City Council Meeting Date: May 21, 2019
To: Mayor and City Council
City Administrator
From: David E. Bennett, Public Works Director/City Engineer
Title
Northfield Planned Walking and Bicycling Network Prioritization.
Body
Action Requested:
The Northfield City Council is requested to discuss the planned walking and bicycling network prioritization.
Summary Report:
As part of the Pedestrian, Bike and Trail System Update recommendations, the plan identified biking and sidewalk gaps in the community along with updating the planned walking and bicycling network map. This was the intended first step in pulling together a broad exploration of gaps in the overall system to lead to prioritization of construction projects for these areas not associated with the street reconstruction improvement plan.
At the May 7, 2019 Council meeting, staff discussed consideration of a sidewalk gap on Highland Avenue and Ivanhoe Drive. As part of that discussion, staff indicated, as part of the 2020 budgeting process and capital improvement plan, that they would be taking the planning walking and bicycling network map and begin the process of prioritizing the network gaps.
Staff has created the categories for prioritizing the system with input from Toole Design. Staff is open to comment and thoughts from Council on these categories.
• Safe Routes to School Plan
• Traffic Volume/Roadway Classification
• Neighborhood Connectivity/Fills Gap
• Equity
• Community prioritization from Ped/Bike Plan
• Proximity to Schools/University
• Proximity to downtown
Formal ranking and analysis will be completed by staff. The formal system is under development.
Staff is planning to present the prioritization review at the June worksession for discussion and feedback from Council.
Alternative Options:
N/A
Financial Impacts:
N/A
Tentative Timelines:
June 11, 2019 - Council worksession review and discussion.