AGENDA #7e

 

BUDGET WORKING PAPER

 

TO:                  W. Calvin Horton, Town Manager

 

FROM:            Roger Waldon, Planning Director

 

SUBJECT:       Consideration of Additional Staff Member in Planning to Work on Sidewalk/Pedestrian Issues and Transportation Planning Issues

 

DATE:             April 2, 2003

 

 

This paper responds to advisory board requests to the Council for staff work related to bicycle/pedestrian and transportation planning issues.

 

BACKGROUND

 

At the February 12, 2003, Town Council Budget Work Session with the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, the Board requested the Council allocate funds for a staff person with more time designated to work on bicycle and pedestrian issues, to pursue grants, and to devote more time to educational and promotional activities (see Attachment 1). 

 

As part of the Transportation Board’s Budget Work Session on the same day, the Transportation Board requested additional staff time for transportation planning (see Attachment 2). 

 

STAFFING RESOURCES AND ACTIVITIES

 

The Planning Department currently has staff devoted to bicycle and pedestrian planning, as well as general transportation planning in the Long Range Planning Division of the Department.  One long range planner position is devoted for approximately 20 to 25 percent of its time to bicycle and pedestrian planning issues; one senior transportation planner position and two part-time interns are 100 percent devoted to transportation planning.  The interns generally work part-time (8-10 hours per week) during the school year, and full time during the summer.  Currently, one of the two interns is temporarily working full-time from February to May, 2003.

 

The tables below illustrate current activities in these two areas of Bicycle/Pedestrian Planning and Transportation Planning.  In addition, the tables illustrate planned or scheduled activities anticipated in the future.  The Council recently adopted goals for the 2003 calendar year based on its review of the 2000 Comprehensive Plan Action Plan, and established priorities for implementing projects.  These projects are indicated in bold.  Where the Council has adopted a schedule for initiating work for these items, dates are indicated.

 

The two advisory boards have also requested additional staff time in key areas, such as publicity/public education.  These areas are indicated with an (*) on the tables. 

 

 

Bicycle and Pedestrian Planning

Current Activities

Planned/Requested Activities

Provide staff support to Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board, including:

·        development review of projects;

·        preparation of Board packets;

·        coordination and minutes of Board meetings; and

·        assistance in preparation of petitions and requests to Council

 

 

 

 

 

Assist with Active Living by Design Grant proposal.

Continue support to Board.

 

Work on special projects requested in petitions to Council (*); examples include studies for intersection, crosswalk, and median improvements.

 

Enhanced Bicycle and pedestrian education and promotion activities (*); examples include work on International Walk to School Day, Bike to Work Week, bicycle safety in schools, driver education related to bicycles campaign.

 

Grant research and writing (*).

Coordinate annual sidewalk planning and project implementation.

Continue sidewalk project coordination.

 

Increased administrative tasks related to administration of federal Direct Allocation funds anticipated.

 

Implement Comprehensive Plan Bicycle/Pedestrian Goals (Highest Priority):

 

Adopt pedestrian/ bicycle operating performance measures, to start in third quarter 2003, and complete by third quarter, 2004.

 

Develop Bicycle/ Pedestrian Improvement Action Plan, to start in third quarter 2003, with target completion date of third quarter, 2004.

 

 

Transportation Planning

Current Activities

Planned/Requested Activities

Local Activities

Provide staff support to Transportation Board and Planning Board.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Implement Transportation Management Program (TMP), maintain TMP database.

 

 

 

Completed initial Mobility Report Card.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Developed Active Living by Design preliminary proposal.

Continue staff support to Transportation Board and Planning Board.

 

Work on special projects requested in petitions to Council (*); examples include studies on sidewalk maintenance, intersection improvements, and increased transit services.

 

Develop revised Transportation Demand Management Program (Third Priority):  Evaluate current program by 9/30/03.  Begin work in 2005 on new program (*).

 

Update Mobility Report Card, anticipated in 2005.

 

Parking Study (Highest Priority):  hire consultant to look at parking practices and policies, in second quarter 2003, for possible public hearing in October, 2003.

 

Evaluate the feasibility of a downtown transit transfer center (Third Priority); scheduled for 2004.

 

Submit detailed proposal by May 21, 2003.

Regional Activities

Provide staff support to regional planning process, including Transportation Advisory Committee, and staff technical committee.

 

Complete 2025 Plan.

Secure additional funds for bicycle, pedestrian, and greenway projects.

 

 

Start development of 2030 transportation plan.

 

Upgrade regional transportation model.

 

Implement new air quality standards.

 

 

Transit Activities

Current Activities

Planned/Requested Activities

Provide staff support to Major Investment Study (MIS) for NC 54/I-40.

 

Provide staff support to US 15-501 Fixed Guideway Study.

 

Complete Short-range Transit Plan.

 

Assist with development of transit Memorandum of Understanding (MOU).

 

Coordination with Triangle Transit Authority (TTA) on regional trip center.

Provide staff support to next phase of NC 54/I-40 MIS.

 

Provide staff support to next phase of US 15-501 Fixed Guideway Study.

 

Maintain and update short-range transit plan.

 

Participate on regional level in coordinated planning with Carrboro and UNC.

 

Maintain and update transit data base for regional trip center.

 

POTENTIAL ADDITIONAL STAFF RESOURCES

 

As the above-listed planned activities are implemented with existing staff resources, we anticipate that resources would be allocated as much as possible to the implementation of the adopted 2003 Council goals, while continuing basic required functions.  If additional staff resources were available, staff time could be made more readily available to work on special projects and requests of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board and the Transportation Board.  Enhanced levels of public education and promotional activities desired by the Boards could only be done with additional staff resources.

 

Options for additional resources range from part-time additional contract help to funding a full-time permanent position that is split between bicycle/pedestrian issues and transportation planning/transit issues.  We estimate a full-time position would cost approximately $50,000 per year. 

 

OTHER RESOURCES

 

The Durham-Chapel Hill-Carrboro Metropolitan Planning Organization is currently considering adding a regionally funded bicycle/pedestrian planner to work on regional projects.  At this time, we do not anticipate that the duties of a regionally funded bicycle/pedestrian planner working at the MPO level would include implementing locally identified bicycle/pedestrian programs.

 

Recently, the Town was notified that it is a finalist for Active Living by Design grant funds.  This program could make available up to $200,000 over three years for bicycle and pedestrian planning related to promoting healthy living lifestyles and land use patterns.  It is our understanding that if the Town’s application for funds from the Active Living by Design program is approved, those funds cannot be applied to ongoing staff salaries and benefits.  At the same time, the administration of a grant program at that level of funding will require substantially more staff time of already limited staff resources.  If the Council wishes to provide additional staff resources for bicycle/pedestrian and transportation planning issues, those additional resources would help us do a better job of implementing this pending grant program.

 

CONCLUSION

 

The existing staff resources devoted to bicycle/pedestrian and transportation planning issues amount to about 1.25 positions currently, plus two transportation planning interns who work part-time during the school year, and full-time during the summers.

 

With the adoption recently of the 2003 Council Goals, the Council has given its highest priority to implementation of bicycle/pedestrian goals and to the implementation of a parking study.  Other third-priority Goals include revising the Town’s Transportation Management Plan and investigating the feasibility of a Downtown transit transfer center.  Completing these priority Council mandates with existing resources will be a challenge given the other ongoing work of these positions; the Council mandates will receive the highest priority in work allocation.

 

With additional staff resources, the staff would be able to devote more time to staffing of the advisory boards, responding to the requests of the two advisory boards, and undertaking more educational and promotional activities than the basic level currently done.  In addition, if the Town receives an Active Living by Design grant, more staff resources will be required to administer this program.

 

ATTACHMENTS

 

1.  Budget Request, Bicycle and Pedestrian Advisory Board from 2/12/03 (p. 6).

2.  Budget Request, Transportation Board from 2/12/03 (p. 7).