Designing Shared Use Paths and Trails

1. Designing Shared Use Paths and Trails Christopher Douwes, Community Planner, Federal Highway Administration

2. Shared Use Paths

3. What is a Shared Use Path? FHWA Working Definition • 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.

4. 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…….. • US Access Board puts Shared Use Paths in the Public Rights-of-Way Guidelines

5. 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!

6. Good Examples Oregon integrates recreational trails and transportation facilities: Portland Esplanade Trails connect parks and recreation: MKT Trail, Columbia MO

7. 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.

8. Shared Use Paths: Guidelines American Association of State Highway and Transportation Officials (AASHTO) • Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities: 2012.https://bookstore.transportation.org/. • Guide for the Planning, Design, and Operation of Pedestrian Facilities: 2004.https://bookstore.transportation.org/ • US Access Board Accessibility Guidelines for Shared Use Paths. • Consider other sources, as appropriate.

9. Shared Use Paths: Surface Surface: Firm, stable, and slip resistant. • Must accommodate wheelchairs. • Accommodate narrow-tire bicycles. • Accommodate people pushing baby strollers (good “test equipment”). • Pavement is not required. Pavement may not be appropriate in some settings (rural). • Slip resistance required, but may be difficult on unpaved surfaces.

10. Shared Use Paths: Surface • There are no Federal laws or regulations that require a shared use path to be paved.

11. 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

12. 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.

13. 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.

14. 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 to travel direction.

15. 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.

16. Shared Use Paths: Width • High use facilities: Consider separating “heels and wheels” on two separate paths.

17. Shared Use Paths: Width Passing Space • Accessibility requirement: At least 60 inches (1525 mm) width within 200 foot (61 m) intervals. • Should not be an issue for Shared Use Paths. • Avoid designing only for the minimum.

18. Shared Use Paths: Grade Grade: Accessibility is the primary consideration. • Use Access Board’s Shared Use Path Guidelines in the Public Rights-of-Way Guidelines. • Grade: <5% to the extent practicable. • There may be situations were “compliance is required to the extent practicable.” • At highway crossings: Highway slope is trail cross slope, highway cross slope is trail slope.

19. Shared Use Paths: Grade • Grade: <5% to the extent practicable. • Avoid abrupt grade changes: • Annoying and can be dangerous. • No provision or requirement for rest intervals, but could be considered on sustained grades.

20. Shared Use Paths: Cross Slope • Cross Slope: <2%. • At highway crossings: Highway slope is trail cross slope, highway cross slope is trail slope. • Superelevation? Accessibility trumps. • NOTE: The Outdoor Developed Areas Guidelines allow steeper cross slopes for recreational trails. Shared Use Paths must use a higher standard.

21. Shared Use Paths: Vertical Clearance • Accessibility: 80 inches minimum. • Equestrian Use: 10 feet minimum.

22. Shared Use Paths: Vertical Clearance • Maintenance vehicles: 12 feet? More? • Provide warnings or barriers for low overhead clearance: detectable by people with visual impairments.

23. 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.

24. 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.

25. 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

26. 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!

27. 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.

28. 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.

29. Bollards: A Bad Idea. Why? What are some possible problems?

30. Bollards: A Bad Idea • Bollards should never be a default treatment. • Don’t use unless intrusions are documented. • Bollards are a potentially fatal safety hazard. • Unjustified bollards may create liability. • 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.

31. 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).

32. 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.

33. Bridges: Essential Links Bridges are needed in 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.

34. Bridges: Essential Links • Be creative. • Reuse historic bridges. • Reuse railroad flatcars.

35. Rail Bridge to Trail BridgeWalkway Over the HudsonPoughkeepsie – Highland NY

36. Big Dam BridgeNear Little Rock AR Over Lock & Dam. Built and managed by by Pulaski County.

37. Tunnels and Underpasses Design for the tallest likely user: • Maintenance vehicles • Equestrians • Snow level Think about maintenance.

38. 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.

39. Signs See MUTCD Chapter 9: http://mutcd.fhwa.dot.gov/.

40. 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, field lighting, etc.

41. Motorized Use on Shared Use Paths • Generally prohibited. Exceptions: • Motorized wheelchairs • Snowmobiles or electric bicycles at State or local option • 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).

42. Motorized Use or Larger Vehicles on Shared Use Paths • Coming soon to a trail near you?

43. Critique? • What do you see that you like? • What do you see that you don’t like?

44. Questions, Comments, etc. ?????