DEPARTMENT: Transportation
FILE TYPE: Regular Information
TITLE
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Update On Top 20 Trail Gaps And School Travel Safety Assessment
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RESOLUTION
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Information only; no action requested.
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BACKGROUND
The Transportation Department continues to make steady progress on initiatives that support active transportation, improve safety for students, and strengthen regional connectivity.
Over the past several years, the Transportation Department has focused on pedestrian and bicycle safety. Priority projects have been guided by three studies:
1. The Dakota County Pedestrian and Bicycle Study (2018) established a countywide vision for walking and bicycling networks and identified policies, strategies, and tools to support active living and improve community health. Many of the recommendations were incorporated into the 2040 Transportation Plan. The study identified pedestrian and bicycle network gaps and prioritized them based on population and employment density, age demographics, land use factors such as schools and commercial services, transit access, households without vehicles, and roadway characteristics including traffic volumes, speeds, and number of travel lanes. The top 20 highest priority trail gaps were identified, and progress has been made on 16 of them.
2. The School Travel Safety Assessment (2021) evaluated conditions and identified recommendations to improve safety for students walking and bicycling to all 48 schools located along County Roads and State Highways. Recommendations cover infrastructure, education, and enforcement. Of the 23 schools that received infrastructure recommendations on County Roads, progress has been made on 21 schools.
3. The Pedestrian Crossing Safety Assessment (2021) focused on side street stops and mid-block crossings of county roadways. The study provided recommendations for pilot projects to define best practices for reviewing crossings and treatments based on roadway conditions. Of the seven pilot projects, five have been implemented and two are programmed for a future year.
In addition to implementing recommendations from the three studies, the Transportation Department continues to construct trails and improve crossings in conjunction with roadway improvement projects.
Staff will provide the Physical Development Committee an update regarding progress from the County’s top 20 Bicycle Trail Gaps, the 2018 Pedestrian and Bicycle Study, the 2021 School Travel Safety Assessment and the Pedestrian Crossing Safety Assessment.
RECOMMENDATION
recommendation
Information only; no action requested.
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FINANCIAL AND STAFFING IMPACTS
None.
PREVIOUS BOARD ACTION
None.
ATTACHMENTS
Attachment: Presentation Slides
CONTACTS
Department Director: Erin Laberee
Author: Jacob Chapek