ACTION ITEMS - COMMUNITY & COORDINATION

The following Action Items were developed from input by the ATP Steering Committee and outreach to the region’s municipalities and Active Transportation stakeholders. This input also helped to create the Vision Statement at the beginning of the planning process.

The Action Items are divided into two groups:

ROUTES & PRIORITIES -- Focused on facilitating and constructing improvements to the Regional Backbone that make Active Transportation easier, safer, and more convenient.

COORDINATION & COMMUNITY -- Focused on bringing together the region’s agencies, government entities, stakeholders, and general public to build understanding and support for the Active Transportation Plan.

Under each Action Item are the implementation activities that HATS staff will undertake. These Implementation Activities will be the immediate focus for the HATS staff and are discussed in more detail in the MOVING FORWARD chapter.

Action Item #4: Build municipal awareness and administrative capacity for Active Transportation Planning.

Fulfilling the vision established by this Plan will require cooperation between TCRPC staff and stakeholders throughout the region, with none more important than the 103 municipalities. Increasing municipal engagement, coordination, and administrative capacity in Active Transportation planning will expand regional planning and implementation, leading to more local Active Transportation plans and facilities. Ultimately a region that is safer, and more convenient for ATP users will result.

Implementation Activities:

Encourage municipalities to adopt or develop policies and plans for active transportation including Complete Streets, Vision Zero, local or corridor-specific bike/ped plans, and transit-oriented land use plans and zoning.
Advocate for municipalities to use all available tools to incorporate Active Transportation facilities into land development projects, including ordinances mandating sidewalks, fees-in-lieu of sidewalk deferrals, and Official Maps that include connectivity improvements.
Improve or supplement municipal grant-writing and management capacity through additional staff and/or funding.
Convene an annual roundtable of municipalities and other stakeholders to discuss non-motorized transportation in the region, provide updates, share opportunities, coordinate ongoing planning efforts, etc.
Provide educational outreach to municipalities on creating Active Transportation plans and accessing federal/state funding.
Offer active digital transportation mapping and data resources for regional and local planning.

Action Item #5: Actively engage under-represented groups and constituencies in Active Transportation Planning.

Like all transportation planning efforts, outreach to and inclusion of input from all communities and populations is essential to successful implementation of this Active Transportation plan. Incorporating diverse perspectives in the planning process can more effectively identify barriers and opportunities that might not be apparent to all, empowering marginalized populations and communities while reducing transportation-related disparities. Greater inclusion leads to better outcomes, more use of the improvements and facilities, and continued engagement in other transportation planning efforts.

Implementation Activities:

Ensure equitable distribution of Active Transportation infrastructure and planning resources.
Leverage Plain Sect outreach efforts to identify corridors and routes in rural areas where improvements (such as wide shoulders) could serve horse and buggies along with bike/ped needs.
Include representatives of social/community service organizations and other under-served populations in all transportation planning efforts, including the annual roundtable.
Consider needs of disabled community, children, and older adults in transportation improvement and planning projects.

Action Item #6: Promote a culture of walking and biking by improving cooperation among regional partners, supporting education efforts, and advocating for policy changes.

Establishing and fostering a culture that encourages Active Transportation requires more than just building infrastructure such as trails, bike lanes, crosswalks, and sidewalks. To fully capitalize on the investments and strategies identified throughout this plan, our region must view Active Transportation as an essential component for community success. This can take the form of increasing economic development, promoting safe and healthy lifestyles, or ensuring all residents and visitors have the same opportunities to safely move through their communities.

Implementation Activities:

Advocate for legislative and policy changes to facilitate a wider variety of bicycle and pedestrian improvements and programs.
Coordinate with state agencies and other regional partners to align Active Transportation planning studies and leverage improvement projects for maximum efficiency and positive effect.
Expand stakeholders engaged in bicycle and pedestrian planning to include local businesses, chambers of commerce, educational facilities, hospitals, hospitality networks, and tourism agencies in the planning process.
Incorporate and highlight the benefits of public health, agri-ecotourism, and economic development into bicycle and pedestrian planning efforts.
Encourage education and enforcement efforts to increase knowledge of and adherence to the rules of the road for all users (including motorists).