Title
Receive a report on the Active Transportation Plan and upcoming public engagement activities.
Body
BACKGROUND:
Active transportation typically refers to a means of getting around that is human-powered, not vehicular. To address some of the oversites regarding pedestrian and cycling infrastructure, the City adopted a Trail Master Plan in 2015. The City has used the adopted plan as a basis to design and construct pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure improvements. Since adopting the plan, staff has found that locations for trails, 12' wide, multiuse pathways, are very limited in the Farmers Branch. Many of the projects listed in the 2015 Trails Master Plan called for widening existing sidewalks versus new sidewalks. Because much of the existing sidewalk does not need to be repaired, removing and replacing the existing infrastructure with a slightly wider sidewalk made little sense. Another focus area was an assessment of approximately 15 of the major intersections in the central portion of Farmers Branch, which was completed by Kimley Horn in 2020. The focus was on the intersections, not as a part of a larger mobility project. In addition, new residential and commercial developments, especially on the west side of Farmers Branch, have been constructed or are nearing completion. These new developments are changing some of the pedestrian and cycling demands and possible destinations for residents and visitors of Farmers Branch regarding walking and cycling around the City. Other challenges for pedestrians are safely crossing or feeling safe when crossing large arterial roads such as Midway Road, Marsh Lane, Josey Lane, and Valley View Lane. These types of connections are critical to good active transportation infrastructure. Therefore, the staff proposes creating an Active Transportation Plan as an update to the Trail Master Plan with an expanded scope focusing on pedestrian mobility.
On June 6, 2023, the City Council approved a contract with Kimley Horn to...
Click here for full text