Module 2B: Infrastructure to Accommodate Pedestrians
Community/Municipality:
Please answer these questions based on the community / municipality selected.
2B.1 Does the community address linking or connecting existing and planned sidewalk networks through a Plan?
- Yes, and the Plan was adopted 0–<5 years ago
- Yes, and the Plan was adopted 5–<10 years ago
- Yes, and the Plan was adopted 10 or more years ago
- No
- Not applicable Don’t know
2B.2 Does the community address linking or connecting existing and planned sidewalk networks through a policy?
- Yes, and the policy is routinely enforced
- Yes, but the policy is not routinely enforced
- No
- Not applicable
- Don’t know
2B.3 Goals
Does the community have a goal to: | Yes | No | Not applicable | Don’t know |
---|---|---|---|---|
a. Increase pedestrian travel? | ||||
b. Lower pedestrian fatalities or injuries? |
Plans
The Plans referred to in this module are those written and adopted by a local or regional authority. Plans can stand alone (e.g., Pedestrian Plan) or be part of a Comprehensive Plan (e.g., Master Plan, General Plan). “Plan” is capitalized to indicate that it is a document adopted by a local or regional authority.
2B.4 Does the community have a Plan focused specifically on pedestrians?
- Yes, and the Plan was adopted 0–<5 years ago
- Yes, and the Plan was adopted 5–<10 years ago
- Yes, and the Plan was adopted 10 or more years ago No → skip to #2B.7
- Not applicable → skip to #2B.7
- Don’t know → skip to #2B.7
2B.5 In the past year, how often was this Plan consulted when making relevant decisions?
- Always
- Usually
- Sometimes
- Rarely
- Never
- Not applicable
- Don’t know
2B.6 In the past year, were any of the pedestrian-oriented goals or priorities in this Plan accomplished?
- Yes → describe:
- No
- Not applicable
- Don’t know
The next question refers to health equity and health disparities. Health equity is when everyone has the opportunity to be as healthy as possible. Health disparities are particular types of health differences closely linked with social, economic, and/or environmental disadvantage. Health disparities adversely affect groups of people who have systematically experienced greater obstacles to health and/or a clean environment based on their racial or ethnic group; religion; socioeconomic status; gender; age; mental health; cognitive, sensory, or physical disability; sexual orientation or gender identity; geographic location; or other characteristics historically linked to discrimination or exclusion.
2B.7 During the planning process for pedestrian facilities, does the local government, or its consultants, try to engage individuals experiencing greater obstacles to health or who may be hard to contact?
- Yes → describe:
- No
- Not applicable
- Don’t know
Policies
The Policies referred to in this module are those written and adopted by a local, regional, or state authority. Policies include local ordinances (such as zoning regulations, subdivision ordinances, street design guidelines, etc.) passed by local governing authorities, such as a city council or board of commissioners.
2B.8 Policy on including sidewalks
Is there a policy that requires or suggests including sidewalks on one or both sides of the street in: | Require one side only | Require both sides | Suggest one side only | Suggest both sides | No | Not applicable | Don’t know |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
a. Residential developments? | |||||||
b. Commercial developments? | |||||||
c. Any redevelopment? |
2B.9 Are there policies that require or suggest that commercial development, including worksites, incorporate amenities (e.g., benches, water foundations) that encourage walking on sidewalks or paths?
- Yes, require
- Yes, suggest
- No
- Not applicable
- Don’t know
2B.10 In the community, are there standards established for sidewalk widths?
- Yes, and they go beyond minimum criteria*
- Yes, and they meet minimum criteria*
- No
- Not applicable
- Don’t know
2B.11 In the community, are there standards established for separation of sidewalks from motorized vehicle lanes?
- Yes, and they go beyond minimum criteria*
- Yes, and they meet minimum criteria*
- No
- Not applicable
- Don’t know
* Critieria such as the most recent guidelines for sidewalks from NACTO (National Association of City Transportation Officials) Urban Bikeway Design Guide
2B.12 Does the community’s policies address the installation of traffic islands or medians on newly built or reconstructed streets?
- Yes → describe:
- No
- Not applicable
- Don’t know
Environment
The following questions focus on the built environment infrastructure in the community. Please note that the following questions are about sidewalks, not multi-use paths or trails.
2B.13 How many linear miles of sidewalks are available in the community? If there are no sidewalks, enter zero.
- linear miles
- Miles not tracked
- Don’t know
2B.14 Does maintenance on sidewalks happen in the community (e.g., keeping surfaces level and in repair, cleaning debris and snow, and cutting back vegetation) through
a. A scheduled process?
- Yes
- No
- Not applicable
- Don’t know
b. Routine inspections?
- Yes
- No
- Not applicable
- Don’t know
c. At citizen’s request?
- Yes
- No
- Not applicable
- Don’t know
d. By property owners who are responsible for sidewalk maintenance?
- Yes
- No
- Not applicable
- Don’t know
e. Other?
Please describe.
2B.15 Maintenance program
Does the community’s maintenance program include a schedule that prioritizes the following work on pedestrian infrastructure? | Yes | No | Not applicable | Don’t know |
---|---|---|---|---|
a. Keeping sidewalks clean and clear | ||||
b. Routinely repainting crosswalks |
2B.16 What type of data related to walking does the community collect? This includes but is not limited to data on pedestrian behavior, pedestrian infrastructure, pedestrian injuries, etc.
2B.17 Does the community routinely count users on sidewalks?
- Yes – manual counting
- Yes – automated counting
- Yes – both manual and automated counting
- No
- Not applicable – no data are collected
- Don’t know
2B.18 Does the community use the data collected for planning and implementation purposes?
- Yes → describe:
- No
- Not applicable – no data are collected
- Don’t know
2B.19 Does the community use the data collected to improve equity among populations experiencing disparities?
- Yes → describe:
- No
- Not applicable – no data are collected
- Don’t know
2B.20 Safety amenities for pedestrians
Does the community have the following safety amenities for pedestrians? | Yes | No | Not applicable | Don’t know |
---|---|---|---|---|
a. Pedestrian-oriented street lighting on most arterial roads | ||||
b. Pedestrian-oriented street lighting on most collector roads | ||||
c. Pedestrian-oriented street lighting on most local roads |
Resources
The following questions are about resources to support plans, policies, and built environments that impact walking
2B.21 Funding
Does the community have identified funding to: | Yes | No | Not applicable | Don’t know |
---|---|---|---|---|
a. Improve infrastructure to accommodate walking? | ||||
b. Maintain and repair sidewalks? |
2B.22 What percent of the community’s total local annual transportation funding was invested in pedestrian projects in the last 12 months?
- %
- Not applicable
- Don’t know
2B.23 Does the community have a dedicated staff person responsible for implementing pedestrian- related policies and plans?
- Yes, full time
- Yes, part time or with other job duties
- No
- Not applicable
- Don’t know
2B.24 Does the community have a group tasked with advising on pedestrian-related policies and/or plans?
- Yes
- No → End of Module 2-Section B
- Not applicable → End of Module 2-Section B
- Don’t know → End of Module 2-Section B
2B.25 Community group tasked with advising on pedestrian-related policies and/or plans
Does the group: | Yes | No | Not applicable | Don’t know |
---|---|---|---|---|
a. Exist as a stand-alone body? | ||||
b. Meet at least quarterly? | ||||
c. Have a public health representative? | ||||
d. Have a planning and/or transportation representative? | ||||
e. Have paid staff support to coordinate the meetings? | ||||
f. Have a budget? | ||||
g. Conduct assessments of pedestrian facilities in the community? | ||||
h. Intentionally address equity? | ||||
i. Have representation by residents most impacted by poor health outcomes in the community? | ||||
j. Have a strategic or sustainability plan? | ||||
k. Include elected officials? | ||||
l. Conduct an evaluation to assess progress toward meeting goals/objectives? | ||||
m. Have an operating board? | ||||
n. Have representatives from pedestrian stakeholder organizations? |
Arterial road: High capacity roads that primarily deliver traffic from collector roads to freeways/expressways and between urban centers.
Collector road: Roads that gather traffic from local roads and deliver traffic to arterial roads.
Health disparities: Particular types of health differences closely linked with social, economic, and/or environmental disadvantage. Health disparities adversely affect groups of people who have systematically experienced greater obstacles to health and/or a clean environment based on their racial or ethnic group; religion; socioeconomic status; gender; age; mental health; cognitive, sensory, or physical disability; sexual orientation or gender identity; geographic location; or other characteristics historically linked to discrimination or exclusion.
Health equity: When everyone has the opportunity to be as healthy as possible.
Local ordinances: Policies passed by local governing authorities, such as a city council or board of commissioners. They include, but are not limited to zoning regulations, subdivision ordinances, and street design guidelines.
Local road: Streets that provide local access; they may include non-arterial roads.
Mode share: The percentage of travelers who take trips by bicycle, by private vehicle, by public transportation, and by foot.
Pedestrian facility: A general transportation term to describe infrastructure and support equipment that accommodates pedestrians, such as sidewalks, curb ramps, shared use paths, crosswalk, signals, and signs.