PLAN FOR ASHUELOT RAIL TRAIL A P I L OT P R O J E C T AGENDA - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

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PLAN FOR ASHUELOT RAIL TRAIL A P I L OT P R O J E C T AGENDA Welcome & Introductions Minutes of May 3, 2018 Meeting Project Background Project Updates & Discussion Next Steps Next Meeting Adjourn Project

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SLIDE 1

PLAN FOR ASHUELOT RAIL TRAIL

A P I L OT P R O J E C T

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SLIDE 2

AGENDA

  • Welcome & Introductions
  • Minutes of May 3, 2018 Meeting
  • Project Background
  • Project Updates & Discussion
  • Next Steps
  • Next Meeting
  • Adjourn

9/13/2018 Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 2

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SLIDE 3

WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS

Based on your affiliation, what are your interests related to the Ashuelot Rail Trail? What are your thoughts and observations about the trail today and in the future?

9/13/2018 Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 3

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SLIDE 4

MINUTES OF MAY 3, 2018

Errors? Omissions? Questions?

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SLIDE 5

PROJECT BACKGROUND

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Project Meetings & Coordination Existing Conditions Assessment Public Outreach Needs Analysis

Draft Plan Final Plan

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SLIDE 6

PROJECT UPDATES & DISCUSSION

  • Literature Review
  • Base Mapping
  • Programs Analysis
  • Collisions Analysis
  • Bicycle and Pedestrian Counting Activities
  • Preliminary Results of Online Survey
  • Condition Assessment

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LITERATURE REVIEW

Background

  • Plan for Ashuelot Rail Trail will be the first of its kind

in our region.

  • A variety of plans, reports, policies, and laws exist that

address trail development and use, but have never been compiled or compared.

  • Literature review represents a step towards

synthesizing currently available information about the trail.

9/13/2018 Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 7

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SLIDE 8

LITERATURE REVIEW

Project update: we've collected...

  • Municipal policies
  • Planning documents
  • State-level legislation
  • Cooperative agreements
  • Administrative rules governing key rail trail

programs (e.g. Grant-in-Aid Program)

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LITERATURE REVIEW

Next Steps

  • Distribution of memo that summarizes

documents in more detail

  • Analysis of linkages between Complete Streets

policies and the Ashuelot Rail Trail

  • Expansion of literature review as we are made

aware of additional resources

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LITERATURE REVIEW

Discussion

  • 1. Are there plans, laws, reports, or policies that

we’ve missed?

  • 2. Are there particular documents that you are

especially interested in hearing more about?

9/13/2018 Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 10

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SLIDE 11

BASE MAPPING

Background

  • Utilize the SWRPC GIS to create maps of the

Ashuelot Rail Trail to inform project participants of relevant features and consider implementation activities.

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BASE MAPPING

Project Update

  • SWRPC has completed

an aerial imagery base map (including transportation facilities and property boundaries) for use by the PAC.

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BASE MAPPING

Next Steps

  • SWRPC will update the aerial imagery base map with

additional information from other local, state, and other

  • rganizations as well as opportunities and constraints

identified via the map exercise from Meeting #1.

  • Distribution of an updated map with a memo to identify

gaps in information to be addressed in the future.

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BASE MAPPING

Discussion 1. Are corrections needed? 2. What would help your community or stakeholders understand the trail or your relationship to the trail?

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PROGRAMS ANALYSIS

Background

  • What programs or activities currently make use of

the trail?

  • What programs could make use of the trail in the

future?

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PROGRAMS ANALYSIS

Project Update

  • Existing programs include:

– Large events – School-related programming – Organized bicycle rides – Organized equestrian outings

  • Organized programming on other rail trails has included:

– Safe routes to school programs – Bike commuting events – Nature outings – Tourist-oriented expeditions, e.g. leaf-peeping tours

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PROGRAMS ANALYSIS

Next Steps

  • Continue building list of programs over the course of

municipal/stakeholder interviews. PAC input also welcome!

  • Circulate memo that details programs documented

thus far.

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PROGRAMS ANALYSIS

Discussion 1. Are there current programs on the rail trail that the committee would like to bring to our attention? 2. Are there events or programs that have occurred

  • n other rail trails that the committee thinks could

enhance programming on the Ashuelot Rail Trail?

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COLLISIONS ANALYSIS

Background

  • Trail crossings can be a dangerous location due to

visibility, speeding, traffic volumes, crossing length, and

  • ther factors.
  • Compile and map vehicle collisions with people

walking or biking in the vicinity of the rail trail based

  • n no less than five years of crash data as provided by

the New Hampshire Department of Transportation.

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COLLISIONS ANALYSIS

Project Update

  • 27 trail/road crossings were

identified using a combination of GIS resources and aerial photos.

  • SWRPC compiled a 10-year crash

history of motor vehicle crashes in proximity to trail crossings.

  • A preliminary review of the 112

crashes in proximity to the intersections indicates 3 crashes involved a pedestrian and 2 crashes involved a bicyclist (all 5 were located on Winchester Street in Keene).

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Note: Figures are preliminary and are therefore subject to change

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COLLISIONS ANALYSIS

Next Steps

  • SWRPC is currently processing collected data for

the purpose of creating a technical memo for the PAC.

9/13/2018 Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 21

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COLLISIONS ANALYSIS

Discussion

  • 1. What other sources of data could be

considered to obtain information relevant to safety?

  • 2. What safety concerns are you hearing about

from your community, stakeholders, etc.?

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BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN COUNTING ACTIVITIES

Background

  • Automated and manual counts of people walking and

biking

  • Compilation of available historical data
  • Measure use of rail trail, enable before-and-after

comparisons, monitor travel patterns, prioritize areas for improvements, understand risk/exposure of users, etc.

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BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN COUNTING ACTIVITIES

Background (continued)

  • Important notes on non-motorized counts:

– Bike/ped volumes are more variable than motor vehicle volumes – Bike/ped trips are generally shorter than automobile trips – Motor vehicles are easier to detect than people walking and biking – Experience with pedestrian and bicycle counting technology is more limited than for motor vehicles

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Source: Guidebook on Pedestrian and Bicycle Volume Data Collection (NCHRP Report 797)

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BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN COUNTING ACTIVITIES

Project Update

  • SWRPC identified 9 locations along the trail to

conduct automated counts of people walking and biking.

  • Counting activities commenced in May and are
  • n-going.

9/13/2018 Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 25

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BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN COUNTING ACTIVITIES

  • Handout – Sample

(not final) data summary (Ashuelot Rail Trail north of Winchester Street in Keene)

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BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN COUNTING ACTIVITIES

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264 121 137 61 62 11 25 50 100 150 200 250 300 …north of Winchester Street (Keene) …north of NH 101 (Keene) …south of Krif Road (Keene) …north of Sawyers Crossing Road (Swanzey) …north of Pine Street (Swanzey) …north of Elm Street (Winchester) …east of Depot Street (Hinsdale)

Daily Average Users

Note: Figures are preliminary and are therefore subject to change

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BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN COUNTING ACTIVITIES

Next Steps

  • SWRPC is currently processing collected data for

the purpose of creating a technical memo for the PAC.

9/13/2018 Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 28

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BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN COUNTING ACTIVITIES

Discussion

  • 1. Do you feel there are “gaps” in the distribution
  • f counts that we should be aware of?
  • 2. Should SWRPC consider conducting

wintertime counts? Where?

9/13/2018 Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 29

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PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF ONLINE SURVEY

Background

  • Who uses the Ashuelot Rail Trail?
  • When people use the rail trail, where are they going?
  • Why do people use the rail trail?
  • How do people use the rail trail (e.g. bicycle,

snowmobile)

  • What are the priorities for trail improvements?

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PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF ONLINE SURVEY

Project Update

  • To date, how has the survey been distributed?
  • Who has responded so far?
  • In depth analysis will occur at survey’s conclusion.

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AGE DISTRIBUTION OF CHESHIRE COUNTY

  • VS. SURVEY RESPONDENTS

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MODE OF TRAIL USE

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PURPOSE OF TRAIL USE

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PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF ONLINE SURVEY

Next Steps

  • Survey to run into the winter, at least through

January

  • If you haven’t taken the survey yet, we would

appreciate you participation and feedback

  • Expanded outreach: on-trail advertising,

municipal/community websites, social media

9/13/2018 Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 36

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PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF ONLINE SURVEY

Discussion

  • 1. Any feedback on the survey? Ease of use?

Question content?

  • 2. Any suggestions on future survey outreach?

9/13/2018 Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 37

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CONDITION ASSESSMENT

Background

  • Incorporating information on the existing conditions of

the Ashuelot Rail Trail is an important part of communicating and prioritizing potential improvements.

  • There are a variety of methods for assessing the quality of

the trail surface. For example, SWRPC and the Keene State College Geography Department collaborated on a “rideability” assessment in 2014, which systematically ranked the trail based on its surface material, condition, and suitability.

9/13/2018 Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 38

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CONDITION ASSESSMENT

Background (continued) “The mapping of surface changes and areas that need maintenance will assist towns and planners with the information they need to improve the trail. With well- informed improvements and continued maintenance, the Ashuelot Rail-Trail should gain popularity, inspiring residents to ditch their cars and use the ART for commuting within the Monadnock region.” (p. 12)

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Note: Click the document image to download the report

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SURFACE MATERIAL

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TEXTURE

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MOISTURE

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RIDEABILITY

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CONDITION ASSESSMENT

Project Update

  • SWRPC is currently working with the Keene State

College Geography Department convert the report data into a format more suitable for mapping and analysis.

9/13/2018 Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 44

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NEXT STEPS/NEXT MEETING

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Online Survey Municipal Survey Walking/Biking Tours Stakeholder Interviews Open House

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ADJOURN

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