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Designing for Nonmotorists: Shared Use Paths

Designing for Nonmotorists: Shared Use Paths. Trails for Transportation Christopher Douwes, Trails and Enhancements Program Manager, Federal Highway Administration. Designing for Nonmotorists Course Overview. Part 3: Off-Road Facilities Shared Use Paths Recreational Trails Motorized Trails

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Designing for Nonmotorists: Shared Use Paths

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  1. Designing for Nonmotorists: Shared Use Paths Trails for Transportation Christopher Douwes, Trails and Enhancements Program Manager, Federal Highway Administration CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  2. Designing for Nonmotorists Course Overview Part 3: Off-Road Facilities • Shared Use Paths • Recreational Trails • Motorized Trails Part 4: Resources • Training, Publications, and Websites • Credits CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  3. Shared Use Paths CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  4. What is a Shared Use Path? • The term “shared use path” means a multi-use trail or other path, physically separated from motorized vehicular traffic by an open space or barrier, either within a highway right-of-way or within an independent right-of-way, and usable for transportation purposes. • Shared use paths may be used by pedestrians, bicyclists, skaters, equestrians, and other nonmotorized users. CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  5. Sidewalk or Trail? What is the difference between a sidewalk and a trail? Part function, part location. • If it acts like a sidewalk, it’s a sidewalk. • If it acts like a trail, it’s a trail. • If it is in between….. • Facilities on park land parallel to streets. • Doesn’t matter who maintains (parks or streets department). The function matters. • People will always argue fine details…….. CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  6. Provisions If you build a shared use path…. • Make sure it works for all users. • Accommodate pre-existing legal users, including equestrians. • Ensure Accessibility: to be covered in the Accessible Design course. • Ensure construction to guidelines: Verify! CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  7. Good Examples Oregon integrates recreational trails and transportation facilities: Portland Esplanade Trails connect parks and recreation: MKT Trail, Columbia MO CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  8. Bad Example What do these curves do? • Landscape architect vs Engineer? • Practical vs pretty? • Transportation vs recreation? • Opposite side of the road from a high school and other origins or destinations; no crosswalks. • It may be part of a larger plan. CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  9. Shared Use Paths: Guidelines American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) • Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities: 1999.https://bookstore.transportation.org/. • The 2010 version is under final review. • Guide for the Planning, Design, and Operation of Pedestrian Facilities: 2004.https://bookstore.transportation.org/ CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  10. Shared Use Paths: Surface Surface: Firm and stable. • Must accommodate wheelchairs. • Accommodate narrow-tire bicycles. • Accommodate people pushing baby strollers (good “test equipment”). • Slip resistance desired, but not required.* * Required for public rights-of-way (PROW). • Pavement is not required. Pavement may not be appropriate in some settings (rural). CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  11. Shared Use Paths: Surface • There are no Federal laws or regulations that require a shared use path to be paved. CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  12. Shared Use Paths: Surface Firm and stable. • Some crushed aggregates can be firm and stable. • Rotational Penetrometer: Measures firmness and stability of ground and floor surfaces. www.beneficialdesigns.com/surfaces/surface.html#rotational CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  13. Shared Use Paths: Surface Pavement • Asphalt or Concrete? • Asphalt often cheaper to construct, but may suffer water, frost, and tree root damage. • Concrete may be cheaper in the long run: may better withstand flooding, frost, roots, etc. • Concrete: use “saw cut” for joints. • Check for accessibility and a smooth surface. CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  14. Shared Use Paths: Tread Obstacles Tread Obstacles: Avoid, Minimize, and Prevent. • Prevent roots, rocks, ruts, bumps, cracks, etc. • Maintain a smooth path: sweep, fix irregularities. • Exception: Detectable warnings at crossings. CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  15. Shared Use Paths: Gaps Gaps: Avoid, Minimize, and Prevent. • Keep drainage grates off the trail. • Minimize: openings, pavement and bridge joints, open bridge decks, railroad crossings, boardwalks. • Openings shall not permit passage of a 0.5 inch / 13 mm diameter sphere. • Elongated openings should be perpendicular or diagonal to travel direction. • Some exceptions for boardwalks: 0.75 inch/19 mm. CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  16. Shared Use Paths: Speed • Design Speed: AASHTO Guide is 20 mi/h. • Draft 2010 AASHTO Guide proposes 14 mi/h. • REASON: Most bicyclists are slower than the “design bicyclist”, pedestrians, other users. • Consider not having completely straight paths: • May encourage excessive speed. • May result in speed variation conflicts. • Boring experience. CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  17. Shared Use Paths: Width • How much use will there be? • 8 foot minimum for low-use facilities: • Connectors between cul-de-sac neighborhoods. • To avoid inviting cut-through motor vehicles. • Prefer 10 foot minimum, recommend 12 foot, more if needed. • Avoid designing only for the minimum. CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  18. Shared Use Paths: Width • High use facilities: Consider separating “heels and wheels” on two separate paths. CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  19. Shared Use Paths: Width Passing Space • Accessibility requirement: At least 60 inches (1525 mm) width within 1,000 foot (300 m) intervals. • Usually not an issue for Shared Use Paths. • Avoid designing only for the minimum. CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  20. Shared Use Paths: Slope Slope: Accessibility is the primary consideration. • Based on Outdoor Developed Areas Guidelines. • Access Board to propose stricter guidelines: • Either Public Rights of Way (PROW), or • Outdoor Recreation Access Routes (ORAR). • At highway crossings: Highway slope is trail cross slope, highway cross slope is trail slope. CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  21. Shared Use Paths: Slope Slope: <5% to the extent feasible. Slope ORAR Trail 1:20 (5%) any length any length 1:12 (8.33%) up to 50 feet up to 200 feet 1:10 (10%) up to 30 feet up to 30 feet 1:8 (12.5%) no up to 10 feet Trail: No more than 30% of the total trail length shall exceed 1:12 (8.33%). CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  22. Shared Use Paths: Slope • Avoid abrupt grade changes: • Not only annoying, they can be dangerous. CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  23. Shared Use Paths: Rest Intervals Rest Intervals: A place to stop and rest. • Where running slopes exceed 1:20 (5%), at intervals no greater than the lengths permitted under running slope. • Size: 60 inch (1525 mm) length, at least as wide as the widest trail segment adjacent to the rest area. • PROW Level Landing: 2%. • ORAR: 3% (5% if drainage needs). • Trail: 5% (exempt if not possible). • Rest area may be off to the side. CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  24. Shared Use Paths: Cross Slope Cross Slope: <2% on paved surfaces. PROW ORAR Trail General: 2% 3% 5%, 3% preferred Exception: 5%* 5%** 10%** * At street crossings without stop control or at midblock. ** If needed for drainage on an unpaved surface. Superelevation? Accessibility trumps. CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  25. Shared Use Paths: Vertical Clearance • Accessibility: 80 inches minimum. • Equestrian Use: 10 feet minimum. CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  26. Shared Use Paths: Vertical Clearance • Maintenance vehicles: 12 feet? More? • Provide warnings or barriers for low overhead clearance: detectable by people with visual impairments. CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  27. Shared Use Paths: Protruding Objects • Avoid protruding objects in the treadway: • Poles, wires, signs, other objects. • Tree branches, hanging vines. • Mark unavoidable objects with retroreflective markings. • Covered in Accessible Design Course. CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  28. Shared Use Path Crossings • Use Public Rights-of-Way Guidelines. • Treat as an intersection. • Who gets the right of way? Where is the volume? • Include detectable warnings. CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  29. Trails in Freeway Rights-of-Way QUESTION: Can trails be built along an Interstate or other freeway right-of-way? ANSWER: • Yes! There are examples. • Ensure barrier separation between the trail and freeway lanes. www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bikeped/freeways.htm CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  30. Shared Use Paths Near Railroads QUESTION: Can Shared Use Paths (or other trails) coexist with railroads? ANSWER: • It depends. • Right-of-way. • Safety • Security • No trespassing! CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  31. Shared Use Paths Near Railroads • Many factors to consider. • See FHWA/FRA Rails-with-Trails: Lessons Learned: www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/rectrails/rwt/index.htm • Trail may reduce trespassing on railroad property. • Trail is easier to use than walking on tracks. • Use a barrier: • Fence or vegetation. • Ditch. • Vertical grade. CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  32. Rails-to-Trails • Good examples of shared use paths. • Low grade, good sight lines, wide, stable base. • It could handle trains, it can handle bicyclists and pedestrians! • Access points must be accessible. • Pay attention to property rights issues. CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  33. Bollards: A Bad Idea. Why? What are some possible problems? CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  34. Bollards: A Bad Idea • Bollards should never be a default treatment. • Bollards are a potentially fatal safety hazard. • Unjustified bollards can create liability exposure. • Bollards, gates, fences, or other barriers can slow emergency response access. • Bollards are often ineffective: people go around, or damage the bollards or area. • A landscaped median is better. • Don’t use unless intrusions are documented. CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  35. Bollards: A Bad Idea If installed, bollard, gates, fences, or other barriers: • Must not restrict access for people with disabilities. • Must be easily visible in low light conditions. • Have enough sight distance so users can adjust speed. • Should permit passage, without dismounting, for adult tricycles, bicycles towing trailers, and tandem bicycles. • Accommodate all users legally permitted to use the trail. • Must be easily removable for emergency vehicle access. • Never use even numbers of bollards, possibly creating head-on collisions….. (see previous examples). CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  36. Environmental Impacts • Shared use paths may qualify for Categorical Exclusions, but they can impact: • Drainage patterns and wetlands. • Wildlife: threatened and endangered species. • Historic, cultural, archaeological resources. • Privacy perceptions for adjacent properties. • Light pollution. CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  37. Bridges: Essential Links Bridges are needed for any transportation network. • Union Street Railroad Bridge, Salem OR. • A half-mile span over the Willamette River. • The project improved bicycle and pedestrian safety and access, and provided a critical link in local, regional, and State transportation and trail networks. CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  38. Bridges: Essential Links • Be creative. • Reuse historic bridges. • Reuse railroad flatcars. CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  39. Rail Bridge to Trail BridgeWalkway Over the HudsonPoughkeepsie – Highland NY CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  40. Big Dam BridgeNear Little Rock AR Over Lock & Dam. Built and managed by by Pulaski County. CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  41. Tunnels and Underpasses Design for the tallest likely user: • Maintenance vehicles • Equestrians • Snow level Think about maintenance. CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  42. Tunnels and Underpasses Design for Perception of Security • Good visibility through the underpass: • No hiding places. • Lighting if needed. • Highway underpasses: • Underpass approach grade may be easier than a bridge over. • Drainage issues. CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  43. Signs See MUTCD Chapter 9: http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/. CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  44. Support Facilities Trailside and Trailhead Facilities • Rest rooms, water. • Benches along trails, hitching posts, bike racks. • Buildings and built site facilities must meet accessibility guidelines for built facilities. • Not our job: Park amenities: picnic pavilions, campgrounds, ball fields, boat launches, etc. • Not our job: school running tracks, lighting. CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  45. Motorized Use on Shared Use Paths • Generally prohibited. Exceptions: • Motorized wheelchairs • Snowmobiles or electric bicycles at State or local option • See Framework for Considering Motorized Use on Nonmotorized Trails and Pedestrian Walkways • www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/bikeped/framework.htm • Electric vehicles: currently not allowed (except electric bicycles at State or local option). CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  46. Motorized Use or Larger Vehicles on Shared Use Paths • Coming soon to a trail near you? CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  47. Critique? • What do you see that you like? • What do you see that you don’t like? CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

  48. Questions, Comments, etc. ????? CONSTRUCTION & PROJECT MANAGEMENT DESIGN GENERALIST PAVEMENT & MATERIALS

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