2020.02.03 Council Agenda Item 9
Summary
Discussion regarding the 2016 Falmouth Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan.
A public comment period will not be included with this item.
ACTION: Council action is not anticipated.
Description
This project was last discussed by the Council on September 23, 2019 (item 10). See also: September 23, 2019 meeting minutes.
Background:
The Town developed a 2016 Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan in 2015-16. This plan updated and integrated the 2002 Trails Master Plan and 2003 Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan into a single plan that outlined recommended and prioritized infrastructure improvements that will interconnect Falmouth’s pedestrian and bicycle network of trails, sidewalks, bike lanes, and paved shoulders. The plan was informed by extensive public outreach. It is intended to be used over the next 20 years as a guide or reference tool to prepare capital improvement plans and road designs and review future improvement requests from citizens and projects proposed by others.
On May 23, 2016, the Council approved a resolution that stated that the Council:
- supports the vision of the 2016 Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan, but not necessarily every recommended action and does not commit to the allocation of funding that will be required to implement any specific action,
- agrees to use the plan as a reference document in developing its Annual Work Plans, operating and capital improvements budgets, and Tax Increment Financing (TIF) development plans, and
- requests that Town staff prepare and submit a draft Bicycle-Pedestrian Work Plan for Council review that recommends the highest priority actions of the plan for implementation for 2016-17 and 2017-18.
On July 25, 2016, the Council accepted the two year work plan prepared by staff.
Since then, staff has worked on implementing the top priority actions and conducted three stakeholder meetings: on October 26, 2016, February 16, 2017, and November 19, 2019.
On September 23, 2019, the Council reviewed the history of the 2016 Plan, how it was developed, a summary of its recommended actions, how priorities were established, and how the plan is being implemented by Town staff.
Current status:
Following the 3rd bicycle-pedestrian stakeholder meeting held on November 19, 2019, the Council would like to discuss when and how to re-engage the public to see if there is a demand for changes to the 2016 Plan. Attached is a list of bicycle and pedestrian improvement projects that staff expects to work on over the next year.
Request:
The Town Council is asked to provide feedback to staff:
- If any projects should be added or removed from the 2016 plan,
- If any project priorities in the 2016 plan should be changed, and/or
- If a complete update of 2016 Plan is needed.
Attachments:
- Presentation for September 23, 2019 meeting
- List of upcoming bicycle and pedestrian improvement projects
Links:
