Title
Adoption of the 2017 Bicycle Transportation Plan
Recommended Motion
I move that Council adopt the 2017 Bicycle Transportation Plan
County Manager's Recommendation
The County Manager recommends that Council approve the motion as presented.
Board, Commission or Committee Recommendation
On June 1, 2017, the Transportation Board approved the 2017 Bicycle Transportation Plan and recommended Council adoption.
Body
The following is a chronological background and summary of this item:
On April 22, 2016, Ms. Brenda Fleming filed a petition requesting the development of an urban bike path through the center of town connecting to the existing Canyon Rim Trail suitable for all users.
On May 3, 2016, Council approved a motion acknowledging the petition, thanking the petitioners for the recommendation, and requesting that staff investigate/research the matter in collaboration with the Transportation Board and petitioner, and return to Council with information, options, and/or recommendations for action within ninety (90) days.
On June 2, 2016, the petitioner presented her request to the Transportation Board where a subcommittee was formed to formulate recommendations.
On June 16, 2016, a conceptual map of urban bike path and pedestrian routes developed by Engineering Staff was presented to the subcommittee. Staff incorporated recommendations made by the subcommittee which included a high priority corridor that links the Canyon Rim Trail to downtown and Canyon Road points of interest. The high priority corridor also considers further development of the Canyon Rim Trail from its current terminus at Knecht St. west towards 20th Street in accordance with the 2011 Canyon Rim Trail Master Plan and funded with $1 Million in CIP funds for easement acquisition (approved by Council on March 1, 2016); extension of 20th Street south of Trinity Dr.; and ongoing development efforts in furtherance of the Manhattan Project National Historical Park.
On July 7, 2016, the map was presented to the Transportation Board and the following motion was passed by a unanimous vote: I move that the Transportation Board approve and advise Council to do further study, costing, and engineering designs into the bicycle, pedestrian and route concepts that were created by the bicycle subcommittee and that the Transportation Board will continue this agenda item as the engineering and routes are developed. Updates to the map were made to address comments by the Board.
On July 26, 2016, Council unanimously approved the following motion: I move that Council approve the Bicycle and Pedestrian Route Map formulated by the Transportation Board and Bicycle Subcommittee for inclusion in the forthcoming update of the Bicycle Transportation System Plan for use in programming future improvements, and further move that we have additional discussions in the January time frame on this subject.
In January 2017, the Transportation Board requested that a bicycle plan subcommittee be formed to work towards creating a Bicycle Transportation Plan. County staff from Public Works, Parks Recreation & Open Space, Community Development, the County Manager’s Office, and interested citizens, began meeting in February 2017 to assemble a document aimed towards creating a comprehensive transportation network focusing on bicycle facilities.
Several public meetings to discuss and obtain input for the bicycling plan were held as follows:
• Planning & Zoning Commission Meeting - March 29, 2017
• Transportation Board Meeting - April 6, 2017
• Parks & Recreation Board Meeting - April 13, 2017
• White Rock Public Meeting - April 27, 2017
• Transportation Board Meeting - June 1, 2017 (Plan Approved)
Through the diligent work of the subcommittee, a draft plan was developed and approved by the Transportation Board for Council adoption.
It is anticipated that with adoption of the plan, Los Alamos County will improve the likelihood of being recognized as a Bicycle Friendly Community by the League of American Bicyclists. The League’s next application deadline is August 17, 2017.
At the June 13, 2017 Council Work Session, staff presented a draft plan to Council. The following items were discussed by Council and have been addressed in the final version of the plan (Attachment A):
• Community Values/Goals, Quality of Life improvements for the citizens of Los Alamos (Page 2)
• County’s support of regional improvements (Page 20)
• Update to Los Alamos Bicycle & Pedestrian Routes Map to include a trail connection from the forthcoming 20th Street cul-de-sac east to Canyon Rim Trail (Exhibit C, Page 32)
• As a result of another comment from Council, staff is communicating with local businesses and UNM-LA to provide information, encourage and support their application as a Bicycle Friendly Business/University to the League of American Bicyclists which also supports the County’s application as a Bicycle Friendly Community.
Alternatives
Council could choose to not adopt the plan and direct the Transportation Board and staff to work on additional changes and bring it back to Council at a later date.
Attachments
A - 2017 Bicycle Transportation Plan