PLAN FOR ASHUELOT RAIL TRAIL A P I L OT P R O J E C T
AGENDA • Welcome & Introductions • Minutes of May 3, 2018 Meeting • Project Background • Project Updates & Discussion • Next Steps • Next Meeting • Adjourn Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 2 9/13/2018
WELCOME & INTRODUCTIONS Based on your affiliation, what are your interests related to the Ashuelot Rail Trail? What are your thoughts and observations about the trail today and in the future ? Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 3 9/13/2018
MINUTES OF MAY 3, 2018 Errors? Omissions? Questions? Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 4 9/13/2018
PROJECT BACKGROUND Project Existing Meetings & Conditions Coordination Assessment Draft Final Plan Plan Needs Public Analysis Outreach Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 5 9/13/2018
PROJECT UPDATES & DISCUSSION • Literature Review • Base Mapping • Programs Analysis • Collisions Analysis • Bicycle and Pedestrian Counting Activities • Preliminary Results of Online Survey • Condition Assessment Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 6 9/13/2018
LITERATURE REVIEW Background • Plan for Ashuelot Rail Trail will be the first of its kind in our region. • A variety of plans, reports, policies, and laws exist that address trail development and use, but have never been compiled or compared. • Literature review represents a step towards synthesizing currently available information about the trail. Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 7 9/13/2018
LITERATURE REVIEW Project update: we've collected... • Municipal policies • Planning documents • State-level legislation • Cooperative agreements • Administrative rules governing key rail trail programs (e.g. Grant-in-Aid Program) Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 8 9/13/2018
LITERATURE REVIEW Next Steps • Distribution of memo that summarizes documents in more detail • Analysis of linkages between Complete Streets policies and the Ashuelot Rail Trail • Expansion of literature review as we are made aware of additional resources Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 9 9/13/2018
LITERATURE REVIEW Discussion 1. Are there plans, laws, reports, or policies that we’ve missed? 2. Are there particular documents that you are especially interested in hearing more about? Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 10 9/13/2018
BASE MAPPING Background • Utilize the SWRPC GIS to create maps of the Ashuelot Rail Trail to inform project participants of relevant features and consider implementation activities. Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 11 9/13/2018
BASE MAPPING Project Update • SWRPC has completed an aerial imagery base map (including transportation facilities and property boundaries) for use by the PAC. Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 12 9/13/2018
BASE MAPPING Next Steps • SWRPC will update the aerial imagery base map with additional information from other local, state, and other organizations as well as opportunities and constraints identified via the map exercise from Meeting #1. • Distribution of an updated map with a memo to identify gaps in information to be addressed in the future. Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 13 9/13/2018
BASE MAPPING Discussion 1. Are corrections needed? 2. What would help your community or stakeholders understand the trail or your relationship to the trail? Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 14 9/13/2018
PROGRAMS ANALYSIS Background • What programs or activities currently make use of the trail? • What programs could make use of the trail in the future? Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 15 9/13/2018
PROGRAMS ANALYSIS Project Update • Existing programs include: – Large events – School-related programming – Organized bicycle rides – Organized equestrian outings • Organized programming on other rail trails has included: – Safe routes to school programs – Bike commuting events – Nature outings – Tourist-oriented expeditions, e.g. leaf-peeping tours Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 16 9/13/2018
PROGRAMS ANALYSIS Next Steps • Continue building list of programs over the course of municipal/stakeholder interviews. PAC input also welcome! • Circulate memo that details programs documented thus far. Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 17 9/13/2018
PROGRAMS ANALYSIS Discussion 1. Are there current programs on the rail trail that the committee would like to bring to our attention? 2. Are there events or programs that have occurred on other rail trails that the committee thinks could enhance programming on the Ashuelot Rail Trail? Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 18 9/13/2018
COLLISIONS ANALYSIS Background • Trail crossings can be a dangerous location due to visibility, speeding, traffic volumes, crossing length, and other factors. • Compile and map vehicle collisions with people walking or biking in the vicinity of the rail trail based on no less than five years of crash data as provided by the New Hampshire Department of Transportation. Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 19 9/13/2018
COLLISIONS ANALYSIS Project Update • 27 trail/road crossings were identified using a combination of GIS resources and aerial photos. • SWRPC compiled a 10-year crash history of motor vehicle crashes in proximity to trail crossings. • A preliminary review of the 112 crashes in proximity to the intersections indicates 3 crashes involved a pedestrian and 2 crashes involved a bicyclist (all 5 were located on Winchester Street in Keene). Note: Figures are preliminary and are therefore subject to change Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 20 9/13/2018
COLLISIONS ANALYSIS Next Steps • SWRPC is currently processing collected data for the purpose of creating a technical memo for the PAC. Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 21 9/13/2018
COLLISIONS ANALYSIS Discussion 1. What other sources of data could be considered to obtain information relevant to safety? 2. What safety concerns are you hearing about from your community, stakeholders, etc.? Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 22 9/13/2018
BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN COUNTING ACTIVITIES Background • Automated and manual counts of people walking and biking • Compilation of available historical data • Measure use of rail trail, enable before-and-after comparisons, monitor travel patterns, prioritize areas for improvements, understand risk/exposure of users, etc. Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 23 9/13/2018
BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN COUNTING ACTIVITIES Background (continued) • Important notes on non-motorized counts: – Bike/ped volumes are more variable than motor vehicle volumes – Bike/ped trips are generally shorter than automobile trips – Motor vehicles are easier to detect than people walking and biking – Experience with pedestrian and bicycle counting technology is more limited than for motor vehicles Source: Guidebook on Pedestrian and Bicycle Volume Data Collection (NCHRP Report 797) Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 24 9/13/2018
BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN COUNTING ACTIVITIES Project Update • SWRPC identified 9 locations along the trail to conduct automated counts of people walking and biking. • Counting activities commenced in May and are on-going. Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 25 9/13/2018
BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN COUNTING ACTIVITIES • Handout – Sample (not final) data summary (Ashuelot Rail Trail north of Winchester Street in Keene) Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 26 9/13/2018
BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN COUNTING ACTIVITIES Daily Average Users 0 50 100 150 200 250 300 …north of Winchester Street (Keene) 264 …north of NH 101 (Keene) 121 …south of Krif Road (Keene) 137 …north of Sawyers Crossing Road (Swanzey) 61 …north of Pine Street (Swanzey) 62 …north of Elm Street (Winchester) 11 …east of Depot Street (Hinsdale) 25 Note: Figures are preliminary and are therefore subject to change Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 27 9/13/2018
BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN COUNTING ACTIVITIES Next Steps • SWRPC is currently processing collected data for the purpose of creating a technical memo for the PAC. Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 28 9/13/2018
BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN COUNTING ACTIVITIES Discussion 1. Do you feel there are “gaps” in the distribution of counts that we should be aware of? 2. Should SWRPC consider conducting wintertime counts? Where? Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 29 9/13/2018
PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF ONLINE SURVEY Background • Who uses the Ashuelot Rail Trail? • When people use the rail trail, where are they going? • Why do people use the rail trail? • How do people use the rail trail (e.g. bicycle, snowmobile) • What are the priorities for trail improvements? Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 30 9/13/2018
PRELIMINARY RESULTS OF ONLINE SURVEY Project Update • To date, how has the survey been distributed? • Who has responded so far? • In depth analysis will occur at survey’s conclusion. Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 31 9/13/2018
Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 32 9/13/2018
AGE DISTRIBUTION OF CHESHIRE COUNTY VS. SURVEY RESPONDENTS Project Advisory Committee Meeting #2 33 9/13/2018
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