2004-12-13 Regular Meeting and Workshop Meeting

Browse Search

Houston-Galveston Area Council DRAFT 2025 Regional Transportation Plan construction of vehicle lanes. Non-transportation funding options, such as the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department (TPWD) trails grant program and local parks and flood control district trails initiatives, should also be pursued. Project Selection Criteria Aside from air quality and cost-benefit analysis, H-GAC is currently developing a set of criteria for selecting and prioritizing bikeway projects. Further work needs to be done to define projects that are of regional significance. Additional criteria that could be considered include: . Linking to major trip origins and destinations; . Linking to transit stations; . Connecting existing local bikeway networks and filling gaps in the regional system; and . Making "spot improvements" to address localized barriers and/or safety problems. Maintaining Project Commitment Some project sponsors have had difficulty maintaining commitments for programmed RTP and TIP bikeway projects. Many of these lapsed projects are the result of costs exceeding initial estimates. H-GAC will continue to stress the importance of maintaining bikeway project commitments, especially for projects included in the State Implementation Plan for air quality. However, other avenues of supporting local sponsors toward the completion of these projects should be explored. Such measures may include technical assistance, allowing a reduction in project scope to match available funding, or providing supplemental funding in future calls for projects. There are also inconsistencies in the level of commitment that is implied by the inclusion of a bikeway in a local plan. If local bikeways are to be considered in the design of connecting or intersecting facilities, the local government's commitment to developing the facility should be clearly identified in the plan. Recommended Actions To address the issues, H-GAC recommends the following actions: · Update the Regional Bikeway Planfrequently. H-GAC will encourage local governments to submit current bikeway plans and project information on a frequent basis to maintain an up-to-date regional bikeway plan. Plans and project information should clearly identify the level of local commitment to developing proposed facilities. · Support local planning efforts. H-GAC will encourage and provide assistance to local governments with the preparation of bikeway plans. · Promote use of consistent terminology and mapping. H-GAC will promote the use of standard terminology and line codes for local bikeway maps. Appendix C Regional Bikeway Plan and Design Guidelines Page 11 of27