Fort Walton Beach Council agenda — 09-11-12 regular CRA — reading text

pe crossings Brooks Street 2 -lane " local" ad S tscaping and/ or underground traffic; st pe nor` tlities south side; additional raised Sraisdestrian y; low sp cro s, existing gs pedestrian crossings; parking, additional lighting well- marked Hollywood Boulevard Und ed" 2 -lane minor Improved sidewalks ( wider ci ane and sidewalks, continuous sidewalks), pave principally streetscape/ landscape, street loc in the light reconfiguration for marked bike lanes Indus ix use retail district and possibly 4 -lanes or landscaped medians with turn lanes, marked pedestrian crossings First Street, ny " local" roads in the CRA Some of the local streets could be Third Street, NFotreet, e set up fairly grid -like, improved through streetscaping, Bass Avenue, providingproviding alternatealternate routesroutes throughthrough landscaping, sidewalks, wider Harbeson Athe main part of the CRA. sidewalks, continuous sidewalks, and Drive, Ald pedestrianpedestrian friendlyfriendly crossingscrossings andand Chicago Avenue, McGriff intersections Street, Walter Martin Road, Windham Avenue, Tupelo Avenue Lowery Place, Buck Drive, and Hughes Street City of Fort Walton Beach June 2012  2012 Community Redevelopment Plan Strategy 3. 1. 1 — 3. 1. 4 1. Install speed tables on local roads to reduce vehicle speeds. According to the Florida Department of Transportation ( FDOT), speed tables promote smooth flow of traffic at slow speeds, less than 25 miles per hour, and are reasonable on local residential streets. Speed humps have the potential for traffic calming and can be applied for roads with two lanes. Speed humps are recommended on Brooks Street to reduce speeds. Additional signage and striping to identify speed humps and high levels of pedestrian hting, trees', edges to create a 2. Install " buffers" along the ROW, such as landsca ' , visual and physical separation of traffic a pedestrian activity. rs should be incorporated with on- street parking and bi anes. eets recomme or buffers include Miracle Strip Parkway and Eglin Parkw ere treetscaping ently exists. Low hedges may be incorporated into Hollywo ulevard improvements. Require sidewalks to be set back from the st et, when possible, ad of at the curb. 3. Educate the public. Successful conge ement is b part, on making people aware of the available choices for tran rta en peop choose travel options other of trips on the road will be r ard., where possible, support to idal projects in the CRA and the 4. Continue to actively Planning Organization ( TPO) process to mioritiodUbStrAr the Public trans on helps traffic congestion, improve air quality, and is much more economical fo County Transit There are JSe approxir I 30 visitors than single- occupancy motor vehicle travel. Okaloosa y provides three bus routes within the Fort Walton Beach CRA. bus stops in the CRA, each with a pickup frequency of approximately every Ideally, a transit stop should be located every 1/ 4 mile so that every person is within walking distance to a bus stop. Bus stops should be located close to major trip generators and should be safe, convenient, comfortable, high quality facilities in order to promote the highest possible ridership. June 2012 City of Fort Walton Beach  2012 Community Redevelopment Plan Strategy 1. Consider working with Okaloosa County to add additional transit stops in the CRA. Increasing the number of transit stops will provide riders better connectivity so they can access more destinations. Accommodating different modes of transportation such as buses, vehicles, and bikes will foster interactive multi -modal uses. 2. Consider adding local trolley or shuttle bus services. Trolley service can attract visitors from the beach to the CRA area. Ideally, a trolley should continuou ly circulate in the area, providing frequent pick -up service. Partnerships with the loca sand condominiums could be researched to provide shuttle services to guests. 3. Work with Okaloosa County to provide additional and marketing activities within the CRA. Signage users of the transit pick -up schedule and rout information about transit availability can effectiveness of the system. Consider improvements to existing transit stops b shelters, benches, and signage, here appropriate: connectivity is also an important co t of an effec system. d construct sidewalks throughout the CRA. Targeted program areas receive priority. A prioritized list of areas needing sidewalks will be 2. Improve pedestrian signage and signals in the CRA. Additional signage and crosswalk systems are needed on Brooks Street, Eglin Parkway, and Miracle Strip Parkway, among others, to improve visibility and safety. 3. Improve pedestrian crossings in the CRA. Consider retrofitting certain intersections to include " pedestrian crossing islands" and consider pedestrian overpasses and medians. Without adequate crosswalks, walking may be unsafe in certain areas. June 2012 City of Fort Walton Beach  2012 Community Redevelopment Plan 4. Provide for wider sidewalks in the CRA. According to FDOT, in central business districts CBD) the minimum recommended width of sidewalks is eight feet; industrial and commercial areas outside the CBD should be seven feet wide. In residential areas, sidewalks should be at least five feet wide with two feet of a landscape strip from the curb. 5. Continue a streetscape program to enhance walkability. Pedestrian- scaled lighting, street furniture, and pavers all enhance the walkable environment. Bicycle paths should be well- signed and complete, and facilities should be provided to support travel by bicycle. Bicycle lanes e of pedestrians on sidewalks. 1. Install bicycle lanes and shared use paths in th ng bicycle 4ffies can be as simple as adding paint to the road in some areas. T should consider a transportation improvement " program" or " fund" implement es in addition to the sidewalk improvement program. 3. Conti he O Walton TPO for cvcl ovements in the CRA. 2007 Parking Facilities Study concluded that there is not a V of parking spaces in the CRA overall, it did validate the on of poor parking choices. Parking, specifically downtown, is neither well -placed nor well -known. Directing patrons to available parking spaces may be what is needed most in the CRA. 1. Consider acquiring new property or entering into public -private partnerships to add additional parking spaces where needed most. June 2012 City of Fort Walton Beach  2012 Community Redevelopment Plan 2. Consider adding parking lot improvements, where needed most, to existing public property. Improve visibility of public parking through highly visible signage on Miracle Strip Parkway, Brooks Street, and Perry Avenue directing motorists towards public parking areas. Implementing the strategies outlined above will improve mobility and safety for residents and visitors in the CRA, especially when integrated with infrastructure upgrades and efficient land use choices. To continue a positive image of the CRA, the followin section outlines design guidelines, which are intended to promote visual consistency and ha hroughout the area. City of