HomeMy WebLinkAbout12-02-2014 C4 NACTO Endorsement & MembershipCity of San Luis Obispo, Council Agenda Report, Meeting Date, Item Number
FROM: Darryl Grigsby, Public Works Director
Prepared By: Jake Hudson, Traffic Operations Manager
SUBJECT: NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CITY TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS
(NACTO) MEMBERSHIP AND URBAN BIKEWAY DESIGN GUIDE
ENDORSEMENT.
RECOMMENDATION
1. Adopt a resolution endorsing the NACTO Urban Bikeway Design Guide.
2. Approve affiliate agency membership with NACTO and direct staff to take appropriate
action to implement this action.
DISCUSSION
The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) is a non-profit association
that represents municipalities on transportation issues of local, regional and national significance.
The organization facilitates the exchange of best practices and fostering cooperative approaches
to addressing key transportation issues. NACTO’s Urban Bikeway Design Guide
(http://nacto.org/cities-for-cycling/design-guide/) provides cities with state-of-the-practice
solutions that help create complete streets that are safe and enjoyable for bicyclists. Within these
guidelines, the City of San Luis Obispo is recognized as an example for many innovative bicycle
pilot solutions such as bicycle signals, green bike lanes, bike boxes, and bike boulevards.
The City’s endorsement of NACTO’s Urban Bikeway Design Guide acknowledges the bicycle
design tools as acceptable concepts to reference when developing solutions for improving the
City’s bicycle transportation system. In addition, our endorsement pushes federal and state
governments to recognize the guidelines’ best practices as ways to build safe, active, and livable
streets. Endorsement of the bikeway design guide does not supersede Federal, State, or local
design standards; rather it provides design concepts that can be implemented within those design
standards. In cases where City may need to deviate from design standards, that is done with
careful consideration and professional judgment.
The City’s membership in the National Association of City Transportation Officials strengthens
the Association’s influence on improving bike design standards and law. Membership provides
valuable technical assistance, peer-to-peer training opportunities, and forums for sharing best
practices. Membership also helps support industry wide bicycle design innovation and represents
the City’s goals to evolve cycling into a more prominent mode of transportation.
FISCAL IMPACT
There is no fiscal impact associated with endorsement of this document. The annual fee for
affiliate agency membership is currently $4,000. If resources are not available with the
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Department’s existing budget the Public Works Department will request funding for these dues
in its transportation operating budget as part of the 2015-17 Financial Plan.
ALTERNATIVES
1. The Council may wish to endorse the bikeway design guide but not approve agency
membership with NACTO. This alternative would eliminate the $4,000 annual
membership fee. Staff does not recommend this because as a leader in bicycle
transportation, it is important to support and participate in the development of bike law
and design guidelines and standards.
2. The Council may wish to neither endorse the bikeway design guide nor approve agency
membership with NACTO. Staff does not recommend this alternative in light of the
City’s transportation goals and active participation & leadership in this area.
ATTACHMENTS
1. Resolution Endorsing NACTO’s Urban Bikeway Design Guide.
2. Mayor’s letter of endorsement to NACTO
T:\Council Agenda Reports\2014\2014-12-02\NACTO Endorsement & Membership\Council Agenda Report.docx
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R ______
RESOLUTION NO. _____ (2014 Series)
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF SAN LUIS OBISPO ENDORSING THE
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF CITY TRANSPORTATION OFFICIALS URBAN
BIKEWAY DESIGN GUIDE
WHEREAS, The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) is a
non-profit association that represents municipalities on transportation issues of local, regional
and national significance; and
WHEREAS, NACTO has developed and published the Urban Bikeway Design Guide
which provides cities with state-of-the-practice solutions that help create complete streets that are
safe and enjoyable for bicyclists; and
WHEREAS, The City of San Luis Obispo (“City”) acknowledges that the bicycle design
tools contained within this guide are acceptable concepts to reference when developing solutions
for improving the City’s bicycle transportation system; and
WHEREAS, endorsement of the bikeway design guide does not supersede Federal,
State, or local design standards; rather it provides design concepts that can be implemented
within those design standards. In cases where City may need to deviate from design standards,
that is done with careful consideration and professional judgment.
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the Council of the City of San Luis
Obispo as follows:
The City of San Luis Obispo hereby endorses the National Association of City
Transportation Officials Urban Bikeway Design Guide.
Upon motion of _______________________, seconded by _______________________,
and on the following roll call vote:
AYES:
NOES:
ABSENT:
The foregoing resolution was adopted this _____ day of _____________________ 2014.
____________________________________
Mayor Jan Marx
ATTEST:
____________________________________
Anthony Mejia, City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
_____________________________________
J. Christine Dietrick, City Attorney
ATTACHMENT 1
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City of San Luis Obispo, Public Works, 919 Palm Street, San Luis Obispo, CA, 93401-3218, 805.781.7200, slocity.org
National Association of City Transportation Officials
120 Park Ave. 14th Floor
New York, NY 10017
RE: Letter of Endorsement for the NACTO Urban Bikeway Design Guide
The National Association of City Transportation Officials (NACTO) Urban Bikeway Design Guide
offers communities across the United States a state-of-the-practice tool for designing safer, more
attractive, and sustainable streets that accommodate and encourage bicycling. The guide details
the design of traditional bicycle lanes, with and without buffers, and provides extensive guidance
for protected on-street bikeways. The designs presented in the guide have demonstrated success in
the cities that have been piloting them. They are fostering safer and more comfortable riding
conditions which attract unprecedented numbers of bicyclists diverse in age, gender, and skill level.
Perhaps most importantly, the designs are proving effective in reducing car-bicycle conflicts and
crashes, lowering both crash-related injury and death rates.
The NACTO guide was written by an experienced team of national and international experts and
guided by the transportation, streets, and public works departments of fifteen of the largest cities
in the United States. The guide drew on a range of U.S. and international bikeway design standards
and practices, and assured that all of the designs were tailored to the codes and conditions of the
American streetscape. In addition to plan drawings and visualizations, the guide provides U.S. cities
with the design specifications and engineering logic to support these design concepts. Based on the
most up-to-date data and designs across the country, the NACTO guide is a unique, flexible
document that will be frequently updated to reflect the state of the practice.
The NACTO Urban Bikeway Design Guide is a crucial and integral tool for practitioners to improve
the safety, viability, and attractiveness of cycling in our communities.
Jan Marx,
Mayor, City of San Luis Obispo
ATTACHMENT 2
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