Transportation 2035 - State of Rhode Island: Division of Planning

PEDESTRIANSTRATEGIES PE.3.aPE.3.bPE.3.cPE.3.dPE.3.ePE.3.fPE.3.gPE.3.hDedicate at least $1 million in TIP resources annually to sidewalk construction and rehabilitation, and develop a prioritization systemfor sidewalk projects to improve walkability. Effectively utilize Safe Routes To School funding for projects in communities that improvesafety and increase the number of children walking.Encourage municipalities to address pedestrian needs through their comprehensive plans with an inventory of their walkinginfrastructure and prioritized list of new projects. Encourage communities to provide local matching funds for sidewalk projects.Use the travel corridor process, and other channels to provide input on local and regional planning issues and initiatives to improvewalking facilities. Offer technical assistance to cities and towns and other groups on detailed planning and design standards toeffectively integrate pedestrian considerations into the development process.Ensure that transportation facility design, construction, operational and maintenance procedures respond to pedestrian travel needsand promote community walkability wherever possible, by the following steps:•Examine existing pedestrian facilities to determine that they meet current minimum standards.•Assess signal pedestrian cycles in light of the aging population to provide adequate timing for safe crossing.•Employ traffic calming strategies where warranted to enhance pedestrian safety.•Increase the width of existing sidewalks or relocate obstructions where obstructions reduce walking space, and reduce streetpavement width where possible to reduce crossing length (neck-down).Encourage communities to promote walkability through their zoning and land development ordinances by zoning for a pedestrian scaleof development, by including requirements and/or incentives for linking new development to adjoining developments via sidewalks orpathways and transit stops (as applicable), and limiting/reducing the number of driveways along a roadway to improve pedestriansafety.Provide sidewalks within school areas and address pedestrian safety concerns. Encourage city and town planning and public worksdepartments to initiate school trip safety committees as part of, or independently of the Safe Routes To School Program. UtilizeDepartment of Education guidelines in selecting sites for new schools and in choosing to retain schools that are within walkingdistance to the school population.Continue to improve pedestrian crash data reporting including modifications to make the reporting form more suitable to computerizedinformation systems. Develop a system for ongoing data reporting and distribution.Encourage private sector developments (particularly where public funding participation is sought) to provide safe, accessible andconvenient walking facilities to better accommodate pedestrians in highway-oriented commercial development.Transportation 2035 (2012 Update)State Guide Plan Element 611RI Statewide Planning ProgramPage 5-36December 2012BICYCLEDESIGNECONOMICDEVELOPMENTEMERGENCYRESPONSEENVIRONMENTEQUITYFINANCEHIGHWAYINTERMODALLAND USE ANDCORRIDORSPEDESTRIANPLANNINGSAFETYTRANSIT