Section 6: Pedestrian Infrastructure Improvement Project Priorities

What needs to be done to establish the core pedestrian infrastructure network identified in Section 5? A few of the City CNS on core connective routes are in good condition due to recent construction and replacement. Most core network sidewalks, however, have gaps, need to be completed, or are in disrepair. In order to address these needs the Pedestrian Safety Board has assembled a list of projects based on multiple sources of input which include: the Greater Morgantown Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO), Morgantown Public Works and Traffic Commission records, recommendations from neighborhood associations and City Council members, and the work of the Pedestrian Safety Board.

Like many other cities, the City of Morgantown has limited resources to address these needs. The list of 147 projects has been evaluated utilizing a rating system (below) based on a system established by the City of Bloomington, Indiana, and modified by Kane County in Illinois.

Table 1: Pedestrian Project Impact Scoring Rubric

Prioritization Category	Category Detail	Range	Point Value
Safety Characteristics (12 points max)	Traffic Speed	≥ 45 mph	3
		30-40 mph	2
		≤ 25 mph	1
	Lanes	5	3
		3-4	2
		2	1
	Traffic Volume	> 15,000 ADT	3
		9000 >15,000 ADT	2
		≤ 9000 ADT	1
	Street Classification	Primary arterial	3
		Secondary arterial	2
		Collector	1
*Pedestrian Usage* (12 points max)	Proximity Attractor	< 1/3 mile	3 per attractor
		1/3 to 2/3 mile	2 per attractor
		2/3 to 1 mile	1 per attractor
*Project Feasibility* (10 points max)	Intuitive point assignment based on field observations of political “doability” and cost		10
*Potential Pedestrian Volume* (10 points max)	Intuitive point assignment of actual or potential pedestrian volume		10
*Additional Factors* (9 points max)	Located near or along a bus route		3
	No sidewalk on either side of street or high safety hazard		6

*adapted from Kane County (IL) Bicycle and Pedestrian Plan, p. 66

With this scoring system higher total point values represent a higher priority for pedestrian infrastructure projects.

Rating of Recommended Pedestrian Infrastructure Projects and Priorities

A list of pedestrian infrastructure projects may be found on following pages in this section. Each project is given a designation of which entity, or combination of entities, is responsible for the road/project in the “R” column, with possibilities of: “C” – City; “S” – State, “U” – West Virginia University.

The total points assigned to each project was used to create a relative ranking to other projects in a specific neighborhood (“Hood “) area. It was also used to rank projects relative to the overall project list (“City”), with the exception of projects on the campus of WVU.. The plotting of each project on a neighborhood map follows the overall project list.

Table 2: Pedestrian infrastructure project impact scoring and rankings

#	R	Project	Traffic Speed	# of lanes	Traffic Volume	Street Classification	Proximity Attractor	Feasibility (polit. Doable, cost)	Pedestrian Volume	Transit Route	No sidewalk/high safety hazard		TOTAL	RANKING
		*Example: Most powerful impact project ratings*	3	3	3	3	12	10	10	3	6		53

Neighborhood Pedestrian Network Maps

Overall Policy Goals

There are several priorities which the Pedestrian Safety Board has identified which related to pedestrian needs throughout the City as well as to various types of projects listed. These policy goals are listed in numbers 148 to 160 at the end of the list. For convenience and clarity, the projects are also listed as follows:

Renew and improve street lighting throughout the City (from MPO)**
Upgrade, level by grinding or filling, and /or replace dangerous CNS throughout the City
Proceed with implementation of 24” block crosswalks to increase visibility to motorists and heighten pedestrian safety awareness
Utilize “triple four” block design with actuated overhead pedestrian flashing signals at mid-block crossings and unsignalized intersections
Install curb ramps at each intersection with designs based on ADA Accessibility Guidelines
Install crosswalks at each transit shelter to support access to transit services from all directions
Install thermoplastic markings wherever possible – especially at locations where there are high traffic volumes and/or heavy truck traffic
Illuminate crosswalks throughout the City.
At all signalized intersections in central city areas and school zones utilize countdown pedestrian signals and audible walk signals
Set downtown crosswalk signals to work in conjunction with cross traffic flow
Adjust timing on signalized crosswalks to reduce delay in count-down start-up
Install stop bars at stop signs to facilitate safer pedestrian crossing at intersections
Consult with Transit Authority Director in the planning of all new sidewalk projects.
Consult with neighborhood organizations in the identification, planning, and implementation of all pedestrian infrastructure projects
Eliminate the placement of utility poles and mail boxes on curbs and sidewalks
Make safety and aesthetic progress each year for all city pedestrians on placing wired utility services underground
Recommend that the City Manager deny all sidewalk installation waivers on CNS
Recommend that the City Manager confer with the Pedestrian Safety Board regarding waivers of sidewalk installation requirement on NAS

** MPO denotes a pedestrian project or priority identified in Non-Motorized System Improvement Priorities section (pages 112-115) of the 2007 Regional Transportation Plan of the Greater Morgantown Metropolitan Planning Organization