1. Action 2020 Workshop September 21, 2012 Harrisonburg, VA Sponsored by the Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Coalition and the Harrisonburg-Rockingham MPO

2. A Local Perspective What can we do to create a bicycle-friendly community that we can all love?

3. Location: The heart of the historic and scenic Shenandoah Valley in west-central Virginia. Localities: City of Harrisonburg County of Rockingham 7 Towns Bridgewater Broadway Dayton Elkton Grottoes Mt. Crawford Timberville Population: 127,354 Rockingham – Harrisonburg Region

4. Economy Agriculture - # 1 Manufacturing Higher Ed and Health Care Higher Education: Bridgewater College James Madison University Eastern Mennonite Universit y Transportation Network I-81 Rt. 11 (Historic) Skyline Drive Public Transportation – Harrisonburg Transit Horse-drawn buggy Aviation (Shenandoah Valley Airport) Freight Rail Biking and hiking trails, Sidewalks, etc. Rockingham – Harrisonburg Region

5. Bicycle Planning Fail to plan, plan to fail. Central Shenandoah Valley Bicycle Plan – 2005 Harrisonburg Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan - 2010 HR MPO-wide Bike-Ped Plan - currently underway Rockingham Bicycle Advisory Committee Work Plan - 2012 Public workshop in January

6. Initiated by “Citizens for Safe Cycling” Region-wide; covered 5 cities and 5 counties Made recommendations for infrastructure improvements, bike/ped programs and identified on-road routes throughout the district Broad in scope - laid the groundwork for more local and detailed plans to take place Completed in 2005 Adopted at the same time as the State-wide bike/ped policy Regional Bicycle Plan VDOT Rural Transportation Grant Program matched with local government contributions.

7. Adopted first Bicycle Plan in 1994; updated in 1999 and 2005 Adopted first Pedestrian Plan in 1995 Bicycle & Pedestrian Plan updated and adopted in July 2010 Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan available on City website City of Harrisonburg Bicycle Plan City Funds

8. Bike/Ped Plan for the MPO region : City of Harrisonburg Portions of the County Towns of Mt. Crawford, Bridgewater and Dayton Goals Identify existing bicycle and pedestrian infrastructure Identify opportunities for future bike/ped projects and programs Mapping and preliminary design Project prioritization Cost Estimates Coordination with City and RBAC Time frame: approximately 1 year HR-MPO funds (Federal, state and local) HR MPO Bicycle/Pedestrian Plan

9. Bicycle Facilities Dedicated Bike Lanes Today’s Total: 10.3 miles By 2015 total: 14+ miles Share Lane Markings “Sharrows” Today’s Total: 4.05 miles By 2015: 9+ miles City Funds

10. Shared Use Path: Today’s Total: 2 miles By 2015 Total: 6.05+ miles Sidewalks: Today: ~ 62.41 miles (2.41 new miles in past 3 years) By 2015 Total: 64.7+ miles Bike/Ped Facilities City Funds

11. Bike Racks: Public & private locations K-12 schools, universities, downtown businesses, apartment complexes, etc. City parking requirement for new development All City buses equipped with bike racks Bicycle Facilities City Funds; SVBC Bike Rack matching program; Safe Routes to School program.

12. Bicycle Facilities Share the Road Signage Wider Shoulders Paved Shoulders Striping Sharrows VDOT

13. SRTS is a federally-funded program, administered through VDOT, that is designed to encourage students to walk or bike to school. K- 8 th grade The 5 E’s Engineering (and infrastructure) Enforcement Education Encouragement Evaluation SRTS Projects: Mt. View Elementary Plains Elementary (Timberville) Waterman Elementary Keister Elementary Safe Routes to School SRTS (100% funding; no match)

14. Public Transportation Public transit must be integrated with bicycle and pedestrian network Operated by Harrisonburg Department of Public Transportation (HDPT) In 2011: carried over 2 million passengers Ridership is expected to increase approx. 10% per year All City transit buses are equipped with bike racks HDPT & City Public Works coordinate installation of bus shelters, benches, etc. with new road and sidewalk construction. Public Transit City; DRPT

15. Multi- use Trails Bluestone Trail Northend Greenway Community Parks National Forest Trails Multi-Use Trails

16. Bluestone Trail Multi-use Trails Proposed 3-mile multi-use trail in design stage 10-ft wide, off street, obstacle free route for transportation and recreation Ideal for walkers, runners, bike riders, and children Provides greater connectivity between neighborhoods, parks, and other destinations

17. Northend Greenway Effort being led by New Community Project, local non-profit group Proposed 2.5 mile shared use path Connects Park View to Downtown Design stage Multi-use Trails

18. IMBA Ride Center Events National Forest Trails Massanutten Trails Mountain Biking Virginia Department of Conservation and Recreation, SVBC

19. Developed as a result of Region-wide Plan that was completed in 2005 www.bikethevalley.org Over 40 bicycle routes Printable maps Turn-by-turn directions Elevations Scenic descriptions Bicycle events, festivals and organized rides and races Resources and Links to Bike Clubs Safety tips for cyclists and motorists Share the Road Guides Bike Like Ike Rules of the Road Bike the Valley

20. Bike Like Ike A campaign geared for college-age kids Bus Advertisements Campus fliers Bike the Valley website Bicycle Safety and Education

21. Rules of the Road Bicycle Safety Booklets distributed to: High school students enrolled in Drivers Ed classes Bicycle Safety Clinics and Events Boy Scout Troops Bicycle Safety and Education VDOT, DMV, Bike Walk Virginia

22. Bicycle Rodeos Walk-Smart, Bike Smart Campaign Helmet Giveaways Police Departments Safe Kids Central Shenandoah Valley Schools Other: Radio and print advertisements and public service announcements Bicycle Safety and Education

23. Benefits of Bicycling: Recreational Affordable Eco-friendly Family-Friendly Educational Healthy Alternative Transportation Marketing the Shenandoah Valley as a Bicycle Destination Rack Cards Welcome Centers Visitor Centers Canada Tourism Bike the Valley website Bicycle Tourism Virginia Tourism Corporation and Harrisonburg Tourism, Bike Clubs

24. Annual Events April – Massanutten Yee Ha! May – DR 100 May – Bike to Work June – Massanutten Super D June – Massanutten Hoo-Ha! July – Tour de Burg July – Shenandoah Valley Bike Festival Sept – Shenandoah Mountain 100 Sept – Shenandoah Valley Century Sept – Jeremiah Bishop Grand Fondo Oct – Shenandoah Mountain Bike Festival Annual Bike Virginia Tour Bicycle Events

25. Funding Opportunities Federal FHWA HUD (Community Development Block Grant) NPS State VDOT - Transportation Enhancement VDOT - Safe Routes to School VDOT – Safety Improvement Projects VDOT – Road and maintenance funds DCR – Recreational Trails Program DCR – Land and Water Conservation Fund DMV – Safety Programs (Helmet) Local MPO (for planning) City, County, Town capital improvement funds Private donations Fundraisers – bike events, organized rides, etc.

26. What can we do to create a bicycle-friendly community that we can all love?