bicycle and pedestrian element

Bicycle and Pedestrian ElementAdopted: December 2015

Lee County MPO StaffDon Scott, AICP, Executive DirectorRon Gogoi, AICP, Transportation Planning AdministratorBrian Raimondo, Senior PlannerJohnny Limbaugh, Project Manager

Lee County CommissionersCommissioner Brian Hamman, MPO Vice ChairCommissioner Larry KikerCommissioner Frank MannCommissioner John E. Manning Commissioner Cecil Pendergrass

City of Bonita SpringsMayor Ben NelsonVice-Mayor Stephen McIntoshCouncilman Mike Gibson (Alternate Voting Member)

City of Cape CoralMayor Marni SawickiCouncilman Jim BurchCouncilman John CariosciaCouncilwoman Jessica CosdenCouncilman Rick WilliamsCouncilwoman Marilyn Stout (Alternate Member)

City of Fort MyersMayor Randy HendersonCouncilman Mike Flanders, MPO ChairCouncilman Johnny Streets, Jr.

Advisory MemberFlorida Department of TransportationDistrict One Secretary, Billy Hattaway

City of SanibelMayor Kevin Ruane, MPO TreasurerCouncilman Mick Denham (Alternate Member)

Town of Fort Myers BeachCouncilman Alan MandelCouncil Member Rexann Hosafros (Alternate Member)

Village of EsteroMayor Nick Batos

P.O. Box 15045Cape Coral, FL 33915Tel: (239) 244-2220Email: [email protected]: www.leempo.com

Lee County MPO Board

Table of ContentsPOLICIES 4COMPLETE STREETS POLICY ...................................................................................................................................................4DESIGN GUIDANCE .....................................................................................................................................................................4PROJECT COORDINATION........................................................................................................................................................5BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION, REPLACEMENT, AND RETROFIT .........................................................................................5RAILROAD COORDINATION ....................................................................................................................................................6

EXISTING PROGRAMS 6WALK FRIENDLY COMMUNITY AND BICYCLE FRIENDLY COMMUNITY .................................................................6BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY ACTION PLAN .......................................................................................................7MUNICIPAL BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN MASTER PLANS ............................................................................................7FDOT HIGH VISIBILITY SAFETY INITIATIVE ........................................................................................................................7SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROGRAM ................................................................................................................................7SUN TRAIL PROGRAM ................................................................................................................................................................8MAYORS’ CHALLENGE FOR SAFER PEOPLE AND SAFER STREETS ...........................................................................8HEALTH INITIATIVES ..................................................................................................................................................................8LOCAL INITIATIVES ......................................................................................................................................................................8

PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE PROJECT PROGRESS 9RECENT PROJECT IMPLEMENTATION ..................................................................................................................................9FUTURE BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN PROJECT NEEDS ................................................................................................ 14

PROJECT NEEDS 14

COST FEASIBLE PROJECTS 14

4 | LEE COUNTY MPO Bicycle and Pedestrian Element

Bicycle and Pedestrian ElementLEE COUNTY MPO

The Lee County MPO Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan (Master Plan) guides the development of a safe, accessible, and comprehensive network of facilities for pedestrians and cyclists. This plan was created through a collaboration with Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) staff, a Project Advisory Committee, jurisdiction representatives, and the public. Extensive data collection and stakeholder input contributed to the vision, goals, and objectives identified to build a bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly Lee County.

A crucial component of the 2040 Long Range Transportation Plan (LRTP) update is integrating active transportation into all planning processes. The LRTP has included a bicycle and pedestrian section since 2000, and the inaugural Master Plan was added to the 2035 LRTP. To support the 2040 LRTP update in 2015, the Master Plan was also updated to incorporate progress to the biking and walking network and policy goals. The updated Master Plan element includes a revised list of priority projects, recommendations, and implementation strategies. The plan was also reviewed to improve consistency with recently adopted documents such as the Lee County Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Action Plan and the Lee County Complete Streets Initiative.

The sections in this document summarize the update to the Lee County MPO Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. This update guides decision-making about projects that receive federal funds, either through the MPO or agency partners such as Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT). It also guides decision-making about projects at the local level to support regional coordination and work towards shared regional goals. The sections that follow include:

• Policies – Summarizes federal policies as well as federal, state, and local design policies and guidance related to bicycle and pedestrian facilities.

• Programs – Summarizes federal programs as well as successful local programs that should be supported.

• Projects – Summarizes the infrastructure implementation progress and includes a cost-affordable list of priority projects.

• Recommendations and Action Steps – Updates the recommendations and action steps outlined in the Lee County MPO Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan.

POLICIESThis section highlights the local, state, and national policies and design standards that guide decision-making about designing and implementing bicycle and pedestrian facilities in Lee County.

COMPLETE STREETS POLICYComplete Streets policies guide decision-making about the planning, design, operation, and maintenance of public streets to enable safe, convenient, and comfortable travel and access for users of all ages and abilities regardless of their mode of transportation. Complete Streets policies have been adopted by FDOT (2014), the Lee County MPO (2009), and the following local jurisdictions:

• Bonita SPrings - Adoption by resolution 2015• Cape Coral – Adoption by resolution 2015• Fort Myers – Adoption by resolution 2011• Lee County – Adoption by resolution 2009

Jurisdictions without Complete Streets policies should consider their adoption. The FDOT Complete Streets Policy should be referenced for transportation projects along state roadways in all jurisdictions.

DESIGN GUIDANCESeveral national standards for walkway and bikeway design have been created or updated to address changes in policy and innovations in facility design and are included in this Master Plan update. The following documents are national and state resources to reference when designing walkways, bikeways, and trails:

• FDOT Manual of Uniform Minimum Standards for Design, Construction, and Maintenance for Streets and Highways

• FHWA Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices• AASHTO Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities• AASHTO Guide for the Planning, Design, and Operation

of Pedestrian Facilities• NACTO Urban Bikeway Design Guide• NACTO Urban Street Design Guide

BICYCLE & PEDESTRIAN MASTER PLAN

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Figure 1 shows a continuum of bike infrastructure design options, arranged from the least protected (left) to most protected (right). Protected bike facilities can encourage more cyclists due to greater comfort and a greater sense of safety. Communities should choose the appropriate facility for the specific location using factors such as traffic speed, lane width, land use, demand, and available right-of-way.

PROJECT COORDINATIONCoordinating projects at the inter-jurisdictional, department, and agency levels helps ensure that maintenance, utility, and capital improvement projects are implemented efficiently. It also ensures one project does not negatively impact the investment made in the design and construction of other projects.

As a policy, Lee County MPO and its partner jurisdictions and agencies should regularly coordinate capital, maintenance, and utility project schedules as well as private development construction that impacts the public right-of-way. This coordination will help maximize investments and minimize reconstruction of infrastructure during its life-cycle.

BRIDGE CONSTRUCTION, REPLACEMENT, AND RETROFITConsistent with FDOT policy and local Complete Streets policies, bicycle and pedestrian facilities and needs should be analyzed when bridges are being considered for construction, replacement, or retrofit. Pedestrians and cyclists should be able to cross over railroads, rivers, and freeways along public right-of-way.Bicycle Facility Continuum

BIKE LANE

SHARED LANE MARKINGS

PROTECTED BIKE LANE

BUFFEREDBIKE LANE

SHARED USE PATH

Bike LaneBike LaneTravel LaneShared Travel Lane Verge Verge Verge VergeTravel Lane Buffer Travel Lane Shared Use Path

least protected most protected

Bike Lane VergeTravel Lane Buffer

FIgure 1: Bicycle Facility Continuum



RAILROAD COORDINATIONDesigning walkways and bikeways that cross railroads require additional coordination to meet Federal Rail Administration guidelines and requirements. Projects that connect to or cross railroads should coordinate early in the design process, with the goal to provide safe crossings that connect people walking and biking from one side of the railroad to the other.

EXISTING PROGRAMSWalking and biking in Lee County is supported by a number of local, regional, and national programs, described here. These programs include broad initiatives like the Mayors’ Safe Streets Challenge and statewide efforts to link local trail segments. Larger national initiatives also support the local programs that are building a culture of walking and biking from the ground up. Locally, the Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau has funded bicycle and pededtrian programs; the Cities of Sanibel and Cape Coral are past recipients.

WALK FRIENDLY COMMUNITY AND BICYCLE FRIENDLY COMMUNITYWalk Friendly Community and Bicycle Friendly Community are national programs and associated designations headed by the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center and the League of American Bicyclists respectively to recognize leaders and help other communities become more walking- and bicycling-friendly. Bicycle Friendly University and Bicycle Friendly Business are two additional designations offered by the League of American Bicyclists. Communities seeking status as Walk Friendly and/or Bike Friendly must be able to demonstrate activities in each of the “Five Es,” listed below, and many communities are now adding Equity as a sixth element.

Education refers to non-infrastructure programs that teach

people how to walk and bike safely, or how to design walking- and bicycling-friendly streets. Examples include Safe Routes to School, bicycle education for adults, and workshops for municipal staff on designing Complete Streets.

Encouragement refers to events or activities that increase the visibility and comfort level of walking and biking. Encouragement activities include bike to work challenges, walking/biking maps, walking groups, and Open Streets events where streets are temporarily closed to motorized travel.

Engineering refers to infrastructure such as sidewalks, bike lanes, or other Complete Streets elements. Engineering includes design elements to ensure streetscapes are comfortable for walking and biking and safety elements to reduce conflicts with vehicles and eliminate preventable crashes. Complete Streets are engineered to be accessible for all ages and abilities.

Enforcement refers to local ordinances and efforts to address walking and biking safety. Law enforcement plays an important role in educating the public on right-of-way and crosswalk laws. Example of enforcement programs include collaboration between law enforcement and traffic engineers to review sites with known safety issues, local advocacy initiatives such as the Mayors’ Safe Streets Challenge and Vision Zero, and data collection programs to identify crash hotspots.

Evaluation and Planning refers to studying, planning, and measuring progress in the walking and biking environment, including developing walking, biking and trail master plans along with policies that support walking and biking, such as Complete Streets policies. Evaluation involves establishing clear objectives and performance measures as well as pedestrian and bicycling counts and user surveys.

Two Lee County communities have received national attention

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for their local efforts to improve bicycling infrastructure and safety. On November 16, 2015, the City of Cape Coral was identified as a Bronze designated Bicycle Friendly Community. The City of Sanibel was previously identified as a Silver designated Bicycle Friendly Community.

By aligning with these national programs, Lee County can compare itself with peer regions and communities and promote the region at a national level. These programs can also be used at the local level to guide policy changes and decisions about investments in infrastructure, programs, and other efforts that support implementing the Five Es to achieve local goals. Local jurisdictions, businesses, and colleges and universities in Lee County should apply for these programs to support their local goals and promote the region as a great place to walk and bike.

BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN SAFETY ACTION PLANLee County is one of the most dangerous places for pedestrians in the U.S. and is well above average for both bicycle and pedestrian crashes as referenced in the 2013 Lee County Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Action Plan. The plan was developed to reduce serious and fatal crashes through a multidisciplinary approach focused on engineering, enforcement, education, and emergency services. It defines the problem and identifies four primary areas for improvement: 1) infrastructure, 2) education/enforcement, 3) livability, and 4) accountability. Short- and long-term action items are organized with the responsible agencies, estimated time frame, funding sources, and predicted cost to implementation. This plan continues to guide programmatic work focused on walking and biking safety initiatives.

MUNICIPAL BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN MASTER PLANSThe Lee County MPO is supporting two Lee County communities, the City of Cape Coral and the Town of Fort Myers Beach, initiate separate Bicyle and Pedestrian Master Planning Studies. Completion of both plans is expected in mid-2016. The studies will identify goals and objectives, opportunities and issues, assess existing conditions, and identify new projects. A Project Advisory Committee will lead the study. Public engagement is scheduled, and the plan will be presented to the respective city councils and the MPO Board.

FDOT HIGH VISIBILITY SAFETY INITIATIVEThe University of South Florida manages the High Visibility Enforcement of Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Initiative under the direction of FDOT. The initiative promotes safe behavior for drivers as well as pedestrians and bicyclists by focusing visible enforcement operations in areas with high crash rates. Local police departments in focus areas give out informational flyers and safety equipment to those in need. The program started with warnings for violations, but is now in the enforcement phase – tickets carry fines between $64 and $166. This program also makes funds available to local law enforcement agencies for education and enforcement. In Lee County, the Cape Coral Police Department and the Lee County Sheriff’s Office have successfully applied for this grant. Organizations like Lee Memorial and the Lee County Injury Prevention Council have participated in the education drive carried out by these two law enforcement agencies as part of the grant program. Lee County partners continue to work with this initiative to improve roadway user safety in the county.



SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROGRAMThe Safe Routes to School (SRTS) program offers federal funds for communities to improve walking and biking infrastructure near schools, and to support school-based Safe Routes activities and events. All programs or infrastructure improvements within a two-mile radius of an elementary or middle school (K-8) are eligible for matching funds through the Transportation Alternatives Program. In Florida, each district DOT safety engineer works with the district bicycle-pedestrian coordinator to administer funds for non-infrastructure programs. FDOT coordinates with the Florida Department of Education to inform districts of funding and application opportunities. The Florida Pedestrian and Bicycle Safety Resource Center provides SRTS education and promotional materials. This program has been implemented in Lee County and should continue to be used to enhance safety and physical activity opportunities. In FY 2015/16, FDOT supported SRTS in Lee County with about $335,000 for sidewalks, crosswalks, and signage near Orangewood and Franklin Park Elementary Schools.

FDOT recently restored dedicated funds for infrastructure projects with the first of year funding to be available in 2018. In that first year, $7 million will be available statewide annually through a competitive grant application process. These funds can also be used to build pedestrian and bicycle facilities near high schools. Dedicated funds for this program had stopped with the passage of MAP-21, and until last year the Lee MPO had been funding sidewalks at schools with MPO allocated Transportation Alternative funds. The recently passed FAST Act has new SRTS provisions and it is unknown at this time how they will impact the current SRTS program.

SUN TRAIL PROGRAM

The SUN (Shared-Use Non-motorized) Trail Program envisions a statewide network of interconnected multi-use trails from Pensacola to Key West. The program is overseen by the Florida Department of Environmental Protection Office of Greenways and Trails. A separate group of local, state, and federal stakeholders called the Florida Greenways and Trails Council guides the process of trail acquisition and design. The Council also works with local municipalities to identify feasible segments and to prioritize local trails for FDOT funding. Local funding sources and non-profit organizations like the Florida Greenways and Trails Foundation work to fill the gaps in

funding for priority trails. This program is program is very new, and $25 million is available annually statewide. In 2016, FDOT will begin soliciting project proposals for FY 2017/18 projects. The Lee MPO is working with its partners to identify projects and submit project applications this year and will continue to tap into this program for funds in the coming years.

MAYORS’ CHALLENGE FOR SAFER PEOPLE AND SAFER STREETSIn January 2015, the U.S. Transportation Secretary announced the Mayors’ Challenge for Safer People and Safer Streets in response to the growing demand for safe walking and biking facilities. City officials and mayors participate in the year-long effort by publicly accepting the challenge and forming an action committee to address at least one of seven official challenge activities, which include identifying barriers, gathering data, and improving walking and biking safety laws and programs. Three Lee County communities, Bonita Springs, Cape Coral and Fort Myers, are participating in the Mayors’ Challenge. Lee County partners should continue to look for opportunities like the Mayors’ Challenge to promote safer streets.

HEALTH INITIATIVES Active transportation improves health outcomes and reduces healthcare costs for local communities. Locally, the Lee County Injury Prevention Coalition partners with other organizations and businesses to promote healthy transportation options through activities and programs such as Healthy Lee. Local communities can also integrate health benchmarks into transportation planning to measure health outcomes for specific projects. Examples include Health Impact Assessments (HIAs), which use data to identify health effects associated with proposed active transportation projects. The Centers for Disease Control’s Built Environment and Health Initiative is a resource for local communities interested in conducting an HIA. In 2015, the U.S. Surgeon General announced “Step It Up! The Surgeon General’s Call to Action to Promote Walking and Walkable Communities,” which lists strategies all communities can use to increase walking while recognizing the need for spaces and places that make enjoyable walking possible. Partners in Lee County should continue to participate and support programs that connect physical activity with public health to improve the county’s overall quality of life.

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LOCAL INITIATIVESBike events such as Everyone Rides, SWFL Critical Mass, Streets Alive, and local public service announcements focused on bicycle and pedestrian safety all support active lifestyles as well as an active, healthy, and fun culture of recreation. Local partners should continue to coordinate and implement programs that promote walking and support quality life and economic development.

PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE PROJECT PROGRESSWhile Lee County faces challenges in developing a safe bicycle and pedestrian network, progress has been made. Many projects outlined in the 2011 Lee County MPO Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan are completed or underway. FDOT, Lee County MPO, and local jurisdictions have worked to expand the walkway, bikeway, and trail networks in Lee County, as summarized here.

RECENT PROJECT IMPLEMENTATIONLee County pedestrian and bike facilities have steadily increased between 2010 and 2014. As seen in Table 1, during this period 130 lane miles of facilities were built on major roads, an 18 percent increase. An additional 23 lane miles were added to local roads. The highest growth rate was in Fort Myers Beach – 34 percent, followed by Cape Coral which saw a 27 percent increase. Facilities in unincorporated Lee County increased 15 percent, but made up the largest share – 53 percent - of overall infrastructure. See Table 2 for a breakdown of bicycle and pedestrian facilities by jurisdiction.

Table 3 shows the accumulative totals of active transportation facilities by project type.

As seen in Table 4, approximately 37 percent of all Lee County active transportation facilities are sidewalks, 22 percent are shared use paths, and 25 percent are on-street bike lanes. Approximately 16 percent of facilities are paved shoulders; however the focus has shifted in recent years from paved

Jurisdiction 2010* 2012** 2013 2014 # Miles Increase

Percent Increase

Bonita 60 70 70 73 13 22

Cape Coral 145 169 168 184 39 27

Fort Myers 87 90 98 100 13 15

Fort Myers Beach 12 16 16 16 4 33

Sanibel 25 27 27 27 2 8

Unincorporated Lee County

391 420 438 450 59 15

TOTAL 720 792 817 850 130 18

* Lane miles in 2010 are based on MPO Bike Ped Master Plan (2011).** Lane miles in 2012 are based on MPO Bike Ped Master Plan Implementation Report (2012).

Table 1: Lee County Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities, 2010 - 2014.

Jurisdiction Percent Share

Bonita 8

Cape Coral 22

Fort Myers 12

Fort Myers Beach 2

Sanibel 3

Unincorporated Lee Co.

53

TOTAL 100

Table 2: Bicycle and Pedestrian Facilities by

Jurisdiction.

Facility Type 2010* 2012** 2013 2014 # Miles Increase Percent Increase

Paved Shoulder 173 126 129 131 (42) -24

Bike Lane 113 192 193 215 102 90

Shared Use Path 168 187 187 190 22 13

Sidewalk 264 285 306 313 49 19

TOTAL 718 790 815 849 131 18

* Lane miles in 2010 are based on MPO Bike Ped Master Plan (2011).** Lane miles in 2012 are based on MPO Bike Ped Master Plan Implementation Report (2012).

Facility Type Percent Share

Paved Shoulder 24

Bike Lane 16

Shared Use Path 23

Sidewalk 37

TOTAL 100

Table 3: Lee County Bicycle and Pedestrian Facility Types, 2010 - 2014.Table 4: Bicycle and

Pedestrian Facilities by Type.



shoulders to higher quality marked bike lanes. As a result of Complete Streets policies adopted recently in Lee County, facilities for people who walk and bike are included in most roadway redesign projects.

The four figures (Figures 2 through 5) on the following pages show the existing conditions in regards to active transportation facilities. It is anticipated that Figure 5 will be updated in 2016 when the Lee County MPO and the Collier County MPO will amend the Regional Pathways Map.

FIgure 2: Existing Sidewalks Along Arterials & Collectors

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FIgure 3: Existing Bikeways



FIgure 4: Lee County Portion of Florida Greenways & Trails System Land Trails Opportunities Map

Note: The MPO will request that the Babcock Ranch Trail is added to the Florida Greenways and Trails System Maps when the Florida Department of Environ-mental Proection updates the maps in 2018.

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FIgure 5: Lee County MPO and Collier County Regional Pathways Map

The current Regional Pathways Map is being amended in 2016, and, upon approval by the Lee County MPO and the Collier County MPO, the amended map will be inserted in this space.



FUTURE BICYCLE AND PEDESTRIAN PROJECT NEEDS

PROJECT NEEDSThe Needs Plan bicycle, pedestrian, and multi-use trail facility projects were identified through updating the Lee County Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan. As described, many of the projects have been completed since the Plan’s last update in 2011. Still, more than $74 million in projects were identified as needs. This represents 153 miles of bicycle, pedestrian, and multi-use trail facilities throughout Lee County.

The Needs Plan includes all bicycle and pedestrian projects in Lee County that seek to use state and/or federal funding for implementation. Locally-funded bicycle and pedestrian projects are not listed in this plan.

COST FEASIBLE PROJECTSThe Needs Plan projects were compared to available funding, and the result is the Cost Feasible list of bicycle and pedestrian projects. These are needed walking and biking projects that are expected to be funded with Federal and/or state revenues projected to be available beginning in 2021.

Projects in this list come from multiple sources:

• 2015 Lee County MPO Multimodal Enhancement Box Fund Priorities List

• FDOT District 1 Work Program• 2011 Lee County MPO Bicycle and Pedestrian Master

PlanProjects were evaluated and selected based on the following criteria:

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WINKLER AVEWINKLER AVE

HANSON STHANSON ST

ORANGE RIVER BLVD

ORANGE RIVER BLVD

DEAL RDDEAL RD

PALM BEACH BLVDPALM BEACH BLVD

E 12TH STE 12TH ST

E 14TH STE 14TH ST

LEELAND HEIGHTS BLVDLEELAND HEIGHTS BLVD

RIC

HM

ON

D A

VE

RIC

HM

ON

D A

VE

SU

NS

HIN

E B

LVD

SS

UN

SH

INE

BLV

D S

JAGUAR BLVDJAGUAR BLVD

SHELL POINT BLVD

SHELL POINT BLVD

JOH

N M

OR

RIS

RD

JOH

N M

OR

RIS

RD

SAN

CAR

LOS

BLVD

SAN

CAR

LOS

BLVD

KISMET PKWYKISMET PKWY

DIPLOMAT PKWYDIPLOMAT PKWY

PINE ISLAND RD

PINE ISLAND RD

HANCOCK BRIDGE PKWYHANCOCK BRIDGE PKWYEMBERS PKWYEMBERS PKWY

TRAFALGAR PKWYTRAFALGAR PKWY

MCGREGOR BLVD

MCGREGOR BLVD

IONA RDIONA RD

CYPRESS LAKE DRCYPRESS LAKE DR

COLLEGE PKWYCOLLEGE PKWY

CAPE CORAL PKWYCAPE CORAL PKWY

ESTERO BLVD

ESTERO BLVD

75INTERSTATE

75INTERSTATE

41

41

41

78

78

78

82

884

41Bus

41

82

80

31

75INTERSTATE

COUNTY

LEE

765

82

COUNTY

LEE

850

Major Roads

Existing Sidewalk

Existing Bikeways

Cost Feasible Projects

Minor Roads

County Parks

Water

Managed Lands

City Limits

5500MilesMiles

Source: Geogrpahic base layers provided by Lee County, MPO and the Florida Geographic Data Library.

FIgure 6: Cost Feasible Bicycle, Pedestrian and Multi-Use Trail Projects

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• Has the project already been implemented?• Are there ROW constraints or issues that could impact

implementation?• Is the project part of a larger roadway project?• Is the project along an arterial or collector roadway?• For trail projects, is the trail along an identified corridor

of a local, regional, or state system?

Figure 6 shows the Cost Feasible Plan bicycle, pedestrian, and multi-use trail, also called “shared use paths,” projects. These projects, listed in Table 5 reflect a ten-year plan as opposed to the roadway and transit projects planned for a future 25 years away. This set of projects will make walking and biking in Lee County safer, more comfortable, and more convenient.

The Cost Feasible Plan includes $40 million (YOE) for bicycle,

dnEnigeBdaoRDILength (miles)

Facility Type Project Cost

1 Summerlin Rd Lakewood Blvd Cypress Lake Blvd 1.1 Shared Use Path $743,089

dvlB araT14 SU272.38 N of French Creek Lane

0.7 Sidewalk $240,500

612,405$htaP esU derahS1.1evA doowniLdR mahgnikcuB08 RS34 Leonard/Westgate Blvd Sunshine Blvd Lee Blvd 5.4 Shared Use Path $3,903,530

054,227$klawediS1.1dvlB leoJdvlB esirnuSdvlB lleB56 Marsh Ave Michigan Ave SR 80 1.3 Sidewalk $1,046,7857 Andalusia Blvd Pine Island Rd Diplomat Pkwy 1.5 Sidewalk $820,463

8 Veterans Pkwy South Side SW 10th AveExisting SUP west of Skyline

0.1 Shared Use Path $301,375

9 Veterans Pkwy North Side SW 3rd Place SW 2nd Court 0.1 Shared Use Path $-10 Alabama Rd SR 82 Paddock St 2.2 Sidewalk $688,014

-$klawediS0.1dR dnalsI eniPywkP raglafarTdR ttoN/evA ht02 WS11

12 Trafalgar Elementary and Middle Schools Trafalgar Pkwy

SW 16th SW 22nd Pl 0.6 Sidewalk $689,425

13 Buckingham Rd Cemetary Rd SR 80 2.8 Bike Lane $852,23714 Skyline Blvd El Dorado Pkwy Cape Coral Pkwy 0.9 Sidewalk $606,719

15 US 4172.38 N of French Creek Lane

Charlotte Co. line 1.1 Sidewalk $672,750

16 Averill Blvd Del Prado Ext Gator Circle 0.4 Sidewalk $879,594-$klawediS9.1dvlB yesmaRdvlB llirevAtsaE elcriC rotaG71

18 Gator Circle North West Averill Blvd Ramsey Blvd 2.2 Sidewalk $812,59219 Abel Canal Harnes Marsh Joel Blvd 5.6 Shared Use Path $3,111,00020 John Yarborough Colonial Blvd Hanson Street 1.3 Shared Use Path $538,25421 Winkler Canal US 41 McGgregor Blvd 1.0 Shared Use Path $519,69022 SW Pine Island Veterans Pkwy Santa Barbara Blvd 4.3 Shared Use Path $2,308,69923 Bayshore Rd Park 78 Dr Sr 31 3.6 Shared Use Path $1,961,93624 Summerlin Road Pine Ridge Rd Winkler Rd 2.7 Shared Use Path $1,337,43325 Old 41 Rd Collier County Line Bonita Beach Rd 1.2 Shared Use Path $1,437,99626 E Terry St Morton Ave Bonita Grande Dr 0.8 Shared Use Path $407,60327 Mcgregor Blvd (Sr 867) Sanibel Causeway Mcgregor Blvd 1.9 Shared Use Path $943,580g g ( ) y g g $ ,28 Bell Blvd S Joel Blvd Sr 82 5.3 Sidewalk $1,163,959

972,308$enaL ekiB8.0dR eohakcuTdvlB hcaeB mlaPdvlB leoJ9230 Orange River Blvd Palm Beach Blvd Ellis Rd 1.0 Shared Use Path $1,085,772

31Summerlin Rd/Mcgregor Blvd (Cr 867)

Shell Point Blvd Kelly Cove Dr 1.9 Shared Use Path $1,139,998

32 North River Rd Sr 31 County Line 13.5 Shared Use Path $6,426,00033 Treeline Ave Colonial Blvd Pelican Preserve Blvd 0.6 Shared Use Path $343,020

Buffered Bike Lane TBD TBD 3.0 Bike Lane $1,500,000

Table 5: Cost Feasible Bicycle and Pedestrian Projects



pedestrian, and multi-use trail facility projects identified in the Master Plan and scheduled for funding and implementation through the current bicycle and pedestrian project prioritization process. Total costs include only projects identified separately from roadway projects. Bicycle and pedestrian improvements to be built as part of roadway projects are included in the total cost for road/highway projects.

Among the cost feasible projects, there are 18 shared use paths totaling 47 miles. Several of the shared use paths will add dedicated walking and biking facilities along arterials, such as Summerlin Road, North River Road, and Westgate Boulevard. Without a separated facility, these corridors are often barriers between destinations for people on foot or bike. Completing these projects will fill in bicycle and pedestrian network gaps and provide important connections between cities, towns, and neighborhoods.

There are 24.3 miles of sidewalk, distributed over 15 different projects. These projects add the basic infrastructure required to accommodate walking trips, and will make people more comfortable choosing to walk for transportation or recreation.

Bufered bike lanes in a yet-to-be determined location and bike lanes along Buckingham Road and Joel Boulevard total roughly 6.5 miles. These projects will add dedicated bike facilities along north-south roadways that connect Palm Beach Boulevard to the rural and residential areas immediately to the south.

The project list was reviewed by the Lee County MPO Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordination Committee and the Lee County MPO Bicycle and Pedestrian Technical Advisory Committee.

Project costs used 2015 cost estimates as the base year and were adjusted for inflation using an FDOT established inflation factor. The time period for project funding and implementation is 2021 to 2030.

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Recommendation Item - Description Lead Agency

Timeframe

Advisory Committee

Local jurisdictions should provide information about their bicycle and pedestrian policies on their websites.

Loc Govts. < Five Years

The Bicycle Pedestrian Coordinating Committee assumes responsibility for overseeing implementation of the Lee County Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan.

BPCC Ongoing

The Bicycle and Pedestrian Coordinating Committee will track implementation of these Master Plan recommendations and report progress to the MPO board.

BPCC Ongoing

Local governments should consider establishing Bicycle and Pedestrian advisory committees for review and advice on programs.

Loc Govts. Ongoing

Coordination

The Lee County MPO should develop protocols for GIS info collection and sharing and standardization of bike/ped definitions & design standards.

Loc Govts. Ongoing

The Lee County MPO should continue coordination with local governments and area stakeholders on bike and pedestrian facilities.

BPCC Ongoing

The Lee County MPO should enhance coordination with Collier, Charlotte, Hendry counties on interconnected bicycle facilities and grant applications.

MPO Staff Ongoing

The Lee County MPO should continue to monitor national and regional trail development activity & look for opportunities to connect to these systems.

MPO Staff Ongoing

FundingThe Lee County MPO should annually review progress on funding the Bicycle Pedestrian needs plan and expand funding resources.

MPO Staff Ongoing

The Lee County MPO should assist local jurisdictions in obtaining LAP certification. MPO Staff Ongoing

The Lee County MPO should work with Collier & Charlotte counties to explore funding for regional projects.

MPO Staff Ongoing

The Lee County MPO should develop an integrated facility development approach that accommodates all transportation modes.

MPO Staff Ongoing

General Policies

The Lee County MPO and local governments should establish mechanisms to include bicycle and pedestrian improvements with roadway reconstruction, resurfacing, and operations projects.

MPO Board < Five Years

RECOMMENDATIONS AND ACTION STEPSIn addition to infrastructure projects, the previous Master Plan recommended policies, programs, and activities to increase walking and biking opportunities in Lee County. Table 6

(below and continuing on the following three pages) is an update of the previous Master Plan recommendations list. Recommendations that have been accomplished have been removed, with the remaining recommendations updated to guide implementation efforts and policy decision-making related to walking and biking in Lee County.

Table 6: Recommendations and Action Steps




Timeframe

Implementation

Coordinate existing bicycle and pedestrian master plans to ensure consistency with the Lee County Bike Ped Master Plan.


Local jurisdictions without bike ped master plans should develop plans consistent with the Lee County Bike Ped Master Plan.


The Lee County MPO and and Bicycle Pedestrian Coordinating Committee should continue hosting public events for awareness of the MPO Bike/Ped Master Plan and seek support in implementing improvements identified in Plan.

BPCC Ongoing

Through the Bicycle Pedestrian Coordinating Committee, local governments should report on implementation of local Bike/Ped Master Plans.

BPCC Ongoing

The Lee County MPO should develop an action and funding plan to implement the three demonstration projects from the Lee County Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan.

BPCC Ongoing

Law Enforcement

The Lee County MPO, local governments and law enforcement agencies should collaborate to develop pedestrian and bicycle enforcement and education programs.

LE Ongoing

The Lee County MPO will work with the Florida Highway Patrol to identify high crash locations and corridors and implement safety solutions.

LE Ongoing

Master Plan Review and UpdateThe Lee County MPO and Bicycle Pedestrian Coordinating Committee should provide an annual report on implementation progress for the Lee County Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan.

MPO Staff Ongoing

The Lee County MPO should update the Bicycle Pedestrian Master Plan within 5 years. A full update of the plan should be done by 2018.

MPO Staff Ongoing

Parks and RecreationThe Lee County MPO and Lee County Department of Parks and Recreation should coordinate to connect on-road bicycle and pedestrian facilities with greenways and trails.

Parks Ongoing

The Lee County MPO and Lee County Department of Parks and Recreation should collaborate to ensure consistency with mapping and wayfinding.

Parks Ongoing

The Lee County MPO and Lee County Department of Parks should collaborate with Healthy Lee to promote active lifestyles.

Parks Ongoing

The Lee County MPO and Lee County Department of Parks and Recreation should explore possibility of a Rails with Trails project on the Seminole Rail Line right of way.

Parks Ongoing

Performance MeasuresThe Lee County MPO and Bicycle Pedestrian Coordinating Committee should stablish bike/ped performance measures.

MPO Staff Ongoing

Table 6 (cont.): Recommendations and Action Steps

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Timeframe

PlanningLocal jurisdictions should reference the Lee County MPO Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan and any locally adopted bicycle and pedestrian master plan as part of their comprehensive plan and other master planning efforts.


Local jurisdictions should set standards requiring pedestrian and bicycle facilities, such as bicycle parking and sidewalks, as part of public building projects.


Local governments should incorporate facility priorities and policy recommendations from the Lee County Bicycle and Pedestrian Master Plan into local plans and land development regulations.

BPCC Ongoing

Local governments should develop Complete Streets policies and revise other plans to encourage designing Complete Streets.

Loc Govts. Ongoing

Local governments should use the Evaluation and Appraisal Report process to encourage development of multimodal transportation policy and land use policy that supports a multimodal transportation system in adopted comprehensive plans

Loc Govts. Ongoing

Local jurisdictions should require new developments that are adjacent to arterials or collectors to provide bicycle and pedestrian facilities, or develop a payment-in-lieu option.

Loc Govts. Ongoing

Programs

The Lee County MPO should hire a dedicated Bike Ped Coordinator. MPO Board > Five Years

The Lee County MPO should work with private and quasi-private agencies to support programs that encourage healthy lifestyles and Safe Routes to Schools.

MPO Staff Ongoing

The Lee County MPO should develop strategies to implement demonstration and special projects. MPO Board Ongoing

The Lee County MPO, through the Bicycle Pedestrian Coordinating Committee, should review Lee Co. wayfinding and identify opportunities for wayfinding coordination and consistency.

BPCC Ongoing

The Lee County MPO and local governments should assess current maintenance practices and develop effective programs for bike and pedestrian infrastructure.

MPO Staff Ongoing

The Lee County MPO should develop, maintain, and distribute unified bike/ped data to local municipalities.

MPO Staff Ongoing

The Lee County MPO should consider a staff training program on bike/ped issues, sustainability, livability and Complete Streets concepts.

MPO Board Ongoing

The Lee County MPO should work to implement the action steps in the Lee County Bicycle and Pedestrian Safety Action Plan.

MPO Board Ongoing

The Lee County MPO should consider a countywide hotline to report bike/ped issues/hazards with a central databse of comments.

MPO Board Ongoing

The MPO, in collaboration with FDOT and local governments, should assess bridges, over & underpasses for bike/ped accessibility issues.

MPO Staff Ongoing

The Lee County MPO, local governments and Lee Tran should collaborate to create safe routes and access to transit stops.

MPO Staff Ongoing

The Lee County MPO, local governments, non-profits, public and private agencies should coordinate efforts on multiple education and training programs.

MPO Staff Ongoing

The Lee County MPO, local governments, non-profits, public and private agencies should develop programs to promote more walking and biking.

MPO Staff Ongoing

The Lee County MPO should partner with non-profits and various agencies to distribute bicycle and pedestrian maps.

MPO Staff Ongoing





Timeframe

Public SchoolsThe Lee County MPO should coordinate with the Lee County Schools to gather information on how students get to school and how to increase the number of students who walk or bike.

School Dist < Five Years

The Lee County MPO should encourage the Lee County Schools to partner with Healthy Lee to promote walking and biking.

School Dist < Five Years

The Lee County MPO should coordinate with the Lee County School District to report and promote Safe Routes to School successes and highlight needs.

School Dist Ongoing

The Lee County MPO should work with the Lee County School District to establish guidelines for school location & design that is bike/ped-friendly.

School Dist Ongoing

The Lee County MPO should encourage the Lee County School District to promote walking and biking as safe and convenient transportation to school.

School Dist Ongoing

Visitors and Convention BureauThe Lee County MPO should coordinate with the Visitor and Convention Bureau to promote bicycle tourism in Lee County.

VCB < Five Years

The Lee County MPO should work with the Visitor and Convention Bureau to incorporate bike ped user experience questions in surveys.

VCB < Five Years

The Lee County MPO should work with the Visitor and Convention Bureau to use Tourist Development Council funds for path wayfinding.

VCB < Five Years


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PROMOTING BICYCLING IN LEE COUNTY

The Lee County Visitor and Convention Bureau (VCB) promotes Lee County to potential visitors throughout the US, Canada, and many parts of the world especially Germany and the rest of Western Europe. The Bureau promotes bike tourism with:

• A Biking and Hiking page and an events listing page are included on the consumer website www.fortmyers-sanibel.com.

• Hosting travel writers and journalists from North America and Europe who have an interest in cycling.

• Social media postings on exploring bike trails and accomplishments such as Cape Coral’s bronze designation.

• Regular e-newsletters to consumer subscribers include ideas on what to do while visiting Lee County, such as cycling through the JN “Ding” Darling National Wildlife Refuge.

• Tourist Development Council attractions marketing funds available to non-profit organizations.

• Bike maps distributed by VCB volunteers in Visitor Information Booths at Southwest Florida International Airport.

• VCB staff attends Annual National Bicycle Tourism Conference.• About 17 percent of Lee County’s visitors are interested in bike riding.

bicycle and pedestrian element

Documents