont e rey Rd Courtlan d Ave Walnut St Bryan St Baldocchi Dr Clearwater Ave Adelaide St Hans on D r R obert Dr Garden Rd Oak St 1450 North Rd Maple St Seminary Ave Kingsley St W hispering P ines Cc L n Searle Dr Broadway 1900 East Rd Ropp Rd Landmark Dr Ha ckberry Rd Emerson St Iaa Dr Locust St General Electric R d Bone Dr Dr Old Peoria Ct Eagle C res t Rd Hershey Rd Rave Rd Bandeco n W a y Merc y Creek Dr Mabel Rd A rbor w a l k Dr Lambert Dr H a verhill C c Park Taft Dr Truman Dr Hoover Dr Johnson Dr Jacobssen Dr Oakwood Ave Berrywood Ln Leslie Dr Maple Hill Rd Pipeline Rd 1700 North Rd Gill St R a venwood C i r Sun set Rd Ironman Rd Martin Luther King Park Maxwell Park Fell Park Hidden Creek Nature Sanctuary Fransen Nature Area One Normal Plaza Kelly Detention Basin Shepard Park Underwood Park Anderson Park Ironwood Park Fairview Park Champion Fields Savannah Green Park Ironwood Golf Course Weibring Golf Club- Illinois State University Rosa Parks Commons Oak Street Baseball Field All Seasons Golf Learning Center Northpoint School / Park Eagle Crest Park Clearwater Park Bittner Park Suburban East Park Stevenson School / Park White Oak Park Tipton Park (South Entrance) Carden Park Calvary Acres Recreation Area East Detention Basin Dawes Park Evergreen Park General Electric Park Hawthorne Commons Park Hedgewood Park Hungarian Park People's Park Blackstone Trails McGraw Community Park Ewing Park I Ewing Park II Ewing Park III Tipton Park (North Entrance) Heartland Head Start Preschool Central Catholic High School Chiddix Junior High School Calvary Christian Academy Glenn Elementary School Kingsley Junior High School Grove Elementary School Stevenson Elementary School Parkside Elementary School Northpoint Elementary School Sugar Creek Elementary School Parkside Junior High School Normal Community West High School Normal Community High School Colene Hoose Elementary School Epiphany Elementary School Fairview Elementary School Hammitt Elementary School Hammitt High School Oakdale Elementary School Prairieland Elementary School Mulberry School University High School Thomas Metcalf School Midwest Christian Academy Shining Star Learning Center Little Jewels Learning Center, Normal Illinois State University Heartland Community College Bloomer Line Collegiate Illinois Central Oakd a le/North Fork Trail South Fork T r a i l BIKEWAY NETWORK RECOMMENDATIONS EXISTING PROPOSED BIKEWAYS Shared Use Path/Trail Separated Bike Lane Buffered Bike Lane Bike Lane Advisory Bike Lane Bike Boulevard Shared Lane Signed Connection Schools Parks Commercial and Mixed Land Uses Town of Normal Limits OTHER IMPROVEMENTS 0 0.5 1 MILE ¹ 3 MIN 6 MIN BIKE RIDE DESTINATIONS + BOUNDARIES Intersection Improvements Midblock Crossing Improvements Trail Crossing Enhancements Map 2. Proposed Bicycle Network Recommendations ---PAGE BREAK--- Town of Normal, Illinois 12 Supporting Programs and Policies Creating a walkable and bikeable community takes more than trails, sidewalks, and bikeways. The Town of Normal’s holistic approach also includes education and encouragement programs to build an active culture in which walking and bicycling are valued modes of transportation and recreation, and internal policies and procedures that integrate active transportation into the Town’s daily practices and operations. This chapter documents previous and current programs and policies and presents recommendations for improvements to existing programs and policies and new programs and policies based on input from the community, innovative best practices, and feedback from the League of American Bicyclists. A number of these recommendations are shown below. Bicycle Friendly Business Program Open Streets Events Bicycle Parking Program Bicycle & Pedestrian Count Program Bike Safety Education Bike/Ped/Traffic Enforcement Programs ---PAGE BREAK--- Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan Update 13 Implementation Strategies The Normal Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan provides a comprehensive set of infrastructure, policy, and programming recommendations intended to weave active transportation into the physical and social fabric of the community. Implementing the plan will require collective commitment and persistence from the Town of Normal and its community partners to pursue the opportunities identified in this plan, as well as those that arise in the coming years. TARGET BFC RECOMMENDATIONS - The Town of Normal should identify one or two key steps recommended in the League of American Bicyclists' Bicycle Friendly Community feedback that it can pursue and realistically implement within a year of the Plan’s adoption. BUILD THE NETWORK - Sustaining the momentum built during the planning process will require expansion of the active transportation network. The Town has identified 14 projects to be pursued in the near-term, a number of which are already funded and under design. REVIEW THE COMMUNITY INVESTMENT PLAN - The Town of Normal should continue to explore opportunities to integrate bicycle and pedestrian projects into larger planned improvements or as standalone projects in future iterations of the Community Investment Plan (CIP). EXPLORE KEY POLICY CHANGES - The Town should explore the potential for reducing posted speed limits on residential streets from 30 miles per hour to 25 miles per hour. The Town should also begin reviewing the manual of practice to identify opportunities to better integrate bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure and plan recommendations. DOCUMENT PROGRESS - The Town of Normal should develop an annual public report to highlight capital improvements, programs, community events, major milestones, and other implementation successes that bring the community closer to realizing the plan's vision. EARLY ACTIONS This chapter of the plan sets forth a multi- pronged strategy to implement these recommendations and to ultimately achieve the vision for Normal in which walking, bicycling, and accessing transit are safe, easy, and routine parts of daily life for people of all ages and abilities. Included in this chapter are immediate actions to sustain and build momentum, capital project prioritization, cost estimates for infrastructure projects, funding sources, ongoing maintenance recommendations, and evaluation activities. ---PAGE BREAK--- Town of Normal, Illinois 14 This page intentionally left blank.