1. Pete Sutton and John Bechard MassDOT
Massachusetts Pedestrian Transportation Plan: Municipal Resource Guide for Walkability
Pete Sutton and John Bechard MassDOT

2. 2018 MOVING TOGETHER CONFERENCE
Introduction
The Municipal Resource Guide for Walkability has been created as part of the Pedestrian Transportation Plan (draft to be released November 2018).
2018 MOVING TOGETHER CONFERENCE

3. Pedestrian Plan Vision
Massachusetts’ integrated and multi-modal transportation system will provide a safe and well- connected pedestrian network that will increase access for both transportation and recreational purposes.
The Massachusetts Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board (MABPAB) serves as the Steering Committee for the Pedestrian
Transportation Plan. The MABPAB was established by law in 2004 and serves in an advisory role advancing bicycle and pedestrian
transportation for MassDOT and other state agencies. Its members are appointed by the Governor of the Commonwealth.
2018 MOVING TOGETHER CONFERENCE
2017 MOVING TOGETHER CONFERENCE

4. Municipal Resource Guide for Walkability
92%
of sidewalks in Massachusetts are under municipal jurisdiction*
All sidewalks
* Based on the MassDOT Road Centerline geographic information system (GIS) file, 10,876 of the total 11,804 total sidewalk miles in Massachusetts are under municipal jurisdiction.
2017 MOVING TOGETHER CONFERENCE
2018 MOVING TOGETHER CONFERENCE

5. Municipal Resource Guide for Walkability
92%
of sidewalks in Massachusetts are under municipal jurisdiction*
Sidewalks under municipal jurisdiction
* Based on the MassDOT Road Centerline geographic information system (GIS) file, 10,876 of the total 11,804 total sidewalk miles in Massachusetts are under municipal jurisdiction.
2018 MOVING TOGETHER CONFERENCE

6. Municipal Resource Guide for Walkability
Goal of the Guide: To help municipal agencies address some of the most common questions and challenges regarding walkability
2017 MOVING TOGETHER CONFERENCE
2018 MOVING TOGETHER CONFERENCE

7. Municipal Resource Guide for Walkability
Current Policies & Programs
Best Practices
Resources
Case studies
Tools
The Guide addresses 7 topic areas and provides best practices; resources to consult on requirements, guidelines, current MassDOT policies and practices; local case studies; and tools such as design options to improve pedestrian safety and promote safe vehicle speeds.
The Guide is meant to provide enough basic information to support municipal staff and direct them to other resources for further information. While developing this guide, MassDOT tried to keep in mind the municipal staff who is wearing many hats and only has time to learn the very basics of walkability. As much as possible, we tried to keep the guide concise yet informative, and pivot to other resources for those who are ready for more detail.
2017 MOVING TOGETHER CONFERENCE
2018 MOVING TOGETHER CONFERENCE

8. 2018 MOVING TOGETHER CONFERENCE
Stakeholder Input
Municipal Staff
MassDOT Staff
Disability Commissions
Regional Planning Agencies
Regional Transit Agencies
MA Department of Public Health/Mass in Motion
MA Municipal Association
MA Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board
WalkBoston
How were topics chosen?
The topics addressed in this guide were selected based on input received
during stakeholder interviews with representatives of the following:
»» Municipal Planning, Engineering, Economic Development
and Department of Public Works staff
»» MassDOT
›› Districts
›› Office of the Secretary
›› Traffic Engineering
›› Safety Section
›› Project Management
›› Highway Division
›› Right-of-Way
›› Snow & Ice Operations
›› Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority
›› Complete Streets Funding Program
›› Office of Civil Rights
›› Safe Routes to School
›› Walking and Biking Working Group
»» Disability Commisions and Advocates
»» Regional Planning Agencies
»» Regional Transit Agencies
»» Massachusetts Department of Public Health
»» Mass in Motion Coordinators
»» Massachusetts Municipal Association
2018 MOVING TOGETHER CONFERENCE

9. 2018 MOVING TOGETHER CONFERENCE
Guide Topics
Why is Walkability Important?
Elements of Walkable Communities
Safety
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) and Accessibility
Pedestrian Access to Transit
Maintenance and Repair
Snow and Ice Clearance
2018 MOVING TOGETHER CONFERENCE

10. 1. Why is Walkability Important?
Benefits of Walkable Communities
Mobility & Connectivity
Safety
Health & Wellness
Economic Development
Environment
Equity
Presents the case for municipalities to make investments in walking.
Mobility and Connectivity- improved for everyone, particularly those with
physical disabilities, limited mobility, or without access to a vehicle
Safety-walkable communities typically have greater intersection density and fewer lands on major roads, both of which are associated with fewer total, severe, and fatal crashes because they slow vehicle speeds and encourage more predictable behaviors
Health and wellness-research suggests more opportunities to walk for recreation and/or short trips can improve physical health, fitness, and mental health.
Economic Development- Studies show communities with greater walkability have increased economic activity, higher rents, and help attract new businesses; home values are higher in walkable neighborhoods
Environment-when replace driving with walking trips, reduce carbon dioxide emissions and air pollutants. Walkable designs allow for more pervious surfaces and landscaping, reducing stormwater run-off.
Equity-94% of average household’s annual transportation costs are dedicated to a vehicle, so more walkable communities may help people to decrease their need for a household vehicle.
2018 MOVING TOGETHER CONFERENCE

11. 2. Elements of Walkable Communities
Case Study: Lincoln
Developed an 80-mile network of trails and roadside paths
Serves important local destinations, such as parks, schools, churches, town hall, the commuter rail station, and the library.
Maintained by the town’s conservation department and the Lincoln Land Trust. Licenses and easements have been granted by private property owners.
More info: lMaps.html
Walkability can be achieved in any setting. While dense areas typically have well-connected grid networks with high intersection densities and short, walkable blocks, more suburban areas can establish pedestrian easements between developments to short cut what would otherwise be a long and inconvenient walk.
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12. 2. Elements of Walkable Communities
Crosswalk with HAWK Signal
Crosswalk with RRFB
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13. 2. Elements of Walkable Communities
Community Design
Walkways and Crossings
50% of walking trips are less than one mile*
Proximity of origins & destinations, mix of uses, and building placement are important factors
Guide presents roadway elements for urban, suburban, & rural settings
Frequency of crossings: make the safe option convenient, and the convenient option safe
Presents the case for municipalities to make investments in walking.
* Royal, Dawn, and Darby Miller-Steiger “Volume I: Summary Report National Survey of Bicyclist and Pedestrian Attitudes and Behavior.” Report No. DOT HS National Highway Traffic Safety Administration.
2018 MOVING TOGETHER CONFERENCE

14. 2. Elements of Walkable Communities
What Makes a Walkable Environment?
Walkable
Less Walkable
Walkable Mixed Use:
Mix of uses with entrances directly facing the sidewalk
Parked cars provide a buffer from traffic
Windows at eye level
Street trees
Street furniture zone for seating, utilities, and other objects
Less Walkable
Low-density land use and large building setback
No buffer between people walking and traffic
Multiple lanes of high-speed traffic
Highway-scale lighting

15. Municipal Modernization Act of 2016
3. Safety
Municipal Modernization Act of 2016
Guide explains implications for municipalities.
Act allows municipalities to establish a municipality-wide 25 mph statutory speed limit on roadways under their jurisdiction.
Municipalities can designate 20 mph safety zones on municipally-owned roadways with MassDOT approval.
To establish a 20 mph Safety Zone on a municipal roadway per the Municipal Modernization Act, municipalities must follow the procedures for establishing a posted speed limit/special speed regulation.
Such safety zones cannot be established on a MassDOT roadway without MassDOT approval.
2018 MOVING TOGETHER CONFERENCE

16. 2018 MOVING TOGETHER CONFERENCE
3. Safety
Best Practices
Tools
Setting Safe Speeds
Role of speed in crash survival
Clarification of Municipal Modernization Law
Improving Visibility
Lighting, maintenance, parked cars, crossing islands
Designs to Support Safety
Pedestrian Crash Countermeasures
Work Zone Safety
Provides design elements and countermeasures for reducing pedestrian crashes.
2018 MOVING TOGETHER CONFERENCE

17. Pedestrian Crash Countermeasures
Dart/Dash
Crash Type
Crosswalk Enhancement
Curb Extensions
Crossing Island
Raised Crossing
Lighting
Parking Restrictions
Countermeasures
Use crash data to identify crash types and corresponding countermeasures
For example, for Dart/Dash crashes, these are applicable countermeasures
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18. 2018 MOVING TOGETHER CONFERENCE
4. ADA & Accessibility
Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Requirements
Public Rights-of-Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG)
Requirements for ADA have been created by the U.S. Access Board, the federal agency that promotes equality for people with disabilities. Over the past three decades, ADA guidelines have been developed through research and a federal advisory committee of people with disabilities. In 2011, the Board published Public Right of Way Accessibility Guidelines (PROWAG), which have been adopted by many jurisdictions, including MassDOT, as design standards. However, PROWAG has not been adopted by the U.S. Department of Justice. As a result, it is not an enforceable standard, but is considered to be today’s model code. Local standards may improve upon current proposed guidelines but should meet all minimum requirements.
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19. ADA Transition Plans
Municipalities with 50+ employees were required to complete a Plan as of 1992.
32%
Massachusetts municipalities currently have Plans.
All municipalities are required by ADA to perform self-evaluation to determine compliance. Municipalities with fewer than 50 employees must maintain a program access plan to ensure that programs, services, and activities are accessible. Municipalities with more than 50 employees were required to complete a formal ADA Transition Plan as of Such plans designate an employee as an ADA Coordinator, create a grievance procedure, document existing conditions, and establish a course of action such as methods to make facilities accessible, the schedule, and integration into existing transportation funding programs.
Currently, 112 out of 351 Massachusetts municipalities have ADA Transition Plans in place. Input received at stakeholder interviews indicated that some municipalities are not taking action on accessibility improvements because of staff limitations, lack of resources, and a lack of understanding of ADA requirements and liabilities.
The Guide provides a basic guidelines and best practices for what municipal staff need to know about ADA Transition Plans, and points to resources for additional information.
2018 MOVING TOGETHER CONFERENCE

20. 5. Pedestrian Access to Transit
Best Practices
Connectivity between stops & sidewalks
Safe & convenient crossings
Bus stop design
Snow & ice clearance
Flag Systems
Outreach to Regional Transit Authorities indicated that most agencies include flag stops as part of their systems. Many bus routes in Massachusetts without defined stops permit riders to “flag down” an oncoming bus. In these cases, improvements to pedestrian access should prioritize safe crossings at stops near major destinations and sidewalks or shared use paths connecting stops along priority routes.
2018 MOVING TOGETHER CONFERENCE

21. 2018 MOVING TOGETHER CONFERENCE
6. Maintenance & Repair
Inspection Programs
Crosswalks & Pavement Markings
Curb Ramps & Detectable Warning Surfaces
Sign Repair
Sweeping
Vegetation Management
Best Practices
2018 MOVING TOGETHER CONFERENCE

22. 2018 MOVING TOGETHER CONFERENCE
7. Snow & Ice Clearance
Best Practices
Route Prioritization
Reporting & Enforcement Programs
Pre- and Post-Storm Treatments
Intersection Corner Clearance
Crosswalks and Curb Ramp Clearance
Bus Stop Maintenance
2018 MOVING TOGETHER CONFERENCE