txdot’s bicycle tourism trails study

TxDOT’s Bicycle Tourism Trails Study TxDOT Planning Conference

TXDOT’S BICYCLE TOURISM TRAILS STUDY

TxDOT Planning ConferenceJune 7, 2018


Agenda

Introduction to bicycle tourism

Route development

BTTS Example Network

BTTS recommended bikeway types

Accomplishments and next steps

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Bicycle Tourism Trails Act - TX Transportation Code Section 201.9025

(a) The Texas Department of Transportation Bicycle Advisory Committee shall advise and make recommendations to the commission on the development of bicycle tourism trails in this state. Recommendations on bicycle tourism trails developed under this section:

(1) shall be made in consultation with the Parks and Wildlife Commission and the Texas Economic Development and Tourism Office;

(2) shall reflect the geography, scenery, history, and cultural diversity of this state;

(3) shall maximize federal and private sources of funding for the designation, construction, improvement, maintenance, and signage of the trails and the promotion of bicycle tourism; and

(4) may include multiuse trails to accommodate equestrians, pedestrians, and other nonmotorized trail users when practicable.

(b) The department may contract with a statewide bicycle nonprofit organization for assistance in identifying, developing, promoting, or coordinating agreements and participation among political subdivisions of this state to advance bicycle tourism trails.

“TxDOT’s Bicycle Advisory Committee shall advise and make recommendations to the [Texas Transportation] commission on the development of bicycle tourism trails in this state.”

…

“shall reflect the geography, scenery, history, and cultural diversity of this state”

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Goals

Identify tourism trail routes

Foster the development of safe bicycle tourism trails

Identify benefits of bicycle tourism trails

Engage stakeholders

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BTTS Documentation Products

Tech Memos Stand alone products describing portions of the study. These include:

1. Benefits of Bikeways and Trails

2. Routing Criteria and Example Network Development

3. BTTS Bikeway Design Criteria (for ages 8 to 80)

4. Stakeholder Engagement

Static and Digital Maps – Includes created and obtained

GIS Files

Summary– Graphic-oriented, 4-page, high-

level overview

Final Report– Executive Summary

– Contents of Tech Memos integrated into a single document

– Tech Memos included in appendix

Slides intended for discussion purposes only

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Stakeholder Outreach Overview

Type Number of Meetings

Stakeholder Outreach Participation Level*

TxDOT’s Bicycle Advisory Committee• BAC meets quarterly (5)• Working Group meets monthly (12)

17 Inform/Consult/Involve/Collaborate

TxDOT Divisions (DES, TRF, CON, MNT, TPP)

6 Inform/Consult/Involve

TxDOT Districts • TP&D Directors Quarterly Meeting (1)• TP&D Directors & Bicycle Coordinators (Wikimap)

1 + Wikimap Inform/Consult

Other Texas Agencies • Texas Parks & Wildlife• Texas Historical Commission• Texas Economic Development & Tourism

2 Inform/Consult

Metropolitan Planning Organizations (1) and Councils of Governments (1)

2 + Wikimap Inform/Consult

BikeTexas 2 Inform/Consult*Based upon the International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) Public Participation Spectrum

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Bikeway networks contribute to tourism

Bicyclists spend money• Lodging, food, retail, entertainment, etc.

Bike travel is growing

• Self-guided tours• Regional bike networks• Single and multi-day events• Bicycle rentals

Commuter and recreational users

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Example: East Coast Greenway

Overview: • 3,000 mile long spine that links urban areas

together from Maine to Key West, FL• Accompanied by 2,000 miles of

complementary routes• Currently, 32% of entire length is shared use

path (“on trail”), while remaining portions use low-volume roadways (“interim routing”)

Ultimate design accommodation:• Build bicycle/pedestrian accommodations

for all ages and abilities• Off-road shared use paths

- Where shared use paths are not feasible, shared roadways, bike lanes, and sidewalks will be used

For more info: http://www.greenway.org/

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http://www.greenway.org/explore/ecg-media-gallery


Benefits of Bicycle Tourism

• TOURISM SPENDING: Analysis of 11 studies revealed bicyclist tourists’ (in-state and out-of-state) Daily expenditures averaged $136/day

• PROPERTY VALUES: Direct proximity to trails consistently increased property values between 1 and 6.5%.

• PUBLIC HEALTH: For every $1 spent on trails, there was a $2.94 savings in direct medical costs to society.

• INDIVIDUAL HEALTH: Living near a shared use path 50% more likely to exercise regularly and 73-80% more likely to exercise on bicycle regularly.

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Route Development

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Route Development Process Overview

Preliminary RoutesWorking Group mapping exercise Revised according to qualitative criteria

FINAL Conceptual Routes

Routing CriteriaDeveloped by BAC/PTN/CH2M Applied as quantitative criteria to Preliminary Routes

Regional Stakeholder FeedbackWikimap inputs Routes modified based on local knowledge

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Preliminary RoutesJuly 17th, 2017

Slides intended for discussion purposes only 12


# Ranking Criteria Metric Type Score

1 Lower speed roadways are more compatible with bicycling

55+ MPH Weak 2

35-55 MPH Moderate 4

<35 MPH Strong 8

2 Low volume roads

5,000+ vehicles/lane Weak 23,000 – 5,000 vehicles/lane Moderate 4

<3,000 vehicles/lane Strong 8

3 Avoid truck routes350+ trucks/lane Weak 2

100- 350 trucks/lane Moderate 4

<100 trucks/lane Strong 8

4 Roads with wide shoulders0 – 5’ shoulder width Weak 2

6 - 8’ shoulder width Moderate 4

>8’ shoulder width Strong 8

Composite segment score example

2

8

8

8

x5

x2.5

X2.5

X2.5

Example Composite Score = 70

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TxDOT’s Bicycle Tourism Trails Study TxDOT Planning ConferenceSlides intended for discussion purposes only

Composite segment scores applied statewide

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Preliminary and Conceptual Routes Compared

August 18th, 2017

Slides intended for discussion purposes only 15


Regional Stakeholder Engagement

BTTS is a preliminary, statewide investigation into the development of a bicycle tourism trail network in Texas

Regional stakeholders were engaged through an online input tracking tool (wikimap) to gain a better understanding of local-level bikeway infrastructure and planning efforts.

Eventual development of the BTTS would require: • thorough engagement of local jurisdictions (cities, towns, counties,

etc.) across Texas.• additional analysis of local conditions, planned infrastructure

improvements, and extensive stakeholder engagement.

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Navigation and Commenting Tools


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Wikimap Online Input Tool- Feedback

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Wikimap Online Input Tool- Written comments

Comment Type Comment Category Number Totals

Point

New bicycle destination 66

99Route not suitable for bicycle use 17

Route only for fearless cyclists 16

LineRecommended route change 27

107Significant route connection 80

58 total users from 13 regions

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Houston Example – Conceptual Routes

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Houston Example – Wikimap Feedback

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Houston Example – Route Adjustments

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Final Example Route Network

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BTTS Example Network8,318 miles

Example Network routes represent an application of the qualitative and quantitative criteria established as part of

this study. A more thorough analysis of local conditions and extensive stakeholder engagement is needed for all routes.

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BTTS Example NetworkDallas Area



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Defining route categories

Route categories roughly indicate statewide priority.


Cross-state Spines

Connecting Spurs

Regional Routes

• Routes of statewide significance which connect to other states and link major urban areas.

• Due to interstate connections, these routes may be candidates for USBRS designation.

• Routes of statewide significance which connect major urban areas, state/national parks, and other bicycle destinations.

• Provide important links between cross-state spines, with end points within state boundary.

• Routes of regional significance which connect to natural/scenic areas and frequently form loops nearby or between mid-size or smaller population centers.

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BTTS Example Network Analysis by Bikeway Type

Bikeway Accommodation Miles PercentageShared Use Path (SUP)/ Sidepath 931 12%

Buffered Bicycle Lane 90 1%

Bicycle Lane 111 1%

Wide Shoulder 3,024 36%To Be Determined

(Recommend either SUP or Shoulder Improvements)

4,162 50%

Summary of improvement status across the Example Network:• 42% of the network meets BTTS minimum bikeway design

recommendations• 58% requires construction improvements


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42% of total58% of total

BTTS Example NetworkExisting vs Future(3,518) (4,800)

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BTTS Example NetworkRecommended Bikeway Types



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BTTS Example Network Geographic Analysis

Economic Development and Tourism-related characteristics Number Percent

National Parks/Forests/Historic Sites 18 69%

State Parks/Forests/Historic Sites 110 68%

Historical Markers 6,705 62%

Texas Main Street Communities 65 75%

Small Towns (under 5,000 ppl) 540 62%Medium Cities (5,000 to 200,000 ppl) 243 75%

Large Urban Areas (over 200,000 ppl) 13 100%

Within 10 miles of BTTS Example Network

• The BTTS Example Network crosses directly through 254 small towns (under 5,000 ppl) across Texas.

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Example Network Segments Where Shared Use Path, Buffered Bicycle Lane,

or Bicycle Lane Construction is Recommended



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Example Network Segments Where Bikeway Type Needs To Be Determined (TBD) Shared Use Path or Shoulder Improvements

Recommended

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Bikeway Types and Design Criteria

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BTTS recommended bikeway types and design criteria

Shared use path/Sidepath

Buffered bike lane

Bike lane

Wide outside shoulder

All proposed design recommendations meet or exceed the current TxDOT’s Roadway Design Manual, AASHTO’s Guide for the Development of Bicycle Facilities and the Texas MUTCD.

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Accomplishments and Next Steps

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TxDOT’s Bicycle Tourism Trails Study

Accomplishments:

Established a methodology to form a bicycle tourism network

Identified recommended bikeway designs for all-ages-and-abilities

Estimated construction and maintenance costs (continuously under development)

Created excitement about bicycle tourism and long-distance bicycle infrastructure

Initiated dialogue about bicycle tourism within TxDOT and between state agencies

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Bicycle tourism next steps

Next Steps:

• Incorporate aspects of Bicycle Tourism Trails Study into TxDOT’s Texas Transportation Plan 2045.

• Consider inclusion of BTTS Example Route Network on TxDOT’s Statewide Planning Map.

• Establish pilot project selection process


• Identify funding opportunities

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Thank you!

Public Transportation (PTN)Teri KaplanBonnie Sherman

TxDOT’sBicycle Advisory

Committee

Carl SeifertTransportation [email protected]

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txdot’s bicycle tourism trails study

Documents