SHIFTING OUT OF GEAR IN FRIDLEY: MOVING PEOPLE 2013 Improving safety and ability to access essential goods & services and jobs & schools by non-auto transit users Welcome!

Friendly Fridley: Inner ring northern suburb of Mpls. Borders Minneapolis, New Brighton, Columbia Heights, Coon Rapids, Mounds View and Spring Lake Park Constructed like a suburb: no sidewalks in residential areas; smaller homes and lots, completely built out. Foreclosures and high senior citizen population; tight city budgets

City of Fridley Demographics 2010 Census Households with no car or 1 car: 80% of the city. City of Fridley’s known rental % is roughly double that of Anoka Cty.

Median Household Income and Mobility challenged workforce locations

F RIDLEY : STEADY INCREASE IN NON - AUTOMOBILE TRANSIT USE Numbers of non-automobile commuters in Fridley from increasing and the rate is faster than Anoka County

People in Fridley are moving through spaces and corridors not designed with them in mind to get to jobs and essential services

Existing conditions Lack of consistency in trail conditions Bike routes/lanes needed field work Sidewalks absent or narrow, who shovels them? Where trails or walks exist, gaps in connectivity

Crossings on University and Hwy. 65 plus specific intersections Mississippi and Gardena Avenue identified as areas needing improvement for Bike/Peds by Consulting Firm SRF in 2011

Bus stops are largely unpaved. Asphalt or concrete pads or paved shoulders usually not connected to walks. Lack of hard surfaces or access at many bus stops Bus shelters often not available on high volume roadways Bus stops, shelters, benches inadequately cleared in winter. Safety Issue: Placement and Access to Bus Stops

Mississippi at University after a snowfall 3/13

Safety for Crossing Major Streets: All seasons a) Light timing/advanced pedestrian crossing. Exists in some locations, long enough? b) Traffic speed on University Ave., Hwy. 65 c) Placement and access to bus stops d) Maintenance of paths, walks, shelters e) What is being plowed, by whom and how?

Safety and Economic Development along University Ave. (example). More people and more density along University likely, traffic moves fast. Meets 30 mph criteria and is accessible to grocery and pharmacy but is also close to 94 and commuters use University Ave.

SENIORS Census and Met Council: senior population in the Twin Cities will double between 2010 and In region 2010 senior citizens were 11 % of population: in Fridley 65+ seniors are 14 % of the population, or 20.8% of Householders Seniors living alone or with a spouse create a need for modified housing and walkability adjacent to that housing. Upcoming, boomers want to “age in place” rather than move to a retirement community.

Seniors Speak: Questions: Where do you walk? Can you walk or bike to the grocery store or pharmacy from your house? What would make it easier to walk in your neighborhood? Do you belong to a walking club or walk with a friend? Answers: There is a walking club that goes to mall in Blaine in winter. Don’t walk because there are no sidewalks. I used to bike but don’t anymore.

Pedestrian and Bicycling Study: Next— Prioritizing action steps toward Spring completion of Active Transportation Plan

Making pedestrian/bicycling investments coincident with transit upgrades Added bike racks in parks and city hall Adding 600 feet of trail on the east side of East River Road south Safe Routes to school added bike lockers, count-down time and more. Better communication with schools. Adding approximately 2000’ of trail/walk on the west side of Main Street between 57 th St. and 61 st St. NE

Need more MnDOT, County-approved solutions to move bicyclists and pedestrians (young and old) from sidewalks and bike lanes to shared paths across busy intersections. Also more timing discussions on how long it takes mobility- challenged people to cross vs. autos waiting. Ped crossing 61 st, 9/11/12

New Active Transportation Volunteer Committee Projects School and access to essential services Walking Audits-1 elementary school, 4/13 Walking School bus with seniors in 2014? Round two of intersection screen crossings by bikes and peds accomplished by volunteers Share the Road crossings with loaner banners from MnDOT for summer parade (yes!), fall school starts Photos, bike routes evaluated for new map, July 1 15 minute walking destinations for essential services and video of conditions.

Share the Road banners and bike/ped group with 3 and 4 wheeled bikes in parade, other gatherings to raise profile.

Biking Action Steps for Active Living Plan Find funding for bike helmets for seniors. Obtain grants for test bikes for seniors. Expand bike rack program (consider code changes to make it a requirement for business, industry, employers after survey indicates few have them). Complete bike map, hard copies and on-line version. Connect bike routes with those in neighboring communities Identify preferred bike transit street modifications-parking on one side only or wider shared trail/sidewalks, budget for changes

Active Transportation and Multi-Modal Initiatives a.Fridley participated in MnDOT Bike/Ped Counts in Sept and April 2013 b.Second SHIP grant led to Active Transportation Plans c.Round one of bike racks installed in parks and Municipal Center installed in 2012 d.Active Transportation volunteer committee established e.TE Grant for Ped/bike crossing over 694 at Main Street in 2014 and last piece connecting trail f.TLC Grant for Bike Lane/Trail on Main St. from 61 st to 57 th being installed in 2013 with future pedestrian bridge over 694 in

Improve the pedestrian environment Security, lighting, visibility Clean out litter from bus stops. Winter shoveling? Protect people from traffic (slow it down on University?) Guide building orientation toward the street Improve trail/walk access to essential services for elderly, handicapped, youth and for exercise Use street trees, landscaping, open spaces to increase residential character of major thoroughfares Safety with Density: Design and Development & Maintenance

Moving through the process Building relationships and engaging the public Assessing existing conditions, data collection, ideas and evaluation Writing an Active Living, Active Transportation plan; creating new non-auto transit map with hazards and suggested routes called out Creating policy language Building political capital and support for road, walk and trail changes; raising profile of issues Implementing changes through city code and budget; finding funding to do so!

Prioritizing design elements and public works projects that increase city walking and biking options Offering people safer, affordable and convenient travel choices Groups interacting w/planners, council to move toward Complete Streets