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Complete Streets Policy_19-0916 Village of Buffalo Grove Complete Streets Policy A. PURPOSE AND SCOPE This Policy is intended to ensure that all planning, scoping, programming, design, right-of-way acquisition, construction, construction engineering, reconstruction, and operation and maintenance activities produce safe and accessible surface transportation network improvements that allow all users of the public right of way to safely and conveniently reach their destination regardless of their chosen mode of transportation. This policy is also intended to encourage walking and biking, producing the health benefits that result from these types of activities, help reduce the demand for fossil fuels, ease traffic congestion, reduce wear on roadways, improve air quality and make streets and public and private spaces more attractive for businesses and customers and increase economic activity. This Policy shall be applied to all public rights-of-way projects, including, but not limited to planning, scoping, programming, design, right-of-way acquisition, new construction, rehabilitation, major maintenance, construction engineering, reconstruction, operation and maintenance activities, or other transport facilities improvements. Routes providing access to key destinations, sites and significant travel ways, as indicated in the Village's comprehensive plan and other planning documents shall be prioritized. The Village shall identify cost-effective opportunities to include Complete Streets practices through ongoing operations and maintenance. Planning, design, reconstruction, rehabilitation and maintenance shall be executed in a balanced, transparent, responsible and equitable manner. Complete Streets principals will be integral to the development, modification, updating and implementation of Village plans, manuals, programs, rules and zoning regulations. B. DEFINITIONS For the purpose of this section, the following definitions shall apply unless the context clearly indicates or requires a different meaning. Complete Street: A Street that is designed and operated to enable safe access for all Users, so that pedestrians, bicyclists, motorists and public transportation users of all ages and abilities are able to safely and conveniently move upon, along and across a street. Complete Street Infrastructure: Design features that contribute to a safe, convenient, or comfortable travel experience for Users, including but not limited to features such as: sidewalks; shared use paths; bicycle lanes; automobile lanes; paved shoulders; street trees and landscaping; planting strips; curbs; accessible curb ramps; crosswalks; refuge islands; pedestrian and traffic signals, including countdown and accessible signals; signage; street furniture; bicycle parking facilities; public transportation stops and facilities; transit priority signal; traffic calming devices such as rotary circles, traffic bumps, and surface treatments such as paving blocks, textured asphalt and concrete; narrow vehicle lanes; raised medians; and dedicated transit lanes. Street: Any right-of-way, public or private, including arterials, connectors, alleys, ways, lanes and roadways by any other designation, as well as bridges, tunnels and any other portions of the transportation network. Project: The construction, reconstruction, retrofit, maintenance, alteration, repair of any Street or Public Way, and includes the planning, design, approval, and implementation processes. Project does not include minor routine upkeep such as cleaning, sweeping, mowing, spot repair, or interim measures on detour routes. Users: Individuals that use Streets, including motorists, pedestrians, bicyclists, public transportation riders and drivers, emergency vehicles, freight carriers agricultural vehicles and people of all ages and abilities, including children, youth, families, older adults and individuals with disabilities. Public Way: Any transportation improvement accessible by the public; including but not limited to parks and public lands. C. EXCEPTIONS Exemptions to the Complete Streets Policy must be documented in writing by the Village Engineer who will provide recommendations to the President and Board of Trustees. Documentation will include supporting data that indicates the reason for the decision. Exemptions shall be limited to: (a) The cost of establishing accommodation for some travel modes would be excessively disproportionate to the need or probable use of such facilities; (b) There is documentation that there is presently an absence of use by all except motorized users and would be in the future if the street would become a Complete Street; (c) Construction is not practically feasible or cost effective because of unreasonable adverse impacts on the environment or on neighboring land uses including impact from right-of-way acquisition; (d) Routine maintenance of the transportation network does not change the roadway geometry or operations, such as mowing, sweeping, and spot repairs; and (e) Non-motorized uses are prohibited by law. In this case, an effort shall be made to accommodate pedestrians and bicyclists elsewhere. D. PARTNERSHIPS The Village shall coordinate with outside agencies, including the Illinois Department of Transportation (IDOT), the Cook County Department of Transportation and Highways (CCDOTH), and Lake County Division of Transportation (LCDOT), to ensure that all roadways and intersections within the Village meet Village standards in accordance with this section of the Subdivision Ordinance, regardless of jurisdiction. The Village shall coordinate with neighboring municipalities and jurisdictions to enhance connectivity in furtherance of the Village's Complete Streets policy, in order to promote the continuation of such facilities and accommodations beyond the Village's corporate boundaries. It is the Village's goal to foster partnerships with the U.S. Department of Transportation (U.S.DOT), IDOT, CCDOTH, Northwest Municipal Conference/Northwest Council of Mayors, Metropolitan Water Reclamation District (MWRD), LCDOT, Lake County Council of Mayors, Lake County Stormwater Management Commission (SMC), Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning (CMAP), Regional Transportation Authority (RTA), Metra, Pace, local railroads, local utility companies, local townships, local school districts, The Buffalo Grove Park District, the Active Transportation Alliance, the Traffic Management Association of Lake- Cook, and other Buffalo Grove and local associations and groups to enhance local connectivity. E. COMMUNITY CONTEXT In order to balance the needs of all users, the Village will use a flexible and innovative approach in creating context-sensitive Complete Streets which meet or exceed national best-practice guidelines. Design criteria will also consider innovative and non-traditional design options that fit within the context of the community, based on the characteristics of the corridor and that provide a basic level of safety and connectivity. F. IMPLEMENTATION The Village shall undertake the following process for implementing the Complete Streets policy: (a) Establish a checklist of pedestrian, bicycle and transit accommodations such as accessible sidewalk curb ramps, crosswalks, countdown pedestrian signals, signs, median refuges, curb extensions, pedestrian scale lighting, bike lanes, shoulders and bus shelters, with the presumption they shall be included in each project unless supporting documentation against inclusion is provided and is found to be justifiable; (b) The Public Works and Community Development Departments, and other relevant departments, agencies or committees shall incorporate Complete Streets principles into all appropriate plans, manuals, checklists, decision trees, rules, regulations and programs as appropriate; (c) Establish a procedure to evaluate resurfacing projects for complete streets inclusion according to the length of the project, local support, environmental constraints, total available right-of-way, funding resources, and bicycle and/or pedestrian compatibility; (d) Design bicycle and pedestrian facilities to the best currently available standards and practices, including the American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities, the AASHTO Guide for the Planning, Design, and Operation of Pedestrian Facilities, the AASHTO Green Book: A Policy on Geometric Design of Highways and Streets, the Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) Highway Capacity Manual (HCM), the FHWA Manual of Uniform Traffic Control devices (MUTCD), the Americans with Disabilities Act Accessibility Guidelines (ADAAG), the Illinois Department of Transportation’s (IDOT) Bureau of Design and Environment (BDE) Manual, the IDOT’s Local Roads and Streets Manual, and other relevant guidelines. Methods for providing flexibility within safe design parameters, such as context sensitive solutions and designs, will also be considered; (e) Review all outside/other agency new roadway projects, public and private developments and other Complete Streets related improvements, early in the planning process, to ensure consistency with this policy; (f) Implementation of as needed training for existing and new Village engineers, planners and elected officials on bicycle/pedestrian/transit policies and the integration of non-motorized travel options into transportation systems; (g) Update of all relevant and appropriate codes, standards, and ordinances to ensure the design components for all modified streets meet the intent of this policy; (h) Identification of all current and potential future sources of funding for street improvements; and (i) Establishment of performance measures to gauge the success of the Complete Streets policy. Through the implementation of the above outlined process, the Village will: (a) Create a comprehensive, integrated, connected multi-modal network by providing connections to biking and walking trip generators such as employment, education, residential, recreational and public facilities, as well as retail and transit centers; (b) Provide safe and accessible accommodations for existing and future pedestrian, bicycle and transit facilities; (c) Address the need for bicyclists and pedestrians to cross corridors where possible as well as travel along them. Even where bicyclists and pedestrians may not commonly use a particular travel corridor that is being improved or constructed, they will need to be able to cross such corridor safely and conveniently. Therefore, the design of intersections shall accommodate bicyclists and pedestrians in a manner that is safe, accessible and convenient; (d) Research, develop and support best practices in improving safety and mobility; (e) Consider connections for safe routes to schools, trail crossings, and areas or population groups with limited transportation options; and (f) Comply with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA). G. PERFORMANCE STANDARDS The Village will use the following measures to evaluate its progress in implementing the Complete Streets approach: (a) Linear feet of new or reconstructed pedestrian accommodations; (b) Number of new or reconstructed ADA compliant curb ramps installed along Village streets; (c) School/walk/bike rates collected through the National Center for Safe Routes to School Student Travel Tallies; (d) Annual pedestrian/bicycle crash data analysis; (e) Number of new bicycle parking spaces; (f) Total number of funded bicycle and pedestrian projects and new facilities; (g) Number of new miles of on-street bicycle routes defined by streets with clearly marked or signed bicycle accommodations; and (h) Number of approved exceptions. The above performance measures shall be compiled annually by the Village's Department of Public Works.