April 29, 2024 www.cityofpaloalto.org/bikepedplan
Bicycle and Pedestrian
Transportation Plan
Update
City Council
Ozzy Arce (he/él)
Senior Transportation Planner
[email protected]
Amanda Leahy (she/her)
Kittelson & Associates, Consultant
[email protected]
Philip Kamhi
Chief Transportation Official
[email protected]
Sylvia Star-Lack
Transportation Planning Manager
[email protected]
Meeting Purpose & Agenda
Agenda
• Overview of Analysis Findings
• Community Engagement Summary
• Draft Vision & Objectives
• Next Steps
Purpose: Share project overview, summary of
engagement activities, and analysis. Present
draft vision and objectives. Hear your feedback.
3 4
Project Overview & Timeline
Introduction & Visioning: introduced project effort & early visioning July ‘23 – Jan ‘24
Needs & Concerns: Existing conditions analysis, draft vision, objectives, and performance measures
Nov ‘23 – Jul ‘24
Recommendations: Develop network & corridor criteria and Plan recommendations
Jun ‘24 – Oct ‘24
Plan Development & Adoption: Develop draft & final Plan Update; Present to the City Council for Summer 2025 adoption
Nov ’24 – Jun ‘25
Technical Analysis
www.cityofpaloalto.org/bikepedplan
Baseline Conditions - Analysis Topics
indicates task completed and presented in Phase #2
indicates task completed and presented in Phase #1
6 Bicycle Level of Traffic Stress
7 Bicycle Level of Traffic Stress
Decreasing Level of Comfort In Bicyclists
LTS 1
LTS 2
LTS 3
LTS 4
Bryant Street
at Lowell Avenue
Los Robles Avenue
at La Donna Avenue
Loma Verde Avenue
at Middlefield Road
San Antonio Road
at Middlefield Road
8 Bicycle Level of Traffic Stress
◼ Highest stress roadway segments located on
◼ El Camino Real
◼ Alma Street
◼ Oregon Expressway
◼ San Antonio Road
◼ Foothill Expressway
◼ Low stress (LTS 1 and LTS 2) streets make up
68% of street miles in Palo Alto
◼ High stress segments and intersections
create barriers
9 Major Barriers – Analysis Locations
Transit Station Areas
Freeways, Rail, Creeks
10 Major Barriers – Analysis Example
• US 101 Barriers Evaluation
• Lack of crossing opportunities
• Results in ~4x increase in travel distance
• Most significant gap between the walking
and biking bridges
• Limited access to Adobe Creek Loop Trail
11 Ten-Year (2012-2022) Collision History
33 33
37 22
31 25
40 30
10 19
6 1
4 3
1 4 3 3
5 2 2 2
0 5
10 15
20 25
30 35
40 45
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Pedestrian Collisions
Total Fatal and Severe Injury
94 98
92 104
69 78
92 73
40 41
16 7 4 2 2 4 5 2 4 7
2 1
0 20
40 60
80 100
120
2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Bicycle Collisions
Total Fatal and Severe Injury
General decrease in the number of pedestrian- and bicycle-involved collisions over the ten-year period from 2012-2022
12 Five-Year (2018-2022) Collision History
Parties
Involved
Fatal Severe
Injury
Moderate
Injury
Minor
Injury
Reported
T otal
Pedestrian 3 (2.9%) 9 (8.7%) 49 (47.1%) 43 (41.3%) 104
Bicyclist 1 (0.4%) 12 (4.7%) 175 (68.1%) 69 (26.8%) 257 Source : TIMS data from January 1, 2018, through December 31, 2022 13 Pedestrian Collisions, 2018-2022
0 5
10 15
20 25
30 35
40 45
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Fatal injury Severe injury Moderate Injury Minor Injury Number and Severity
of Collisions by Year
Age and Gender of
Pedestrian Involved in
Collisions
14 • Around 29% (30 collisions)
of the injury pedestrian
collisions
• Almost half (6 collisions) of
the fatal and severe injury
pedestrian collisions
occurred at night.
Bicycle Collisions, 2018-2022
0 20
40 60
80 100
2018 2019 2020 2021 2022
Fatal injury Severe injury Moderate Injury Minor Injury Number and Severity
of Collisions by YearAge and Gender of
Pedestrian Involved in
Collisions
15 • The most frequent type of
bicycle collision: broadside
collisions, constituting 61%
(156 collisions)
High Injury Network, 2018-2022
Rank Roadway Name From To Number of
Collisions
Killed
and
Severely
Injured
Bicyclist-Involved Collisions
1 Wilton Ave Park Blvd El Camino Real 2 2
2 W Meadow Dr Alma St El Camino Way 6 1
3 Alma St Meadow Dr El Verano Ave 2 1
4 Gailen Ave Bibbits Dr Grove Ave 1 1
5 Quarry Rd El Camino Real Welch Rd 1 1
Pedestrian-Involved Collisions
1 High St Lytton Ave Channing Ave 6 1
2 Quarry Rd El Camino Real Vineyard Lane 3 1
3 El Dorado Ave Alma St Cowper St 1 1
4 South Ct Oregon Expy Matadero Creek 1 1
5 Hamilton Ave Alma St Guinda St 6 1
16 Top 5 Street Segments
Walking Activity
0 2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000Number of Trips
56%
21%
18%
4%0% Under
0.5mi
0.5-1mi
1-2mi
2-4mi
Over 4mi
4.6%
30.8%
9.4%
9.0%
3.2%
4.1%
13.6%
School
Shop
Work
Eat
Recreation
Social
Other
Walk Trip Purpose
Walk Trip Time of Day
Walk Trip Distance
17 Biking Activity
17.0%
11.3%
7.9%
7.0%
3.2%
4.1%
9.8%
School
Shop
Work
Eat
Recreation
Social
Other
Bike Trip Purpose
0 2000
4000
6000
8000
10000
12000
14000Number of Trips
Bike Trip Time of Day
12%
18%
26%
23%
15%
5% Under
0.5mi
0.5-1mi
1-2mi
2-4mi
4-8mi
Bike Trip Distance
18 www.cityofpaloalto.org/bikepedplan
Community Engagement
Phase 1 Engagement Summary
Visioning Workshop
Interactive Map
Bike Palo Alto
Committee & Working
Group Meetings
City Council
Pedestrian and Bicycle
Advisory Committee
City School Transportation
Safety Committee
Planning and
Transportation
Parks and Recreation
Rail
Interagency Staff Working
Group
20 Phase 2 Engagement Summary
Bike Network Development
Workshop
Community Walk &
Bike Tours
Earth Day
Committee & Working
Group Meetings
City Council
Pedestrian and Bicycle
Advisory Committee
City School Transportation
Safety Committee
Planning and
Transportation
Parks and Recreation
Interagency Staff Working
Group
21 www.cityofpaloalto.org/bikepedplan
Vision, Objectives, & Performance Measures
Revised Draft Vision Statement
We envision a city where sustainable, safe, efficient, equitable, and enjoyable transportation thrives. Together, we will create a comfortable and connected street and trail network that supports walking, biking, and rolling for people of all ages and abilities. We continue to be a leader in safe routes to school and invest more in active transportation infrastructure, education, and encouragement programs.
23 Draft Objectives
• Safe and Inclusive: Prioritizing safety for all road users and ensuring equitable access to pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure across the community. • Connected and Accessible: Featuring a convenient and interconnected network of sidewalks, bike lanes, and trails that provide efficient travel options and easy access to transit.
• Comfortable and Enjoyable: Enhancing the comfort and enjoyment of walking and cycling through amenities such as shade, greenery, and well -designed streetscapes.
• Community-Driven: Fostering community engagement and participation in promoting active transportation, supported by education, programming, and infrastructure investments.
• Integrated and Collaborative: Collaborating with neighboring cities to create a seamless and integrated regional network of pedestrian and bicycle infrastructure. 24
Draft Performance Measures
• Reduce Emissions
• Expand Walk & Bike Network
• Safe and Complete Streets
• Planning and Policy
• Education and Encouragement
• Community, Equity, and
Advocacy
25 www.cityofpaloalto.org/bikepedplan
Next Steps
Next Steps
• Incorporate comments on draft analysis
• Develop prioritization framework
• Identify project, policy, and program recommendations • Prepare for phase 3 engagement activities in Fall 202 • City Council to review draft recommendations in
Fall/Winter 2024
27 Recommended Action
• Review, discuss, and provide feedback on:
• Draft Vision Statement
• Objectives
• Performance Measures
• Existing Conditions Analysis
28 Ozzy Arce (he/él)
Senior Transportation Planner
[email protected]
Amanda Leahy (she/her)
Kittelson & Associates, Consultant
[email protected]
Philip Kamhi
Chief Transportation Official
[email protected]
Sylvia Star-Lack
Transportation Planning Manager
[email protected]
30 Bicycle and Pedestrian Transportation Plan Update -&- Safe Streets For All Action Plan
Similarities
• Multi-year mobility-focused planning
efforts
• Shared vision of enhancing safety and
accessibility for road users
• Focus on vulnerable road users
(pedestrians, bicyclists, youth, older
adults)
• Presentations to this committee over
the next two years, seeking input and
review of interim deliverables
Differences
• BPTP Update will develop
recommendations to increase
active and sustainable
transportation.
• SS4A Action Plan will develop
recommendations to proactively
implement safety measures that
eliminate traffic deaths and injuries
for people driving, biking, and
walking. Include an equity analysis.