Browsing by Author "Athey, Lorene"
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Item Sidewalks and Shared-Use Paths: Improving Mobility and Designing Transit-Ready Communities(2009-02-03T14:30:28Z) O'Donnell, Edward; Athey, Lorene; Skolnick, GiladThis report consists of summaries of the presentations given at the February 21, 2008, forum: Sidewalks and Shared-Use Paths: Improving Mobility and Designing Transit Ready Communities, held at the Clayton Hall conference center on the University of Delaware’s Newark campus. This project is the continuation of a multi-stage process that involved evaluating techniques to improve compliance with the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), to better design and engineer trail infrastructure and pedestrian facilities to meet ADA mandates, and to encourage land-use patterns/development practices that integrate transit with the planning and design of transportation facilities.Item Sidewalks and Shared-Use Paths: Safety, Security, and Maintenance(2008-06-18T14:24:06Z) O'Donnell, Edward; Knab, Andrew; Athey, LorenePart I of this report examines the issue of security by analyzing common security incidents on trail or sidewalk facilities, problems with perceptions of security among users and the public, and vandalism-related facilities. As two interviewees noted, there is no way to ensure total security on trail facilities, but governments and agencies can enhance security (Bustos; G. Smith). Secure facilities are those that reduce the risk of security incidents and the fear of potential incidents through educational efforts directed at users, design, and management policies that increase the number of users on the facility and provide adequate visibility. The issue of safety is explored through several different viewpoints in this report. Safe sidewalks and shared-use paths are designed and managed to reduce the risk of injury to pedestrians and other users of the facility. This means safe facilities are constructed and maintained to provide a safe environment for all ages and skill levels. Part II of this report, the safety section, examines common problems plaguing the current sidewalk and shared-use path system: facilities that are not compliant with the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 and are difficult for older and disabled individuals to travel on; design flaws or policies (or lack thereof) that increase the chances of user conflicts (i.e., bicycle-on-bicycle collisions or bicycle and pedestrian collisions); and conflicts between vehicles and pedestrians. The issue of maintenance is related to both the security and safety of facilities. Maintained facilities are in good repair, accessible, and regularly inspected. Part III of the paper explores routine maintenance tasks and the use of volunteers and equipment and also specifically addresses the problem of snow removal on sidewalks and shared-use paths. Additional attention is given to the problem of sidewalk repairs and long-term maintenance needs. Unsurprisingly, both the interviews and literature review revealed that the higher the quality of initial design and construction, the less maintenance the facility will require.Item Transit-Oriented Design: Illustration of TOD Characteristics(2008-03-14T14:59:49Z) DeCoursey, William J.; Athey, LoreneThe recent interest in Transit-Oriented Design (TOD) in Delaware goes back to the mid-1990s when a study was commissioned by the Delaware Department of Transportation (DelDOT), in coordination with New Castle County, to review the literature and make recommendations for TOD in Delaware. That report, Transit Overlay Districts and Transit Friendly Design Standards for New Castle County, was completed in 1997. Since that time, the national research has continued, especially relating to effectiveness measures and successful implementation of TODs. Additionally, much progress has been made in Delaware, and conditions have changed since the 1997 study was completed. Some recommendations have been implemented. Although the transit system remains predominantly fixed-route bus, commuter rail has been instituted in New Castle County, with long-range plans to extend the rail service west into Maryland, and south to Middletown, Dover and eventually Sussex County. Over the past several years, the Institute for Public Administration at the University of Delaware has conducted a number of studies for DelDOT and New Castle County related to transportation and land use issues, including Mobility Friendly Standards: A Framework for Delaware (2004), Interconnectivity (2006), and Sidewalks and Shared-Used Trails: Safety, Security, and Maintenance (2007). This project follows previous efforts and updates the 1997 study. Part 1 defines what TOD is and why it is useful. Part 2 reviews the plethora of current research and recommendations related to the design of transit-oriented developments. Part 3 focuses on lessons learned from existing TODs and best practices for successful implementation. Part 4 describes visits to four nearby TODs with local community leaders and agency staff, including their recommendations. All the recommendations from the literature and visits are summarized in Part 5.