Module 2B: Infrastructure to Accommodate Pedestrians

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

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

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

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

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

 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

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?